Portraits
A powerful portrait captures the "soul" of the person, so for HSC major works, it is best to choose a person with lots of life experience which is shown through the character lines on their face. The portrait of Gough Whitlam on the left shows a man in a formal suit with shoulder pads (to show his position as Prime minister) talking big idas with his hands. This is very appropriate to describe a man whose vision changed Australia forever,talking big ideas with his hand especially in terms of women's rights and multiculturalism.
Just choosing a person because they are beautiful (eg a celebrity) or cute (eg your little brother or sister) will not be enough to show how fantastic an artist you are! Beautiful and cute are not the keys to a Band 6, but using your portrait to raise an major issue (eg Laura Wingrove's portraits about women's roles [http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/insideartexpress/2011/laura_wingrove/] or India Gates' portraits about gay marriage in 2013[http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/insideartexpress/2013/india_gates/]) might help you develop your idea beyond simple representation. Look at the Art Express lists to see what scored well in the past.
Portraits can be represented through any media, drawings, paintings, sculptures, prints, mixed media etc. A really good place to explore portraits is the Archibald Prize which happens in Sydney every year. Anyone can enter this competition, though it is usually well-known artists who are chosen as finalists for the exhibition, so there is a wide variety of styles. All the portraits are of famous people, but you will notice that they a famous people with lots of life experience and personality. The Art Gallery of NSW has a page with a slideshow of well-known portaits that won the prize on different years. Have a look at Brett Whitely, William Dobell, Craig Ruddy and Katheryn Del Barton, all of whom were controversial winners.
These links will take you to finalists from the past 10 years:
2004 [http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/prizes/archibald/2004/]
2005 [http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/prizes/archibald/2005/]
2006 [http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/prizes/archibald/2006/]
2007 [http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/prizes/archibald/2007/]
2008 [http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/prizes/archibald/2008/]
2009 [http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/prizes/archibald/2009/]
2010 [http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/prizes/archibald/2010/]
2011 [http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/prizes/archibald/2011/]
2012 [http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/prizes/archibald/2012/]
2013 [http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/prizes/archibald/2013/]
Just choosing a person because they are beautiful (eg a celebrity) or cute (eg your little brother or sister) will not be enough to show how fantastic an artist you are! Beautiful and cute are not the keys to a Band 6, but using your portrait to raise an major issue (eg Laura Wingrove's portraits about women's roles [http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/insideartexpress/2011/laura_wingrove/] or India Gates' portraits about gay marriage in 2013[http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/insideartexpress/2013/india_gates/]) might help you develop your idea beyond simple representation. Look at the Art Express lists to see what scored well in the past.
Portraits can be represented through any media, drawings, paintings, sculptures, prints, mixed media etc. A really good place to explore portraits is the Archibald Prize which happens in Sydney every year. Anyone can enter this competition, though it is usually well-known artists who are chosen as finalists for the exhibition, so there is a wide variety of styles. All the portraits are of famous people, but you will notice that they a famous people with lots of life experience and personality. The Art Gallery of NSW has a page with a slideshow of well-known portaits that won the prize on different years. Have a look at Brett Whitely, William Dobell, Craig Ruddy and Katheryn Del Barton, all of whom were controversial winners.
These links will take you to finalists from the past 10 years:
2004 [http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/prizes/archibald/2004/]
2005 [http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/prizes/archibald/2005/]
2006 [http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/prizes/archibald/2006/]
2007 [http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/prizes/archibald/2007/]
2008 [http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/prizes/archibald/2008/]
2009 [http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/prizes/archibald/2009/]
2010 [http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/prizes/archibald/2010/]
2011 [http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/prizes/archibald/2011/]
2012 [http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/prizes/archibald/2012/]
2013 [http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/prizes/archibald/2013/]
contemporary Portraits with a political message
Mohau Modisakeng (Soweto)
LOOK AT THE REFUGEE PAGE (under political art)
LOOK AT THE REFUGEE PAGE (under political art)
If you a planning on creating a portrait as part of your major work, you will need to spend some time understanding how a face is constructed. Some of your research could include anotomical drawings of skulls and muscles. This will help you understand how to make a face look 3-D by teaching you how (and why) light and shadow fall on the face. If you practice these kinds of drawings you will see faces in a new way and your understanding or portraiture will improve enormously.
Some useful sites for these kinds of images are:
Kaplan Anatomy Colouring Book - free download [https://archive.org/details/teb12_118]
Colour Atlas of Anatomy - free download [http://www.mybookezzz.net/anatomy-coloring-pages-printable/]
Other Ebooks can be accessed or downloaded here
[http://www.freebookcentre.net/medical_text_books_journals/anatomy_books_online_texts_download.html]
Drawn in Black [http://www.drawninblack.com/2011/12/skull-anatomy-for-artists/] has picures of skulls from different angles and also has links to 50 different tutorials teachign you how to draw skulls [http://www.drawninblack.com/2008/11/how-to-draw-a-skull-50-how-tos-tutorials-studies-photo-references-videos-and-inspirational-skull-illustrations/] .
Leonardo da Vinci is one of the most famous artist in the world. He spent alot of time dissecting bodies to discover how bones nad muscles worked. As a result, his portraits were much more lifelike than others of his time. These sites allow you to see some of his sketches:
Drawings of Leonardo [http://www.drawingsofleonardo.org/]
Sketches of a Renaissance Man [http://www.davincisketches.com/anatomy/]
Leonardo Da Vinci: The complete works [http://www.leonardoda-vinci.org/search]
Joong Won Charles Jeong creates amazing giant portraits that are so real you';d think they were photographics. [http://twistedsifter.com/2013/07/hyperrealistic-acrylic-paintings-by-joongwon-charles-jeong/]. This is called hyperrealism.
Some useful sites for these kinds of images are:
Kaplan Anatomy Colouring Book - free download [https://archive.org/details/teb12_118]
Colour Atlas of Anatomy - free download [http://www.mybookezzz.net/anatomy-coloring-pages-printable/]
Other Ebooks can be accessed or downloaded here
[http://www.freebookcentre.net/medical_text_books_journals/anatomy_books_online_texts_download.html]
Drawn in Black [http://www.drawninblack.com/2011/12/skull-anatomy-for-artists/] has picures of skulls from different angles and also has links to 50 different tutorials teachign you how to draw skulls [http://www.drawninblack.com/2008/11/how-to-draw-a-skull-50-how-tos-tutorials-studies-photo-references-videos-and-inspirational-skull-illustrations/] .
Leonardo da Vinci is one of the most famous artist in the world. He spent alot of time dissecting bodies to discover how bones nad muscles worked. As a result, his portraits were much more lifelike than others of his time. These sites allow you to see some of his sketches:
Drawings of Leonardo [http://www.drawingsofleonardo.org/]
Sketches of a Renaissance Man [http://www.davincisketches.com/anatomy/]
Leonardo Da Vinci: The complete works [http://www.leonardoda-vinci.org/search]
Joong Won Charles Jeong creates amazing giant portraits that are so real you';d think they were photographics. [http://twistedsifter.com/2013/07/hyperrealistic-acrylic-paintings-by-joongwon-charles-jeong/]. This is called hyperrealism.
Some portraits have a political message. Try:
The Scar Project [http://www.thescarproject.org/] is a series of portraits of women who have survived breast cancer. some portraits are confronting but all of them show the strength and vulnerability of these survivors.
Kathe Kollowitz' [http://www.moma.org/collection/artist.php?artist_id=3201] drawings and prints were explicit anti-war images depicting the suffereing of civilians.
Tony Garifalakis [] Madeleine, Anna "tony Garafalakis" in Artist Profile Issue 25, 2013. pp 64-69.
Shirin Neshat [http://contemporaryartpresentations.blogspot.com.au/2008/08/body-i-shirin-neshat-rebellious-silence.html] whose photographs challenge Western constructs of Islamic women and their role in the Iranian Revolution.
The Scar Project [http://www.thescarproject.org/] is a series of portraits of women who have survived breast cancer. some portraits are confronting but all of them show the strength and vulnerability of these survivors.
Kathe Kollowitz' [http://www.moma.org/collection/artist.php?artist_id=3201] drawings and prints were explicit anti-war images depicting the suffereing of civilians.
Tony Garifalakis [] Madeleine, Anna "tony Garafalakis" in Artist Profile Issue 25, 2013. pp 64-69.
Shirin Neshat [http://contemporaryartpresentations.blogspot.com.au/2008/08/body-i-shirin-neshat-rebellious-silence.html] whose photographs challenge Western constructs of Islamic women and their role in the Iranian Revolution.
Tutorials -
Pastel portait Bilbrough, Fiona. (2013) "To paint or to draw" Australian Artist, Oct, 2013. pp 40-49.
Skin tones [http://artist-for-hire.hubpages.com/hub/So-Youre-Ready-To-Paint-Your-First-Portrait]
Pastel portait Bilbrough, Fiona. (2013) "To paint or to draw" Australian Artist, Oct, 2013. pp 40-49.
Skin tones [http://artist-for-hire.hubpages.com/hub/So-Youre-Ready-To-Paint-Your-First-Portrait]
Portraits can be created from anything. Have a look at:
20 Most Cool and Unusual Portraits [http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/20-most-cool-and-unusual] lists portraits made from all sorts of things, crayons, screws, speed bags, maps...
Nick Gentry's work [http://twistedsifter.com/2010/01/computer-disk-art-nick-gentry/] with floppy disc portraits
20 Most Cool and Unusual Portraits [http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/20-most-cool-and-unusual] lists portraits made from all sorts of things, crayons, screws, speed bags, maps...
Nick Gentry's work [http://twistedsifter.com/2010/01/computer-disk-art-nick-gentry/] with floppy disc portraits
The World of Portrait Painting [http://worldofportraitpainting.com/commentary-sanden/tengreatest10.htm] identifies the "Ten greats portraits" with excellent commentaries about why they were chosen. You may wish to explore particuklar artists further.
Some other famous portrait painters of the past include include:
Gustav Klimt [http://www.klimtgallery.org/] who turned women into decorative patterns to match their backgrounds
Paul Gaugin [http://www.paul-gauguin.net/] who is famous for painting (objectifying) images of women from the Pacific Islands, especially Tahiti.
Egon Schiele [http://www.egon-schiele.net/] is famous for his drawings. Some are rather confronting but his line drawings are amazing.
Fransisco de Goya [http://www.franciscodegoya.net/] is a Spanish artist with amazing "people" skills. The previsous site is his complete works, while this website has a selection of his drawings [http://www.frick.org/sites/default/files/archivedsite/exhibitions/spanishmanner/checklist_goya.htm]
Some other famous portrait painters of the past include include:
Gustav Klimt [http://www.klimtgallery.org/] who turned women into decorative patterns to match their backgrounds
Paul Gaugin [http://www.paul-gauguin.net/] who is famous for painting (objectifying) images of women from the Pacific Islands, especially Tahiti.
Egon Schiele [http://www.egon-schiele.net/] is famous for his drawings. Some are rather confronting but his line drawings are amazing.
Fransisco de Goya [http://www.franciscodegoya.net/] is a Spanish artist with amazing "people" skills. The previsous site is his complete works, while this website has a selection of his drawings [http://www.frick.org/sites/default/files/archivedsite/exhibitions/spanishmanner/checklist_goya.htm]
Tutorials
Proportions of the face [http://www.artyfactory.com/portraits/pencil-portraits/proportions-of-a-head.html]
Drawing Noses [http://drawsketch.about.com/od/figuredrawing/ss/drawingnoses_3.htm]
Drawing the Eye [http://www.artyfactory.com/portraits/pencil-portraits/drawing-the-eye.html]
Using Photoshop to help you discover the shading when working from photos [http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=832882]
Step by Step Portrait of Dianne Arbus [http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Paint-an-Acrylic-Portrait/?ALLSTEPS]
Traditional Portrait Painting [http://www.instructables.com/id/Traditional-Portrait-Painting-Step-by-Step/?ALLSTEPS]
Step by Step Acrylic techinique [http://www.artyfactory.com/portraits/acrylic-portrait-painting/acrylic-portrait-painting-1.html] - the portrait maight not suit your fancy but the texhniques are excellent.
Rob Anderson [http://www.artistsnetwork.com/articles/art-demos-techniques/rob-anderson-portrait-painting-tutorial] shows the importance of underpainting to create a good tonal range
Wet Canvas [http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=226] has a good discussion board where you can post your own work and ask questions about howto improve it. Ithought the hints about painting hair [http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=262172] were very useful. IF you're paintign a portrait have a read through the differetn discussions.
Another useful site to visit regulary is Artists' Network. Every week they include a demo. This one is great for portrait painters because it shows how to build up a face through colour without carefully blending all the colours together [http://www.artistsnetwork.com/articles/art-demos-techniques/alla-prima-applying-color-without-blending]
Drawing Noses [http://drawsketch.about.com/od/figuredrawing/ss/drawingnoses_3.htm]
Drawing the Eye [http://www.artyfactory.com/portraits/pencil-portraits/drawing-the-eye.html]
Using Photoshop to help you discover the shading when working from photos [http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=832882]
Step by Step Portrait of Dianne Arbus [http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Paint-an-Acrylic-Portrait/?ALLSTEPS]
Traditional Portrait Painting [http://www.instructables.com/id/Traditional-Portrait-Painting-Step-by-Step/?ALLSTEPS]
Step by Step Acrylic techinique [http://www.artyfactory.com/portraits/acrylic-portrait-painting/acrylic-portrait-painting-1.html] - the portrait maight not suit your fancy but the texhniques are excellent.
Rob Anderson [http://www.artistsnetwork.com/articles/art-demos-techniques/rob-anderson-portrait-painting-tutorial] shows the importance of underpainting to create a good tonal range
Wet Canvas [http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=226] has a good discussion board where you can post your own work and ask questions about howto improve it. Ithought the hints about painting hair [http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=262172] were very useful. IF you're paintign a portrait have a read through the differetn discussions.
Another useful site to visit regulary is Artists' Network. Every week they include a demo. This one is great for portrait painters because it shows how to build up a face through colour without carefully blending all the colours together [http://www.artistsnetwork.com/articles/art-demos-techniques/alla-prima-applying-color-without-blending]