Life Drawing

We had our first life drawing lesson last Tuesday. Although a little bit dull the actual experience was rather interesting. Having done life drawing before at the Maidstone UCCA campus where I studied last, most of the lesson was familiar.

The only thing which I found new about the life drawing was our task for drawing the last two pictures. Instead of drawing the model, we were instructed to draw using straight lines only to create a sort of ‘scaffolding’ in order to help us draw the figure more accurately. I found this rather interesting as I’d never thought to draw in this way.

Spirit Guide

The idea of the sketch was tied in with the hobbies idea. Ever since I was younger I've done a lot of horse riding. Not so much nowadays but I still have the skills there. It also ties in with the fursona theme. Although I don't see myself as a horse as much as I do a wolf, the horse would be my second choice of animal I'd resemble.

This sketch was leaning towards the fursona idea yet again until someone mentioned it being a spirit guide instead. This was inspired by the Native American traditions. As it's been noted in previous blogs that the book I'm reading is 'Northern Lights' which is also based on this idea instead of spirit guides though they're known as demons. Although my first choice of a spirit guide would be yet again a wolf, I reckon I'd probably have one or two. A wolf, a dog and a horse. This would be that they would represent different areas of my life. The dog for protection when I'm at home, the wolf when I'm out in the wilderness and the horse in forests etc.

Tied to Disability

Having a disability has its positive points; it's not all a walk in the park. Having Aspergers Syndrome, a form of Autism means that I find certain things harder than everyone else. The main things are organisation and sometimes communicating. Another thing is when applying for things such as a driving licence etc; I not only have to fill out a form for the actual licence, but I also have to fill out a form to say I do have Aspergers Syndrome. Although I'm in sync with it I still hate having a disability.

The idea behind this picture was to portray what my disability is to me. I feel as if I'm constantly chained to the Aspergers Syndrome and I wish to find a way of breaking away.

Unknown Personality

As I mentioned before, I really loved Gerhard Richter and their portrait of the woman looking away. I thought about it and decided that I'd prefer not to do the same for I wouldn't want people to not know me completely. I then went ahead with some help to take some photos of me half looking at the camera.

This is because I wanted to get across to the viewer that although all of my identity is not being given away it would seem as if I wanted to get to know them.

This would be because although I may appear just slightly shy and quiet, I struggle with talking to new people. This may be due to my autism, but as a mother at the last Autism meeting I went to quoted about her son 'What's his personality and what is the autism?'.

Fursona

A fursona is an animal which represents you. It can be any animal, but mainly realistic ones such as a cat, dog, horse etc. My fursona is a white wolf because the colour white is one of my favourite colours. The wolf is an animal I adore and relate to, which is why I chose it to be my fursona. The markings on the wolf are a + and – symbol on the left cheek. This not only represents my love for Japanese culture but it also is part of a rather unusual nickname given to me by an old friend. I decided to draw a rough outline of my face with the other half as a wolf.

Hobbies

Listening to: Enya- Sumiregusa
Reading: Northern Lights still.

After I'd finished flicking through the 'Seeing Ourselves- Women's Self-portraits' I thought about what else could be used as an idea for my portrait. One or two of the pictures in the book had been based out-doors and so I started thinking about my experience of the outdoor life. The main hobbies for this part of my life are hiking/camping and cookouts with my friends and Ranger group.

Having been on a lot of camps I thought of the idea of a picture of me inside the tent laying down. This would also be to show that I've also been on a journey. Especially if I did a picture like the sketch of a tent in the top left hand corner. The tents were rather old fashioned with a door at both ends and 3-4 large poles to keep them standing. That meant that both set of doors could be open at the same time.

This would depict a journey for there would be a country side scene behind.This page of my sketchbook was simply a few very rough doodles, not only for ideas I could develop but also to get down certain things I could include in my portrait. The main thing I would include if they worked with the image was some Japanese Kanji. This would be because as I learn Japanese it would show yet another hobby.

1st Idea

My first idea for my protrait came from seeing the picture of 'Mlle Charlotte Du Val D'ognes' so I sketched a rough outline of the picture so I had something to work with.

The setting and feel of the picture reminds me of how I feel sometimes. I'm usually a cheerful person and try and be optimistic as much as possible, sometimes I do wish I was like other people. People without a disability. There are times when I feel set apart from society and a little bit different. Like in this picture, I'm sat in a different room whilst society continues outside, unaware of my existence.