Skip to content
  • HOME
  • THE DREAMER
    • CONTACT
  • DISCLOSURES
  • HOME
  • custom-logo
  • THE DREAMER
    • CONTACT
  • DISCLOSURES
Uncategorized

Art Classes Pt. 1: Self-Portrait at 19 Going on 20

August 4, 2012August 25, 2015 Crystal // Dreams, etc. 1 comment
Art Classes Pt. 1: Self-Portrait at 19 Going on 20

This
week I started going through boxes that I haven’t looked at in ages to see what
I can get rid of.  While going through the
boxes I found a drawing that I honestly thought I had tossed at some point,
though I don’t know why I would have. 
It’s a self-portrait that I drew in the weeks before my 20th birthday for a drawing class that I took my first semester in college. 
My professor told us to draft on a smaller sheet of paper and then do
the drawing for the project on a larger (poster board-sized, basically) sheet
to hand in.  I spent a lot of time on my
smaller portrait and not as much on the larger size.  This is partly because I’m more comfortable
with drawing in a smaller scale and partly because I got carried away and ran out of time.  I remember working on this drawing while at the Science Museum Omni
Theater.  They had one of their movie
marathons and my dad and I bought tickets for each movie.  They let us stay in the theater between
shows, so in between movies I whipped out my sketchbook and a small mirror
and got to work. 

Anyway,
the drawing:
It
wasn’t one of my best drawings from the semester; as soon as I first saw it
while digging through a box I started picking out the many flaws.  That’s just me, I’m nit picky.  But even though it wasn’t my best, it was my
favorite.  (Except for that larger
version; that version was awful.) 
This
drawing represents the 19 going on 20-year-old Crystal that was torn between
countries.  I love the US but I’ve
always experienced wanderlust and have had a desire to travel the world.  When I was 18 I spent nearly three months in
Dakar, Senegal and felt a very strong connection to the country. The part of me
that yearns for Africa is represented by the cornrows and the (supposed to be)
henna detailing around half of my face.  I drew this self-portrait during the spring semester and had just
returned from a holiday trip to Austria. 
Vienna is a magical city over the holiday season and I was in love.  Because hese two countries were so
important to me, I wanted them represented in this
self-portrait so I attempted to draw them into the background.  Obviously that didn’t so well and if I were
to redo this drawing, I would try to incorporate them more organically into the
portrait.  They also need work because it was at that point that I realized that I should probably start working on the
larger version of this drawing so I rushed them.  (Oh, England is in there too!)  
Now, when I look at this drawing I actually have
to force myself to see Austria because I’m so focused on Africa.  I drew the continent, shaded in Senegal and
that little sliver cutting into Senegal is supposed to be Gambia.  To me, it just looks like an arm-less
dinosaur running with its mouth open.  I
remember purposefully trying not to do actual outlines of the continents and trying to do representative shapes instead.  My teacher said that I should have done the
actual outlines and now I totally understand why!  Oh well, you draw and learn, right?
About Crystal

About Crystal

Hi! I'm Crystal, a millennial learning how to live slowly and sustainably, while still seeking adventure and following my dreams, etc.

Post navigation

RTW: Best July Read
Mer-Palooza and Camp NaNo

One comment

  1. *tarazza says:
    August 6, 2012 at 3:28 pm

    What a great post! I love seeing the artwork and your analysis of a sort of then-and-now viewpoint. It's a cool art exercise, but also seems to have made for a great writing exercise.

    Reply

Share Your Thoughts! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

hi!

I'm Crystal, the storyteller behind Dreams, etc. I'm all about learning how to live slowly & sustainably, while also seeking adventure as we follow our dreams, etc.

Come with me to Cafe Ceres in downtown Minneapolis Come with me to Cafe Ceres in downtown Minneapolis.
A low key Sunday: church, pizza with mom, phone ca A low key Sunday: church, pizza with mom, phone call with niece, dogs. What was your Sunday like?
Summer has never been my favorite season so I inte Summer has never been my favorite season so I intentionally try to find those moments that I enjoy. Here’s one from summer 2023: sitting outside and watching this bird couple care for their babies.
It’s true. Okay, Mina. Your human needs a hug. It’s true.

Okay, Mina. Your human needs a hug. And maybe we should consider taking more flattering videos of the two of us. 😂

.
.
.
#dogstagram #dogsofinsta #dogsofig #dogstagram #dogslife #dogsofinstaworld #dogscorner #dogsdaily #dogs_of_instagram #girlsbestfriend #ckcs #doglove #dogsdaily #dogslover #dogsandpals #dogsworld #dogsrule #dogsoninstagram #dogsarefamily
August. August.
July is over and I’m glad. I’m ready for summe July is over and I’m glad. I’m ready for summer to come to an end. I’m thankful that you can see Mina throughout the entire video…there were a few days in July that I wasn’t sure she would be around much longer. Hold your pups tight. 💙 #onesecondeveryday #onesecond #1secondeveryday #1se #monthinreview #videodiary
A rainy day is a special gift to readers. [Amy Mil A rainy day is a special gift to readers. [Amy Miles] 🌧️

What’s your rainy day (or night) read?
Saturday morning. Mim’s Cafe. Saturday morning. Mim’s Cafe.
June 2023. June 2023.
See More Follow on Instagram

RECENT POSTS

  • The Summer Day by Mary Oliver
  • A Week in Idaho
  • Saying Goodbye to Crystal the Writer
  • The Day the Sorcerers Visited Baby Jesus
  • Thoughts on Hope

CATEGORIES

  • Adventures (53)
  • Beauty (16)
  • Books (147)
  • Creativity (58)
  • Entertainment (18)
  • Life (225)
  • Uncategorized (539)
  • Wellness (8)

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING?

Follow
  • Book Review Policy
  • BOOKS
  • Contact
  • DISCLOSURES
  • Insta Links
  • Seint Links
  • THE DREAMER
Copyright © 2023 | All Rights Reserved | © 2023. All text and photos belong to Crystal Brutlag, unless otherwise stated. Theme designed by Little Theme Shop: https://littlethemeshop.com

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

Dreams, etc. // Minneapolis Lifestyle Blog
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.