Unit 2

Throughout this unit, I have applied my skills from previous units to create photorealistic and abstract paintings with color. In my photorealist works, I focused heavily on proportion and tonal values to achieve lifelike accuracy. For example, in my portrait of Donald Trump, I carefully measured features to ensure accurate proportions, paying close attention to his orange-pink skin tone and body shape. By blending different shades, I was able to create realistic tonal values that gave the portrait depth, mimicking how light and shadow naturally appear in the real world. Additionally, I used color temperature with warm colors (like yellows and reds) and cool colors (blues and greens) to create a balanced, realistic effect. In my abstract paintings, I applied these concepts in a more expressive way. I explored bold color contrasts (ex. blue and orange in my complementary drawing). I also used warm and cool colors together by using reds with blues and yellows to create nice color combinations. In addition, I experimented with layering and how to make a painting more engaging with it, such as in my analogous colors painting, where I layered different yet similar reds on top of each other. In it, I used thick, layered strokes to give the composition movement and rhythm, while employing tonal contrast between the reds added depth. In both styles, I utilized color relationships and value manipulation to create harmony and visual interest, whether aiming for realistic representation or more emotive, abstract forms. These techniques have helped me express myself creatively while refining my technical skills overall.