Self Portrait

Have you ever painted your own portrait? That’s what my art friends and I asked each other a few weeks back. We all said no and agreed we would each give it a try.

Hardest thing was to find the right photo. The right photo hides all of your flaws. The flaws that I am told that only I see. I took a bunch of selfies which felt weird. I had to do a selfie as I quickly saw most of my photos of myself include my family or my friends. I rarely have a photo taken of just me. The photo that I painted from was taken in my basement. This is my art studio. It is also where my grandkids will ask me if “this is where the magic happens?” Yes this is where all the magic happens. ❤️

As I painted this selfie I see all of my hard earned wrinkles. Do I include the wrinkles or exercise artist discretion and omit or tone down the lines that seem to travel around my face. I laugh and told my husband I at least like my wonderful straight teeth. ( I got braces when I was in my 50’s. My mid-life crisis.)

It was a good exercise. I had to slow down and not over think the painting that I was about to paint. So all you artists who haven’t done a self portrait, grab your brush and paint that beautiful face you’re been looking at your entire life. It hopefully will bring some magic back into your heart as it did mine.