Number One Protagonist

In the course System and Models, we learned about different personality tests and how they can be used in certain situations to help people understand you more, but also to help you understand yourself more. Next to that, we went over imaginary numbers and they can dispel the theory of not being able to square root a negative number. For the action project, we took multiple personality tests such as the Myers Briggs, Enneagram, DISC, and the TKI. Each of these show what kind of person you are in different ways. We then had to make a self portrait of ourselves and write an artist statement how two of these tests relate to our self portrait. The self portrait could have been anything visual, so I decided to do an actual self portrait of myself but add some details to make it relate more the personality tests I wanted to use. What I like about this project was being able to freely create anything and show how it really does represent us, even if it looks nothing like us. Something I struggled with was coming up with a way to do my self portrait, and how I wanted to do it, mainly because it was so free. I hope you like my drawing and like hearing more about me!

NVA. “Looking at Power” 2017. Chicago

“Looking at Power”
Pencil/Markers
H 10 ½ “ x W 8”


Taking the Myers Briggs personality test and the Enneagram test, I learned more about myself in that I do take on a leader type of image. For the Myer Briggs personality test, I belong to the ENFJ community of people. Some famous people that fall under this category of the different 16 possibilities are Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela. To go into more detail the, ENFJ are known for being, “natural-born leaders, full of passion and charisma. Forming around two percent of the population, they are oftentimes our politicians, our coaches and our teachers, reaching out and inspiring others to achieve and to do good in the world. With a natural confidence that begets influence, ENFJs take a great deal of pride and joy in guiding others to work together to improve themselves and their community (ENFJ Personality “The Protagonist”, 2011).” I really agree with this because I really like helping others with a passion, it makes me feel good. They do say that this category does not back down from talking out, which I don’t agree with for myself because I do tend to stay quiet, but I am speaking out more, because of my school. In the image I show this by the angle I drew myself, where I am looking up, as a leader would. I am stepping up and becoming the leader I know I can be in this world. For the Enneagram test, I fall under the One category, which has traits of a Four and Seven. To go into more detail: “Ones are conscientious and ethical, with a strong sense of right and wrong. They are teachers, crusaders, and advocates for change: always striving to improve things, but afraid of making a mistake. Well-organized, orderly, and fastidious, they try to maintain high standards, but can slip into being critical and perfectionistic. They typically have problems with resentment and impatience. At their Best: wise, discerning, realistic, and noble. Can be morally heroic (“The Preformer Enneagram Type One” 2016).” I find that statement interesting because I have heard people say that about me, but I don’t really think of making mistakes; I actually like them, because I can learn and grow. Besides that, I really agree with most others things. They both strongly relate to each other, but the Myers Briggs is a bigger picture of how I am and the Enneagram goes into a little more detail of why I am like that. To symbolize that into the drawing, I used words and colored them to pop more - a way of going into more detail to explain my morals and personality type. Work, because I work hard, and push others to do the same. Create, because I like to create new things to make something better or solve a solution. Lead, because I am good at pulling people together and getting them to do what is necessary. Imagine, because I have a lot of big ideas of what I want to do in the world. Lastly, Future, because relating to Imagine, I have great plans for the Future, and I like to have a plan built for what will happen.

A couple of other tests that I took were the TKI, which shows how you are in conflicting situations, I got the Accommodator, which basically means, “the complete opposite of competing. When accommodating, the individual neglects his own concerns to satisfy the concerns of the other person; there is an element of self-sacrifice in this mode. Accommodating might take the form of selfless generosity or charity, obeying another person's order when you would prefer not to, or yielding to another's point of view (“An Overview of the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI)” 2009).” I agree with this a lot because I do tend to do this, just so I don’t have to fight anymore. I do feel in some cases this works with being a leader, because you need to know to work with people, and that might mean breaking up a fight so you can focus on what is important. Another test was the DISC, this measures what kind of person you are in a group. The personality I got in mine was Steadiness meaning, “is known for being steady, stable, and predictable. They are even-tempered, friendly, sympathetic with others, and very generous with loved ones. The S is understanding and listens well. Preferring close, personal relationships, the S is very opened with loved ones, but can also be possessive at times and hold them close (“Personality Types of DISC: S Personality Style (Steady)” 2017).” I agree with this a lot really because I am like this in many ways, in a group this works well for someone that is willing to put in the work with some guidance. I find that this can have some leadership qualities because they can put the forward, depending on the person they can pull people together. These two tests I believe are more detail of my two others being the Myers Briggs and Enneagram, they are represented but in a different way.

To create this image, I used pencil to have a outline of what I wanted and slowly made it more crisp and not as messy. Then I went over it in Sharpie and for the details used a thin point Sharpie. Same with the letters, and I planned out the colors actually. My thought process of doing so was really what it is important and what color really connects with the word; also depending on which one connect with the tests the most. That is why LEAD is all in capital letters and in red, because I want the viewer to see that first with myself. And then the other words are the thing keeping it up, like support, going into what it takes to lead.