I didn't feel inspired by many pieces at the gallery. I chose the self portrait with a monkey, by Freida Kahlo simply because I liked the color palette and the interesting composition. After the gallery, I searched some abstract self portraits online. I found a few that I really enjoyed. I really liked the simplicity of the third portrait and the monochromatic color scheme. The first composition would be fun to recreate if I was using a digital program, but I chose paint.



I chose to do the portrait in paint. I desaturated the my picture using a photoshop program, then inverted the colors to give it a more abstract look. I debated between using paint and cut paper and decided on paint, using the white of the paper, and one other color.


I had a hard time with the paint at the beginning. I kept smearing it, and started over three times. I was referring to my computer as a visual aid, and painting from that. I think it would have been easier to print the picture out, and paint from that, but it worked out okay.

My piece was an abstract representation of my face. I liked the way it looked because if you look vertically in the center of the piece, you can almost picture it as an eye and a nose of another figure looking to the left.

I knew I wanted to use one color, and have high contrast in the piece. I think it is very well balanced, and instead of having one central focal point, the piece draws attention as a whole. It was fun to break the image down into shapes, like the triangles in each corner and as the highlight on my cheek, and the watch the shapes in my lips create a feeling of shading and value.

I enjoyed the project. I had a short period of time to work on it. I wish I had more time, and I wish I could have found more inspirational pieces at the museum, but it was still an interesting project. I have done self portraits before, but I usually tend to be very realistic, and it takes me a long time to complete it. I knew with the time restriction I would have to be abstract, so I was able to try something new.

I think my final artwork was successful. I knew what I wanted to do right away after deciding I didn't have enough time to be a perfectionist and put every detail in. I now have a piece of work that is different from my normal works, which are very detailed and realistic.