Value Portrait

• Essential Question: What are the key factors in painting a realistic self-portrait?

• Purpose:

  • To determine where values change when light moves over an uneven surface by using a range of gray values to paint a realistic self-portrait;

  • To become familiar with the structure of the face by painting a realistic self-portrait.

  • To effectively communicate an image that looks like you through careful examination of the values of your face

• Medium: Acrylic Paint on Acetate

Size: 8.5” x 11”

Reflection: Some key factors for a self-portrait are depth, value and shape. I feel I had good value and depth. You can tell it is 3D and you can tell where the light was hitting my face. I think my shape could be better because some aspects of my portrait look a little messed up. I also thought my balance was good. One side of my face isn't amazing while the other side is just all screwed up. It looks even. If I was to be honest I don’t think I did that good on it. I feel a little proud I completed a full-on portrait but I wish I took the drawing slower and made the numbering more organized. I think I did good on the painting but it was hard because the numbering wasn’t that good. I think the most important part is the numbering. It is easy to paint inside the lines but it is important that the lines make sense and fit together smoothly. I think the hardest part is making sure the paint is opaque because it is hard to paint on plastic. I learned that value is pretty simple. We did our portrait with only 7 values of white, gray and black. It is similar to the still life drawing because you have to work on shadow with both. With the still life you draw shadow behind the object which is different from the portrait which is drawing the shadow on the actual face. I chose a reddish- orange. I chose it because it was different than most people who did a green or a blue. I also did it because it really emphasizes the portrait and makes it stick out. I think red goes really well with black and white. It makes either of those colors pop out even more. I think it relates to me because the red really pops out and is kind of a loud color and I am a loud person so I think it goes well together.