William O’Connor
“All Art is Self Portraiture”
Anonymous.
One of the first assignments that I always give to my students is to produce a self portrait. This seems like a fairly benign assignment, simply get a mirror and paint yourself. But the ability of the artist to see the truth is never more starkly realized when challenged to paint herself. Do you paint yourself as you appear to yourself?, as you appear to others?, as you would like to appear?, or to some more abstract truth as to how you feel, or how you live your life? This challenge is one of the greatest hurdles that artists throughout the centuries have wrestled with. In this age of Social Media how we depict and present ourselves as artists is more relevant than ever. Below is a brief survey of how some of Art Histories greatest artists depicted themselves. This is Art History’s profile pictures. What does each self portrait say about the artist and how they perceive themselves, and wish to be perceived by others? Enjoy.
Frida Khalo
Edvard Munch
Edward Hopper
Eric Fischl
Albrecht Durer
Andy Warhol
Paul Cezanne
Chuck Close
Ernst Kirchner
Eugene Delacroix
Oskar Kokoschka
Lucian Freud
Rembrandt
William Bouguereau
Henri Matisse
Piet Mondrian
Alice Neel
Pablo Picasso
Lawrence Alma Tadema
Cindy Sherman
Caravaggio
Vincent Van Gogh
James Whistler
NC Wyeth
The eye of the artist is most challenged when forced to look inward upon himself. If you have not painted a self portrait, I encourage you to do as many of the great masters of the past have done, and try to paint yourself honestly, its harder than it looks.
Remember that Nov. 1st is Self Portrait Day. Check out the facebook page:
Go Forth and Learn.
WOC
Odd Nerdrum:
http://bp0.blogger.com/_FfIptm6ryFk/Ru6QnOKkSTI/AAAAAAAAAM8/8T1NDMXt0hw/s1600-h/selfportrait+odd+nerdrum.jpg
http://img.listen.no/copper/albums/userpics/edsvik_nerdrum_37__Skattens_mynt.jpg
Jacek Malczewski:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/Lwowska_Galeria_Sztuki_-_Jacek_Malczewski_-_Self-Portrait_with_Muse.jpg
http://www.the-athenaeum.org/art/display_image.php?id=193528
My oil painting course teacher challenged me to do a self portrait last week, and I was surprised at how intimidated I was by the idea.
Some really nice ones here. I'm gonna go with the Alice Neel, Caravaggio, and the Van Gogh for my favorites.
Excellent additions….
Excellent additions….
The Alice Neel makes me crack up every time I see it. Its like you just walked in on her painting in the nude and she's saying “What? You never saw a fat old woman painting in the nude before, get over it!”
The Alice Neel makes me crack up every time I see it. Its like you just walked in on her painting in the nude and she's saying “What? You never saw a fat old woman painting in the nude before, get over it!”
Yeah totally! 😀