Assessment piece

I had my model come over and we worked on some poses where he was lounging, comfortable and making the eye contact I wanted. We played around with how he should lay and came up with the idea to have him point as well. It looked eye catching and would help draw in the viewer and initiate that dialogue and interaction between the viewer and the drawing.

I began with a detailed sketch before moving to watercolour washes on the pillows, I then worked in gouache for a thick pigmented background. I finished off the piece by applying watercolour over the portrait sketch. I love the final results, I love how the pencil is still very visible on the body under the washes of watercolour, making the drawing properties of the piece really stand out. I think this is one of my favourite artworks I’ve created so far. The composition works so well with establishing some sort of communication with the viewer to have them engage and really look at the piece. While I love the skills I’ve executed I think I’ve lost some of my intended female gaze. There is a sense of power in the way his expression isn’t so friendly and how he points, it can come across demanding maybe rather than inviting, so I think maybe working with the model to establish a more friendly and inviting expression could have worked well.

I’m really happy in my choice of mediums as well. The gouache, having very similar properties to watercolour works well to be different but work with the watercolour to make a cohesive transition from the portrait to the background. The thick consistency adds to the weight the blanket and pillows would have, compared to the translucent and delicate feel of the watercolours.

I’m really happy with this project outcome, and I think I did well at working on my own ideas and expanding them into some great drawings. I really developed my drawing skills as well as dipping my toes into painting. I think I could use some work creating clear intentions and themes within my work, because I don’t think they are so clear, but I think it works well for a first attempt at this.