Becky Smyllie

Concentrating on layers has led me to a few different experiments.

(layered with different media whilst model was moving)

(drawn with both hands)

(recording movement of head)

(three poses in life drawing)

(multiple layers of the same image over black&white)

 

(symmetrical using both hands) 

(using both hands without overlapping)

(using both hands for each side of the face)

(multiples of a drawing + negative effect using white on black)

(cornely stitching, overlaying fabrics)

(cornely stitching layered)

Putting my portraits on display meant I could assess which drawings were the most successful. I thought I'd still prefer the ones using photography but when they were up it was the more abstract drawings that stood out as having more potential. The ones that are very figurative don't invite as much exploration as the the abstract ones and the drawings that use layers have much more depth to them. My next task is to explore the use of layers and accumulation of line within my drawings. 

(These are all self-portraits done in different techniques and displayed as a jumble of images)

(Family members portraits)

(Portraits using photography, collage and life drawing)

(a different approach to displaying portraits, flat on a desk the viewer can explore them from all angles)

I am recording presentation ideas as they come to me. I want the curating of my work to be just as interesting as the drawings themselves.

- Hanging from the ceiling to fill the room

- Attaching to frames so they are free-standing

these ideas both invite the viewer to move around the drawings in a space

- Continuous drawings that surround the whole room, creating a 360 degree experience 

- One drawing that covers the whole wall, up close will look like nothing and from a distance recognisable features can be discovered

- Projections that build layers on the drawing and move in and out of focus

(wax with water colour. I don't like this technique so I rushed it)

News Face

(quick continuous line drawing from memory)

(water colour painting, paint brush held at tip and out stretched arm)

(acrylics, building features with shading)

(2H pencil drawing)

(detail of above)

(Sally, drawn without looking at paper, first time I've drawn teeth)

(photograph collage. Could also be a body painting)

(drawing with photography)

(3D photograph)

(angled detail)

(not looking at paper, then working into the drawing to create some more definite features of the body)

Had a tutorial after a week of faffing about with drawing faces and cutting up pieces of texts...

Turns out they really liked the drawing above, which is supposed to be me but I did it without looking at the paper, so I am to carry on drawing portraits. The aim is for 100 by Mon 11th. 

These are some more self portraits using different techniques...

(not looking at the paper with silver pen)

(picking out details using basic lines - felt tip)

(half face emerging from page, charcoal pencil. This is an accidental illusion as well if you can spot the profile)

(over laying features of the face using mono printing)

(emerging face using mono printing)

(not looking at paper with arm stretched out to limit control - biro, pencil + oil pastel)

Moving Image of painted hand...

Going with the theme of identity, that came from the finger print, I've created an interpretation of a DNA strand. I took the imagery from an illustration found from an image search. There are some moving images to come...

Really want to keep painting hands and have them as a focus however I'm struggling to think of a context for them. I just did a quick search around for things related to hands and quickly came up with finger prints. Exaggerating the print and blowing up the detail is the kind of work I like doing but at this moment I don't know where I'm heading...

These are my final images based on decorated hands to enhance, highlight or hide the face.I will be exploring this idea further and have some ideas in mind however these are the images I'm presenting for my assessment.