libbygracewardx-blog

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FMP Evaluation

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Final piece: step 11 (final step)

For my final step, I wanted to add some loose thread to the canvases as I became very inspired after looking at artists who work with this. Another reason to doing it was for it to be an interpretation of the way we create/make ourselves a certain way, as the thread makes it seem like she was almost ‘sewn together’, implying she is a synthetic version of herself.

I didn’t want to use too much as to take away from the image, but I attached a few strands to her features as well as on the clothing. I ensured that the colour of the thread matches the colour of the area it is coming from.

I lastly added some markings in the background using charcoal, as I really liked how this looked when I was experimenting background ideas.

Overall, I am very happy with the outcome of both my canvases, and I will be writing a thorough and final evaluation of my work.

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Final piece: step 10

Even though I was happy with just the vertical strokes/smears of paint, I decided to include some that were horizontal after being inspired by artist Cesar Biojo. I also got the idea to incorporate parts of the hair into the background from this artist.

At this point I am very happy with the progress I have made, and believe I am at a good stage where I can now just improve some areas and add the last few details.

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Final piece: step 9

Still using a big brush and a palette knife, I have built up the layers of paint and included other colours that I wanted in these colour schemes. For the ‘natural’ piece, I wanted to use quite neutral/cool tones so that it relates to the topic of the image, so I went with greens, blues, white and very pale orange/pink tones.

And for the piece which displays the heavy makeup, I wanted the colours to be warmer and bolder. I used pink, orange, white and some yellow for this as I believe these fit under the description I had aimed for, as well as matching the colours of her makeup.

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Final piece: step 8

I gradually began building up layers of paint, still using quite faint colours, but getting to a stage where I can include bolder colours and stronger markings. I used a big brush and palette knife for this.

The effect I am going for with these backgrounds is rather simplistic, but this is good for me as my main focus is the actual portraits and so I don’t want to take away from those. I was also heavily inspired by multiple artists, and liked this style best when creating my experimental work.

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Final piece: step 7

I really wanted to now begin bringing the pieces together by starting the background. I didn’t want to go straight in with thick paint so I did a light, watery wash of colour on each canvas for my first layer.

I also added more details to the front profile image, using fine line pen to create more freckles and markings on the face, just like in my experimental piece, as well as painting the top she was wearing in the image simply using grey and white acrylic paint.

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Final piece: step 6

With the hair complete, my next step was to add to the features of the side profile image. I really wanted to show her makeup in this image, so I did that by making her lips a slightly darker shade than the front profile image, but most importantly creating this extreme, and quite abstract, smeared effect of her eye makeup. I did this using a palette knife, as well as actual mascara on a mascara wand.

I did a small experiment of this previously and really liked the idea, so I knew I wanted to use it in my final piece.

I believe this adds a really cool effect to the image, making it stand out. I also think it is a good representation of my theme, as I want to express that many people use lots of makeup, and how it is not necessarily needed. It can be interpreted in the use of excessive makeup, or the act of wiping away makeup that is not needed to fit in the perception of beauty.

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Final piece: step 5

I now decided to move onto the hair. For this, I am using the style that I used in a few of my experiments which is sticking string in some areas before applying tissue paper on top. Doing this not only holds the string down better, but allows me to be able to paint over it much easier. I also like the effect this gives as it adds another layer.

I was then able to go in with a variety of brown tones where they were needed, and I applied some tissue paper on its own in some areas to give more texture. I also used this time to paint the freckles on the front profile image, adding to the ‘natural’ look.

I believe the string and tissue paper worked really well, especially after already trying it out a couple of times. I am also happy with the colour of the hair.

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Final piece: step 4

Once I had the base of the faces completed, I could begin to work on the features. I really want her features in particular to stand out for these pieces, therefore I spent a while adding in fine detail. I ensured to keep the front profile image more natural looking, not adding any makeup and giving the eyebrow a ‘bushier’ effect.

I will be working into the side profile piece more later on, so I didn’t add as much to this piece.

I am very happy with my progress so far.

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Final piece: step 3

Next, I began working onto the canvases by painting the skin using acrylic paint. Looking at my experiments on canves, I found the skin tone colours I used to be too yellow, therefore I took the time to mix different shades beforehand until I was happy with the tone. I could then begin painting, starting with the lightest shade and gradually completing all of the skin.

I am very happy with the colours used and have achieved the effect of light and shadowed areas that I wanted to. I believe I have made a good start.

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Final piece: step 2

The next step was to get my images drawn out onto the canvas. I placed the canvases one at a time on an easel before using a projector to show the image onto the canvas, allowing me to draw it out.

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Final piece: step 1

Now that I am at a stage where I can begin planning for my final piece, I decided to start by actually deciding on which images I am going to use. From my experiments and thumbnails, I definitely like the idea of 2 images, one being her side profile and one her front profile, therefore I am sticking to this concept. I decided to use a a different side profile image that what I used previously as I prefer the angle of this one - I think it will show the makeup I am going to put on her eyes a lot better.

Once I had the images chosen and cropped, I again edited them as this allows me to identify light and shadows much easier, as well as seeing all lines and shapes clearer when I trace them.

I then wanted to see which way I would prefer to place them, so I edited the images together. I came to the conclusion that I much prefer the second version, as I like the way the faces are next to each other and are central this way.

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Final thumbnails

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Canvas: paint, string & newspaper

For this piece, I stuck to the style of my previous canvas as I really liked the outcome of it, particularly the way I focussed more on the tones of the face to bring out the light and shadows. I still really like the effect this gives, therefore I think I may do this in my final piece.

For the hair, I again used string which I have tried previously, glueing it down in certain areas before applying tissue paper on top and then painting. I really like this element of layering, and bringing a more mixed media approach to the piece. I think this is also something I would like to progress into the final piece as well, and I believe I did a better job of it this time.

In this piece I wanted to make it clear that she had makeup on, as opposed to the canvas showing her front profile, as when drawing my thumbnails I decided that this would look best on an image of her side profile due to the idea in mind of showing quite extreme eye makeup. I achieved this by using a pallet knife to spread the paint out, creating a dramatic and quite abstract effect. I would also like to this this in my final piece, however I think I could make it look better.

I again decided to try something different out for the background since this is still an experiment. I ended up using multiple brushstrokes and incorporating some torn newspaper into it. I quite like the colours I used for this, however I am still unsure on how I feel about the newspaper.

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Primary images: natural eye

Since deciding that I want one of my final pieces to be ‘natural’, displaying a face with no makeup, I realised that I should take some more primary images to work from as in the images taken of my sister, she does have makeup on.

I decided to take some pictures of my own eye, as these are purely for me to know finer details of the skin and eye in particular.

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Background ideas

When creating work on canvas I realised that when it came to the background I didn’t have many ideas for what I could do, and so I went back to my sketchbook to do some experimenting.

In my work, I want the actual portraits to be the main focus, therefore I don’t want the background to distract from the face. I began by initially using just paint, trying small quick brush strokes in different colours. I thought I could either do this all over or have it coming in from the edges to leave a slight space. However, I think these are quite simplistic, and I was hoping to incorporate more materials in my piece for it to be mixed media. I did firstly try a different painting technique where I scrape the paint, and I actually really like the effect this gives, especially with a variety of colours. I then did this same technique but added some newspaper to it which I also tore slightly for a more rough effect, and then went in with some charcoal. This is my favourite out of these first initial experiments so I am going to progress this idea further until I am satisfied and know what will be done on my final piece.

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Canvas: paint and thread

For my next experiment on canvas, I decided I wanted to tone down the colours and brush strokes on the face, as I thought the previous one looked quite excessive in the end, and I’m not sure if I want my final piece to be that abstract and colourful. Therefore, I decided to focus more on the tones, bringing out the light and shadows. I actually really like how the ‘skin’ turned out and would definitely use this style progressing forward. I also learnt that in future, I need to draw out my initial pencil lines lighter as you can still see it through the paint here.

Once I had this base I began adding more details. I wanted to make her features really stand out to show their beauty, and I think I was successful in doing so.

Initially, I was unsure of what to do in the background, but since this is an experiment I thought it would be a good opportunity to just try something and see if it works. I do like what I chose to do here as it was space for me to use the colour and brush strokes which I didn’t do on the face. However after doing this, I now know that I need to experiment more with backgrounds and see what would work best, as I am still unsure.

For this image, I had it in mind that I’d like her face to look quite ‘natural’ with no makeup since she is looking straight on. She did have makeup on in the original image, but I added some freckles with paint and also later went in with a fine line pen to add on some more markings. I like the effect this gave. I also decided to do my first experiment with thread here. I thought I would do something simple first but I like the way it looks and think this is a good way for me to highlight or bring out her features.