Supplies
Gesso Primed Lenox paper, aprox: 16” x 20”
Assortment of graphite pencils of different hardness
Erasers
12 step value chart, made in class
In this series of self portraits done on primed paper with graphite, you will explore the impact that defining and limiting the value range can have on your drawing. This drawing, and the subsequent self portraits, must be done from a mirror and not a photo and you must light your self. A standard over head light will not suffice.Your portrait should be roughly life size. Compose your head and in a way that is interesting and revels something of your mood and personality. You should consider the angle and position of your head, the expressions on your face. You will probably have to include some of your shoulders and torso in your composition. Use the whole sheet of paper. This drawing must be fully developed using value, including background value. In this first drawing you must use the value range between 2-7 on the value chart below. Notice that “white” or the white of the page is not included. All thought the white of the page must be completely covered the overall value range of the piece is very soft, light, subtle and low contrast. This will require that you build the drawing up slowly. You will find that using hard pencils (2H, 4H, F) with make this easer, by limiting the value range that the pencil can produce. All though they are good at staying light, hard pencils can also damage the paper if you press too hard, leaving tracks or scrapes in the paper. Rather than pressing with a hard pencil delicately layer the graphite. You may try spraying workable fixative in between layers of graphite or using a softer pencil.
Value Range for 1st Drawing
Grading
· Completion of requirement on time
· Accuracy of self portrait
· Value range between 2-7
· Over all ambition of the drawing
Question you should ask yourself
Am I using the whole page?
What is the expression on my face?
Am I considering the overall volume of the head?
How I am showing the planes of the face?
Have I showed the:
Cavity of the eyes?
The volume of the eye ball?
The under plane of the nose?
The 3 planes of the forehead?
The 3 planes of the mouth?
The side of the check?
The over all mass of the hair?
Is my value range successful?
Have a pushed the limited range?
What mood does this value range give the piece?
Does that fit/at odds with the pose and personality of the portrait?
Full Value Chart
