Self Portrait: Diptych

Self-portraits and “drawing from life” are a common experience of art students. The subject of the self-portrait has evolved to be reflective of both the art curriculum and that of society and the social roles students play. I introduce a self-portrait assignment that is based on observation, is self-reflective, and also explores different modes of drawing on different surfaces; one a schematic line drawing with a rendering on tan paper and the other limited to linear mark making on black paper. Students explore different ways to juxtapose the two images while introducing a narrative that helps to unifying the double self-portrait.

The self-portrait is based upon a likeness, but also reflects their age, identity, gender, ethnicity, and status. I will provide a framework for appreciating portraiture by looking at artists such as Egon Schiele, Frida Kahlo, Jenny Saville, Kehinde Wiley, among others; the development of preliminary sketchbook studies, and a final look at how the student is treated as subject of their double self-portrait.