History

Edwin Dickenson self-port.

Thomas Eakins self-portrait

The history of portrait painting has been spotted at best. Ancient portraits were done by people who did not sign their work. It was believed that the subject was important and the artist or artisan a talented slave. Artists were little more than chattel passed from hand to hand by the rich and powerful, even through the middle ages. While the concept of 'owning' a person has passed away, the position or rank of the artist has little changed. Psychologists write that creativity is an aberrant behavior on the level of schizophrenia. This makes it easy to understand why there are so few portraits of psychologists. Perhaps, if there were more artists in the world, or more art in all our lives we would see less need for the psychologist and psychiatrist.

Almost every artist attempts a self portrait. It is a watermark in the development of skills to develop and record a clear eyed un-flattering view of 'self'. It is almost a rule that artists are most critical of themselves. So too, the self-portrait is the least flattering view of self, yet it contains the grain of truth that captures the subject. For this reason, artists trade portraits of each other. It is a way to get to the truth without the need to be hyper-critical of the self. For the art student it is a good way to start an art collection. While I am glad that the class will have models to work with, I will miss seeing the maturation of skills applied to the diversity faces in this class. By drawing each other you have participated in a shared adversity that will last, and go with you.

Drawing Hints :

Notes: We look at every manner of portrait making, and try a few ourselves. Yet we have only scratched the surface of possibilities in mark and image making.

Process

In drawing from the model there are several things to remember. Things to be conscious of while you work. Model poses are longer and a more thorough drawing is possible. So too, the more inclusive view is possible. While you should subordinate the rest of the figure to achieving a likeness, there is time to consider the whole: the background and negative space, the balance and composition of the entire drawing. Bring the parts together to benefit the whole.

In-Class work: Draw 3 - 5 minute warm up drawings of the subject - 1 or 2 fully developed drawings - try to capture a likeness - be conscioius of the whole composition including negative space.

Homework Assignment in addition to weekly sketchbook drawings:
Due October 22, 2003, - seated or standing pose, an entire figure portrait

Q - When working from a photograph, how do you make corrections to gain a better likeness?
A - If you turn the photograph and drawing upside down, the differences will become quickly apparent. With the shapes reduced to abstract values, it is easier to recognize changes that need to be made. It is easier to acquire an objective view.