Self-portrait
 

A few people saw this in the background of my recent WIP and asked me to post it.

This is how my canvas sees me (I think). I painted it a while back with the idea of putting it on my website instead of a photo. Actually Cindy just suggested the same thing and I realized I had totally forgotten about doing it. So thank you, Cindy, for the idea and reminder.

Oh Alex! This is fabulous! The design/composition is impressive and I love the concept of looking at you from the point of view of the canvas. Not to mention the look of concentration you have on your face. And the hands are wonderful. This may be my favorite of yours.

Oh, Alex!
Just great!
Ilaria

Love it love it love it! From the wall of inspiration behind you, chair pushed out of the way, and the wonderful tension and energy in your pose, to the beautiful light you captured on your face and hands.

A masterpiece!

I agree, this is awesome! One of my favorites as well.

Thanks for posting this. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Oh Alex, this is wonderul! I love the touch with the towel in your hand, great hands! (left-handed?) Thanks for sharing :)

Hi Alex,
Great SP. I just don't know why you didn't post if before, that's beautiful.

I love it, Alex! The energy, the design, the paint quality - this is terrific. It has a brisk directness to it that feels completely appropriate.

Many, many thanks, Kim, Ilaria, Cindy, Lacey, Terri, Bonfim and Linda! You are all such terrific artists, and supportive friends, too.

Just to answer a couple of questions--I'm not left-handed; this is a mirror-image of me. The idea is that the canvas is the mirror. If you look at the "wall of inspiration" (Cindy, I like that) behind me, you will notice that everything is a mirror image of itself. My husband took digital photos, which I flipped horizontally and used to figure out the composition. Then I put a mirror up close and finished the face from life.

I really dress like that when I paint--but I made that sweater look a heck of a lot better than it does in real life. It is my favorite painting sweater and it has holes and is very stretched out. I'm just too lazy to put on a smock, and I pay for it because I keep getting cadmium orange and thalo green on my clothing.

Ditto to what Linda said...I just love the way you lay down the paint.

Alex, ditto to Tom and Tom's ditto of Linda, well I just ditto everyone, this is wonderful!

I especially want to ditto on the wardrobe, wow this is a very formal painting outfit aye? ;)

Beautiful, Alex!
I especially like the intensity, you look ready to jump on the canvas.
Bravo!

Thanks, Marina! Ditto, Tom! Ditto, Beth!

Believe me, Beth, if you could see the kind of thing I wear every day, you would hardly think it is formal. This sweater is misshapen and old, though it once had class. I'm thinking of stealing my husband's denim apron. I really need something I can take on and off quickly. What do you wear when you paint?

Marina, glad to gear you actually like the intense expression. I was hoping the portrait wouldn't scare anyone.

Canvas Envy
 

Alex,

I have such a high degree of respect for your work that I must express how much I envy your canvas. Just the change in perspective (how the canvas sees you...) that this self-portrait offers, encourages me to look at self-portraits differently. I absloutely love the painting and the creative skill that it took to make this such a dynamite portait. My thoughts are already spinning off into new avenues and giving me the courage to try new ideas. Thank you for posting this. You are an inspiration.

Carol Norton

Oh, Carol!

You are so sweet to say these things! I'm thrilled that I can possibly inspire anyone. But come to think of it I'm inspired by other people's work, so if that leads us to think of our own new and better ways of creating, then we are all benefitting from seeing each other's work and raising the bar a little higher.

Alex: IT IS a little scaring ! But we know that it's just a picture and you can't really jump to splash us with paint, so it's OK...

HA!!!! This is Great Alex! I would have liked to have seen the brush as if it were about an inch from the canvas. Wonderful self-portrait!

Marina, are you really scared by ME? Really? See, Heidi is fearless. She's not afraid of a little paint.

This is wonderful, Alex!

Like Marina, I sense as the viewer that you are about to paint Me! :o

This is really very good and original.

Below is that sketch of you that came to be in a matter of minutes in last Monday's class. It's not so good of you but I had fun. Thanks.

Garth

Wow. As well as being beautifully painted, it really is very intense. I looked at it quickly last night without commenting and the image stayed with me for hours. That rarely happens. Amazing. Janet

On the contrary, Garth. That's a delightful study of light, and captures the essence of your sitter with understated panache.

Garth, thanks, I'm glad you like it. I was playing with the idea of the artist approaching the canvas, thus the canvas' point of view, and the viewer's ambiguity--the "Is she about to paint me or paint on me?" feeling.

Your sketch shows a different side (literally) of me and I think you captured me well. My husband likes my profile, probably because I am not fixing my intense stare on him, and so he really liked your painting, too. Folks, it literally took him about 20 minutes tops. I'm begging you, PLEASE post it in the Open Studio section so people can comment further!

Janet, so you think it has "retina burn?" I'd be thrilled to think so. It means I could actually use my natural instensity to some advantage!
Anyway, thank you for sharing that. I really, really appreciate your comment.

Haha! It's easy for Heidi to be fairless : she's playing all the day long in the clay ! :sunnysmil

True, clay is a LOT messier. I think I would have to wear at least an old shirt and an apron if I were a sculptor. But at least it washes off!

Alexandra, this is an awesome self portrait. Grate balance. I can imagine the fun you had doing this. I bet you spent many hours just thinking about the stages and your approach. Its so much fun when you can make your thoughts happen and sometimes it comes out better than we thought. Its nice when your best friend is your biggest admirer.

Thank you for posting this Alex.

Sincere regards,
mischa

Thanks, Mischa! I did give it a lot of thought and yet it was still a surprise in the end. I guess everything I paint has an element of surprise. I appreciate what you say--you are such an accomplished artist yourself.

Yeah, for me it did have "retina burn". Keep in mind that I look at several forums each night and very few stick. PS when you find a way to use your natural intensity, let my know. I could use an outlet...
Janet

PAINTING, PAINTING, AND MORE PAINTING!