From the Artist: Well that was exiting (again)! First I was a bit apprehensive, it sounds a bit silly; paint like... but when I started my self-portrait, it all came together. Studying his portraits all sorts of feelings and questions arose that made the whole painting experience interesting and a bit haunting at times.
I advanced really well at first and the painting effect were great... but when I stood back, it looked like a female version of Vincent! I'd been staring too hard at his work. Well the next day I reworked it and it's me now, but in the process, unfortunately, some bits got a bit muddled and the initial spark is out of it a bit. Still, it was a great project (again!).
From the Painting Guide: I think this is fabulous, really getting into the theme of the project and producing a painting that's definitely yours but simultaneously definitely in Van Gogh's style.
Things to Consider When Looking at This Painting:
Reworking: There's always a danger when reworking a painting that it'll loose something, but I try to think of it this way: it wasn't right like it was, so if I do mess it up it'll be not right in a different way. Sometimes though I put the painting aside and start a new version; that way I've got the one that wasn't quite right for reference and can try to push the second one past that stage without the fear of mucking it all up.
Not having seen your painting as a work in progress I can't comment on the spark you say has been lost to some extent, I can only comment on what I see now. And to me it's fabulous -- you've taken Van Gogh's style and used it in a painting of your own. You've absorbed his brush mark-making, his colors. The painting has a sense of vibrancy and energy to it.
I do think your expression is a little serious, but then so is Vincent's in some of his portraits (it's also a side-effect of concentrating when painting!). But then on the other hand the colors suit this expression, being restrained on the face itself and letting the intense blue gaze strike out from your eyes. (I also love the echo of the light blue between your eyes and shirt.)
I advanced really well at first and the painting effect were great... but when I stood back, it looked like a female version of Vincent! I'd been staring too hard at his work. Well the next day I reworked it and it's me now, but in the process, unfortunately, some bits got a bit muddled and the initial spark is out of it a bit. Still, it was a great project (again!).
From the Painting Guide: I think this is fabulous, really getting into the theme of the project and producing a painting that's definitely yours but simultaneously definitely in Van Gogh's style.
Things to Consider When Looking at This Painting:
Reworking: There's always a danger when reworking a painting that it'll loose something, but I try to think of it this way: it wasn't right like it was, so if I do mess it up it'll be not right in a different way. Sometimes though I put the painting aside and start a new version; that way I've got the one that wasn't quite right for reference and can try to push the second one past that stage without the fear of mucking it all up.
Not having seen your painting as a work in progress I can't comment on the spark you say has been lost to some extent, I can only comment on what I see now. And to me it's fabulous -- you've taken Van Gogh's style and used it in a painting of your own. You've absorbed his brush mark-making, his colors. The painting has a sense of vibrancy and energy to it.
I do think your expression is a little serious, but then so is Vincent's in some of his portraits (it's also a side-effect of concentrating when painting!). But then on the other hand the colors suit this expression, being restrained on the face itself and letting the intense blue gaze strike out from your eyes. (I also love the echo of the light blue between your eyes and shirt.)