From the Artist: I submitted my first oil self-portrait in the Monochrome Painting Project which was done using burnt sienna. My family didn't think it looked like me and I wasn't happy with the end result, but it was good practice. When I initially heard that February's Painting Project subject was self-portraits, I immediately started on another self portrait, striving for realism. I completed it only to realize the project wanted the self-portrait to be expressive, so tried again and came up with this submission. I am trying to show a melancholy attitude and since I really need practice on hands, those became important to the overall look of melancholia.
From the Painting Guide: You don't say whether you family think this looks like you or not... I can see a resemblance to your previous self-portrait, but think this one is really a notch up from it. The composition is much stronger and very interesting -- not only do the hands help convey expression, but the forearms lead the viewer's eye up towards your face, particularly the eyes. Framing it by having your hair, shoulders, and arms go off the edges also increases the focus on your face.
Obviously, not working in monochrome this time you've got more scope for variation in color in your skin tones, and you've done a great job. The subtle variations, the glow of the oranges.... I think it's glorious skin.
I'm not sure I do read the expression as melancholy. I think it's because the skin tones are quite bright in tone and because the eyes don't look sad. I read the expression as thoughtful, or patient.
Things to Consider When Looking at This Painting:
Hands: Often people shy away from painting hands because they're "difficult". I think they're not significantly difficult than some other parts of the body, it's just that we underestimate how much time they might take to paint. Think of it instead as 10 fingers, or 10 parts of the painting, not just one, and don't rush. As you can see in this painting, a pair of beautifully painted hands can really make a self-portrait.
From the Painting Guide: You don't say whether you family think this looks like you or not... I can see a resemblance to your previous self-portrait, but think this one is really a notch up from it. The composition is much stronger and very interesting -- not only do the hands help convey expression, but the forearms lead the viewer's eye up towards your face, particularly the eyes. Framing it by having your hair, shoulders, and arms go off the edges also increases the focus on your face.
Obviously, not working in monochrome this time you've got more scope for variation in color in your skin tones, and you've done a great job. The subtle variations, the glow of the oranges.... I think it's glorious skin.
I'm not sure I do read the expression as melancholy. I think it's because the skin tones are quite bright in tone and because the eyes don't look sad. I read the expression as thoughtful, or patient.
Things to Consider When Looking at This Painting:
Hands: Often people shy away from painting hands because they're "difficult". I think they're not significantly difficult than some other parts of the body, it's just that we underestimate how much time they might take to paint. Think of it instead as 10 fingers, or 10 parts of the painting, not just one, and don't rush. As you can see in this painting, a pair of beautifully painted hands can really make a self-portrait.