Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Self-Portrait

About twenty years ago, I tried to paint a self-portrait. I can't quite get the face right, especially the mouth; I was frustrated ... disappointed, blah, blah, blah, so I stopped. Recently, I found my painting, still intact, believe it or not, even the mice stayed away from it. Hah! With a new look and a little more seasoned set of eyes, I can tell that it needs a lot of shading, big time! The mouth is all wrong also. Now, I am debating if it is better to start all over again or try to correct this one.
Below is the photo that I copied from... psssssttt, I wish I'm still this .... "petite" lol



... and this is the UNFINISHED self-portrait; argh, and more argh! the likeness is so far from the photo, don't you think? It's almost embarrassing to show you! lol But I think with more shading and re-shaping of the mouth, it should be a "ok" ;) This was only my second attempt to paint a portrait, so be nice, I cry easy. ha ha

Oil on canvas board, 12" x 16"

20 comments:

EJ said...

Oh my you are so gifted!

Just need a little retouch on the mouth part.. Keep it up!

Mari said...

Hey, good looking. That's some good pose you got there.

Well, you have a pro artist at home, and I'm sure he can tell you what to do. As for me, I would work on the painting itself..but, now that I think about it, maybe start a new one. Nah...what ever you're comfy with. LOL

Ebie said...

The artist you are! Very pretty and cute face!

PinayWAHM said...

Hey Petite! Yes, you Nance! LOL...

God you're talented! Pahingi nga kahit isang patak lang ng iyong talento...patak lang please?

Seriously, I really admire those who have the hands [and the eyes] for arts lalo na yung magaling mag drowing. Ako kasi tulog na tulog ata ng magsabog ng talento sa pag do drowing eh.

Alam mo if I were you, I'd start a new one. Sabi mo nga...with new look and a little more seasoned set of eyes you may 'get' what you want.

Teka, ano naman amg embarrassing sa self-portrait mo? Ako kaya pwede mo gawan ng self-portrait[para kunwari ako nag drowing]???Hahaha...parang autobiography na iba ang nagsulat....

J

Sidney said...

I think it is a perfect self-portrait ! You are very gifted! This is quite a challenge and you did an outstanding job.

Inday said...

No Nance, leave it like that!

If you want to start all over again, then by all means do that.

But please don't touch this one. This is beautiful. You can't appreciate it because it's you who did the painting.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and the painting above is just pretty. Who cares if it is far from the original.

You are beautiful!

You and Mari are both gifted.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

I admire anyone who can paint or draw (since I have NO talent in those areas). I've heard that faces are the hardest. I'd say "keep it up"----you can do it!!!!

Hope you have a great weekend.
Hugs,
Betsy

Nance said...

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Joops!

Nance said...

Hey Mari! lol!
That was many moons ago!

The pro artist here more or less just let me do what I want...and I haven't decided yet. I think i will just start a new one...when i feel like it.


Ebie,
Thanks for the compliments!

lynn'sgarden said...

Nance, you are crazy, lady! This is actually a very nice painting! Frame it as is..don't change anything! And of course, we ALL wish we were still petite...haha!
Lynn

Meryl (proud pinay) said...

wow!kung sa akin lang eh.. leave it as it is ...^_^ no need to retouch ^_^ pang "maalaala mo kaya" ito..^_^ ang ganda ganda kaya ^_^

howdy?happy weekend.

dodong flores 도동 플로오리스 said...

Hi, Ate Nance. You look good in the photo.

I'm pretty sure your drawing skills improved over time and it was like 20 years after drawing your self-portrait. Retouching it a little bit may make it perfect by now...

Tammie Lee said...

I think it is lovely that you are sharing something you are not comfortable with. You may get some wonderful eye opening feed back. Very brave and friendly of you. I would just touch it up. I think you are off to a lovely start and way past the start. Such a beautiful woman!
Thank you for your visit.

Tita Beng said...

Wow, I envy you. Portrait painting I believe, is really difficult. Although the work is not 100% perfect, the fact that it was your first attempt in portrait painting is quite amazing!

That young lady is really lovely!

Kathy W said...

Well I am no art critic but you did great. LOL I can't even do stick figures and make them look like stick figures. =)

DeniseinVA said...

Oh my goodness, you really do have an artist's eye and even though you don't like your self-portrait, to the untrained eye (me) it's lovely. If this were me I would keep the portrait and start another. That way you can compare the two and your family will really appreciate both in the years ahead. I know I would :)

SandyCarlson said...

A beautiful portrait!

Unknown said...

Hi Nance, I can see a good likeness. It's a nice painting.

Unknown said...

Well, I would recognize this a you. You draw way better than I do!

Unknown said...

Hi Nance,
Thanks for visiting my blog. You asked if Prunella vulgaris sometimes has yellow flowers. Yes, it does - a yellow-white, actually. ;-)