My Art Blog: Unit: Symbolic Self-Portraits

Today we started our new unit "Symbnolic Self-Portraits" in which we are to first research and a historic self-portrait. We are to examine the painting in its literal sense (the objects painted and what they signify) and its figurative sense (how it is painted, colour usage etc.) and if it can relate to our own self-portrait which we will make.

In our own self-portrait we should express ourselves or how we see ourselves, both by how and what we choose to include in it. It should be recognizable, and we are to create an outline using the "grid method" that we have previously explored in our "icons" unit. We are then going to transfer this outline to a canvas, and use this as the basis of our painting.

I am not really sure what to do, as I do not have any special appearance traits that I could be recognized, but I do have a somewhat distinct personality.

For the historic self-portait, I am thinking of doing ether the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, or Vincent van Gogh. I am especially intrigued by Frida Kahlo's many self-portraits, and I think that at least some part of one of her self-portraits can be useful for my own. I also like the way that she expresses herself through symbolism, something which is very relevant to this unit.