5 Reasons to Make Self-Portraits
These are the reasons I practice
making self-portraits.
You don’t have to ask other people to pose for your portraits. That way they aren’t forced to patiently sit for you and then see that the picture doesn’t look at all like them.
You are a perfect model available any day or night at any time or place.
You can forgive yourself. The skills involved with portraits are immense and take time. The colors and shadows of our face and skin, the eyes, the expressions, the hair. And don’t get me started on noses which newcomers can make look way too much like a pig or minimalist like half a triangle. These portraits aren’t for sale, they are to learn to see and enjoy the process.
You get to stare at yourself in the mirror. “Hey there, good looking!” You begin to see yourself differently. You notice the curve of your mouth,size of your ears, and after wading through some self -criticism you begin to see more as an artist with objectivity or even, compassion and appreciation.
You spend time with yourself. Especially, if you make self-portraits repeatedly. That allows you to see the changes in your face, your emotions, and your aging over time.
Example of 10 minute exercise trying not to lift the pen from paper much (continuous line exercise) Added watercolors afterward.
Suggestions for beginning a self-portrait
Anyone can explore this. You don’t have to be an “artist.”
You don’t have to show anyone your self-portrait. Sketches and paintings can be like a private diary not just preparation for painting other people. As your own painter or thinking of it as a diary you can capture impressions of yourself over time.
Self-portraits can be great 5-10 minute warm-ups before doing other art. This isn’t serious portraiture. It’s just learning what the hell the shape of your chin is. After a short self- portrait you can grow confident and let loose making other paintings.
You don’t have to defend your self-portraits. You don’t have to smile. I know it’s nice. It was my mother’s first complaint. “Why don’t you smile in your self-portraits?” “ Do you know how damn hard it is to paint teeth?”I told her. I still make teeth look like broken white tiles stuck between two lips. So now I smile with my mouth closed but I have to deal with added wrinkles and dimples when I smile which is…oh good grief, it feels like I’m drawing rivers on my face! I like to paint myself not smiling -no need to explain or defend your painting.
Five minute warm-up using non-dominant hand to draw. Added watercolor and pencil afterwards.
Your turn. Try this…
Make at least 4 self- portraits: sketches, paintings, photos (if it’s photos I don’t mean happy- go- lucky selfies, I mean portraits)
Look at your group of self-portraits and pick out what works and doesn’t work in each. What do you like about them? What other ideas spring from these portraits?
Ask yourself questions: Did you capture your essence in any of the portraits even if you didn’t capture your total likeness? What did it capture and how did you do it?
Make at least 4 more and as you continue the process, reflect on how your skill and process evolve. Push the evolution by adding props or clothes that help express your personality. Add thoughts or dreams around or inside your body to show your inner feelings and soul. Remember it doesn’t have to look like you but if it does, well, your skills are growing.