Alphonso Dunn was born in Jamaica and migrated to the United States at age 17. Inspired by ambitions for a career in medicine, he completed his undergraduate study in Applied Chemistry at William Paterson University; however, his enduring passion for drawing led him to earn a Master of Fine Arts from the New York Academy of Art. After completing his graduate study, he taught high school chemistry and various college art courses. Alphonso has since won a number of awards and his work can be found in numerous private collections in the US and worldwide. He is widely known for his popular YouTube channel and art instruction books, Pen & Ink Drawing: A Simple Guide and Pen & Ink Drawing Workbook. His YouTube channel has over 450,000 followers and features hundreds of free videos and tutorials on drawing, sketching, pen and ink, watercolor and more for learners at all levels. He currently resides in New Jersey.
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The Essential Questions
What is your "Personal Tale"?  
What do you want to show others about yourself ?
What experiences have you had?  What do you believe in? 
 THE ART CHALLENGE
As an effort to get to know each other in class, you are challenged to create a self portrait that captures your essence or mood.
  1. How do you fit into society / school?
  2. How do you relate or react to your family / peers?
  3. Do you have any traditions your family follows? Do you come from another country or culture? Does religion play a part in your life?
  4. What are your hobbies?  What do you think about most of the time?  
  5. What passions do you have? What liberates you? What confines you?
  6. What best represents you: Body, Mind, Spirit, or Society
  7. What do you want the viewer to feel when interacting with your work?
  8. Do you want them to know it is about you specifically, or about your meaning in a more ambiguous way?
  9. How can different materials convey different meanings and emotions?
Process / Technique
Obviously, for this beginning art problem, you are asked to create a self portrait.  However, what do we do if we do not know how to begin?  Here are some suggestions:
  • Plan;  Brainstorm a list of traits or interests you have.
  • Prep:  Take photos....a lot of photos....
  • Style:  Illustrative; Realism; Surrealism; Digital; Abstract; Minimalist; Fantasy/Cartoon; etc.  What style of drawing are you really interested in?  
  • Technique:  Grid method; contour study; blind contour; focused observation; illustration; etc.
  • Material to Finish:  Ball point pen?  Oil Pastel?  Colored Pencil?  Water Color? 

Investigate the Project Criteria / Rubric

Formative / Sketchbook Investigation for Process Planning

Creativity: 
What is your intent?  How will you create something that is original or made new?
Quality:
How will you ensure your work looks clean and aesthetically pleasing?
Techniques / Materials:
What materials will you use for your composition? 
What drawing techniques will you engage in?
Design:
How will you use the principles of design to ensure your work is visually successful?
What elements of art will you use to enhance the principles of design?
Planning:
Using the Process & Planning: Creative Cycle file below, brainstorm your ideas by working through the steps of the creation process.  Document your ideas and research in your sketchbook.  Research master artists that inspire you for the project.  Choose the material and practice with them to best suit your needs for the project.  Plan your composition layout through thumbnail sketches.  
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Process & Planning: Creative Cycle.pdf
File Size: 59 kb
File Type: pdf
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Jim Dine' Symbolic Self Portraits

Portraits can be abstract or non-representational

Creative Option & Appropriation:
Outline a silhouette of some part of yourself with the overhead projector onto your drawing paper.  Then, fill in the outline with doodles and drawings that symbolize you in some way.  The doodles or drawings should try to define contours and values.  

Other Master Artists Portraits

Contemporary or Modern Portraits

Manders Portraits

Symbolic Portrait Examples

MGSH Student Portraits

Investigate Together

With a partner, or in a small group, choose 2 of the portraits showcased here on this page.  Answer the following prompts and analyze your chosen works:
  1. Describe each piece.  What is being seen in each artwork?  
  2. What is the most prominent art element found in the work?  How is that art element organized to create a Principle of Design?
  3. Is the work finished?  Is there a sense of Unity?  How do you know?  
  4. How are the two works similar?  How are they different?  Use specific examples from each.
  5. What emotion or message is being communicated through the portrait?  What are the clues to inform you about the artist's intent? 
  6. What influences or ideas can you take from these works into your own self portrait?  

Setting Up Your Composition / Creation