Self Portrait Drawing
Now I am tasked to do another full self portrait drawing. It has to be at least 2/3’s of the compositional piece. I had this idea to do a front self portrait in chalk pastels. Then I would cut out blocks and shift them over. In the new negative space, I would insert a black and white charcoal drawing of the skeletal structure.
Sketchbook drawing of my idea.
Super cool right? In the time since I made the sketch, I learned family were coming to visit. Housecleaning, meal prep, and being present sucked a huge amount of my time.
OK… Change of plans. Draw my back profile. Cut it out and collage onto another piece of paper that has a long hallway/tunnel sort of space. Plus, this last course of Prednisone has packed on another 10 pounds. Nobody needs to see my new fatter rolls.
Sketchbook drawing of my back profile idea. I think I am going into the Abyss with this idea..
Remember before how I mentioned my brain needs to see an outline? I had my husband Nick take a picture of my back. I printed it out and grid it off. I have trouble with proportions. This is the best way for me to get this larger and on the paper. The picture was taken at a higher angle looking slightly down. This added some forshortening down to my feet.
Once the outline was drawn, I went in with a paper blending tool and some charcoal. Later I added black chalk pastel as I could smudge with it and finger blend. I needed to bump up my tattoos, so I used a sharpie marker on them. Not sure how I feel about that decision, but there is no going back.
This paper blender worked very well. I have not had much time using it, but found it to be a great way to blend in shadows and lines.
Adding in the muscle tone with the paper blender, then later my finger.
Learning from my last self portrait, I used some white to soften up the shoulder lines where my hair will be going over.
Now this is going to be sprayed with some workable fixative, then cut out to be glued to a piece of paper with some sort of optic pattern. I also drew a couple of forms on the lower right to try cutting out first. I am not sure what side of the dark outline I want to cut, so I can use those first to experiment with before I cut out my main piece.
Thinking about the background. Do I want it on Black paper, White, or Brown?
I decided to use the brown craft pap[er as my background. I thought it would contrast well with my black and white drawing, and add a different element. I lay down in the hallway to create a hallway on the paper. The vanishing point is not centered. This creates tension in the mind when viewing. This pathway is not standard, nor perfect.
Background drawing on the brown craft paper is finished. Now to cut out my drawing and glue it onto the brown paper.
Artwork needs a title.
Page from my sketchbook thinking about this artwork, what it means or represents to me, and what would be a possible good title for it..
It is easy to call something “Untitled” or “Self Portrait”. I tried to think about this drawing and what it conveyed to me. I wrote down some ideas, but nothing wanted to stick. I have spent so much time staring at this image of myself. Then I thought, maybe this wasn’t about going on a journey, but a return to self?
A bunch of words helped me express what was going on here.
Karen Day, Return to Self, 2024, Charcoal, Ink, Chalk pastel, Cardstock, Brown craft paper 24″ x 46″.
In the end, I decided that I like this drawing of myself. I am excited to take it to the studio for critique. I will post what people have to say.
Picture hanging in the studio on Critique day.
Critique was good. I agree with spending a bit more time on the hair, and softening the shadow under the buttocks. I reworked those two areas.
As for the wonky perspective, I knew it would be mentioned, and how to fix it. That is intentional and part of my art piece. This is a personal piece to me and for my audience only. It will not be changed or corrected.
