The document summarizes a student's summer assignment project where they explored different portrait painting styles and techniques. Specifically: - The student analyzed a portrait by Benjamin Sullivan that used unusual skin tone colors and textures and tried to replicate this style. - They created initial sketches exploring different poses and compositions before choosing to focus on a close-up self-portrait leaning on their hand. - Through practicing different paintings, they worked to better develop intense skin tones and colors like Sullivan's style using acrylic paint. - In their final self-portrait, the student aimed to portray a sense of boredom or lack of focus through their expression and pose leaning on their hand. - They reflected on learning about

1. SUMMER
ASSIGNMENT AND
SELF REVIEW
JemimaWitt

2. Hugo by Benjamin Sullivan was the third prize award in the
portrait awards. Immediatley the style of painting of this picture
intrigued me, I like the colour tones specifically in the skin tones. I
wanted to try out the techniques as I’d never seen anyone use such
different colours and tones in skin, there was a mix of brown, pink,
purples and green tints, which when I went to use this style I
wanted to try and highlight.
It’s not a huge piece as it’s only 46 x 36 cm, but immediatley you
get a sense of pride and respect for this man through the
composition of this piece and the way his hands are positioned on
his lap.The slight hunching of the shoulders and the legs being
crossed makes it slightly more relaxed but you do feel as though
he is important.After doing research I found out he is a poet and
this was painted in his flat in London, so being in his own home
probably creates the more relaxed feel.
Summer Assignment: Portrait Project
- Initial Research

3. The bruised and battered style on the face creates a a slightly
more emotional feel which a lot of his work has quite detailed
differing tones. Its slightly textured when you’re close you can see
some brush strokes and some areas where the colours blend
together.
It looks as though the artist is trying to create him in a good light,
making him look like a figure of importance.You can infer that the
artist has quite a lot of respect for this man by the way he has
portrayed him looking quite regal.
Much like the three other pieces I studied this one again has little
background focus and wants to ensure that the viewer is looking
at the figure and that they are the centre of attention.When I do
my painting I want to have little focus on the background and
possibly have little or no background in the image.
Summer Assignment: Portrait Project
- Initial Research

4. To create some initial ideas of how I could compose my painting to show some
of different styles and expressions. Whether I was to focus on just the face or
have more body in it as the focus. I tried lower angles, ones wear I’m looking
to the side, up or including my hand in the picture.
After doing eight line drawings I liked the positions where my hand was in it as
it added some more expression to the image, specifically a look of boredom
which could link a little bit to my personality in some ways. Composition two,
three, four and eight.Two because I felt this created a distance and I really
enjoyed drawing it as I think its one of the drawings that look most like me,
possibly due to being a specific angle it was more measured. I also like the
angle from below, the resting on the hands and close up to the face. So this
helped me to make my drawings into four more developed paintings.
From my four chosen compositions I developed these four paintings. For
compositions two & four I made the sketches look like me but struggled with
the painting. I tested different ways of doing the hair by using different
colours and sizes of paintbrush, I decided from the four paintings my favourite
position was the close up to the face leaning on the hand. I think it was quite
personal and intimidating. From practicing these paintings it made me realise
that I needed to focus more on creating the intense colours and tones in the
skin more like Benjamin Sullivan.
Summer Assignment: Portrait Project
- Experiments and Decisions

5. The painting I was using as inspiration used oils on canvas,
so I decided to use acrylics as this was what I had available
to me.This was the closest material I had available to
replicate his style in the best way. I tried to develop my
technique by creating several different tones that used
greens, browns, reds and purples in it to create the more
beaten up look to my skin like his style in the pictures.
Looking at some of the other work of Benjamin Sullivan it
helped me to develop the use of highlights and skin tones.
With these pictures to reference I was slightly more brave
with colours and started to make some colour
differentiation. Possibly if I’d had more time or developed
slightly further I could have practiced his style more in order
to replicate it.
Summer Assignment: Portrait Project
- Experiments and Decisions

6. Throughout this project I have learnt to break everything up in order to
get the most developed outcome. Especially from experimenting with
compositional drawings and then practicing four small paintings,
definitely helped for a better outcome. I was struggling with making it
look like or have any resemblance to me. Although in the final outcome
there is definitely some improvement that could be made, however I felt I
made it slightly more like me as I the measured drawing from the mirror
first.
I learnt that it is important to work from observation as you get a
stronger, more advanced 3D image that drawing from a 2D photo. Also
found that having a few mirrors helped with the initial drawing and
shaping the face.
It was difficult to portray an aspect of personality as I think self portraits
can be very personal and quite exposing. Overall I think mine has little
personality as I felt slightly uncomfortable with that aspect.The only
thing you could really infer is that its quite intimidating and may
represent some boredom and a loss of focus as it looks as though I’m not
really focusing on anything.
I found after experimenting that to create this style I needed to use
layering as oppose to one layer of paint, it created more texture and style.
This helped to replicate the style of Benjamin Sullivan better.
Summer Assignment: Portrait Project
- Final Outcome

7. Reflecting onYear 1
Over the projects we didlast year I think the most important assignments I did for me would have been
the equivalents project, life drawing lessons, the surface design and fine art summative project.The
equivalents project was important as it was a large step up and I learnt a lot and achieved a lot in a short
space of time.Through being taught measured drawing, analysis, speed and not needing every piece to
be perfect really helped me to prepare for further projects. Life drawings were crucial, I learnt a lot about
the shape of the body and how to create it in a measured realistic style in different medias. It advanced
my drawing skills greatly.The surface design project was especially useful as it was working to a brief
with areas of art I wouldn’t usually use for example screen printing. It enabled me to learn new skills and
progress to create a more varied project. Finally the fine art summative project was really useful to me
as again it was working toward a brief for the british museum and I did a huge amount of
experimentation which helped me to progress and create a refined piece of abstract art created from
many different sources.
Over the year my skills in art have advanced in many ways, my drawing from observation has improved
massively and I can now sketch objects and people in a more advanced style. I have also widened my
skills and can now use more medias and styles than I would have ever done before. I have learned I am
quite strong when it comes to more fine art styles as oppose to working in the workshop or the textiles
side.

8. Looking Forward
This year I would like to develop my 3D and design skills, by hopefully
creating something like small room models and technical planned
drawings. I would like to do more work that could create a widened
portfolio with some strong pieces. Hopefully I will be able to manage my
time better and ensure I’m on top of the work, also that it doesn’t have to
be perfect and redoing work is never a good idea.
I also need to research into what is needed or works well to have in a
portfolio and the likeliness of getting onto a university course if you don’t
have a foundation qualification and whether the BTEC is a good
representation of skills. Specifically I need to look into what kind of
portfolioTV and Film Set Design courses are looking for and what I can do
to increase the likelihood of being accepted.

9. Plans for the Future
I still am interested inTV and Film Set Design, if anything this course, researching and
talking to people about it helped to solidify that this is what I want to do. Hopefully for my
EPC this year I will create a mini set design project for myself which will add to my
portfolio.
My current progression aim is to get Distinction/ Distinction*s in art to ensure the best
chance of getting accepted onto the courses I want to do.Throughout the next couple of
months I need to put extra work in to create a stronger portfolio.This is my current aim as
it will give me the best start for university.
I will need a strong portfolio that aims toward the set design route, hopefully I will get to
do some work experience before going to uni to also increase the strength of my
application. I need to get a B or higher in Psychology and Distinction Merits in Art to get
into the uni’s I have looked at .
To increase the chance of this happening I need to develop my skills over the next year
with work experience and my EPQ.