Self Portrait

(I'm adding the picture when I get home)

1: Discuss your drawing: I think I did a really decent job drawing this self portrait. I was able to capture where the light was hitting my face quite nicely, and where the shadows were covering, and darkening parts of my face. I think the hair turned out very nice, because instead of focusing on individual lines, I focused on sections, and the different values in them. I focused really well when drawing this piece, and I really think that carries over into my artwork. You can tell that I worked hard and it pays off! I focused on expression instead of making this mechanical, or zombie-like. I kind of wish I would have gone mechanical, just to challenge myself a little bit more, or that I would have at least used prisma colors, as a bit of a challenge.

2: Discuss how you accomplished depth and value in your drawing. Why did you choose the portrait style that you did? What is the most important aesthetic quality of your drawing? How were you able to give the viewer an interesting experience with your choice of medium and techniques?:
I accomplished depth and value by darkening the value where there were shadows, and making sure to have a nice contrast between the lights and darks, to really tie them together. I chose to make my portrait expressive, because I thought that the idea of changing too much of it sounded daunting. Like I said before, if I could re do the project, I would do mechanical, or expressive with colored pencils. I think that the most aesthetic past of my drawing is my hair, or the part of my face that is wrinkled up, because of my hand pressing against it. I think these are the most important because they really add to the realistic look of the piece. I was able to give the viewer an interesting experience when viewing the piece, because of all the little details that I added into the drawing. I drew a lot of small things, like freckles, or veins in the eye, that just added to the realism.

3: Does your drawing evoke feeling and expression? How did you accomplish this?:
To me, I feel that it is expressive, but mostly because I was excited to draw it and put a lot of work into it, so i think that the memories of drawing it are what is making it expressive. I don't know if it's expressive to other people though, I think that I could have added more emotion in the eyes, or done something like that, just to make it even more expressive. I think that it turned out kind of funny, because I look completely bored, so I think that aspect of it's expression shine through.

Description:
Without using the words beautiful, or ugly, I would say that my work is boring. there isn't a lot going on in the photo, and it's in graphite, so it's just kind of dull. I guess it's kind of fitting because I am making a bored face in the picture, and it's in boring colors, but I just think it's too much boring and not enough excitement in the piece to keep people really interested.

Analysis:
I think that I could have done better with my composition, and put something in the background. without having anything in the background, I think it looks decent. I like that my hand is in the front of the photo, and it kind of catches your eye, as the foreground. My actual face, and hair and head and everything acts as the middleground, and then I don't have a background. I think that my drawing would be a lot cooler if I were to add a background. I think it would be really cool to add a bright, colorful background to the otherwise, kind of dull piece. It would act as a pop of excitement and color!

Interpretation:

This piece makes me feel really bored. I think it's a good piece, but it doesn't really say anything. As I was saying before, I think I should add a pop of color to the background, and it could be cool to add some color in my eyes too. If I were to add the said pop of color, I think it could double the success of my piece, and actually say something.

Judgement or Evaluation:

I think that this is kind of tied between being a success or a failure. As I said before, it looks good, but it just doesn't have enough excitement. If I were to go through with adding a background in color, then I would consider it a success. At the moment, I think that the only thing that makes this piece original is that it's of my face. Everything else about it seems kind of like it could be expected from a high school art student, and doesn't really show creativity.