Self-Portrait
Title: Self Portrait
3 ft x 3 ft
December 2016
Exhibition Text: This self portrait was created to portray fearlessness of hiding and showing your true self. In most female portraits that I have come across, women are always being shown as shy, dainty, or delicate like a flower. They are being posed either twirling their hair around their fingers, holding their face, or looking down so they are never looking directly at the camera. Wtih this painting, I didn't want to be seen as hiding myself in regret of being who I actually am. Instead, I wanted to show that I love myself and as Gaga said, love yourself a little more each day and you'll be set for life.
Artistic Inspiration
My self-portrait was inspired by Lady Gaga's ' Born This Way ' album cover. What inspired me most about this music art was the artist's ability to show self-love and self-liberation. Despite all prejudices, Gaga makes it known that there is nothing wrong with loving who you are, and acceptance is important to living blissfully. I feel as though the two covers from her album perfectly represent the overall message trying to be communicated. In each Gaga is shown looking straight into the camera, not afraid of being seen. Her hair is made a mess, to show that you don't have to look perfect to be beautiful. The facial expressions on her face are bold.
Experimentation
When I was painting my piece, I had experimented with different possible textured for my background. I tried to make a dark shade of blotches as a way of transitioning from the background hue to the hair. However, I was not liking what I was creating, so I chose to paint over this area of the piece.
Process
1. Gathering Ideas
I began my process by finding some inspiration and ideas. As soon as the self portrait project was presented, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I've always loved Lady Gaga as a performer and her persona was one of which I have always been inspired by, so I knew right away that I wanted my painting to be based off of her album covers.
I began my process by finding some inspiration and ideas. As soon as the self portrait project was presented, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I've always loved Lady Gaga as a performer and her persona was one of which I have always been inspired by, so I knew right away that I wanted my painting to be based off of her album covers.
3. Gathering Materials
Before beginning the actual painting, I had to put together all of my materials. This included my canvas, paint brushes, and acrylic paints.
Before beginning the actual painting, I had to put together all of my materials. This included my canvas, paint brushes, and acrylic paints.
4. Building the Canvas
For this painting, I was not given a canvas which meant I was required to build one of my own. I began this by putting together a 3x3 ft wooden frame and stapling the corners together for more stability. After this I had to cut out an appropriate amount of fabric for the canvas. I placed it over one side of the frame and then stapled it down. Once I was done construting the canvas, I applied about 3 coats of gesso to harden the canvas and smooth it out.
For this painting, I was not given a canvas which meant I was required to build one of my own. I began this by putting together a 3x3 ft wooden frame and stapling the corners together for more stability. After this I had to cut out an appropriate amount of fabric for the canvas. I placed it over one side of the frame and then stapled it down. Once I was done construting the canvas, I applied about 3 coats of gesso to harden the canvas and smooth it out.
5. Transferring the Sketch
In order to transfer my final sketch idea onto the canvas, I needed a projector. I projected my image onto my canvas and simply began tracing over the image. For the areas in which I did not use a projector, I just created a grid, and was able to fill it in square by square for fine detail.
In order to transfer my final sketch idea onto the canvas, I needed a projector. I projected my image onto my canvas and simply began tracing over the image. For the areas in which I did not use a projector, I just created a grid, and was able to fill it in square by square for fine detail.
6. Applying the Paint
When I finished sketching my final idea onto my canvas I began to apply paint. I was supplied with only a few hues, so I spent a big portion of my time mixing and blending paints together.
When I finished sketching my final idea onto my canvas I began to apply paint. I was supplied with only a few hues, so I spent a big portion of my time mixing and blending paints together.
7. Final Touches
After I finished putting on the first coat of paints, I went over it section by section, making sure to include all of the details and properly blen the colors together.
After I finished putting on the first coat of paints, I went over it section by section, making sure to include all of the details and properly blen the colors together.
Reflection
Overall, my self portrait turned out to be decent however, it could be greatly improved. If I were to start anew with this project, I would make sure to provide myself with even more time than I had set aside. When creatingn my piece I was not content with the type of paint I chose to use. My painting was done with acrylic paints, which at the end of the process, I disliked. I would have prefered to start my painting again, only this time using oil on canvas. With oil paints, I feel as though I am able to create more realistic looking paintings. Unlike oil paints, the acrylics looked kind of flat and too cartoon like. Perhaps it was just the way I actually paint and not the paint that made the difference, but I would still prefer an attempt at completing it with oil paints.
ACT Questions
1. Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationships between your inspiration and its effect upon your artwork.
Self Portrait was inspired by Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' album cover. The overall album was made to impact the message of freedom, feminism, and individualism. My painting is portraying myself and my idea of being self-empowered. I chose Lady Gaga because despite everything, to me, she is a strong individual.
2. What is the overall approach (point of view) the author (from your research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The author of my research does good on making it known that she is a full believer on self-liberation, just by being who she is and performing about it. The author describes the overall album as showing love for every part of yourself.
3. What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
Throughout my research I found that your race, gender, or sexuality have no matter in loving who you are. I've learned that to many people loving a human or a religious entity can both equally be considered worhsip, since they calim that loving humans is an essential part of their religion.
4. What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The theme that I focused on was identity. Through my self portrait I wanted to emphasize the importance of learning who you are and loving that person.
5) What kind of inferences (conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning) did you make while reading your research?
A coclusion that I made while doing my research was that it's okay to be confident with yourself. There will be others forming prejudices towards you but you don't have to feel like you're being self-centered.
Self Portrait was inspired by Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' album cover. The overall album was made to impact the message of freedom, feminism, and individualism. My painting is portraying myself and my idea of being self-empowered. I chose Lady Gaga because despite everything, to me, she is a strong individual.
2. What is the overall approach (point of view) the author (from your research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The author of my research does good on making it known that she is a full believer on self-liberation, just by being who she is and performing about it. The author describes the overall album as showing love for every part of yourself.
3. What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
Throughout my research I found that your race, gender, or sexuality have no matter in loving who you are. I've learned that to many people loving a human or a religious entity can both equally be considered worhsip, since they calim that loving humans is an essential part of their religion.
4. What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The theme that I focused on was identity. Through my self portrait I wanted to emphasize the importance of learning who you are and loving that person.
5) What kind of inferences (conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning) did you make while reading your research?
A coclusion that I made while doing my research was that it's okay to be confident with yourself. There will be others forming prejudices towards you but you don't have to feel like you're being self-centered.