Project 1: SELF-PORTRAIT

Project 1: Self-Portrait

1 | Recap of Project 1

Starting from Week 5-7, we are assigned to create a portrait of ourselves by applying the various principles that we had learnt through the past weeks. Hence, in order to produce a portrait of ourselves, we should first gather visual references and choose the images that are suitable for the upcoming self-portrait design.

What is Self-Portrait?

A self-portrait is a portrait of the artist that has been painted by the artist themselves. Self-portraits have been created in every conceivable medium, such as:

• paintings

Figure 1.1 Self-portrait by Frida Kahlo, 1940 (www.fridakahlo.org)

• sketches

Figure 1.2 Self-portrait by David Hockney, 1982 (www.mutualart.com)

• sculptures

Figure 1.3 Terracotta sculpture by William Rush, 1822 (www.pafa.org)

• photographs

Figure 1.4 Self-portrait talking to Vince by Francesca Woodman, 1977 (www.photographycourse.net)

Before starting on creating the self-portrait, I have asked myself several questions:

• What are the memories that I want to portray?
• How are my feelings and thoughts?
• What do other people see me based on my personality?

2 | Design Process

After conducting some visual research, I decided to create a self-portrait based on my personal experiences of my high school life and upbringing.

Visual References

Figure 2.1 Visual References

Idea Exploration and Description

Figure 2.2 Two Colored Marilyn by Andy Warhol (Reversal), 1979

Figure 2.3 Sea Queen by Lindsay Rapp, 2016 

Before I continue with the self-portrait, I made a list of some details about the questions that I asked myself:

• What are the memories that I want to portray?
• friendship, school things, comfort food
• How are my feelings and thoughts?
• mixed emotions of happiness and sad
• What do other people see me based on my personality?
• a calm and cheerful person

The first step that I did on this digital design artwork was to place my black and white picture that was taken by my own using my phone camera. I changed the filter of the picture into black and white as I wanted my illustration drawing to become the main attention and not to be distracted by the background. Then, I started to draw some brush strokes from the bottom part of the eyes. The texture of the strokes of the paint illustration is similar to the oil paint strokes where the paint is not entirely smooth unlike acrylic paint. As to add more depth to the blue color, I added some white strokes and draw it in a wavy-like strokes in which it created the illustration as if I was crying, even though my face expression stays the same.

Figure 2.4 Drawing Process of the Tears

Looking at a glance, it may seems that the subject of my painting is emotionally crying in tears. However, when it is looked closely, there are specks of gold glitters underneath the white dripping illustration. The use of gold glitter was influenced by the crown of the Sea Queen. I was also inspired by the artwork of Andy Warhol, in which I decided to use bold colors for the doodles that I drew as to create contrast with the background.

Figure 2.5 First attempt

Ms. Noranis provided input, stating that my picture was too large and it would be better if I scaled it down to allow more space for the doodling. I therefore tried to reduce the size of the image and applied the same brush strokes for the doodling as the drawing of the tears to create a balance.

Figure 2.6 Process on the Background Texture

Figure 2.7 Process of the Doodle Sketches

I also decided to draw bigger doodles compared to the previous one. This is because to enhance the things themselves through placing them overlapping with the main image. 

Final Outcome

Figure 2.8 Blue Cries

Title: Blue Cries

Medium: Digital Photoshop and Drawing

Design Concept: This piece portrays the hidden feelings that were burdened down inside me. The picture was taken directly using the phone camera. I use myself as the subject in order to portray the sadness of moving to a new country, leaving behind my hometown and school. An influence of digital drawing is included to draw the things and flow of tears coming from my eyes that represent the mixture of emotions that have been held back and stayed hidden from me.

3 | Feedback given by the lecturer

• Week 5
• Great idea. Ms. Noranis told me to add collages of the things that reminds me about home and school. 
• Resize the photo, make it slightly smaller in order to create more space for the drawing
• Week 6
• Ms. Noranis advised me to use the same technique as the tears flow for the doodling.
• Week 7
• Add more texture in the background, use the watercolor effect.

4 | Reflection

Throughout this project, I have learnt many new things about self-portrait and myself. I discovered that self-portraiture can unlock our imagination and create new fresh ideas on the things that we want to portray about ourselves. Actually, it is a skill that can inspire us while also connecting us to others and serving as a reminder of our roots. Overall, this assignment gave me a wonderful opportunity to learn about myself and discover new things.