Title: Self-Portrait
Medium: Acrylic on canvas Size: 3ftx3ft December 2015 Exhibition Text The main focus of my self portrait was to challenge myself. It was inspired by separate artists and art movements, and with personal ideas. It represents my personality and who I am. The original intentions of the artwork was to accomplish my inner challenge of painting a self portrait in real life perspective with actual flesh tone colors. All is self-made within the medium. |
Process
Planning
I began experimenting with photographs of myself in different poses. My mom took simple pictures of me at home, and we ended up liking them. It was hard to chose, but finally, I chose the 1st one.
Planning
I began experimenting with photographs of myself in different poses. My mom took simple pictures of me at home, and we ended up liking them. It was hard to chose, but finally, I chose the 1st one.
Process
Building Canvas
To build the canvas, I used 3 feet long stretchers, to make it a 3ftx3ft size. When wrapping the canvas around it, I used a stapler to make it stick to the stretchers and a hammer to enforce the staples. Then, I cut the excess canvas left behind. |
Adding Gesso
Priming the canvas was necessary before anything. I poured a fair amount onto the canvas and spread it out evenly with a wide brush. After it dried, it was ready for painting. |
Projecting
First, I printed my photograph on a black and white transparency. Then, I grabbed a projector and placed the transparency on it. I traced the main aspects of my face on the canvas with pencil to later have an idea of where to paint. I also did this because I wouldn't have been able to free hand it. |
Painting
This part of the process was the most hard for me. I enjoy painting, but not necessarily people or realistic objects, because I'm not that good with shading and painting in perspective. I decided to give my self portrait a shot with flesh colors, and it didn't turn out that bad. I continued with it till the end.
Throughout the piece, I had to make big amounts of paint. It was better to make a lot than to be short of a color and have to start the mixing process all over again to get that same color. Different size brushes were needed as well. I used wide brushes for filling in areas where much of a same color went, and thin, delicate brushes for areas such as the eyelashes and other face features. Primary and occasional secondary colors was what I used the most, (I also used a "sequin" silver glitter acrylic paint specifically for my hoop earrings). All paint was acrylic.
This part of the process was the most hard for me. I enjoy painting, but not necessarily people or realistic objects, because I'm not that good with shading and painting in perspective. I decided to give my self portrait a shot with flesh colors, and it didn't turn out that bad. I continued with it till the end.
Throughout the piece, I had to make big amounts of paint. It was better to make a lot than to be short of a color and have to start the mixing process all over again to get that same color. Different size brushes were needed as well. I used wide brushes for filling in areas where much of a same color went, and thin, delicate brushes for areas such as the eyelashes and other face features. Primary and occasional secondary colors was what I used the most, (I also used a "sequin" silver glitter acrylic paint specifically for my hoop earrings). All paint was acrylic.
Artistic Inspiration
My self portrait was inspired by distinct artists and art movements. It's a combination of "Blue Nude II" by Henri Matisse and "Sunset in Venice", by Claude Monet. I have a similar pose as the woman in "Blue Nude". The hair in my self portrait resembles the brushstrokes in "Sunset in Venice". I painted my hair like this to simulate movement. After all, I incorporated both paintings to create a unique style for my self portrait. |
Meaning/Theme of the Piece
My self portrait resembles my attitude towards pretty much everything. I'm a very humble, and friendly person, who's constantly trying to get a laugh out of people because I believe that something as simple as that, can brighten up someone's day. Although I'm different at home and at school, I often try to show people at both places "the real me". Family and friends at school know I love Mexican culture and that I'm very traditional. I never try to be someone I'm not or imitate somebody else. I've also been through a lot of things in my young life, and I've been able to get past them. I'm also a very calm person, which is why I seem relaxed and cheery in my piece. |
Reflection
Throughout the process, I had more difficulties than success. I messed up my face a couple of times by painting a dash of a dark color on it, which made it look like a mole or something. So I had to mix paint again to create a similar flesh tone and cover up that error. I often also ran out of mixed paint, which was bad because I already had limited time to finish this, and having a lack of paint was going to take me even longer to mix even more paint. Overall, I really liked the outcome of this piece., though. It came out better than I expected, and I was able to accomplish my goals. It learned from my mistakes and got a better view of how it is to paint on a large canvas. I'd been looking forward to this since freshman year or art, and I'm content that I was able to do it. |