Wednesday, May 19, 2010

On the Video Self- Portrait, Creating a "You" Portrait



This video below on creating a self-portrait was inspiring in that I thought it might be fun for us to create our own in any medium or style. I would then post them here for us to see. Do they have to be as realistic as the in the video? NO. Create a self-portrait in any way, shape or form...pencil, pastel, paint, tiles, sculpy, watercolor, abstract, stick people, collage, whatever rocks your boat, etc. Just express the inner you in a simple way or any way. No rules, just fun.
Using a quick sketch of myself, I created a stencil of the face because I wanted to learn how to make stencils in Photoshop with my own artwork. I increased the size of my stencil to as large as I could print (17 x 11 inches), then cut it in half in Photoshop and enlarged both sides again and printed. I dragged out a larger canvas and painted it with black gesso. Painted with acrylic, metalic pens, adding a bit of red ribbon, 'Ode to Woodstock' for the 40 year anniversary was born, and it was just for fun and practice at trying something new, learning a technique.

It's difficult to see the circular writing on each edge, so I'll try and blow them up here. It's not too great, but I think you get the gist of it. Be creative and send a JPG. I'll post them on a separate page as they come in. It's a great way to get to know each other, a great way to use a different technique, and a great play experience. Your self-portrait doesn't have to be a masterpiece - mine surely is not!
Please watch the video below.



























7 comments:

  1. This is a fun idea...will have to put on my thinking cap to think of how I would like to 'self portrait' myself... in what medium....hmmmm this will be fun

    ReplyDelete
  2. I will too, because I would love to do another, Jod. Maybe this could be one of our play days too. Remember, it can be totally abstract expression as well as realism. This can get us in that mind frame we discussed last week about abstracts. A feeling or mood, a sense, etc., color dominance or none. Whatever we like. Could even be digital. (+:

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love a challenge. I may not get to it for a bit but I will try. I love the idea of doing a self portrait..but I have always been a bit chicken.
    k

    ReplyDelete
  4. Did you adhere the photoshop stenciled print out to your canvas or transfer it?
    k

    ReplyDelete
  5. I think the challenge might be fun, Kathy, and believe me when I say there's no time limit. As they come in, if they come in, I will post a page just for them. As for the stencil pic, I printed it in halves or quarters to get the parts as large as I could on my printer. It's a bit tricky as you have to be accurate. Once I had each comparatively matched and sized, I printed them on overhead plastic and cut it out with an electric stencil heat tool. But before I had the heat tool I printed it on tag board. It 's very trying trying to cut out any intricacies in the design though, with a craft knife! Go over and it's a mess trying to paint later. Although a little tape hear and there helps. You could also do it on freezer paper and iron it down. The cutting is the worst, so in Photoshop, stick to grayscale and only 3 values- white gray and black, and "bridge" areas. What I mean by that is, attach the eyebrow to hair because you don't want to be cutting out the eye from the lid, if you get my drift. It took me a while to figure this out and much wasted time. I hate trying to think backwards, and it's like trying to think of the negative space while cutting the positive. Drove me crazy until I simplified. I then just taped it down to the canvas and painted from over the outside edge to inside, so the paint wouldn't go under the stencil. Hope this helps, and please do think about the portrait. I think it will be fun for us!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I decided that when both hands function again I'm going to give it a try. I doubt I'll recognize myself since I can barely distinguish between water colors and oils, but there is a first time for everything and since I'm going to celebrate my 70th year in August, it's time I step out of the box,.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm terrible, Karin, in the last couple of weeks of checking my blog. I must put a new one up soon. But I came here today and found your post. I think we should have a portrait play day. I have plenty of canvases and paint. We could do an abstract portrait for fun until your hand is working fully. I'm always thinking of stepping out of the box and usually do too much at times. {+: Glad to see you here. Kate

    ReplyDelete

Inspiring Replies