GCSE/YR/1
GCSE YR1 / PROJECT 1 / SELF PORTRAIT IN 4 OBJECTS
INTRODUCTION TO THE PROJECT (4 week project)
You need to produce 4 separate artworks (see example below), all square, each square no less than 20cm square (we can cut out and put the 4 squares together once back in the studio). This is a self portrait but not directly of you but of elements in your life!
I am not sure what materials you have at home but please use what you have, if you can use a different medium for each square that would be great.
I want you to use a range of approaches and to be inspired by different artists for each one. I have loaded a Pinterest board - title 'SELF PORTRAIT IN 4 OBJECTS' for your reference of possible approaches to be influenced by - the PINTEREST link is below.
This is a 4 weeks project to produce the 4 artworks. There are other potential projects dotted around the this website so if you would like to do more (which I would love) for example on the BLOG there is a post called 'Drawing / my space', also look back onto the home page and remember I need a self portrait as quick or as detailed as you like, one-liner or full on painting - you decide.
TO DO FOR WEEK 1:
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CHOOSE WHICH SQUARE TO START FOR WEEK 1 - LOOK AT THE LIST NEXT TO THE EXAMPLE BELOW
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LOOK AT PINTEREST BOARD: 'SELF PORTRAIT IN 4 OBJECTS' TO SEE REFERENCE AND DIFFERENT APPROACHES (link to Pinterest board below)
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PRODUCE THE FIRST ARTWORK
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UPLOAD FIRST ARTWORK - UPLOAD BEFORE OR ON THE MONDAY OF WEEK 2 (18 JANUARY)
HOW TO UPLOAD: take a photograph of your first artwork. Upload it to SHARED GALLERY which is under 'More' in the top menu (you will need to have signed up and be a MEMBER before it lets you upload).
If you have problems with uploading please drop me a message - using the messenger in the bottom right of each page.
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List of possible objects:
The 4 squares, things, pets or people in your house. Use a range of medium where you can:
SQUARE 1:
Possibles: Plants, pets, meaningful objects etc
SQUARE 2:
Object from the kitchen maybe, something practical or mechanical or digital in the house etc
SQUARE 3:
Objects of yours: pair of favourite shoes, trainers, play station controller, sport equipment, pile of stuff in room etc
SQUARE 4:
Someone in the house, perhaps lounging around, working at laptop, eating lunch, also include a few objects in the scene - chair, cushions, computer etc
Medium used in these examples:
1: Pencil crayons
2: Paint and fineliner
3: Acrylic or oil paint
4: Pencil possibly 6B
SQUARE NUMBER 4: LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYONES NEXT SQUARE - IF YOU ARE DRAWING A PERSON THERE ARE A FEW USEFUL NOTES ON THE 'USEFUL' PAGE TO HELP WITH THIS.
Really great work coming in for the SELF PORTRAIT IN 4 OBJECTS project. I will post thoughts here for each artwork as they come in.
The next part of this project for this week (week 2) is of course SQUARE NUMBER 2 . Remember to reference the Pinterest page (link above) and also think about what medium you are going to use for this square that is different from the first square.
HI EVERYONE - PLEASE HAVE A LOOK AT 'POSITIVE + NEGATIVE SPACE' IN THE BLOG.
This is a project we did last year for the A Level students - I think it would work really well for this self portrait project for one of the squares for both approach (medium) and content.
This is a really good composition Floyd and fantastic drawing with pencil crayon.
the plant in the background echoes the cats ears as well as the markings on the fur really well. That the plant all comes from behind the cat and bleeds out of the frame of the image creates real drama from the eyes outwards.
And the fine linework of the whiskers adds depth with a delicate front layer to the artwork. Great work!
Excellent Ella - really well thought out composition - really like the angle of the snout and nose, in art the diagonal signifies movement and activity which looks just right - it certainly feels like activity is about to happen!
The nose also points to the corner which adds to the strong compositional structure.
The strong contrast between the foreground object (dog) and the background is effectively achieved with colour but also with the different textures. Really good!
Great Leo, this is a really good response to the Michael Craig-Martin artwork (on Pinterest) that comes across with your bold use of colour. Really like the change in colour in the shadow area of the controller.
Also really like that it is on a diagonal, this gives it a dynamic relation to the square along with the scale. Also a good decision I think to make it too large to fit the square allows you to get the detail and graphics on the controller. Well done!
Really good drawing Tom. You have got the figure and the position of the crouching dog really well and have captured the texture of the fur with the movement in the paint - called scrubbing.
Again, as with others the diagonal in the square frame adds a sense of movement which is very appropriate here for the subject matter. Well done Tom.
A good graphic approach Henri. The white line around the controller works well to lift it off the background along with subtle shadow on the green.
You have contrasted the symmetrical and manufactured structure of the controller with the organic shape behind and left good breathing space from the green to the edge of the square. Great Henri.
This is really good Fiona - is it in Procreate?
Really like the tonal range you have from the highlights (light areas) to the shadows (dark areas). Good drama and contrast against the light background.
It isn’t a square so I would just carry on with this rectangle format for the other three artworks as well.
Really nice detail here Alex. The extra shadow in the holes really gives a sense of depth and perspective to the artwork.
I really like the way the fish on the right cuts in front of the plant, this shows us the layers and depth of element in the fish tank, I think especially because the foreground object (fish) is lighter and the background object darker.
Good expressive use of paint here Leo to create the silhouette - dramatic contrast with black and white.
What have you got planned for the next square - have a look at the Positive and Negative project above and on the blog. This could mean setting up a photograph as well.
This is great Esme - good drawing and composition and really good tonal range and texture along with good confident brushwork.
For one of the remaining 2 squares left have a look at the Positive and Negative Space project above - it's also on the blog.
This is a strong graphic shape and design James.
Once we are back in the studio we will be able to create some good effects with this in Photoshop - repeating the image, overlapping, adjusting colours and using the layering effect.
For one of the other squares have a look at the Positive and Negative Space project above - it's also on the blog
Great Orin, think the added elements add nicely to the composition. Good perspective drawing of the chair and really like the pattern work on the throws and cushions.
Have e a look at my Pinterest board - 'Detail Portraits S' shows how effective pattern or detailed areas can be often in contrast to clear flat colour areas.
A good subject matter to represent you Orin. Also good to be using a range of medium - you have captured the form of the tools with good shading and highlights.
What have you got planned for the next square - have a look at the Positive and Negative project above and on the blog. This could mean setting up a photograph as well.
This is great Isabella - did you use Procreate. Very strong graphic approach and excellent use of colour.
The whiskers contrast really well on the black background which also contrasts well with the intense colour of the cat.
What have you got planned for the next square - have a look at the Positive and Negative project above and on the blog. This could mean setting up a photograph as well.
Excellent detail Nora - you have really captured the transparency of the plastic case. Really like the little drop shadows on the type, gives it an extra sense of depth.
Also good use of limited colour with the hint of red here and there.
Again really good drawing and detail. Like the composition with the neck heading off into the corner and the cord an important part of the balance.
I wonder if the idea of the line - cord on this artwork and tape on the previous one - could somehow connect up across the 4 squares, depending of course on what you do for the next 2 squares - just a thought!
What have you got planned for the next square - have a look at the Positive and Negative project above and on the blog. This could mean setting up a photograph as well
Love the background here Alex - strong focus on negative space with good detail.
What have you got planned for the next square - have a look at the Positive and Negative project above and on the blog. This could mean setting up a photograph as well - I think you would enjoy it.
An interesting combination of an abstract background and recognisable line work. I really like the lines that finish with a dot at each end - reminds me of that game where you have to find most squares.
I will put together a Pinterest board with some reference of artist who lean towards your approach Thomas - I will text when I've posted.
What have you got planned for the next square - you might like to have a look at the positive and negative space project above and on the blog.
This is great Floyd - good drawing and you have handled the ellipse really well . Also good shading to catch the light on the body and lens.
Really like the decision made to run the strap across the square in this way - you are really thinking about composition. Also good use of limited colour on the strap.
Great Henri - the artist at work! You have handled the difficult perspective really well here. The chair and the wheels is a tricky angle that you have done well.
What are you thinking for the next square - might be worth having a look at the Positive and Negative space project above and its also on the blog - setting up a still life with lights and shadow.
This is very strong Ella, the pattern detail is excellent. I really like how you have used the busy pattern background to pick out the shape of the pot in the foreground.
Excellent engagement with the value of positive and negative spaces. Also really good composition.