The Final Chapter Completed - Literally and Figuratively

The final chapter was completed and the thesis turned in the week of my birthday. The coursework is also at an end; however, I will continue on this path of self-discovery. I officially graduate in January, but as for checking in, handing in work, and or revising work, this all has come to a close.

Constructing the Final Chapter

Having completed the fourth chapter, reporting the findings, I am now faced with the final chapter.  This proves the most difficult. A vast amount of knowledge was gained; a greater understanding for how self-portraiture (drawing self-portraits for this particular study) has a positive impact on personal identity has been unearthed, but NOW to put it all down in meaningful, non-repetitious verbiage that holds lasting importance is the directive and challenge: what to say, how to say it, and when to stop saying it! Ugh!  Help me, Rhonda!

We Arrived Safely in Youngstown/Boardman Ohio!

We made it and have landed in Boardman (sometimes referred to as Youngstown) Ohio–great weather, love the Fall colors.  Research continues.  I am at the final stages, analyzing the data collected, reviewing my blog entries, and writing my findings.

Picture from Boardman:

On The Road–

In the midst of working on my thesis, I am uprooting and moving to Ohio.  This has been a challenging period in my life to say the least, but it has also added adventure!  Keeping on track is the hardest part, well along with packing, clearing out old junk, deciding on what to take and leave behind, and also saying good bye to family and friends.  Eastward is the goal. 

The Trip:

Final Self-Portrait: Extreme Close-Up with Grid [Realism]

This is the final self-portrait in a series of four.  This proved the most challenging.  I decided to implement an alternate grid, rather than the standard evenly spaced horizontal and vertical lines.  This grid was introduced to me during my undergraduate studies.  There are two diagonal lines that cross one another and meet in the middle of the image.  There are horizontal lines measured evenly from top to bottom.  This proves much easier when math computations are a challenge. 

Personal Feelings: I struggled with the idea of drawing a realistic portrayal of myself.  I chose to create a facial expression that best described this apprehension.  This facial expression became the subject matter of the extreme close-up self-portrait.  This allowed me to move beyond the apprehensions.  It was like my own personal joke or secret.  If I had started with this self-portrait at the first of my research, I think too much time would have been wasted on "personal" issues and less on the art of making the portrait.  This is key for classroom implications as well. Key Code: cloudy; cloudy; :-)

Classroom Implications: I would use this approach as a capstone to a long, involved Unit for learning. Self-portraiture should be developed over a lengthy period of time, to develop skills and confidence in students (Carroll, 2007).  For a lasting effect on self-identity, one lesson, even two lessons on self-portraiture are not going to yield sustained results.  In order to experience actualized, real identity changes, many factors must be challenged, increased, and developed.  Students must learn how to develop a visual narrative, increase in skill sets, discover inner courage to share with others, and develop other ideas about self that is not measured against or influenced by peers, possibly family, or even environmental factors.  This new knowledge has to come from within and extend outwardly.  Art, self-portraiture, active investigation into self, increased, informed personal awareness are essential elements that can effectuate a positive self identity. 

Grid:

Grid in Process with Initial Cartoon Drawing:

Final Drawing with Grid:

Final Composition:

Updates: Steps for Each Drawing Process

I have organized the varied self-portrait projects into final sheets.  This allows for a quick review.

 Self-Portrait #1– Superhero Animal Metaphor:

Self-Portrait #2 – Distorted/Altered:

Self-Portrait #3 – Folk/Outsider Art:

Final, Self-Portrait #4 – Extreme Close-up with Grid [Realism]:

Folk Art Self-Portrait

Below are the images for the folk art self-portrait, third in a set of four self-portraits to be completed for my thesis.  Notes on thoughts regarding this process can be found in previous postings.

The initial cartoon sketch:

Color application: Colored pencils, colored markers and black pen.

Completed Self-Portrait