Project #6 – Historical and Social Self Portrait (Combination of Drawing and Digital – Medium of your choice)
An artist’s choices in representing the self convey the ideas the artist wishes to communicate. Important figures in the history of art have made different aesthetic decisions in their self-representation. How do these choices arise from, reflect, and influence the meaning of the work? How do the techniques we have studied this semester fit into these decisions? What are the consequences of the artist’s choices?
The Final project will be a culmination of aspects of the topics covered in the semester. The student will choose a figure in art history that he/she feels important in his/her culture and/or background and use this person as a starting point to share. Aspects to think about communicating: self-portrait in historical context, figure and ground, special relationship to culture, identity, the self. Drawing in wet or dry medium and using digital aspects are encouraged, as well as color and black and white materials. Students will have the freedom to express themselves using a variety of materials of their choice, choosing from both digital and analog materials. The visual portion of the final project will compile 3 images:
- A drawing (your choice of materials) done from life (a mirror) of yourself. This drawing will NOT utilize any photographic references.
- An image done of yourself in photoshop or illustrator. This image can utilize a photographic reference, but should not rely only on the photo.
- An image utilizing any material of your choice. Materials to consider: collage/mixed media, digital/analog, text/image, drawings done both on site and in class. Experimenting with different mediums is encouraged.
Accompanying the Visual portion of the final project will be a one page text about the three pieces (why the student chose the particular historical artistic figure and what concepts the student chose to cover within the assignment). The text should include a one paragraph biography of the historical artist, one paragraph on the materials and techniques that the student used for the project, and a paragraph about how the student relates to the artist and why this artist holds meaning to the student.
References/Artists to consider: Kara Walker, Louise Bourgeois, Alice Neel, Chuck Connelly, Van Gogh, Kiki Smith, Faith Ringgold, Frida Kahlo, Lucien Freud, Eric Fischl, Marina Abramovic, William Kentridge, Jeff Britton, Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, Nina Chanel Abney, Maya Freelon Asante, Shahzia Sikander, Kehinde Wiley, Islamic miniature painting in illuminated manuscripts.
Materials of your choice: Bristol board, pens, pencils, charcoal, newspaper and magazines, digital photos, laptop computers, gouache, colored pastel sets, brown paper, india ink.
