Chapter 1 | SELF PORTRAIT WITH A FINGERPRINT
No one else has the same fingerprint as you. That is why fingerprints are also used for identification. Coincidentally, a fingerprint is more or less shaped like a head. The Romanian-American illustrator Saul Steinberg drew all kinds of funny (self) portraits with his fingerprint as a head. You can also try this out using an ink pad.
Exercise 1: Make up one or more (self) portraits with your fingerprint as a head (see examples).
Tip: Use a test sheet of paper to try out your fingerprints. Especially with a new stamp pad you have to press softly, otherwise your finger will get soaking wet and you will no longer see the unique line pattern of the fingertip. Often the second print is the best. It’s a matter of trying it out.
Portraits with a fingerprint
Exercise 2: Make a selfie with your best friend (left) in a frame (eg 10 x 10 cm.). Of course you now also need his/her unique fingerprint in your drawing.
Exercise 3: Make a few fingerprints close to each other and only then draw figures on them, as in the example of the three fans of the Dutch soccer team (women or men) after a victory.
Exercise 4: Create a unique group- or family portrait: First think about how many people you want to include. Then very lightly draw a composition of the group portrait as in the example (half an A4 sheet is large enough). Make sure the oval heads are about the size of a fingerprint. Then ask friends/classmates/family to put their unique fingerprint in one of the heads. Later you can add anything such as clothes and names. Such a drawing could become a special memory.
An alternative way to take a fingerprint without an ink pad:
Using a soft black pencil (2B or 3B), make a pitch-black spot on your paper (1) slightly larger than the tip of your index finger. Rub your index finger gently over it. Then carefully stick an adhesive tape as small as possible on your fingertip and pull it off again. Your fingerprint is now visible on the adhesive tape (2). Stick the adhesive tape carefully on a white sheet of paper. Start drawing or scan the fingerprint and proceed with it digitally.
