Underneath the skin
A charcoal drawing demonstration by Annabel Mednick
an examination into the process of portrait drawing to discover the person
within...
As a figurative artist I am interested in how face, body and
identity are discovered, represented and perceived in portraiture, and how this
relates to our intimate feelings about beauty and ageing, both of ourselves and
of others.
In the first part of this performance/demonstration I used a
mirror to produce a self-portrait. I tried to discover whether I am
representing the external or internal self. Using charcoal I altered,
smeared, and developed the portrait. As I reflected on my own image, the
audience were engaged as I asked for their
opinions and directions.
In the second part I made a portrait of a
sitter, Again talking to and consulting the
audience, and the sitter, I sketched, changed and rubbed the work as I explored
what was a true, or a sympathetic, or a flattering image.
I am the
artist. I can judge - is she young enough, pretty enough, good enough....
Well that was the plan.... I didn't push it as far as I might have.
The first half was OK, but in the second part I found I too was constrained by society, I just couldn't say things that could be upsetting or very confrontational... I wanted to please, be a 'nice lady'
When I do this again next month at the Changing understandings of body image workshop at the University of Warwick
I am going to take on the different roles of The Artist and announce them so it is not so personal to me. I'm sure I will explore some other ideas I have mulling around.
Here are some snaps....png)
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Check out the workshops etc here...
http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/generic/beauty/events/2015/workshop1.aspxhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/generic/beauty/index.aspx
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My friend Giovanna Maria Cassetta very kindly agreed to sit for me.
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