Friday, May 21, 2021

Design Principles: Project 1 - Self-Portrait

12.5.2021 - 19.5.2021 (Week 7 - Week 8)
Wendy Seto / 0348805
GCD60804 Design Principles / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media / Taylor's University
Project 1: Self-Portrait

LECTURES

Week 7: Self-portrait is a self-presentation, a visual depiction of the self. The word "self" itself can be defined by how others see me based on my physical traits and personality, how I see myself, my experiences, my interests, or even my thoughts.


INSTRUCTIONS



PRACTICAL

Project 1: Self-Portrait

Visual Research:

fig 1.1 self-portrait art references I found on pinterest 

Idea Exploration: 

I did not really explore various ideas for this project since I just went with my first attempt. When I heard the word "self-portrait", I just simply drew my own face on a A4 watercolour paper. I have never drawn myself in a realistic style before but surprisingly my sketch turned out to look very much like me. I started by drawing my face, using a photo of mine taken a while ago as a reference. Then, I fill all the blank spaces with things that I love or enjoy.

fig 1.2 my sketch progress

Moving on, it is time to shower this masterpiece with colours! Since I just bought a new gouache set and one of my new year resolutions is to be able to paint, so I decided to use this medium for project 1. Well, this is just how reckless I am. Based on the previous exercises, everybody knew that I cannot paint at all. And now when I have the chance to use any medium I want, I chose gouache. No offense but this decision I made should receive an extra 10 points though.

I was so scared that I might 90% ruin the whole sketch. But if I do not try, I will never know. I started to paint all the details in the background from left to right. As I paint, I feel like I am getting a lot better at it. Compared to the previous exercises I did, I can say my painting skill has improved so much. I did not do any practicing other than completing the exercises from this module and somehow I just claimed the ability overnight. Damn, thank you so much Dr. Charles for all the deadlines that forced me to paint, being able to do it is like a dream comes true!



fig 1.3 painting with gouache progress

My favourite part is the Nintendo! I really like the colour and the details on it. The hardest part was the face obviously, just look at how the facial features completely changed to somebody elses hahahah. The one without eyebrows still look like me though! Another one that was quite challenging is the camera, it was pretty hard to blend the colour together and still showing the little details. 

fig 1.4 final self-portrait in pdf

My idea is basically just me and things I love. Tamagotchi and Nintendo are my childhood, I grew up with them. The game showed on the Nintendo screen is Harvest Moon, my all time favourite game from the console. I really like the details I put here as I mentioned previously. Pencil, scissors, brush and paint symbolize art and crafts which will always be my no.1 activity. Camera, because I am into photography. I love capturing moments, every moment exactly. People change, memories dont. I just love it when I look back at old photographs, realizing how fast has the night changed, how happy those days were and how we are not there anymore. Also, I am really into film camera lately. The feeling you get when the film is finally developed, seeing pictures you do not remember taking, it is priceless. Besides photography, I am also interested in filmography, that is why there is a film slate illustration as well. A Harry Potter book! Do not ever call yourself a potterhead if you have NEVER READ THE BOOKS yet, they are way way way better than the movies!! At this point, you are probably wondering why is there a lemon and an avocado tucked in. I honestly do not know what came on my mind, just simply love both fruits hahahah. Last but not least, I set up a night sky with full of stars in the background. I love the stars so much that sometimes I talk to them when I feel alone, no one can literally understands me like they do. I am currently going through a heavy phase in my life, where I have to let go of someone who used to be there for me in the past 2 years. We watched the stars when we first went out together, and watched the stars when we last met each other. The stars have been the silent witnesses of our first meet and last good bye. There are clouds as well, I put this intentionally. During daytime, I love to watch at the clouds moving. I feel relaxed, my soul is freed. It makes me believe that everything is possible. I just feel connected with the skies so much, have been under them on every phase of my life since I first came to earth, pretty sure that they know myself more than I do. When I miss someone, I look at the sky and feel closer to the person. No matter how many miles apart, at least we are under the same sky, and that is enough for me.


REFLECTION

This project is supposed to be harder than the exercises I have done previously since it worths up to 15% mark, but surprisingly I think I did best on this one. I have always wanted to learn how to paint, it is one of my new year resolutions. I doubted myself that I might ruin my own work like how it has always happen before, but hey take the risk or lose the chance. Well, I prefer regret doing things than not doing things. Sometimes we just have to care less about what might happen. Instead of worrying to fail, enjoy the process because what if things eventually work out?

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