Self Portrait: Subtractive Technique & Charcoal
This project focuses on creating a self-portrait using the subtractive technique with charcoal. I set up my workstation in class with my charcoals, notebook, mirror and lamp. The lamp was essential to this project to for us to experiment with an intermediate concept of chiaroscuro.
With the subtractive technique I'd start with covering the 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper in charcoal. From there I'd start outlining my head and facial features by using an eraser to remove charcoal from the sheet of paper. I used black and white charcoal, an eraser, and a blending stick. The process overall was repetitive with adding and subtracting charcoal when necessary.
The biggest challenges were my face proportions and the blending near the light and dark areas of my face. The biggest challenge was trying to show the light off my black hair. And I need to fix the left eye. I need to work on justifying the light glare off the eye.
