Bed Head

[Painted Melody]

MY IMAGE(S):
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Critiques/upload_spool/01-13-2002/2947_jjbedhead.jpg


GENERAL INFORMATION:
Title: Bed Head
Year Created: 2002
Medium: Watercolor
Surface: Watercolor Paper
Dimension: 18x24''
Allow digital alterations?: Yes!

MY COMMENTS:
Hi,

This is Bed Head, my most recent a self portrait. A bit of background about me: Before the Fall of 2001, I studied a year of Graphic Design, and felt content but wished for more traditional methods. I signed up for a painting course last Fall and fell in love with the brush, and now seriously considering in moving into Illustration or Painting.

Since Fall I have been studying self portraits as my muse. Bed Head is my latest one, to compare from (http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=23244) this (my first)

MY QUESTIONS FOR THE GROUP:
Bed Head is my latest one, and I would like to consider it a strong piece for my portfolio to enter art school.

I would benefit from hearing how to improve my technique. I love muted colors, textural and emotional paintings, especially by Freud and Nerdrum -- but does my portrait read clear?

I'm also interested in certain 'rawness' of the canvas, like how Fechin or Schmid would show the canvas through their finished work.. this is inherent with Watercolors, but I compromise by having the pigment drip to the bottom, does this work for you?

Any advice would be excellent advice, tank you for the time

Jeremy

[bluespade]

Others here could probably comment more on what works well for an art school portfolio. I like the heavy look to the eyes, the drowsy expression, the slightly raised shoulder and the hair. I think it reads very clear. I think the title might not be an expression all people would get right away (especially non-native english speakers). It is kinda slang, which goes well with the image, but might not work for some. The background and unfinished lower portion all play well with the image.

[Painted Melody]

bluespade

Appreciate for the reply. I did not think about the slang in the title, that is something to reconsider for me.

Jeremy

[djstar]

WOW, Jeremy, I have seen so many of the ones in between, that I MUST do one of those dull kudos here! VERY dynamic! Really impressive progress!

I mostly wanted to comment on the "Face in the photocopier" effect.
(when I was younger, we copied less recognizable body parts.... but I digress) There is an unfinished quality around the nose that shows gravity working wrong. But your skills with the medium are definately showing.

Some in your series before have had a LOT more guts and rawness. There is a more sophistocated feel of going toward an end and stopping, rather than a full statement.

Your two called PRIMARY in your site, are more of what you say you are trying for: the feel of the raw.

Portraitwise, it is more calm, a lot more confident, and if they don't let you in, you are just looking in the wrong school!!!!
I don't know what sort of mark you want to make on the world, but IF this is the direction you are really going, throw a couple more under your belt before you decide on that portfolio. It does not feel like the end of the journey. It makes me feel like it is in the middle.

The two others I mention, have a lot more raw intensity of the fear of creating. There is more guts in them, and this one is just around the corner from glory.

(I hope this is the forum I am supposed to really let it out in!)

Since you have shown us the journey, I am showing you the honesty, I KNOW it is a good entry piece, but I THINK you are ALMOST there.
dj*

[domsanto]

This is my favorite of your portraits and I definitely think it is portfolio material. I think you could improve on the nose. Noses are hard and still give me fits sometimes. I like how the pigment drops to the bottom. I would have liked to see more drips from the dark blue shirt.

Your watercolor technique just keeps getting better and better. I always look forward to seeing your work.

[Painted Melody]

Thanks dj * and domsanto

Photocopier effect is something i've always been interested in, I like the idea of being ambiguous sliced and exposed... it's an odd quality for sure, I see I wasn't the only one who played with the xerox machine that way *grin*

This is certainly more calmer than the PRiMARY set I've done, both of those were reactional to recent events.. I think BedHead is modeled after that heavy-set morning look... i always seem to have that fatigue expression on me, despite I'm always burning inside... it's an odd conflict :]

Yup , noses --- argh! They make me grr... they are so hard to capture and pull with gravity, especially mine since It's somewhat flat, and then bumps out at the end.. In all the self portraits, my nose has an identity crisis

jer