1. Initial Sources
For my initial sources I visited the national portrait gallery, whilst I was there I was
impressed with the fantastic artwork that some artist had done such as Dean Marsh and
Stephan Earl-Rogers. I was also really interested in some of the of photographers, such as
William Eggoleston and Alistair Morrison. Through the summer we were asked to look at
different ways of a ‘self portrait’ and how different media and experimenting can help with
a final outcome. I chose these four initial sources and also some painted work in the style of
them.
2. Experiments and Decisions
When experimenting I looked a range of artists such as Stephen Earl Rogers and Dean
Marsh because of their use of a solid background colour with exquisite detail of the
portrait subject . I like the way Stephen Earl Roger’s ‘Susan Detail’ looks like a photograph
with a block red background. Using a block single colour for the background focuses the
eye on the subject and in this instance, ‘Susan’ is painted with almost photographic
quality detail. “Susan” is oil on canvas, 27 x 20 inches
3. Experiments and Decisions
Dean Marsh’s painting of ‘Giulietta Coates’ also has a single block
colour background but unlike
Stephen Earl-Rogers’s bright red background, Dean Marsh’s background
and palette is more muted and subtle. However the styles are very
similar in that they are portraits with no detail in the background.
“Guilietta Coates” was Stephen Earl Rogers’s
Girlfriend and an actress and this portrait won the
BP Portrait Award 2005.
The painting is oil on board; 731 x 575 mm
4. Experiments and Decisions
In the first self portrait I
used watercolours and
pencil. I think the
perspective and proportions
are good and the likeness is
there but I struggled with
the mouth.
My second self portrait was
acrylic on card and I
experimented more with
using a variety of colours
outside of skin tone palette
such as blue and green and I
like the effect they have on
the face, skin and muscles
and hair.
In the third self portrait I
used watercolour with fine
liner pen.
The shape of my face, texture of my hair and general likeness is closer to ‘me’ in
this portrait and used fine liner pen to define the areas such as eyes , nose and
mouth where I have previous struggled and a happy with the result.
5. Experiments and Decisions
This is a self portrait which I did in Alyson's lesson last year and I
labelled it ‘The Tiredness of Art’.
I used black ink on A2 paper. The portrait is simple in its draft and
yet it conveys my features and that I was tired and feeling
exhausted at the time.
The piece allowed me freedom to explore using ink in a self portrait
and it was good to do something outside of the strict requirements
of the unit tasks.
I like the child-like simplicity and yet the image is quite compelling.
I have been told that I look anything from ‘sad’, ‘creepy’, ‘tired’ but
a number of friends and family note that it is ‘expressive’ and like it.
I think I will frame it!
6. Experiments and Decisions
This is a example and an interpretation of a photograph, by William Eggelston at the National Portrait
Gallery in summer 2016; ‘untitled’ 1969-’70 (the artist’s uncle, Adyn Schuyler Senior with assistant
Jasper Staples, in Cassidy Bayou, Sumner, Mississippi).
In my interpretation of this photograph, I used mixed media; coloured pencil, water colours and kept the
palette to the muted tertiary colours to echo those in the original.
8. Experiments and Decisions
When I was thinking of how my final outcome for my design I was very unclear on how I would do it and
with what media? When focusing on doing my portrait and going into more depth on how it could work,
I thought about what media I could use, I decided to use oil paints.
I wanted to do it in the style of Dean Marsh as I though his work has a natural quality to it. The use of
colour and brush strokes , and shading produce a very natural look to his subjects. I like the simple
colour of the background so your eye focuses on the subject and is not distracted by anything else.
I have experimented with using colours in my self portraits and have used blues and greens as well as
reds and purples in the skin tone to emphasise bone structure, jaw and cheek definitions and even
included colour to show texture and shape in hair.
10. Reflecting on Year 1
The Summative Project at the end of Year 1 was my most important learning experience when I look back at
Year 1. The project demanded lots of imagination and turning that into a creative 3D model with a view to
being a real piece of design with a purpose and a function for use by the public. At the same time, the project
subject, in my case a pyramid multi-story seating space, needed to compliment and fit in to an exhibition inside
the British Museum.
My skills for patience and observing have improved greatly. I am more inclined to study a subject and plan my
drawing or painting rather than jumping straight in to produce one single shot at the end product. I now take
my time to observe and draw from several perspectives to produce the end product. I believe my greatest
achievement is that I have widened my thinking and will consider and explore a number ideas and options and
not stick with the first one.
Looking forward to the second year I need to work on my planning and time management to ensure I meet
targets and get my work done. I plan to develop my research skills and produce more in-depth analysis and
reports. But mainly I’d like to continue to grow and develop my skills to produce models and Marquettes.
11. Plans for the future
I have chosen to progress a interest in design and in particular that of TV and film set design. I have enjoyed
designing models both static and moving since I was a young boy and have also used computer graphics
games to design building and cities.
It is my current aim to produce a portfolio with great examples of the breadth of my work across all the
areas we have studied and that will impress the University I would like to go to. I need to show a wide range
of skills from fine art to model making and perhaps even sculpture. I would also like to explore drawing to
scale and showing detailed drawings.
I have bought a few books that were suggested on a recent trip to an open day at the University of South
Wales: ‘Designing for Screen ‘ by Georgina Horter and ‘Designer Drafting and Visualising for the
Entertainment World’ by Patricia Woodbridge and Hal Tine. These books are used by the students on the
course and I intend to make use of them.
I have a determination and a plan to ensure that I complete units on time, with plenty of examples and
improve my annotations. I aim to use the College’s resources fully to meet these goals.
