Design Principles Project 1 / Self-Portrait
2.5.2022 - 16.5.2022 (Week 6 - Week 8)
Takuto Hozumi / 0354047 / Bachelor Of Design (Hons) In Creative Media
Design Principles
Project 1 / Self-Portrait
INSTRUCTION
Week 6 - What is a Self-Portrait?
1. A Recap of Project 1 Brief
Create a portrait of yourself by applying the various principles that we had learned through the exercises from week 1 to 6. The self-portrait allows the student to investigate both historical and contemporary forms of self-expression and also to review the design principles covered and thus better inform their particular direction. Free to use any media and to even consider working 3D or digitally.
2. Mind Mapping
"Contemplate on your life experiences, which includes your culture, your family, your friends, your schooldays, your favorite hangouts, your favorite music, food, musician, etc. Observe your surroundings – people, vehicles, buildings, plants, signages, nature, and activities. Record these in sketches, photography and/or video recording. Study all the visuals that you had collected. Select visuals that you find relevant and interesting to you, which you can translate into a design work to create a portrait of yourself."
Fig.1: Mind map of Myself (8/5/2022)
Among these elements of mine, the one that has influenced my appearance would be the item: "Gym" in my hobbies. My body has changed like a different person in the last few years. I am also not very good at sports. Not because of my athletic ability, but I am not good in group activities. I used to swim when I was younger and I like individual sports. This background may also be a good representation of my personality.
3. Visual Research
Visual research was conducted to determine the production.
Fig.2: Drawing Portrait
Fig.3: Drawing with Photograph
The most common way to depict a self-portrait is to draw. The idea of compositing a drawing with a photograph, as shown in the fig.2 & fig.3 above, is also interesting.
Fig.4: Composite Photograph
Fig.5: Creative idea of Composition
Since I am interested in photo processing, I thought it might be interesting to create works using a camera.
4. Determining the direction of the work production
In conclusion, I choose drawing. There are two reasons.
1. Throughout the last exercise, one area in particular that I had difficulty with was illustration. The quality of the finished work was poor as an illustration when the design principal "Movement" was represented in the work. If I did not improve this aspect of my work, my career as a designer would be over. This is an opportunity to re-study the fundamentals of drawing.
2. Gym -> Workout -> Muscle: this is a theme that creates contrasts in objects, and has been a motif in many paintings and sculptures since ancient times. It can indicate design principal "Contrast", which is very important for a drawing.
Week 7 - Self-learning week
1. Practice of Drawing
Fig.6: Sketch of an Apple (9/5/2022)
I drew a sketch of an apple for practice. The method is based on Youtube video. From some of the videos I have seen, I have found some important points about painting.
- Clearly determine the direction of light
- Be aware of the color of the object and the color of the shadow, respectively
- Strongly depicts the boundary between light and shadow
- Even within light and dark areas, light and dark areas should be light and dark, respectively
- Strokes are also described with the shape of the object in mind
This is the video I thought explained it best.
2. Start Drawing the Self-Portrait
Fig.7: Example of Human Sculpture
In preparation, I shamelessly observed myself in the mirror and took some photographs. And the picture of the person is significantly more complex than that of the apple. In addition, the following video was used as a reference for another study on how to draw people.
Then started the drawing.
Fig.8: Process 1 (14/5/2022)
Fig.9: Process 2 (14/5/2022)
Fig.10: Process 3 (14/5/2022)
Little by little, I draw the face.
Fig.11: Process 4 (14/5/2022)
Fig.12: Process 5 (14/5/2022)
While drawing, I realized I had to paint the wide background. It is very difficult to apply evenly.
Fig.13: Process 6 (14/5/2022)
Fig.14: Process 7 (14/5/2022)
Fig.15: Process 8 (14/5/2022)
Completed. Finally, scan and adjust the brightness.
Fig.16: First Portrait Final Ver. (15/5/2022)
The problem with this work is;
- It is mediocre as a self-portrait, then makes appearance boring
- Processing from picture to background (Just using meaningless gradation)
From the feedback, here is what the given ideas from the professor
- Trying drawing from a different angle
- The model looks away, incline the body (To express the character and gesture of the person)
- Research about "Body Language" and "Self Portrait Framing", then use it effectively (e.g., bias placement to the right)
More details on feedback are provided in the Feedback section below.
3. Further Research
3-1. Body Language
First, I took the 16personalities Test for self-analysis.
My type is ISTP-T: Virtuosos love to explore with their hands and their eyes, touching and examining the world around them with cool rationalism and spirited curiosity. People with this personality type are natural Makers, moving from project to project, building the useful and the superfluous for the fun of it, and learning from their environment as they go. Often mechanics and engineers, Virtuosos find no greater joy than in getting their hands dirty pulling things apart and putting them back together, just a little bit better than they were before.
Fig.17: 16personalities Test
3-2. Self Portrait Framing
Many famous painters of the past have often painted self-portraits. Hiring a model costs money, but seeing your own face is free. Therefore, some believe that they painted self-portraits to improve their drawing skills. On the other hand, it is because it is easy to look at other people's faces objectively, but it is difficult to look at one's own face objectively. Drawing self-portraits can be an exercise in looking with accurate judgment.
As far as I have been able to determine, more than 90% of the framing of self-portraits is centered composition. In addition, the compositions rarely faced straight ahead, and were more often obliquely to the side. In many cases, models were portrayed brightly and backgrounds were portrayed darkly (to the point that objects could not be recognized).
4. Final work
Fig.18: Process 1 (23/5/2022)
Take a rough outline. At this time, it looks real.
Fig.19: Process 2 (23/5/2022)
Fig.20: Process 3 (24/5/2022)
From here, I moved on to the digital process. It supplements the background and brings the overall form of the face, body, etc. closer to a real one.
Fig.21: Final Ver. (24/5/2022)
Have I made it too much better than reality?
Final Outcome
Final Outcome (25/5/2022)
Final Outcome PDF (25/5/2022)
FEEDBACK
Week 8
Regarding the first work, the concept is a standard self-portrait process, but further research was suggested to make this assignment a better learning experience.
The first is to research body language. In the current work (The first work), it cannot be said that is able to express our inner self very well. Analyze people's personalities and behaviors and use them in the composition of the final work.
The second is a study of framing in self-portraits. The composition, including the placement and poses of the figures, could be improved by reviewing the composition.
REFLECTIONS
ExperiencesIn creating Self-Portrait, I was not given a specific medium, so at first I considered various ideas, such as video or composite photos. However, I came up with the idea of going back to basics and honing my drawing skills. The actual drawing took a surprisingly long time (about 3~4 hours). I am sure that it would take more time for more precise depiction.
I believe I was able to deepen my knowledge of the shapes, contours, and luminosity of objects. However, the human face is extremely complex, and a slight difference in the shape of a single part can make a person look different. My self-portrait still does not resemble me in some points. I have a newfound respect for the skill of artists who can draw a likeness, even if it is of a character or a portrait, in a way that clearly shows their presence.
Observation
We had a self-learning week this time around, and I believe I was able to make meaningful use of it for topics like this one that required practice time.
Findings
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