Painting Self Portrait--Mr. Huff

Step One--View the video on nose drawing located on the introduction page and on the task page (It is the same video on either page).  Divide your paper into nine equal sections using two horizontal lines and two vertical lines.  Using  a mirror, observe your nose.  Sketch your own nose ten times making careful observations before you make each mark.  Your finished sketches will contain value changes.  Your nose is not a flat shape.  You must add value changes.  This is what will change your nose drawings from flat shapes to forms which have dimension.  Line drawings will not satisfy this step.  Think about how the nose drawing was completed in the video.

Step Two--View the video on drawing mouth, lips and teeth also on the introduction page.  Using a mirror again, observe your mouth in the mirror.  Sketch your own mouth nine times. Study your mouth in the mirror as you make each sketch.   Hold your mouth in different positions for each of the sketches.  You will also be expected to include value changes for this step.  Remember, your teeth should also have shading.  They are not flat shapes.  Reflect on the video demonstrating a good mouth drawing. 

Step Three--View the video on drawing realistic eyes.  You will still need a mirror for this step.  Study your eyes in the mirror.  What is the shape created by the edge of the top eyelid and the bottom eyelid?   Sketch both eyes eight times.  Remember to observe closely the shape of your eyes.  There will be no circle or oval shaped eyes in your mirror.  Your eyes have a unique shape and that should be evident in your drawings.  Add dark values and adjust the lightest values.  This will transform the shapes into forms.  Your eyes and eyelids are not flat shapes.  Adding value changes where you observe them to be in the mirror.  Include your eyebrows and the bridge of your nose.  Eyelashes should reflect what you are observing in the mirror and not what you think they look like. 

Step Four--View Both video's on drawing faces.  One of the videos begins with adding guide lines to help arrange your facial features.  Try this on at least two of your sketches.  You may find it to be very helpful.  Before you make any marks, look at your face in the mirror.  If you are making reference marks, imagine a circular shape starting at the top of your head.  The bottom edge of the circle goes through your pupils. Draw this round shape on your page.   The shape below the circle should be like an outline of your face from the middle of one ear the the middle of the other ear.  This shape mainly describes your jaw line.  Begin adding features starting with your eyes near the bottom of the first circular shape.    Complete 5 ten minute sketches including all facial features and accurate shading.  Be sure to also indicate where your hair should be. 

Step Five--You are now ready to begin your final portrait.  Review your sketches looking for the one that you feel is the best expression for your final portrait.  Using your observations in a mirror for each step, create a self portrait.  Use all of what you have learned in this course up to this point  about observing and drawing what you see, not what you remember, the value scale,  shading, and textures. 

This portrait and all of the sketches are due before the end of class on November 24th.  If you complete one step each day, you will begin your final portrait on Friday November 19^th.  This will give you four class days to complete your finished self portrait.