“Selfie with blue t-shirt.”
A hundred weeks gone from my weekly project and still going strong. For number 101, the first of the next hundred I wanted to do something special. And, what could be more special than a selfie? I am studying life drawing and painting at Sarum Studio in Salisbury for nearly three years now. Portraits I am only just starting. I did a few drawing or paintings of casts, including a skull, but only attempted portraits twice, both in charcoal. So, I decided to do more. And, obviously the best model I can find is me. Always there when I paint. So, this is the first one and I intend to do many more. I normally work using sight size method, so I decided to give it a go on a self portrait. I have set up the big easel with a large mirror and, next to it another easel for the canvas. As I started painting I was surprised to see that, even if I painted sight size, the actual size of my head on the canvas was quite small hence I changed the canvas with a smaller one. And, after a discussion with my tutor at the Sarum Studio, I have learnt that in order to paint a life size portrait using sight size method, there are two options. Because using the mirror as I was using it, the size is about a half of the real size on all dimensions (tiny head). So, the options for bigger portraits are, either to set up the canvas in front of the mirror, half way towards the standing point, or set the canvas alongside you with the mirror in front and work with the image of the head which will be the same size as on the canvas. But, that is enough theory for now, I have chosen to do my first selfie using my first setup, with canvas alongside the mirror and do a relatively small portrait.
I have used a reduced palette, with Italian Cassel, burnt sienna, burnt umber, yellow ochre, kings blue light, ultramarine blue and white. I have used some De Mayerne medium, diluted double strength with turps and, some turps to thin the paint.
I painted it alla prima, over three sessions and I am quite pleased with the result, especially for a first painted portrait and a first selfie.
So, here it is:
“Selfie with blue t-shirt.”
Oil on linen.
10” X 12” (24 X 30cm).
