Project 1 : Self-Portrait

 Name: Adrianna Sofea | 0350661

Module: Design Principles GCD60804

Duration: 20/01/2023 - 03/02/2023 

(Week 2 - Week 4)

Instruction

Week 2

In week two, we were given our first project which is the self-portrait project. 

According to the brief, we were supposed to study our surroundings and

 write down everything we learned about ourselves.

This research focuses on understanding ourselves in terms of 

how we perceive ourselves, including our attributes, talents,

 thought process, psychology, and personality

In order to grasp what I needed to accomplish, I realised I needed 

to engage in some deep thought process because it demands self-exploration and 

identification of who I am, who I used to be, and who I want to be.

Introduction to Self Portrait

In general, a portrait or (portraiture) is a portrayal of a person, with the head or face taking centre stage. The meaning of self-portrait is a sub-genre of portraiture that is described as a depiction of a person done by the artist. 

The self-portrait, as a sub-genre of portraiture, differs from other forms of portraits in that it is self-rendering, providing a view of the creator from the artist's own eyes.

 
However, there are many different types of self portraits that don't necessarily involve the element of what most people would describe when they hear the term "self portrait,"which is a person's head or face in a formal setting, sitting down, 
and staring directly into the camera (in photography).

 

Conversely, a self-portrait is typically produced by the artist themselves. which denotes the portrayal or interpretation of what and how the artist views oneself through the visuals of a self portrait. It reveals their worldviews, including who they were, what they aspired to become, and how they evolved over time. 

It requires self reflection and self recognition of how we identify ourselves as a person, spiritually, mentally and physically. Hence, self portrait is an abstract or symbolic depiction of oneself. 

Types of Self Portrait 

Painting

 

During the renaissance era self portrait were important back in the day as their self-portrait demonstrates their social status, title, wealth, and virtue, especially to royalty, in contrast, it could also portray a story of feelings captured by the Artist. The medium used during the time was oil painting with precise and detailed execution of realism to enhance the alive-ness of the painting.

 

Self Portrait of an Artist

Vincent Willem Van Gogh

Fact: Van Gogh painted his self portrait from his memory and not from a mirror.

 
Van Gogh's self portrait was expressed by an intense and restrained feature to indicate his personality in which he has suffered a psychotic episode when he was in the Asylum. The background helps to showcase a rhythm of various flows of emotions and intensity to how he felt which is somewhat similar to the Starry Night painting.

Self Portrait of an 

Italian merchant class in Flandars

Jan Van Eyck

 

The double self portrait of Arnolfi and his Wife.

 

The Arnolfini Portrait depicts a man and a woman holding hands in an interior environment, with a window behind him and a bed behind her, in natural representation of fifteenth-century marital roles - while husbands went out to participate in commerce, wives were concerned with domestic tasks. An interesting element in this painting is the detailed orientation, as you zoom into the mirror you are able to see their reflection from the back. 

Sculpture

 

The existence of a sculpture began in ancient greece. Sculptures evolved over antiquity, and by the dawn of civilization, they were being utilised to symbolise gods. Ancient monarchs who wanted to immortalise their rule commissioned monuments in their likeness. The materials that involved in  sculpture are clay, stone, metal, glass, and more, that were used for carving and molding to shape into a three-dimensional abstract of forms or a human figure in an artistic form.

 

One of the finest sculpture in 
Italian Renaissance by Michelangelo Buonarroti 

Tomb of Pope Julius II

The Marble sculpture of Moses

 in San Pietro in Vincoli, Rome

 

Michaelangelo alone created an eight-foot-tall figure of Moses with an angry or unpleasant countenance. By simply positioning Moses sitting down, without engaging in any aggressive positions or gestures that would convey an immediate expression of wrath, he was able to capture a moment of a story of anger, betrayal, and powerful energy at the centre of the two-story structure of the tomb, alongside with over 20 other structured sculptures.

Photography

The modern phenomenon of photography began in the 1822 by Frenchman Nicephore Niepce which was originally named as heliography. However, the first portrait photograph happened in the 19th century by Robert Cornelius. 

 

Robert Cornelius

Robert had experimented with photographic chemistry and discovered the

 right exposure to enhance the contrast of a physical appearance of a person.

Design Thinking Process

During my design thinking process, I started out by researching the definitions of self-exploration and perceptions and how feelings are in control of so much more than we think, it was interesting to dive 

into my thoughts and figure out who I am and ask rhetorical questions to delve into the relevant information and understand myself. 

Idea Exploration with Visual Research

The style of self-portrait I had chosen is photography with a hint of graphic.

My concept is inspired by my growth and well-being of how I've lived my life since young, 

many factors had caused me to become who I am today. Therefore, I would like to portray a representation of a thought and mainly focuses on appearance-wise and the perception of others of me and what I think beauty is versus the fact that beauty is subjective. 

VISUAL RESEARCH

Firstly, I did a visual research

on mirrors, reflections and self-portraits.

     Figure 1.0 https://www.pinterest.com/pin/676243700317940188/

     Figure 1.1 https://www.pinterest.com/pin/676243700317940171/

 

     Figure 1.2 https://www.pinterest.com/pin/676243700317940168/                      

 Then, I researched on the visuals of faces: mouth, eyes, nose, and eyebrows.

                                          Figure 1.3 https://www.pinterest.com/pin/676243700317940331/ 

 

 Figure 1.4 https://www.pinterest.com/pin/676243700317940197/

 

               Figure 1.5 https://www.pinterest.com/pin/676243700317940208/ 

Lastly, I did my research on 
acne textured skin, 

wrinkles and body hair.

     Figure 1.6 https://www.pinterest.com/pin/676243700317941791/ 

     Figure 1.7 https://www.pinterest.com/pin/676243700317940630/

                    Figure 1.8 https://www.pinterest.com/pin/676243700317940503/                   

   Figure 1.9 https://www.pinterest.com/pin/676243700317940492/     

Design Process 
Materials and Behind the Scene  

Final Concept 

 Figure 2.0 https://www.pinterest.com/pin/676243700317940577/  

 Figure 2.1 https://www.pinterest.com/pin/676243700317940383/

 Figure 2.2 https://www.pinterest.com/pin/676243700317940611/

 Figure 2.3 https://www.pinterest.com/pin/676243700317940481/

(from my camera roll as I kept them for inspiration)

I managed to come up with the

 the final concept of my self-portrait and execute

 them using the design principles that I'd like to apply is

balance. 

The Execution

Rough Sketch on the composition and materials used

I went with Ideation 5 because I liked the reflection of the hand gesture, a subtle pose

of picking the canvas up showing a subtle delicate way of society being kind towards attractive people

(or how I perceive or think, that society prefers attractive people that way). Other than that, the position of the canvas balance out the right side of the frame (tissues) as it tilt horizontally. This indicates the balance design principle I have positioned, to ensure the weight and shape determined a similar scale on

both right and left frame. As this will show that both flaw and flawlessness 

are of the same weight, and both define as beauty. 

Lastly, in the editing part, I used Adobe Illustrator 

and used the Ellipse tool to create an oval shape and placed the photo into it. 

Then, to create a painting-art like on both canvas for the photo to look as if it is a painting, 

I used the artistic tool. I used photoshop as well to plump out the lips bigger and smoothen out the skin.

Initial Idea 

Final Idea

Final Self Portrait

DESCRIPTION:

The story behind this is about the mindset I grew up with. Society has set the beauty standard and since young, I followed. The need of validation of others became something important to me that it tarnished my mental health. Myself did not become a priority, my thoughts became my own enemy, I battle with my own self instead of me against the world. But it was myself against me. 

Due to the fact people with pretty privilege are treated better, kinder and given many opportunities.  

I had to become someone I am not to be liked by others, to be needed and loved. 

The Left Side of this frame:

I put on makeup, I edit my photos (edited the lips to be bigger), smooth skin, no texture, big round eyes: because I know that how I really look like is not enough to be liked by society. Therefore, the hands indicates how pretty privileged has it easy in life, it is always needed and perceived as perfection and flawless, it’s like a work of art. Understanding every skin tone is beautiful as a child was difficult as I get constant comments on how my friends viewed tanned skin are not the beauty standard and get bullied for it.

The Right Side of this frame:

The creased tissues indicates the flawed version on textured, wrinkled skin. As I find it scary that one day my skin won’t be as smooth or supple as I age. Above the creased tissues are hair. Body hair has always become something I am insecure of as models out there seen to have no hair on their body made me think about how I look. As it is not pleasing to the eyes compared to the models

Reflection

Reflecting back on this project, I enjoyed every second of stress and spontaneous ideas. 

I love browsing and annotating my journal or sketchbook whenever something comes up to mind. 

I'd say it was challenging at first, as I went through multiple creative blocks and I had no idea how shall I execute the portrait however, I got used to the hustle of getting them done. I took my time to stay in the moment and let creativity come on its own without forcing, pressuring and thinking someone might do it better than me. Instead, I researched a lot on understanding the human mind as well as understanding who I am. I got to relate the challenges I went through as a child and portrayed them in my self-portrait or self-representation. Every detail of editing, from composition to choosing the right colours and executing them as how I want them to be. I really did my all with this one.