The Basics of Self Portrait

Self portraits have been very popular even in the ancient period. A self portrait is a picture where the subject is the self or the artist. These kinds of portraits started in the ancient times or ancient period. This was the time of the rise of thrives of Egyptian and Greek civilization. The self portrait is usually present in the vases of Greeks and hieroglyphics of Egyptians.

Nowadays, there are many ways to make a self portrait. These self portraits vary in the manifestation of the artist himself or herself. Most of the modern self portraits are in the painting classification. Painting has been a popular media for visual representation.

During the renaissance period, the elegant self portraits are bold and very innovative. These portraits come in the usual nude self portraits.

People have been into self portraits for many reasons. During early times, the male species are given more emphasis, the reason there were a larger number of male self portraits done compared to female portraits. The popularity of female self portraits increased in the time of female liberalism.

The very common self painting and the oldest ones are done in charcoal. This is the oldest material used as art material. The large drawings are made with powdered charcoal which was the simplest material. These powdered charcoals are applied in the cotton. The cotton is used to swab. It is then manipulated with finger tips and erasers. These portraits have the application of fixative.

There are generally three forms of coal. First is the vine charcoal, created by wood of burning sticks that are in the consistencies of soft, medium or hard. Second, there is compressed charcoal. It is a mixture of charcoal powder and gum binder being compressed into sticks that are round or square. And last is powdered charcoal. It is usually used to tone or cover larger sections of drawing surfaces.

One disadvantage of charcoal is that is can be erased or smudged easily unless the application can be filed in the form of gum or resin. Although there are other materials that last longer than charcoal, there is still best part of using charcoal that is the spontaneity and sensitivity that is present in the drawing medium. Charcoal is fast, direct and responsive. These are the least inhibiting area of the charcoal.

Charcoal can produce bold and fluid lines. They are also a great host of textures. This is the only drawing material that is capable of imitating the painting of Chinese that uses ink brush. This kind of painting can be on a free paper that is white 100% acid or on watercolor board. Charcoal has been an extensive use for developing self portrait globally. This has been proven despite its tendency to dust off. But there are ways that are made by people put some remedy in this drawback. There are people who uses glass frames or fixative sprays.

Another form of self portrait is the black and white self portrait. This is the most contemporary form of self portrait. One limitation of black and white portraits is the misconception. Many people limit the black and whiter self portrait as a charcoal made.

This contemporary portrait that is black and white can be a photograph. This self portrait can also come in oil canvas. They can come with a dramatic effect.

There is so much to be learned about self portrait. Many people are trying to do a self portrait but only a few are successful to have their own self portrait. But one must not be frustrated if in case they are not successful of having a self portrait.

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