Self Portrait Information

A portrait is a representation of the physical or psychological likeness of a real or imaginary person. Portraits are most often created with the media and techniques of drawing, painting, photography, and sculpture. Thy are made for a wide variety of purposes - authority or power, fame, as memorials, self-obsession, self-expression, or social standing, Two conflicting objectives characterize portrait art in all cultures: the desire t represent the subject accurately and the desire to transform or idealize the subject, This task falls on the artist who must also decide the degree to which he or she is willing to please the sitter.

Portraits include visual clues to the subject's identity, status, personality, and character. In most portraits, the focus is on the face with all the elements of the composition designed to draw attention to the face. Before the invention of photography, a portrait was the only way to record someone's likeness. After photography made realistic portraiture possible to many social classes, not just the rich ad powerful artists were free to become more experimental and explore new kinds or portraiture.

The characteristics of the portrait are amplified in the self-portrait, a subject long undertaken by artists, using a model who is always available and at no cost. The self-portrait is the optimum opportunity for an artist to make the most pleasing or piercing revelation of his or her character and personality. Artists choose to represent themselves objectively or present a more personal expression of their personalities or characters. A self-portrait is the most personal story an artist can tell.

For most artists, a self-portrait is an opportunity to express their identity to depict how they perceive themselves, not how others may perceive them.

Identity Profile Questions:

• Who are you?
• Where do you live?
• Why were you given your name?
• Is there a specific culture or heritage with which you identify? If so, what is it?
• How would you describe how you look?
• How would you describe your personality?
• What are your likes and dislikes?
• Do you think others see you as you see yourself?
• What do you most want people to know or understand about you?
• What clues about yourself could you present in a self-portrait?