Work in Progress | Self-Portrait – 50% Complete
The first and only self-portrait I ever painted I did over 10 years ago in college, in an Intro to Painting class. I’m not sure why I’ve waited so long to do another, but I figure it’s time I knock one out. Below are the work in progress pics of a new one coming to fruition.
Pencil outline and first layers of paint.
Gessoed over the area to be painted.
New size = approximately 26″ x 31″ (66cm x 79)
When I started the background years ago I didn’t know what the composition of the self-portrait was going to be. I always try to keep in mind the words of one of my professors, “Try not to let the canvas size drive the composition of the painting.” In this case it meant cutting down the background to the size I needed.
For 4 years I’ve had this wood panel, made of 4 planks of wood, sitting inside my studio. Periodically while working on other paintings, I would apply the leftover paint from a session on the panel with a palette knife with the idea that it would one day serve as the background of a self-portrait.
Tags: acrylic, oil, painting, self-portrait, wood
February 18th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
dank. very nice. i love the contrast. are you going to remain grayscale when complete?
February 18th, 2010 at 4:05 pm
Thanks Dims. yeah, gonna keep myself grayscale, however there will be a few splashes of color that will tie the piece and the concept together. It’s been interesting working in grayscale. Never done it before. Kinda weird only having a black and a white tube of paint out.
March 7th, 2010 at 6:12 am
Lovely. I’m envious of the freedom in sketching and painting… and the process amazes me. Love the concept of using ‘leftovers’ from previous sessions in a self-portrait, and it looks beautiful.
March 8th, 2010 at 11:26 pm
Thanks April!