Sometimes, while trying on something in a clothing shop, I’ll catch sight of a middle-aged, grey-haired man in the mirror and wonder, for a split second, who he is and why he can’t find his own changing room. Then I realise that he’s me and I am, unfortunately, no longer 35. Or anywhere close to 35.
This probably explains why my attempts at self-portraits always turn out so odd. Sometimes I look like a young actor appearing as an old man in a theatre company that can’t afford a decent make-up artist. I once did one that looked like Bill Murray in a wind-tunnel, another where I looked like an unconvincing Elvis impersonator…
Last night I thought I’d have another go – today being Selfie Art Day – starting with a faint pencil outline to be sure that my head was the right shape and my ears in the right place, and then drawing in ink until it looked about right. If I did something wrong I’d simply go over it until it looked better. The end result, I thought, might suggest one of those Giacometti sketches that almost obliterate the subject.
Yesterday was a challenging day and I didn’t get very far with it. However, looking at the picture again this morning there was something about the eyes that captured yesterday’s emotional temperature. Although I’d remain a free man for years if this was ever used as a police identikit picture, I submit it for Selfie Art Day with only a slightly guilty conscience. The expression in the eyes is pretty accurate and the eyes are, we’re told, the key to any portrait.
Love this…expressive lines…especially around the eyes – the eyes of wisdom. 🙂
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I wish! Many thanks, Marlene.
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I like those straight lines for the mouth. I’ve never thought of using that mark before, will store that away for the future
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Thanks – it was the first time I’d tried it too.
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I love the lines, and how they create the forms.
I always make myself younger in my portraits. That’s how I feel anyway.(and who IS that person in the mirror that looks so much at times like my mother or my father?) (K)
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Yes, you’ve put your finger on it there, Kerfe. We should draw ourselves as young as we feel ourselves to be!
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I have caught myself wondering the same thing. Who is that in the mirror? It can’t possibly be me staring back! My portraits are always of a younger, thinner self. Young at heart so why can’t I look young to go with it?? I think you have captured yesterdays mood in your eyes rather well Michael.
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Thank you, Susan. There is something to be said for capturing yourself as you feel you are, I’d say!
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Trouble is we never feel old! I often scribble in biro till it looks right, because by then it also looks a bit arty too!
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Yes I’ve grown rather fond of different coloured biros lately too.
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I’ve had that experience so many times, Michael. I love this sketch especially how it seems like you cropped it to show just the essence of the subject – no hair, background, shoulders – just the essence.
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Thanks, LuAnne. Indeed I did crop it from a slightly larger drawing just to concentrate on the eyes. Clever of you to sense that!
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“Bill Murray in a wind-tunnel…” That. Is. Awesome.
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Thank you, Howard. Perhaps I’ll post it one day and you’ll see how true that is! What’s happening on Gray Water these days?
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Well, I’d ben more “reluctant” than usual lately…stemming from, frankly, lots of art activity and not a lot of outcome. We’re keeping it real here. 🙂 And then I was helping her with the website. I think I’ll still write from Gray Water about this next phase. Thanks for the question, which served as an encouragement!
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The eyes are very expressive, but it’s the lips that capture me. The linework is so suggestive and the mind fills in the voids.
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Thank you, Claire. The treatment of the lips was something of an experiment so I’m pleased it has something of an impact.
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This is an incredibly cool portrait. Those eyes are brilliantly rendered. Nice work!
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Thanks, Charlie. It’s nice when you think something hasn’t worked out but the part of it at least seems to work. The more one learns the more there is to learn, in the words of the painter Fred Cuming.
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I agree, really well done, Michael. I just love this. Beautifully expressive lines and oh how I have felt the way you do about your reflection. I think the lips are my favorite part! Wonderful work.
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Thank you so much, Laura. Greatly appreciated. The lips were rather experimental so I’m pleased to hear that.
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Unique, something different about them and yet I feel your mood wonderfully. Love it! Makes me want to get back to pen. Thanks for sharing it. Brave man!
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To capture yourself in a sketch, a moment in time. I love it for what it represents and the simplicity which it is not. Age, its a weird thing and how did we get here? I see myself differently too, sigh.
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Thank you, Cathe. Self-portraiture is fascinating and not at all narcissistic if you’re honest (and not Albrecht Durer!). Even an inaccurate selfie like this reveals something.
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What I love about this portrait is that you don’t look like you’re drawing yourself if you see what I mean, it’s relaxed, really lovely drawing. Whenever I try and do a self portrait I just get an image of me concentrating and frowning lol.
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Thanks Phil. It’s interesting that you say that. I did make a conscious effort to relax in front of the mirror and not do that Christopher Walken face that I normally do when trying to draw myself. It’s not a great likeness as I say, but there is something about it that reflected my mood.
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I like the eyes too. Nice work.
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Thanks, Kirk.
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I’m with you on those meditations about aging, by the way.
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There’s no escape…
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Well, death. But. Wait. That’s not an escape, is it? Or is it?
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Depends on your point of view, I imagine. I once said to a friend, growing older is grim. His reply was, the alternative is worse. Since then I’ve felt better about it!
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I love this. For some reason, your blogs are not coming up in my reader so I am catching up
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Thanks Rosie!
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I have the same problem, sometimes when I am having a shave, I see my dad looking back at me
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Yes, alarming that, isn’t it!
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