Self review of portrait project and last year in BTEC art and design.

1. Summer Assignment and
Self-review/Plan for year

2. Portrait painting- Initial Sources
My initial sources were taken while I visited the National portrait gallery and the National Gallery,
where I found a wide range of traditional and contemporary portraiture.
 I chose to look in more detail the portrait of Anna Wintour by the artist Alex Katz, which I found in
the national portrait gallery. The scale was very large with the face itself being the entire
composition. The piece has no mark making as the portrait is flat with bright colours and a block
coloured background. The fringe is the only part that catches the light, shown through the different
brown tone, which adds slight volume to the flatness.
 The media of oil on linen has been used to produce the piece, which is evident through the
smooth even texture of the linen canvas.
 Katz showed Anna Wintour, the head editor of Vogue magazine, in a different way to what she is
normally presented as through the public eye, with here oversized sunglasses hiding her from the
world, introducing the vulnerability. While Katz has taken them away and used delicate colours
such as light blue for her eyes that also match her clothing and used a light yellow background,
which all give a happy and calm mood.

3. Portrait Painting- Initial source
 I also took interest in the painting of David Garnett, a British writer and publisher by the artist
Vanessa Bell in 1916. It stood out to me because of the rough texture and brushstrokes with
primary colours. The rough and varied texture is created through the materials used to create it of
oil and gouache on cardboard and expressive mark making brushstrokes, which creates an
aggressive atmosphere, nevertheless the vibrant colours generate excitement.
 The face takes up most of the composition, yet it is slightly angled showing more of the
background. The subject, David Garnett is faced angled, which does not give intimacy between
the viewer and himself. The background consists of four colours, warm red, pink and light brown
and also an contrasting cold dark blue. The background colours itself do not compliment each
other, yet they compliment the figure itself as similar colours are used on the subject.
 Bell has painted an informal painting of Garnett through the texture and colours, yet this appeals
to the touch senses. The pieces gives an atmosphere of excitement through the bright colours and
many different tones.

4. Portrait Painting- Experiments and Decisions
 I used drawings to experiment with the shapes and outline of the composition and
to also show where tone and shade would be placed using mark making. I took
observational drawings while at the galleries using pencils.
 I then developed my individual response to the painting of Anna Wintour by Alex
Katz through researching into the artist and the painting itself. I used different
sources and websites to collect information, which helped me understand the
painting better.
 I used acrylic paints to develop my drawing of ‘Anna Wintour.’ This helped me
prepare for my final self portrait by practicing mixing colours, brushstrokes and
painting facial characteristics such as lips.

5. Portrait Painting – Final Outcome
 I found by developing ideas using drawing and painting useful as it helped me understand what worked and what
did not as once I start painting on a canvas for my final outcome, I cannot make a mistake, so it was best to
practice and develop with paints before.
 I had a few problems once I started my self portrait, mainly with the neck area and with skin tones. As I chose to
paint in Alex Katz style, which was minimal and abstract I did not need to use many different skin tones, he only
used very small amounts of shades around the nose area, which I presented in my outcome. Nevertheless it took
me a while to mix a skin tone similar to my own. I also solved the neck problem by painting a higher neckline as I
found it hard to draw and pant the collar bone.
 The first thing I learnt about portraiture was that it takes a long time and it cannot be rushed. I also learnt that
different colours and brushstrokes can change the entire atmosphere and overall mood, which is shown in my
chosen portraits from the gallery visits of Katz and Bell.
 I believe my final outcome was successful as I have painted in the artists style as Katz showed two different sides
of Anna Wintour’s personality through the delicate facial expression and skin tone with a bright yellow God like
background surrounding her gentle face showing her more public personality. I expressed this in my own portrait
through the bright red solid colour background, which shows my dangerous yet exciting temperament that
contrasts my delicate light skin tone and balanced composition communicating my calm overlook. Also by
looking forward it creates intimacy and control of the viewers, much like Katz pieces.

6. Reflecting on Year 1
 In Year one I believe there were multiple assignments that were key in my learning experience in
art and design, the first being in the visual recording project through experimenting with still life
drawing of random objects placed together and using mixed medias to present it. My still life skills
developed throughout the year by creating 3D models, for example the shoe box experimentation.
 I found the Nature and Man Made project useful to my mixed media experimentation. I also
developed my sculpture and print work in this project and I realised I wanted to develop my skills
and understanding more in surface design and prints. I conducted this in the next project
‘Pathways’ as I focused entirely on surface design and this was my most successful project. I am
now very confident in this technique and it is one of my biggest strengths in art and design.
 This year I am going to work on my drawing skills, annotation and analysis and also continue with
surface design as I am applying for fashion courses and I ma aware that they look for these skills
in portfolios. I would also like to try out more digital skills such as illustrator and Photoshop as I
believe this will be appropriate for my art portfolio.