Last lesson

Thursday was the last lesson we were allowed to work on it, or in other words: it was the due date. I think I managed to complete my painting, although I am not very happy with it. I did the eye-lashes (looks like I have mascara on), my nose, my mouth (I just changed the colour of it), the rest of my dress and added finishing touches. I was not really stressing, although because I am me, and I stress - a lot - that was very unusual. Still, I completed it. That should be plus plus plus for me :-)

I will now do my evaulation, even though Mr Roman has not yet added the picture of my painting on his blog, so I don't remember exactly how it is. I will try.

- Anisha

An extension! :D

At our lesson today, we were to finish our self-portrait, although because nobody would manage to finish it today (or some would, but they would have rushed) we got one week's extension again!! That is very good, as I can now focus entirely on each aspect of my painting instead of rushing, which I was doing at the beginning of the lesson.

I have finished the background, and also found a very nice skin-color - with help from Mr. Roman and Marta. I have also painted the mouth, the eyes, and the hair. The "sari"  - Indian traditional dress - is almost finished.

The skin-colour which I chose last week became too dark than it really is. I also did this because I when I was putting shadows on my nose, it became too dark, thick and long so I had to redo it. I also did it round my mouth, which I wasn't supposed to do. The easiest was just to cover the nose up and apply new skin-colour around the mouth and re-start. I haven't restarted to do the nose yet, but the mouth I have started with. The reason for why I chose really red-pink lips, is because I absolutely love that colour on my lips, and I love the aspect of make-up. That is why I will make my eyelashes look like I wear mascara.

My first half of the background, I completed last week - with the several shades of purple - and I have completed the other half today. I have inserted many purple/blue "Om" signs onto the other half, on top of off-white colour and it looks really cool! The culture and religion is the features which I have used from Frida Kahlo's techniques of painting, with the "Om" sign and also the sari. The sari is the Indian traditional dress, which I have painted purple and red. I will also use some yellow next time on it.

My idea about having many objects that represent me around me, I have not done, because I would like it to be very simple. Although in my drawing of myself, I did include a necklace with an elephant, which I have managed to cover up with skin-colour on the canvas. When I am completely finished, I will paint the necklace on. I first have to put shading to know where my neck actually starts and end.

I am actually very happy with it, even though I don't think it looks like me. I have done my best. Maybe, after I have placed my nose, and added my eye-lashes, it will start to look like me :)

- Anisha

Almost finished painting background!

I have now finished one half of the background, where I painted shades of purple, as it is my favourite colour. I didn't include a lot of different colours, as I think I already have enough of my culture and religion with my Indian suit, the "bindi" on my forehead, and the "om" sign which will eventually be painted on the other half of the background on the canvas.

In addition to this, I mixed a different skin colour which suited more to my real colour, and painted this on. It became too dark, which means I will have to mix more white in it. The due date for this is next week, meaning that I have to work fast in the next lesson to be finished. I still have a lot of painting to do.

Unfortunately, I did not take any photos today, so I am not able to show you the progress.

Transfered sketch onto canvas

I have now transfered my sketch onto the canvas, using the graphite paper method. I am actually not very happy with the outcome, because it does not really look like me. I should have used another picture to draw, which would make it much easier for me. I have also started to paint the skin, and I will try to fix my painting as I go along. This makes it easier for me, because I have done it before and it has worked. Just crossing my fingres that it will work!

When I am finished with painting my face and body, I will focus on the background where I will add my culture and tradition like Frida Kahlo does in her paintings. The "om" sign will definitely go on there, and maybe a lot of colours which can represent the indian festival "holi".
- Anisha 

Frida Kahlo's Self Portrait

I decided to research the artist Frida Kahlo, as I found her self portrait very interesting and very neat. It has some characteristics that makes it look like Frida, such as the eyebrows and possibly her mouth, which looks the same as on the image below. Her expression is also the same on many of her paintings, and is what signifies her.

She uses a lot of traditional and cultural features in her paintings, which is what I definitely want for my painting, as my culture and tradition means a lot to me. She also painted mostly painted Mexican art and culture, realism, symbolism and surrealism.

On this painting, she has carefully painted all the details of what represents her, such as the leaves, stick jewelry around her neck and the animals - all symbols of nature. I have noticed that she has a strong connection with leaves especially, as I have seen three other self portraits of her with leaves in the background.

She has used different green colours on the leaves, and she has included shading which makes the whole painting slightly realistic, but still we can see that it is a painting. Overall, it is very neat and is a fantastic self portrait, in my opinion.

What I like about it, is the way she has placed herself in the middle, with things that represents her, around and on her. That is something I would want for my own portrait, but not so much. I like it simple. Also how she has made the whole painting complete.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frida_Kahlo
- Anisha

Almost finished with the sketch :)

I have now done most of what I wanted to do with my sketch, and I feel that I am ready to print it onto the other A3 canvas. The only thing left, is to adjust the mouth because it is a little close to the nose, and also it is very small. I have decided to have my face and body straight, instead of to the side, because I feel that it can be a lot better and neater if it is straight. What I can do, is to rotate the sketch so that it looks like the face and body is straight, and then transfer it onto that thing.
Here is the picture of my latest sketch: