Self-Portraits : Color Emphasis

Color Emphasis Self-Portraits

This new project will teach you to focus on color as a tool for rendering your subject matter while creating more interest by using unexpected hues. You all have recieved your photo references which have been pixelized to aid you in your use of the grid. You will notice that much of the detail in your photograph has been lost after the pixelization - which most of you will be excited about! This loss of detail will force you to concentrated on matching the color in the photograph.

STEP 1 : You will get a sheet of 18x24" white paper. Cut this paper down to 18x18" square. DON'T DAMAGE YOUR WHITE PAPER - YOU WILL LOSE POINTS FOR POOR CRAFTSMANSHIP!!

STEP 2: Next, lightly draw a 3/4" grid over the entire sheet of paper. LIGHTLY DRAW THE GRID! This will give you exactly 24 squares on all sides of your paper, matching your photograph which also has 24 pixels on all sides of the photo.

STEP 3: Before coloring your white sheet of paper you should complete 2-3 practice color scales. You should draw a rectangle that fills up the length of your sketchbook page . Inside this rectangle begin coloring following this pattern: ROY G. BIV, which is an acronym that stands for Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Indigo and Violet. Be careful to blend the colors into one and another while focusing on keeping the colors bold and thick (meaning no white paper showing through each color).

STEP 4: Begin shading your grid squares! Remember that most of your colors will require you to mix multiple colored pencil shades together. Chances are good that you won't have the exact color you need already pre-mixed in your colored pencil set. KEEP COLORS INSIDE THE LINES OF THE APPROPIATE SQUARES. Don't get sloppy!

Here are your pixelated photo references. If you lose your pictures you can click on your image and reprint a color copy. I won't reprint it for you!! Good luck - I can't wait to see your work.

PROJECTS DUE APRIL 16, 2009