JENJOVAN.COM
  • Home
  • ART
  • BLOG
  • ABOUT
  • BOOKS
  • A View From the Gorge

31 Paintings in 31 Days - Day Twenty-Six

1/26/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
"Self-Portrait" - india ink/gouache resist on paper, 11" x 9"

It only took me 26 days to tackle the dreaded self-portrait.  

Why are these so difficult?  It is a serious exercise in mental discipline to set aside your own thoughts about your own face and just paint.    This is not my first art selfie.  It isn't even the first one today (there was an earlier version this morning...it will be painted over.  These things happen).  And yet every time I set out to paint myself, I hesitate and procrastinate.

In the day of cell phone selfies and instagram, it is ridiculous to be so self-conscious.   Especially with paint.  It is basically a tool to fix everything you don't like about your own face!  And yet, the artist in me wants to capture the essence of what's there, without cosmetic alteration to sooth my ego with respect to my aging face.

I so admire those who spontaneously photograph and post their images online without hesitation.   And some people have a photographer's eye, knowing at just what angle to hold your chin, where to look, what lighting is best and how to smile without looking scary (my son says I smile waaaaaay too broadly and frighten small children).   I am not one of those people with an instinct for photos of myself.  The camera loves my dog, my children and my husband.   The camera and I have a decades-old adversarial relationship.

But this self-portrait, in its straight on dark moodiness without any attempt at a pose, captures my essence, I believe.  

If you want to see some people who seriously know how to take a selfie, check out this website:  

http://photography.tutsplus.com/articles/100-seriously-cool-self-portraits-and-tips-to-shoot-your-own--photo-5689

This piece is available.  Currently unframed.  Inquiries: imajenation@gmail.com



0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Jen Jovan and her imaJENation

    Picture

    Archives

    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014

    RSS Feed

contact jen
Picture



​Art prints available on request
  • Home
  • ART
  • BLOG
  • ABOUT
  • BOOKS
  • A View From the Gorge