So I’m doing a self-portrait to work on this issue since I am the one person I have the most pre-conceived notions about and really truly “see” the least.
In keeping with the looser style of painting I’ve been doing lately, I just did a minimal sketch and then began laying down patches of color.
I did this from a mirror rather than a photo. If I’d used a photo, I would have gone through them until I found one that I looked good in. Instead I used the mirror and got what I got, forcing me to really look.
It does look like me a little but some of those preconceived notions did come through like the forehead is far too tall and the eyes are a bit too deep and too blue.
Also, since I was using a mirror, every time I looked at the paper and looked back up I had to reposition my model. So I think the face came out a bit narrow.
But overall for a first effort, not too bad but definitely room for improvement.
9x12” oil pastel on paper
