2-D Concepts
Jeff Jacobsen (inst.)
11.09.2004
“Portrait Identity”

Project Objectives:
The objective of this project was to create a self-portrait painting.  We were to utilize a grid system to transfer images from another source to the board and then paint it. 

Project Description:
For the portrait and background part of the painting we were only allowed to use the grayscale colors.  After taking a black/white photograph of our face we drew a grid over it.  By scaling up the grid size on the actual painting we were able to get an accurate representation of the photograph on a much larger scale.  The elements in the background of the portrait where supposed to tell about our personality.  We were asked to answer the questions: Who am I?  Where am I?  Where am I from?  Where am I going?  The final aspect of this project was to include a monochromatic shape over the top of our portrait that also told something about our personality.

Description of Solution:
With this project I was trying to get across my love for racing while still answering the questions of where I’m from, where I am, and where I’m going.  I chose to use a somewhat serious looking picture of myself because to me racing is a very serious sport.  This portrait is somewhat representational of my “game face.”  I also chose to paint the portrait of my face in a very flat, almost mechanical style.  The two blue objects over my head are two gears, much like those used on my kart.  In high school some people had a term for those who liked racing and they called us “gear heads.”  This is why I chose those shapes and placed them where I did.  For the background of my portrait I decided to use the Milwaukee skyline.  I have lived in Milwaukee for the last three years and I absolutely love the city.  I like to run in the park or drive up and down Lincoln Memorial Drive and look at the skyline.  I have a fascination with the city which has a lot to do with the fact that I grew up in the small town of Plymouth.  I chose to put the Plymouth city sign and clock on my portrait because of the importance of my hometown in my life.  The UWM logo placed behind my head answers the question of where I am.  Finally, I chose to make my kart the center of the composition because racing is what I live for.  I wanted each element on the painting to stand out yet create a somewhat believable space.