Self portraits. Hmm, yes, we don't like doing them do we? But they are a great exercise for drawing skills, so I thought I'd have a go today. I did one first with my right hand (my dominant hand), and then another with my left hand. Both using charcoal pencil and both using a "cheater" blind contour technique. Blind contour is where you draw while looking at the subject matter, not your paper. It teaches you to draw what you see, not what you think should go on the page. A cheater blind allows you to look down every now and then, but 80-90% of the time you stay looking at the subject while you draw.
Here's how they came out:
The right handed one probably is a better likeness, but I actually prefer the style of the left handed portrait. I seem to be less hard with the pencil so it's a lot looser and somehow I look more relaxed!
This is a fun exercise to do. It only take 5 minutes and all you need is a pencil, a piece of paper and a mirror. Or if photography is more your thing, have a go at taking your own picture, using a tripod and the timer function. You'll learn a lot!
Oh, Self -portrait...good idea! They are both cool but I actually am more drawn to the left handed one....love the loose-ness...more expressive somehow?
ReplyDeleteLia, must try this again haven't done it for a long time, you definitely see the freedom that comes when you use your none dominant hand, it flows! Have a great weekend. Amanda
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Amanda - Realityarts-Creativity
A very useful drawing exercise. You draw well with your non-dominant hand. I like both drawings but I'm leaning towards the softness and loose style of the left-handed self portrait as my favourite. :)
ReplyDeleteWell you look beautiful in both drawings. Thank you for the tutorial and tips. I have tried something similar, but not a self portrait. I might give this a try.
ReplyDeleteGwen xx
It's great to see another artist's experiments with pushing their boundaries. I paint both right and left handed because of the experiments I've done.
ReplyDeleteGreat drawings! Contour drawings are a super way to hone your observation skills.
ReplyDeleteI've been wanting to try some type of self-portrait during AEDM--maybe I'll be brave enough to try the cheater blind contour exercise. Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteI love how these look like a mother and daughter - kind of a younger and an older self?... :)
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