Currently in the studio…

Self Portrait assignments are always one of those projects that your students either love or dread – and more so the latter. As I challenged my senior class of students about to graduate with a final self portrait, I could feel the anxiety in the room rise – so I joked and offered to do one alongside them if it would make them feel better about the project. It was instantaneous how dread turned to excitement and they immediately took me up on the offer before I could take it back.

I’ve had this group since they were freshman and being able to create with them their final semester are moments I’ll truly treasure. As I got “into” the project and created a mixture of plaster and grout for my base to spread onto the canvas that I would then charcoal, the energy and creativity of the student also rose as they each began to push their mediums and choice of techniques to another level.  In the end, their portraits reflected each personality and comments were made that the portraits turned out better than they had imagined and were glad that they took on the challenge.

I did not have as much time on mine as I’d like, but this is how far I did get on it. Its in the studio now, still in the works…

Medium: plaster, grout, acrylic, charcoal and graphite