Artists -Albrecht Dürer

Albrecht Dürer 21 May 1471 – 6 April 1528 was a German painter, printmaker and theorist from Nuremberg. His prints established his reputation across Europe when he was still in his twenties, and he has been conventionally regarded as the greatest artist of the Northern Renaissance ever since. His well-known works include the Apocalypse woodcuts, Knight, Death, and theDevil (1513), Saint Jerome in his Study (1514) and Melencolia I (1514), which has been the subject of extensive analysis and interpretation. His watercolours mark him as one of the first European landscape artists, while his ambitious woodcuts revolutionized the potential of that medium.

Young Hare, 1502, Watercolour and bodycolour.

The earliest painted Self-Portrait (1493) by Albrecht Dürer, oil, originally on vellum Louvre,Paris

Photoshop

Because we are experimenting with self portraits this term we have had to use photoshop a lot. I never really use photoshop so this is a new experience for me to learn all the different tools when experimenting with my self portraits.

First we just started of learning the basics which was inserting a photo and then changing the opacity, hue/saturation, brightness and more.

Here are my very first two photoshopped images which we used the images from the media file and learnt how to layer images over the top. I also experimented with fonts.

12.Self-Portrait

Rembrandt. Self Portrait, 1640

Though Dürer is credited for being the first artist to consistently create self-portraits, Rembrandt is given credit for being the first artist to intensely study the self through art. During his life time, 1606-1669, Rembrandt sketched his own face thousands of times. He created a legacy of 60 self-portraits that depict his history, an autobiographical story that chronicles his turbulent life. From rags to riches, through marriages and mistresses, from youth to old age, we can witness the changing face of Rembrandt.

Rembrandt. Self Portrait, 1669

Janson summed up Rembrandt's use of the self-portraits well when he wrote that "...his view of himself reflects every stage of his inner development - experimental in the Leyden years; theatrically disguised in the 1630's; frank and self-analytical toward the end of his life, ... yet full of simple dignity."

Vincent van Gogh, Self Portrait with Bandaged Ear, 1889

Vincent van Gogh is as famous for his self-portraits as is Rembrandt, though instead of creating them over a life time, he painted the majority, twenty-two of them, within two tumultuous years. Van Gogh's images during that period (1886-1888) and for the two years before his suicide in 1890 reveal a man who was struggling with life, and perhaps searching for answers through his painted image. Each painted portrait captures detailed emotions of shock, disturbance, tranquillity or confusion.

Frida Kahlo, Self Portrait with Monkey, 1938

Like Rembrandt and van Gogh, the story of Frida Kahlo can be read in her self-portraits. Approximately one-third of her work is the exploration of her self, physically and mentally. Kahlo created some fifty-five

self-portraits as a kind of therapy to face the most troubling events of her life; her leg crippled from polio, permanent injuries from a bus accident, abortions, and botched surgeries.

Colour Quiz

11.Photorealist by Chuck Close

What do you think makes him happy?

Just going for a walk, I know from the picture is looks the opposite from someone that would want to be in fresh air because of his untidy look but I believe a good walk whilst he contemplates.

How old do you think he is?

late 20's - early 30's he has the look of 'oh my gosh' i've wasted a lot of my life, I need to get a move on.. but then there is this also carefree and go with the flow in life.

What is his name?

Ez (short for Ezra) James

Is he sort of the person you would like to get to know, why?

I don't particularly think I'd like to know this person. However this is just me judging the image and not actually getting to know him. But if it was based upon this image than definitely 'no'.

Is he married?

I don't think he's married. But I think he's definitely contemplated that idea and is possibly considering in the next few years.

Did he finish high school?

I think he did finish school and had great expectations but somewhere along the line I think he thought 'well heck, I better enjoy life' but he definitely regrets that decision.

What does he do?

Well I think he was a college dropout who was studying photography as he looks the type of person who would take simplistic monochromatic images of landscapes (possibly city landscapes).

How does he spend his leisure time?

I get the feeling that he is alone a lot of the time, but I think he still takes photos in his free time as it is still a passion of his.

What does he dream about?

I think he has very whimsical and fantasy dreams, quite unrealistic. Not in the sense of him living as a millionaire but more of travelling to an unknown planet and exploring the wonders.

10.What makes you feel....

What makes you feel the best?

What makes me feel the best is arriving home after being away from home from a long time and instead of coming home and unpacking straight away you just go up to your room which has been empty for how ever long and you just lie on your bed and you instantly feel at home again.

What gets you most excited?

Before my basketball games. I'm always so excited before any game and I just can't wait to go out and play!

When was the last time you felt that "life couldn't get any better"?

When my sister was born in 2009! I was so happy and I truly felt that life couldn't get any better and I've been so happy to have her around.

What upsets you more than anything?

Goodbyes. Saying goodbye to people that I know I won't see in a long time, which I know I'll hate at the end of grade 12 because I'm sure I'll be saying goodbye to a lot of people that I may never see again.

9.Favourite things

I know I don't have to do a table because when I think about my favourite things, I know they are all American. I know it sounds quite sad when I think about it the vast majorityof my favourite things are American. This definitely doesn't surprise me as America is quite the dominant country which most media and foods are first created.

Television show: Toddlers & Tiaras

One of my favourite and most interesting shows I watch, whilst you may understand from the title that it's about toddlers competing in pageant shows its interesting to see how competitive some of the toddlers and parent's are. It's just fascinating watching how much the toddlers are transformed from fake hair, spray tans, spending thousands of dollars on costumes and even using flippers (fake teeth for toddlers who have lost their baby teeth!).

Food: Baskin Robbins

So delicious and with their 31 flavours, whilst it is world renowned it is still American and so delicious!

Fashion Fad: Military Jackets

Fashion military jackets, whilst being 2010's new fashion fad, it all started in America, featuring in Runway shows.

Music: Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga is such an inspirational woman, who has inspired not only me but thousands with her creativeness and love for life. This New York born lady through her songs has expressed extreme originality and teaches everyone around the world to be who they are and that it doesn't matter what others think.