Realistic Self Portrait

This project was a realistic self portrait. The idea was to use a grid to get the sizes and values correct. I chose to add a splash of color because I wanted there to be something that popped.  I was inspired by some of the examples that were given, especially the one with the stream of paint splatters, so I wanted to add some element of color in a modern art way. I like the way the bright blue contracts with the greyscale of the  rest of the image, so I went for it. 

To make this artwork I used a large array of graphite pencils, ranging from 4h to 14b. I also used some blue acrylic paint. I did this all on drawing paper. 

To start this project, I took a black and white photo of myself and printed it out. I then drew a grid over the photo and then created the same grid on my drawing paper.  After the grid was laid out, I went in and sketched in my face and torso. Then following the gridding technique, I went box by box, filling in the details. I started by making dark lines and differentiating between the darks and lights than I used a blending stump to make it cohesive. After I had finished with the graphite drawing, I colored in my irises and my coat with blue acrylic paint.