Visual Art

What is a self-portrait? Sofonisba Anguissola (c ) She served as court painter to the Queen of Spain. She also painted several self-portraits and family portraits.

Vincent Van Gogh A self- portrait is an art work made by an artist, using their own image, and themselves as the subject matter.

Jan van Eyck Man in a Red Turban (1433) My painting is one of the first examples of a self portrait. My name is Jan van Eyck!

Élisabeth Vigée- Lebrun painted several self-portraits that were hugely successful in the Paris Salons. Here is her portrait at age 22. Élisabeth Vigée-Lebrun Self-portrait 1782

My name is Albert Druer, my work was based on math, proportion, and perspective. Which was better than some of the artists of my time!

THE ARTIST USUALLY WORKS FROM A REFLECTION IN A MIRROR. WITH THE ADVENT OF THE CAMERA ARTISTS COULD THEN USE A PHOTOGRAPH TO MAKE THEIR SELF PORTRAITS.

Early cameras…

Lorenzo di Credi (Florentine, c1457/ ), Self-Portrait, 1488, oil on panel transferred to canvas, 44 x 30.5 cm (17 3/8 x 12”) ©National Gallery of Art, Washington, Widener Collection Self Portrait

Charles Willson Peale, Self- Portrait with Angelica and Portrait of Rachel, c , oil on canvas, 91.8 x 68.9 cm (36 1/8 x 27 1/8”) ©Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, The Bayou Bend Collection, Gift of Miss Ima Hogg Self Portrait

Pablo Picasso

Self Portrait Mary Cassatt

We started to see their emotions…………… Gustave Courbet, Self Portrait (The Desperate Man), c

Self Portrait Kathe Kollwitz

Self Portrait Andy Warhol

Self Portrait Marc Chagall

We see their personality Roger Shimomura 1939-

Self Portrait Frida Kahlo

You are going to make a realistic self portrait, like mine! Stare into my eyes and see who blinks first. Giuseppe Arcimboldo, Self portrait, c. 1577

The goal of this assignment will be to create a self- portrait that is interesting and artistic, rather than just informational.

Although these portraits are drawn well, they are not expressive. The compositions are not exciting and basically pretty boring.

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS SELF PORTRAIT AGAIN. HOW HAS THE ARTIST MADE THIS MORE INTERESTING?

What about in this one?

These images show the viewer looking straight ahead. Are they still dramatic and interesting?

Be creative with how you approach a portrait. Your composition is important, and it’s not always the front of the face that creates a successful work of art.

Don’t be afraid to make expressive marks.

THE IMPORTANCE OF VALUE SHOULD NEVER BE OVERLOOKED.

Using contrast by putting white next to darks creates a dramatic effect.

You may also think about adding props to your portrait to help convey a message.

We are going to practice first.