Self-Portrait

Had to post this even though I'm tired. Spent the day updating and organizing. Then I was sure that I had to start on the self-portrait assignment due the 16th. So my plan was to at least get the set-up going.

Mary Beth isn't letting us use a photo at all. I think that's cool, because (a) the class is called "painting FROM LIFE" and (b) it's infinitely harder!

So I set up the mirror, commandeered a lamp, shut off all the lights, put on my fav jacket and stood around until I got myself into a good pose. Once I had secured the light source and taped off my foot marker, I was going to stop.

Suddenly I was restless. I wasn't in the mood for watching a movie (strange) and even though my foot is injured I just dove right in to standing still and sketching myself.

I kept looking at the mirror and then to the paper and back to me. I had to remember to tilt my head at the angle of the pose each time I looked. I honestly thought it was going to take me 2 days to just get a decent study of myself.

I put on a playlist that has helped me out finishing "BrnxGrrlOMG" but it became evident that these songs are more and more what I feel like, especially when I paint. Here's the list, which is always randomzied:

So with a dark room, except for my figure in the mirror, I started to sketch. Checking angles and lines, getting a sense of the darkest darks and the lightest lights. It was difficult to hold the pad in my hand and the charcoal and still find the pose. I took breaks when needed but VERY surprised that it started to look like me.

I honestly thought I would take 3 days to do the drawing, and it would look horribly wrong. What you see is 40 min. worth of effort. I'm blown away and just so fucking happy about this turn out. I'm sharing this feeling because it's new to me and I'm just like, fuckin, ahhhh -- it feels great.

If I had canvas handy I wouldve started the painting straight away, but alas, no. So tomorrow I have Porcu all day and I'm sure as shit gonna purchase canvas before I leave. I've already decided the dimensions -- 24 x 18 in. It's the largest canvas I'll use since my paintings have started to improve. So tired, so long :)