Self-Portraits

Representing oneself

Self-Portraits

• A portrait is an image of a person

• A self-portrait is an image of oneself created by oneself

Self-Portraits

Why do artists create self-portraits?

Self-Portrait as a Signature

• Leaving your mark as an artist in the image

• Image isn’t necessarily about you, the artist

Self-Portrait as a Projection of Self

• The image is intended to show importance or status of self

• Not concerned with exploring the psyche

Self-Portrait as Self Study

• Using the self-portrait to examine one’s own– Image– Emotions– Ideas– Artistic techniques

Self-Portrait as Self Study

Self-Portrait as Fantasy

• Using symbols, people, etc. to further express status, emotions, and aspects of self

Self-Portrait as Fantasy

Self-Portrait as Narrative

• Less concern with the realistic likeness of oneself

• More concerned with expressing the inner self, often through a story

Self-Portrait as Metaphor

• No realistic likeness of oneself

• Concerned instead with expressing the inner self, often through the way the artwork is created

• Raises the question: Can any work be considered a self-portrait?

Self-Portraits

• Reference:– http://userpages.umbc.edu/~ivy/selfportrait/

intro.html

Self-Portraits

• Themes: Who am I? (just some ideas)– What defines me?– Where do I come from?– What power do I have?– What do I care about?– Where can I go?

Who are YOU?

• Choose a theme for your self-portrait that

answer the question “Who am I?”

• Write a Statement of Intent that includes:

• Your theme• The category of self-

portrait that it is (from presentation)• What images it will

include• A sketch

Jerry Uselmann

Jerry Uselmann

Jerry Uselmann

Maggie Taylor

Maggie Taylor

Maggie Taylor

Cindy Sherman

Cindy Sherman

Cindy Sherman

Cindy Sherman

Cindy Sherman

Cindy Sherman