The art of the self-portrait

Self-Portrait
Oil on canvas
6x6 inches
2011
I've been working on small-scaled paintings this summer that are very detailed. Having finished one recently, I couldn't just jump into the next one so I took a break and headed over to one of New York's greatest treasures, the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Spending an afternoon strolling through the galleries, I revisited some of my favorite paintings. One artist's work I wanted to see more than anything was Rembrandt's self-portraits. I don't know what it is, but his work takes my breath away. There is such soul in his work, aside from his mastery of paint, brush and light. When I got back to the studio the next day, I set up a small panel and mirror on my easel and once again attempted a self-portrait.

I have used myself as a subject, as many artists have, with varying degrees of success. This painting was the result and I think I did manage to capture a likeness. I admire those who paint portraits and although I attempt them every now and again, I am by no means a portrait painter. After finishing this piece I thought it would be interesting to pull out some older self-portraits, just to see how they have changed over the years.



Self-Portrait
Oil on canvas
2006
I think this is my favorite of the self-portraits I've done. Being fascinated with reflections I captured my reflection in a window display on Madison Avenue. I like the abstraction, yet this is me, artist with camera.



Self-Portrait
Oil on canvas
1980's
Traveling back to the 1980's, this self-portrait is done in the style of my Art Student League days. I studied with several instructors over the years, and David Leffel's class was the last one I attended. He was a student of Frank Mason, and the approach was classical, the light hitting the side of the face. Now you can see why I admire Rembrandt? He WAS the master of chiaroscuro painting, that capturing of light and dark and creating the feel of three dimensions with paint.


Self-Portrait
Oil on canvas
Early 1970's
This last painting was done in the early 1970's while in college. An early attempt at self-portrait. I've come a long way since then. I know I have digressed from this blog's main subject, so now back to painting portraits of New York!