Symbolic self portrait drawing

"What's in your head?"

This is a self portrait I made with words to describe myself. After drawing the face, I chose words that best fit my character. Some words are written darker than others to indicate shadow/darker spots on the face or in the hairline. #words #wordart #drawing

From Facebook:Symbolic Silhouette Self Portrait

What's In My Head 2 by Allison (Art 2, Grade 8). 24" x 36" Ink on paper, 2015. 2015. Students partnered to trace their silhouettes on large paper and then had the semester to add autobiographical imagery and symbolic decorative elements. They were tasked with creating meaning while focusing on value, contrast, and overall composition. Allison exceeded expectations with her attention to detail, intricacy of her designs, and craftsmanship. Her portrait is rich with texture, contrast, and…

From Facebook:Symbolic Silhouette Self Portrait

From Facebook:Symbolic Silhouette Self Portrait

Within this self-portrait, I am exploring the complexity of my seemingly simple thoughts or daydreams. I am contrasting my outer, bored expression with the chaotic, whimsical doodles in the background that symbolize my daydreams. This goes to show that even when I look unengaged on the outside, my brain is thinking a surplus of thoughts and ideas. I enjoy both technical rendering and free doodling, which is why I decided to combine them in an interesting way in this piece. This contrast…

The students learned about Arcimboldo, were exposed to and inspired by his work, and then tried to create a composite head of their own. This project proved to be fun, strange, and challenging for the students. The students were encouraged not just to "fill" their head with items, but to try to make their features out of certain shapes or placement of items.

mixed media self portrait