I haven't posted anything on my blog for a week or so, mainly because of my internet, but also a bit of laziness. Yesterday, we had life drawing again, which I wasn't looking forward to as I find it quite difficult. However, with this lesson we had a different model (This time a man) and I found him much easier to draw than the regular model. Our tutor explained a good method of measuring which I'd never really commited to before, and after following it through I found that my proportions on my sketch were much better. There is still a lot of improvement to be done, especially with the shading and details, but I definitely feel like I am improving.
The essay question I am considering answering is:
Investigate the change in attitude of manipulation in self-portraiture between the period when photography was created and the modern day and how does this change a person's identity?
I already have a brainstorm (Is that politically correct anymore? If not, write me a letter) of ideas that I can discuss in this essay. I just hope the question is worded in a clear way.
Investigate the change in attitude of manipulation in self-portraiture between the period when photography was created and the modern day and how does this change a person's identity?
I already have a brainstorm (Is that politically correct anymore? If not, write me a letter) of ideas that I can discuss in this essay. I just hope the question is worded in a clear way.
First Portrait Idea Draft
I have created a quick draft of the first portrait idea I had. It was based on how a person has been formed, and what has contributed to their personality, interests and attitude. After exploring this and creating a quick image, I think I will leave it where it is as I have other ideas I think will turn out to be more interesting, I may come back to it to take aspects or parts of the image later.
The objects that I included in the above image are all there for a reason. The World War Two era Lancaster plane is in the image to show my love of the subject of History, I grew up watching war films and listening to stories about the World War from my Great Grandparents. It also represents one of my favourite stories, that of the Dam Busters raid, which is another film I was shown when younger. The background is a picture of a bay in Cornwall where I spent a lot of time as a child, on holidays. I also lived there for some time. The books simply resemble the fact that I read a lot when young and didn't find books 'boring' like a lot of other children, I was always writing short stories (Most of which I'm sure was rubbish). I think that all these objects define who i've come to be.
As I said, I think this idea will be discarded as there isn't enough ways to progress it. I will post drafts of my other ideas throughout the week as I spend time on them.
I have created a quick draft of the first portrait idea I had. It was based on how a person has been formed, and what has contributed to their personality, interests and attitude. After exploring this and creating a quick image, I think I will leave it where it is as I have other ideas I think will turn out to be more interesting, I may come back to it to take aspects or parts of the image later.
The objects that I included in the above image are all there for a reason. The World War Two era Lancaster plane is in the image to show my love of the subject of History, I grew up watching war films and listening to stories about the World War from my Great Grandparents. It also represents one of my favourite stories, that of the Dam Busters raid, which is another film I was shown when younger. The background is a picture of a bay in Cornwall where I spent a lot of time as a child, on holidays. I also lived there for some time. The books simply resemble the fact that I read a lot when young and didn't find books 'boring' like a lot of other children, I was always writing short stories (Most of which I'm sure was rubbish). I think that all these objects define who i've come to be.
As I said, I think this idea will be discarded as there isn't enough ways to progress it. I will post drafts of my other ideas throughout the week as I spend time on them.
I've finally managed to take some pictures of my sketches from the Life-Drawing Class from last week. I've included them below along with a couple of other rough sketches I did during the week
Idea Four: Role-Models / Heroes in a Self-portrait
My fourth idea is portraying myself in a self-portrait by using facial features and objects from my role-models or heroes and blending them with my own appearance. This idea is to show that a person can be influenced by the people they respect the most and these people can help form their personality and attitude.
Phil has shown us in the recent lectures some images which have used the person's parents and immeadiate family as a composition to create a self-portrait. I thought about using this idea, but I also felt that it had been done a lot and I'm sure many people will look at it as an option. My idea is to use my role-models and heroes alongside my own image to portray myself by showing the people I respect and am fond of.
I believe you can tell a lot by the selection of people a person respects and look up to. For example, there will be a notable difference between someone who has Richard Attenborough as a role-model and someone who looks up to Peter Andre.
"You don't have to know people personally for them to be role models. Some of my most important role models were historical or literary figures that I only read about - never actually met." - John Wilson
This quote also rings true with me. As a main interest of mine is history and reading historic fiction / non fiction I have drawn a lot of role-models from what I've read. My portrait will be centered around this. I will begin a draft and post it on my blog this weekend.
My fourth idea is portraying myself in a self-portrait by using facial features and objects from my role-models or heroes and blending them with my own appearance. This idea is to show that a person can be influenced by the people they respect the most and these people can help form their personality and attitude.
Phil has shown us in the recent lectures some images which have used the person's parents and immeadiate family as a composition to create a self-portrait. I thought about using this idea, but I also felt that it had been done a lot and I'm sure many people will look at it as an option. My idea is to use my role-models and heroes alongside my own image to portray myself by showing the people I respect and am fond of.
I believe you can tell a lot by the selection of people a person respects and look up to. For example, there will be a notable difference between someone who has Richard Attenborough as a role-model and someone who looks up to Peter Andre.
"You don't have to know people personally for them to be role models. Some of my most important role models were historical or literary figures that I only read about - never actually met." - John Wilson
This quote also rings true with me. As a main interest of mine is history and reading historic fiction / non fiction I have drawn a lot of role-models from what I've read. My portrait will be centered around this. I will begin a draft and post it on my blog this weekend.
Idea Three: Unfinished Portrait
My third idea's main theme is highlighting the fact that I have not yet made all of my choices in life. As I am creating a portrait of my 19-year-old self, I think the portrait should portray the fact that I am unfinished as a person and my path undetermined (Which could be said for any age, but especially for someone young). The main idea is that there is still a lot of me to be defined.
There are two ways that I have decided I can digitally alter the image and portray my idea. The first one is to leave the picture unfinished, some of the image can be uncoloured / sketched with certain aspects of me still to be finished. This incomplete drawing will show that there is still 'things to be done and defined'
My second method of showing this idea is to make an image of me look like clay. My face in the image is moulded but is still unfinished. The idea of the clay model of myself being half-finished would show that I still don't have a set purpose or role. Another aspect that I could add to the image is an extra piece of clay, away from my body. This extra piece would symbolise that I can always be improved and changed, even when it would seem I was completed.
I think the second method would make the idea more prevalent and would also a be more impressive piece. I will investigate this piece further,
My third idea's main theme is highlighting the fact that I have not yet made all of my choices in life. As I am creating a portrait of my 19-year-old self, I think the portrait should portray the fact that I am unfinished as a person and my path undetermined (Which could be said for any age, but especially for someone young). The main idea is that there is still a lot of me to be defined.
There are two ways that I have decided I can digitally alter the image and portray my idea. The first one is to leave the picture unfinished, some of the image can be uncoloured / sketched with certain aspects of me still to be finished. This incomplete drawing will show that there is still 'things to be done and defined'
My second method of showing this idea is to make an image of me look like clay. My face in the image is moulded but is still unfinished. The idea of the clay model of myself being half-finished would show that I still don't have a set purpose or role. Another aspect that I could add to the image is an extra piece of clay, away from my body. This extra piece would symbolise that I can always be improved and changed, even when it would seem I was completed.
I think the second method would make the idea more prevalent and would also a be more impressive piece. I will investigate this piece further,
Idea Two: A Portrait based on Ego
My second portrait idea is an image based on the ego of the person in the portrait. This is based on the idea that in the quite early point of my life, my ego will not be very strong as I have not accomplished anything great enough to strengthen it. The portrait would reflect this using digital manipulation. The image would be centered around a full-body view of myself with a light background, the background would be quite empty to show that there is nothing behind me (Both literally and metaphorically). The image would be digitaly altered to make me look as if I have been made out of a fragile material eg.Glass or Porceline. This would be a way of showing that my ego is easy to break at this point in my life. The main theme behind this portrait is progression, another portrait in the future would show me made out a stronger substance as my ego and myself is strengthened by my experiences and accomplishments.
My second portrait idea is an image based on the ego of the person in the portrait. This is based on the idea that in the quite early point of my life, my ego will not be very strong as I have not accomplished anything great enough to strengthen it. The portrait would reflect this using digital manipulation. The image would be centered around a full-body view of myself with a light background, the background would be quite empty to show that there is nothing behind me (Both literally and metaphorically). The image would be digitaly altered to make me look as if I have been made out of a fragile material eg.Glass or Porceline. This would be a way of showing that my ego is easy to break at this point in my life. The main theme behind this portrait is progression, another portrait in the future would show me made out a stronger substance as my ego and myself is strengthened by my experiences and accomplishments.
