Looking straight at myself to paint is a strange feeling. I don't feel as self-conscious as I used to when starting this process and I'm noticing more little facial quirks and mannerisms. In this case, I tend to raise one eyebrow, usually the right one, just as I'm about to take my gaze from the … Continue reading Self-Portrait Project Ten – A Direct Gaze
Self-Portrait Project Nine – A Touch More Real
I felt I needed to do one with my glasses on, even though I feel my eyes disappear under them. I didn't realize until painting in the outline for this, that the glasses feel so much larger than my face width. They aren't in reality. I let my hands interpret what my mind tells them … Continue reading Self-Portrait Project Nine – A Touch More Real
Self-Portrait Project Eight – Unexpected Results
The varnish was getting very muddy from all the dry pastel dust and it was darkening everything on the paper. This could have been very frustrating if I held onto my initial desire to capture the paleness of my Winter face. I was painting this live from my reflection on my phone screen. Before adding … Continue reading Self-Portrait Project Eight – Unexpected Results
Self-Portrait Project Seven – Diving Deep Inside
At this point in the explorations, I was feeling a little overwhelmed at how many more I wanted to do. I should say, I let myself get away from the moment of making and lost track of the blank canvas in front of me. I decided to look away from my selfies and look deep … Continue reading Self-Portrait Project Seven – Diving Deep Inside
Self-Portrait Six – Remembering Myself Younger with a Pink Denim Jacket
In my early twenties, I was almost always angry at something. My sense of privilege was frankly ridiculous and expressed itself through overcompensation and drama. Well, that sounds terrible. It wasn't a happy time for me. Looking back at photos I did make some interesting style choices, but the self-portrait drawings, which were very few … Continue reading Self-Portrait Six – Remembering Myself Younger with a Pink Denim Jacket
Self-Portrait Project Five – Seeing Myself In the Works of Others
I'm not comparing my skills to the artists who inspire me, but I do feel that my style has grown out of their influence and I give credit and thanks to Modigliani, Roualt, Ensor, Soutine, and Beckmann for filling my heart and soul with light. In pursuing the self-portrait, I decided to follow my process … Continue reading Self-Portrait Project Five – Seeing Myself In the Works of Others
Self-Portrait Project 4 – I only see myself in my eyes
Again moving the selfie around to get different dimensions of my face... I managed to distort my perception enough o almost lose myself completely. I still see my eyes. I heard once that all portraitists paint something of themselves into every portrait they paint. This comes from the hours spent observing themselves to practice painting. … Continue reading Self-Portrait Project 4 – I only see myself in my eyes
Self-Portrait Project 3 – Looking into my own eye for a memory
I flipped and moved the focal point of one of my selfies to give myself a good staring into my own eye. I needed to see something there... something I was expressing. Without my glasses on my eyes often look very sleepy, old, and tired. But inside I feel very young and curious, especially when … Continue reading Self-Portrait Project 3 – Looking into my own eye for a memory
Self-portrait project 2 – How I feel when painting the unfamiliar.
I warped the selfie on my phone for the model on this one. I observed it for a few minutes and then painted from memory. As soon as the outlines went down on paper I was aware that I was channelling feelings about my age. I couldn't figure out why I let my nose remain … Continue reading Self-portrait project 2 – How I feel when painting the unfamiliar.
Self-portrait project 1 – The first selfie
The Winter semester of my painting course will be focusing on portraiture. I must admit that this frightens me greatly. I don't like staring at my own face, much less staring into the eyes of another to paint them. I'm also not a fan of realism in any sense. So, this challenge has many levels … Continue reading Self-portrait project 1 – The first selfie
The New Renaissance Mindset 