Graphite Self Portrait 

Segmented Value Strip: The assignment was to shade the squares in a strip of paper from darker to lighter,  making it look detailed, and to have it follow that pattern closely. 

I just used different types of graphite pencils. 

With these pencils, I included the burnishing technique to get precise shading throughout the whole strip. It ended up looking as it was supposed to. 

Realistic Self-Portrait:  I attempted to create the most realistic self-portrait that I possibly could. I wanted to incorporate as much detail and time into it as possible, and I think that it reflects my work. 

I used many different types of pencils that vary from lighter to darker, and a tortillon for this art. 

I took a black and white photo of myself, printed it out, then measured the whole thing out into one-by-one-inch squares. I then measured the same-sized squares on my pastel paper so they would match up. I then drew, shaded, erased, and shaded again on repeat until each square was absolutely perfect. The eyes mouth and nose were all very difficult. Finally after all the precise detail and hard work I had, in my opinion, an amazing final product. It may not be insanely impressive to some people, but I started out this year being not great at art, and I would've never thought I would have made this part way through the year. I worked so hard and spend around thirteen or fourteen hours on it. I know I didn't need to do that for the project requirements themselves, but I found that partway through the drawing I wasn't even doing if for the assignment anymore, I was doing it because I was proud of it.