Main Idea:
I want to make a contemporary portrait of myself using paint, along with magazine clippings, newspaper and fabric to create a background. My plans for this portrait are to make it a bit avant-garde, Inspired by the colourful and bright art I saw in the Dominican Republic on my Grad trip. I have recently been very excited about making my artwork as colourful as possible, I’m tired of staying inside my own (and my audiences) comfort zone. This year in my art class, in particular, my goal has been to push my own boundaries and actually get excited about what I’m making. And that’s what this piece is doing for me. I’m so excited about this piece because I don’t exactly know how it’s going to turn out but I do know that no matter what I’m going to love it.
Influences:
My inspiration for this piece was the artwork that I saw in the Dominican Republic on my grad trip with my class. Everything there was so bright and colourful. To the buildings, the landscapes to the artwork. This was a big inspiration for me, especially since I knew that I wanted to give this painting to my teacher, who went with us on the trip. Because of this, I knew that I needed to make this piece something I’m proud of.
Influences:
My inspiration for this piece was the artwork that I saw in the Dominican Republic on my grad trip with my class. Everything there was so bright and colourful. To the buildings, the landscapes to the artwork. This was a big inspiration for me, especially since I knew that I wanted to give this painting to my teacher, who went with us on the trip. Because of this, I knew that I needed to make this piece something I’m proud of.
Steps to Completion:
Step One: Cut out fabric, pieces of magazine clippings and newspaper and lay them down on my canvas where I want them and take a picture so I remember where I wanted them.
Step Twp: Glue those pieces down.
Step three: In pencil, outline where I want my portrait and then flick paint and spray paint strategically around it.
Step four: Paint the hair first, then add some colour to the face. Continue to add features like eyes and lips and nose. Finish any other aspects that need to be painted
Step five: Spray on glaze
Step six: Done!
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Rough Ideas and Sketches:
Artist Statement
The main idea behind my artwork is a self-portrait of myself depicting me when I am the happiest! The bright colours and the way I have drawn myself is just the depiction of happiness to me. The smile, the flushed cheeks and freckles. These traits of me always come out in the summertime and warm weather. Which is partly where I gathered my inspiration: my grad trip to the Dominican Republic. This initial idea behind this piece, and I do believe I have stuck to it. I truly had a vision for this piece which not always happens. But when it does, I'm always so happy with the result. I definitely achieved my goals with this piece. It came out exactly how I had wanted it to which makes it a piece I'm really proud of. I learned that I should follow my creative instincts from this project and enjoy creative freedom. This year I have especially been doing that and I have never been more happy with my art. My next steps for myself are to improve my skills and grow as an artist by practicing painting, drawing etc.
Materials
The materials I want to use are newspaper, magazine clippings, fabric, paint and a glaze to finish it off. I will use the newspaper and magazine clippings along with the fabric to create a textured background. And then I’ll paint a portrait of myself on top.
My Plan
Class 1: prepare background materials: fabric, pieces of magazine clippings and newspaper and lay them down on my canvas where I want them and take a picture so I remember where I wanted them. Then Glue those pieces down.
Class 2: Outline where I want my portrait and then flick paint and spray paint strategically around it.
Class 3: Begin to paint the portrait
Outside of class time: Finish the portrait
Last Class: Make any last touch-ups and add the glaze
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