In this piece I used the techniques I learned in class to create a realistic self-portrait of myself while wearing a mask. In addition to the block technique we used, I used shading techniques we learned to add to the realistic-being of this piece. This project relates to my life because like my other "self-portrait" it is quite literally me. In addition to this being me, I love the patriots, so me wearing he mask also connects to my life.

To create this piece, I used an array of pencils and other tools. For pencils I used, 2H, HB, 2B, 4B, and 6B, so pretty much all of them. But the important tools came when I was blending. For blending I used a paintbrush covered in graphite which worked like a gem, the role of paper but I forget what its called, and the charcoal blending eraser which was extremely helpful.

The processes used to make this varied, it required many different techniques that I've learned over the years of making art. The main techniques that I used was using the squares like Chuck Close, and using blending techniques that we learned with the sphere drawings. I also found that the work by Richard Estes was very inspiring while making this. These processes were very new to me as well so it was surprising and interesting to see how successful the overall drawing came out. This project took a pretty long time, and was not the easiest thing in the world. but there were certainly harder pairs than others. When I started I began first with the hair, and it was the hardest part of the whole drawing. The hair took me erasing over and over, probably fifteen or so times before I got it right. I wish I had watched some kind of video or tutorial on it before I went in but it worked out after. After the hair which took up probably 75% of the entire project, I moved down to the face. The face went along quite smoothly and easily. I started with the shading on the forehead, then moved down to the eyebrows and eyes. I only finished the eyes last because I figure it would be the most satisfying but unsurprisingly I found finishing the hair and getting it right to be the most satisfying part of the drawing. After getting the eyes I worked on some of the shading, I didn't realize it when I started but the shading would make the entire piece come together. I worked on the forehead first, and when I was done I was unconditionally surprised. It looked really good thanks to the charcoal eraser I used to bring in the highlights. I then moved down to the shading in the eyes. I had most of the outside of eyes done, but none inside near the nose. I didn't know how the nose would really come out and look like a nose, but when I finished the shading it was near perfect. After this, I then moved onto the mask. The mask was pretty simple, just a big shape. I didn't shad the mask yet because I had to do the Patriots logo. I already had the ears done as well, but I finished them off with the mask. The patriots logo was not the easiest and it could still use a little bit of work if you asked me, but it is as good as it could get without redoing the mask completely. After finishing the logo I shaded the mask, and got the highlights in as well. I later fixed it as a final edit to the piece the night before it was do though just to make it perfect. After shading the mask I could finally finish the eyes, they with pretty easy wand they looked pretty good too. To finish the drawing I had to erase all my smudges on the outside of the face and it was done. Probably one of my best drawings too. If I was to continue this piece, pretty much the only thing I would do is fix up the mask. The patriots logo is a little messed up but not much else. If I had to make it perfect though, would fix the hair. Theres not a lot wrong with it, it's just that it could use a do over. I might also fix the ear a bit, though its not really bad either.