Self-portraiture

[LarrySeiler]

I posted a couple images on the critique forum as I didn't know if it was really appropriate to do it here or not. Wasn't really looking for a critique there...but wanted to hear if others have tried self-portraits and experienced a "meeting" of the self so-to-speak..which really had an effect on you. Please refer to the Critique forum to see the image I am speaking of "Unique Self-Portrait and You?

Larry

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"Art attacks can skill!"

[Tombo]

It is my experience that all my paintings reflect something of the self of the painter if they are successful at all. Landscapes reveal attitudes, portraits of others reveal my attitudes toward them, and self-portraits, also show something I don't want to see. Deciphering takes distance. I put them away and then, later, can see where I've been. The soul in painting comes from what cathexis there is between you and the subject, or motif. Why do you paint one thing and not another?

[oleCC]

Oh dear Larry.....just the idea of doing a self portrait makes me cringe.... kind of
difficult to examine ones self so closely as that eh?.... especially for someone like me who would prefer to cover every mirror in the house LOL. Seriously, it could make you document who you <u>Really</u> are......and what you <u>really</u> look like. Hmmm
http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/smile.gif Carol

[This message has been edited by oleCC (edited June 23, 2000).]

[tammy]

If I did do a self portrait would it be
cheating to leave out the wrinkles????

[paintfool]

Tammy & Sandi, you guys are too funny! No Tammy, i don't think it would be cheating to omit the wrinkles. haha. I am working on my very first portrait (it's me of course, i figured i'd start with the face i know best) & i am LOVING this! Can't wait to post it! Cheryl

[This message has been edited by paintfool (edited July 27, 2000).]

[LarrySeiler]

hahaha....well...its been awhile since I've been here to check messages, and I apologize. Such a shame I put off a good chuckle among friends...

Now...if you paint squinting your eyes, I would imagine those wrinkles would be less prominent! *wink*

It would be a good lesson in eye manipulation and perspective to relegate some rules for yourself. Using the old adage of reserving the darkest darks, purest hues/colors, and whitest whites for your subject and make everything else subordinate, imagine choosing one feature or area of your portrait that will subconsciously force the viewers eye to go back to again and again.

For example, if you made the eyes painstakingly real..detailed, living and breathing..rich in color, darks rich and vibrant, lights...etc; and then from there out..slowly dissipate, slowly obscure, slowly become more painterly with edges blurred, less color..less contrasts in values, etc; Hhhmmm...

I think being that the eyes are considered the windows of the soul, that many viewers would hardly take notice just how little work would have gone into the rest of the portrait, because we meet eye to eye.

Larry

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"Art attacks can skill!"

[China]

Get into it. Self Portraits are great fun.

China

[Jeanine Jackson]

I am new to this forum and have not succeeded in finding images... however, I would like to note that as a portrait artist I feel compelled to begin a self-portrait but may be suffering some identitiy crisis, as I do not know quite where or how to begin! Toughest subject...

[Ellis]

Hej Jeanine, and welcome!
I visited your homepage, but the link here was spelled wrong... (htlm).
I really love your portraits! I´m sure that you can paint a self-portrait too! Just get in front of a mirror, grab a brush and start to paint! http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/wink.gif
Ellis (a she) in Sweden