Birthday Self Portrait, oil, 12 x 9. NFS
I like to paint a self portrait on my birthday or other auspicious days like New Years. I gave my students the assignment for their final and thought I’d join in. Then I thought “I really should do this more often (like every day)” but haven’t gotten to it just yet. I’m finally posting this at least–it’s from last Thursday, May 28!
17 at the Bus Stop, oil, 8 x 10, $385
I got so much attention for the self portrait at 19 that I thought I’d try painting a younger version of myself from a digitized photo again…Oy, a much different experience. The one yesterday almost painted itself. Today, it took 3 times as long, I wiped it out to start over after the first 2 1/2 hours, and I still want to mess with it many hours later…but I just can’t anymore. I struggled with many of the issues that make teachers warn students about using photos. At least I’m not smiling into the camera…that makes a very cheesy painting…but I was too attached to the features, since they’re mine, or were once…and I struggled to keep the painting a painting! Then taking the photo was hard too…and the truth is I worked on it a little bit more but the later photo is just too dark so this one is going up. Anyway, back to the subject: me, at 17, waiting at the bus stop as a Cornell freshman, decades ago. The photo has that pinkish/purplish fade…that is beautifully harmonious and hell to paint!
