Week 15: Self-Portraits

Lady Alethea Talbot, Countess of Arundel

Peter Paul Rubens

1620

Oil on canvas

Comtesse d'Haussonville

Jean-August-Dominique Ingres

1845

portrait, 52 x 36 in

Portrait of Edith (the artist's wife)

Egon Schiele

1915

painting

All pictures were taken from google art project. I chose these three specifically because of the way their hair is styled. If I were to do my self portrait of myself with my hair down, it would be a giant mess. For that reason, I decided that my self portrait would be based off of a picture of me where my hair is styled up, which is exactly how each of the women in the pieces I've chose, are styling their hair. Two of the three women have curly hair, just like me. All three are pale too, which matches my complexion.

I chose to re create the picture of myself with pencil. I find pencil to be the easiest, since painting with watercolor would be a major disaster! and that I don't have the patience to wait for the paint to dry. This piece represents me because I am usually smiling and am a happy person. It was summer when the picture was taken and I remember it was very hot out that day, which is why I put my hair up. I chose this picture as one to re create because my hair looks so different when it is up and I feel like my smile looks much brighter.

My recreation turned out awful. I had the idea in mind, but my ideas don't translate well onto paper. I started out fairly well, with my smile, but then as I continued I realized that all hope was lost. I didn't know how to draw my hair, because it is wild in person, and I'm not quite sure what the best way to draw curly hair is. I tried to incorporate shading, on the lines of my face, the darkness of my eyes, and my smile. Overall, I feel that my picture looks as if I am a boy. It did not turn out well. I wish that I had artistic skills, but I guess I'll just have to keep practicing!