The idea for today’s self portrait was to use color to depict near and far planes in the multiple-view portrait of myself. As with yesterday’s post, the self portrait below combines my image with that of my brother Michael. Mike is autistic, low functioning and nonverbal. I have included him as part of my image, since he has been a big influence in my life.
When used in a painting, blue is a color that seems to recede into space and red, a color that advances toward the viewer. Therefore, I painted the closer planes of my face red and those further away, blue.
Self Portrait – Blue Nose
9″x12″ 140# Cold Pressed Watercolor Block
The simplification of contours in this portrait necessitated the use of color to portray depth. Before applying any color to the paper, I drew general outlines of the head. I had the artist Paul Klee in mind and ‘took my pencil point for a walk’ to produce curved features. Alexej Jawlensky also inspired simplification. His portraits, ‘Variations’ and ‘Meditations’ have nearly identical outlines. I am working to a similar end – the formulation of a collection of lines and curves that represent me and what makes me, me.
