SEMESTER TWO - UNIT 2

ACRYLIC SELF PORTRAIT PAINTING

 IDENTITY –

Expressive Self- Portrait

Student's developed a self-portrait to communicate how they are perceived as individuals in this world through research and exploring the use of identity in modern to  post-modern portraiture ( other artist's styles ).

Finn Allman

Man on Earth

This artwork, ‘Man on Earth’ by Finn Allman is a self portrait which conveys the message of loss of identity and personality. In the painting the right side of the human face is blending into the purple background. This represents how in today’s society many people are afraid to be their true self in this world with the fear of being judged. On the contrast, the left side of the painting is perfect without any blemishes, this represents the side which people show to the world. This contrast accurately depicts the message of this painting which explains how many people are not truly themselves in many situations.

Peter Bousgas

The Prussian

The Prussian, is me at its best, not perfect but good enough. My chosen artist Claude Monet had some very interesting techniques in the styles he utilized in his self-portrait, especially his shading and shadowing contrasting a light background, the smudging on the neck, background and jacket was cool and looked like something (I am me) would do.  The colors I chose were basic with a blue background contrasting me a darker and lighter image, the colors I chose were specific as these were the ones that naturally appealed to me and tried to incorporate into my self-portrait.  The Prussian, is trying to convey a message and a sense of wonder and not to fear anything that comes your way.

Sidney Bradnam

 The inverse of Reality

 This artwork explores the emotion of anxiety whilst displaying my journey through overcoming this.  Through the utilization of bold attention seeking colors, cartoon like eyes, and a unique approach this artwork is able to tell a story. The eyes are what draws attention in many self portraits so within the work the eyes were going to be the ones to hold the meaning.  Two different styles were utilized on the eyes to demonstrate the feeling of anxiety, and the story of overcoming that feeling. This artwork incorporates the task of ”The self”, telling the story of the artist through his journey.

 

Etienne Chabert

“Self Portrait”

The ’self portrait’ displays a side of the artist that is not easily noticeable. What is important to see in the painting is to understand the meaning is the size of the brush strokes and bulky lines and not blending segments of the painting together. This represents the artists need to rush into things. Once he is fixed on a bold idea he will irrationally start and therefore creates a work that displays the artists attitude toward things. Impulsive and illogical as even just a few more periods could set him up better for his artwork into the coming future.

Wally Haycon

Cozza Oates

This painting, “Cozza Oates”, is inspired by well known artist Francois Neilly. The thick and colorful strokes of paint has a very appealing look to it as being as simple as it looks it is actually a lot more complicated. My focus was to try and fit in as much colors as possible and still express the shadows and brightness of it all clearly while also making body features clear as well. The pose that was chosen is just one to fit in as much as my face as possible.

Daniel Maurice

Essence

The piece “Essence” is a representation of my main two heritages and captures how my two backgrounds influenced the choices I have made and my life experiences. The combination of the split background and the rugby jersey being worn gives the audience a rough idea of my hobbies, where I feel comfortable and captures the key features that impact my life at the moment. The most influential reference artist I had while making this piece was Robin Sealark.

Zenn Pizzinat

Distant Despair

My artwork takes a more minimalistic approach unlike most of the other students. The intent inside of this portrait is to portray the battle and disagreements that I have within myself. Whilst one side of me is blue which represents the sadness, disbelief or other thoughts that. I have the other side of me in this instance is red and other warm colours represents my self belief, happiness etc. In this artwork you realise that the two sides don’t meet.  They may look similar, but they will never come together. The artwork highlights the things people wouldn’t see just from looking at my face. You could say it’s a deeper look into my mind.

Stuart Place

Colours

My mentor artist was David Spillane and I liked his art style because it isn’t overly detailed. The focus of this painting was the face, my pose is looking up in the sky therefore bringing the focus to my face. I chose abstract colors so my painting would look similar to my mentor artists painting.

 Jack Raff

“Being me” 

 

The Self-portrait that I have painted is called “Being me”. I got my idea of this from my mentor artist Adam Cullen. I chose Cullen because I really liked all the bold colours that he had used and how his works  look so simple and faltering but it was not very simple.

Angus Robinson

Beyond the surface

  My self portrait “Beyond The Surface” aims to explore the tendency of human nature to pass judgement based on appearances. It also aims to challenge the toxic masculinity that he has experienced through being educated in an all boys private school. The lens with which we judge others is heavily influenced by ones own cultural, racial, sexual and personal biases. It is only when we choose to delve beneath the surface do we discover the true core of a person. 

The artist has chosen a staunch passive aggressive stance where the subject is looking directly at the viewer in a confrontational manner. The dark blue tones of the background and of the choice of black attire suggest a sadness within the subject. Reflective of the artists true feelings of having to exist in an environment that only reveres one type of masculinity; that being one where no “softer” emotion is allowed to be displayed.

Further more at the time of painting the artist was temporarily disabled with a broken right hand limiting his dexterity and ability to hold a paint brush. He chose to explore an unconventional method of painting to execute his self portrait. Finger painting is seen to be in the domain of small children and naïve art.

Euan Russell

Light from Within

In the artwork “Light From Within” I chose not for symmetry or complete perfection as that does not completely reflect the sitter. As seen throughout the painting streaks of turquoise blue remain evident with no real meaning at first. Within our society today people are led to believe they must abide by society's expectations, looked upon as an outcast if they portray odd features or actions. The major message of artwork is to free yourself of expectations, therefore a side not commonly seen may express itself, breaking down the barriers of society.

Daniel Statham

Clouded minds

The work ‘Clouded Minds’ is a representation of the artist , using a wide variety of simple symbolism to depict a much more complex message. The work is constructed appeals to the viewers through its soft pastel colours bringing a sense of calmness. This style of having an empty face and colours was inspired by artist Alexandra Levasseur . The composition immediately draws viewers attention and was placed to convey the message of having a mind that overthinks and is crowded all the time by self doubt, often disrupting train of thought. A Butterfly and eyes are placed inside the artwork to provide different texture, colour and rhythm to the artwork creating an effect while telling a message about the artist, a love for colour and the protection of family and friends. All of these symbols add to the hidden message of the artist’s good personality traits being closed off through the emotion of self-doubt. 

Samuel Sweetland

Sam Gogh

Sam Gogh is an abstract media representing a self-portrait of the artist Samuel Sweetland. The piece is based off the mentor artist Vincent Van Gogh which is represented throughout the long brushstrokes that I admire which can be seen in the piece. The idea of using mainly primary colors and a few secondary colors appeared from, Van Gogh’s: ‘self-portrait with Grey Felt Hat’. Hence, a resemblance can be seen where the bright colors illuminate the face representing the bright side of myself which can work as a mask when shown mostly in public. Whereas the dark colors in the background represents the emotional side that sometimes encapsulates the happy side. Therefore, the pose is to show some depth of the face.

Vincent Wilkie

Hiding Behind

The piece ‘Hiding Behind’ is a painting that explores the themes of masking. Masking can be defined in many ways, it is seen to hide someone’s true self, this is done by giving a person the ability to hide being something that may not always be visible from the outside. Everyone in our lives is a victim of the disease of masking, there is no way of telling who a person truly is due to the person possibly having no idea that their real personality is hiding behind a mask. The artwork clearly displays this by having the paint cover the entirety of the face apart from the eyes. The symbol of the eyes is to show that if we all look closely there is a chance in finding who someone truly is. the theme of masking is a commonly found issue that more people suffer from than expected. Through this piece there is an attempt to show awareness for others and the personality that they might be hiding.