Charcoal Self-Portrait completed in August 2015
Throughout the summer I worked on both a graphite still-life and a charcoal self-portrait. I haven’t taken a art class since my sophomore year, taking Art Studio I, so I was definitely nervous about doing both projects on my own. I found that I relied on the art teacher to help guide me while doing projects I wasn’t completely comfortable with, in this case the charcoal self-portrait, and yet I was still able to complete it. By just starting and completely both projects, I was able to take a risk/chance and it all turned out okay.
I started off my still life originally planning to draw a jewelry hanger, along with three necklaces on it using graphite pencils. Though this was a more challenging still-life to draw, I thought that since I was using graphite pencils that I was familiar with it may work out. Once I started, I realized quickly I would have to draw each individual chain piece to every necklace, along with the wired hanger. And in the end, I didn’t think I would like it because of all of its complexity. I decided to solve the problem by switching the objects to draw. I took the suggestion of Mrs. Haggerty and draw and shaded two small nail polish bottles. Though the bottles were much easier to draw than the necklaces, shading the bottles in and playing with the shadows is what made it more difficult yet it is what gave the drawing life.
When working on my self-portrait I really had a difficult time. I started my process by gridding the picture I based on and traced out, very lightly, my facial features. In the picture, my face was tilted therefore in my drawing, it was that much harder to get the angles right. My hair, though very dark, would seem to be the easiest part because it is simply lines of charcoal, but giving it texture was challenging. I had actually finished the project and felt alright about it, but I looked back at it a few days later, and during my reflection, I realized I needed to go much, much darker on my shading. To this day I wish I went even darker to see if it would’ve helped the contrast in my face as well as my hair and neck shown. Overall, I’m proud I was able to finish both but they are definitely not as good as I had hoped.
I started off my still life originally planning to draw a jewelry hanger, along with three necklaces on it using graphite pencils. Though this was a more challenging still-life to draw, I thought that since I was using graphite pencils that I was familiar with it may work out. Once I started, I realized quickly I would have to draw each individual chain piece to every necklace, along with the wired hanger. And in the end, I didn’t think I would like it because of all of its complexity. I decided to solve the problem by switching the objects to draw. I took the suggestion of Mrs. Haggerty and draw and shaded two small nail polish bottles. Though the bottles were much easier to draw than the necklaces, shading the bottles in and playing with the shadows is what made it more difficult yet it is what gave the drawing life.
When working on my self-portrait I really had a difficult time. I started my process by gridding the picture I based on and traced out, very lightly, my facial features. In the picture, my face was tilted therefore in my drawing, it was that much harder to get the angles right. My hair, though very dark, would seem to be the easiest part because it is simply lines of charcoal, but giving it texture was challenging. I had actually finished the project and felt alright about it, but I looked back at it a few days later, and during my reflection, I realized I needed to go much, much darker on my shading. To this day I wish I went even darker to see if it would’ve helped the contrast in my face as well as my hair and neck shown. Overall, I’m proud I was able to finish both but they are definitely not as good as I had hoped.
Throughout the summer I worked on both a graphite still-life and a charcoal self-portrait. I haven’t taken a art class since my sophomore year, taking Art Studio I, so I was definitely nervous about doing both projects on my own. I found that I relied on the art teacher to help guide me while doing projects I wasn’t completely comfortable with, in this case the charcoal self-portrait, and yet I was still able to complete it. By just starting and completely both projects, I was able to take a risk/chance and it all turned out okay.
I started off my still life originally planning to draw a jewelry hanger, along with three necklaces on it using graphite pencils. Though this was a more challenging still-life to draw, I thought that since I was using graphite pencils that I was familiar with it may work out. Once I started, I realized quickly I would have to draw each individual chain piece to every necklace, along with the wired hanger. And in the end, I didn’t think I would like it because of all of its complexity. I decided to solve the problem by switching the objects to draw. I took the suggestion of Mrs. Haggerty and draw and shaded two small nail polish bottles. Though the bottles were much easier to draw than the necklaces, shading the bottles in and playing with the shadows is what made it more difficult yet it is what gave the drawing life.
When working on my self-portrait I really had a difficult time. I started my process by gridding the picture I based on and traced out, very lightly, my facial features. In the picture, my face was tilted therefore in my drawing, it was that much harder to get the angles right. My hair, though very dark, would seem to be the easiest part because it is simply lines of charcoal, but giving it texture was challenging. I had actually finished the project and felt alright about it, but I looked back at it a few days later, and during my reflection, I realized I needed to go much, much darker on my shading. To this day I wish I went even darker to see if it would’ve helped the contrast in my face as well as my hair and neck shown. Overall, I’m proud I was able to finish both but they are definitely not as good as I had hoped.
I started off my still life originally planning to draw a jewelry hanger, along with three necklaces on it using graphite pencils. Though this was a more challenging still-life to draw, I thought that since I was using graphite pencils that I was familiar with it may work out. Once I started, I realized quickly I would have to draw each individual chain piece to every necklace, along with the wired hanger. And in the end, I didn’t think I would like it because of all of its complexity. I decided to solve the problem by switching the objects to draw. I took the suggestion of Mrs. Haggerty and draw and shaded two small nail polish bottles. Though the bottles were much easier to draw than the necklaces, shading the bottles in and playing with the shadows is what made it more difficult yet it is what gave the drawing life.
When working on my self-portrait I really had a difficult time. I started my process by gridding the picture I based on and traced out, very lightly, my facial features. In the picture, my face was tilted therefore in my drawing, it was that much harder to get the angles right. My hair, though very dark, would seem to be the easiest part because it is simply lines of charcoal, but giving it texture was challenging. I had actually finished the project and felt alright about it, but I looked back at it a few days later, and during my reflection, I realized I needed to go much, much darker on my shading. To this day I wish I went even darker to see if it would’ve helped the contrast in my face as well as my hair and neck shown. Overall, I’m proud I was able to finish both but they are definitely not as good as I had hoped.