Monday, April 30, 2018

PAINTED SELFIE

Over the years I've painted a lot of self-portraits. It's useful to have a live model who's always there and never complains when being stared at for hours or is offended if portrayed unflatteringly. I try to be as truthful to the moment as my inevitably subjective perception allows and am inevitably surprised, often uncomfortably, by the result.

Here's the latest one, finished (maybe) yesterday. Yes, I've deliberately put one eye higher than the other and yes I've exaggerated everything but there's plenty to exaggerate: the eyebags, the deep crevices etc. Flattering it most definitely is not.

Self-portrait, NdA. April 2018. Oil on canvas. 25cm x 30cm (10" x 12")

5 comments:

harry bell said...

Maybe not flattering, but it looks honest.

Natalie d'Arbeloff said...

It is honest Harry. I don't how how to paint dishonestly but then self-honesty is open to interpretation.

Thanks for visiting - pull up a chair, here's virtual glass of something, have a browse around.

Catalyst said...

Now if you'd just have put that one eye on top of your head and an ear perhaps below your nose, why hell, Natalie, you could be PICASSO!

Natalie d'Arbeloff said...

Bruce:

Picasso and I
We see eye to eye.

harry bell said...

Cheers!