Why do artist's paint self-portrait's ?
Because its a personal challenge... I think its one of the hardest things to do only because as an artist we tend to paint what we see. However, when painting ourselves we want to paint what we wish we were seeing. -and lets be honest, most of us are our own worse critics. This will be the third time, I've ever done a self-portrait. Each time I've taken a very different approach, and in all honestly have not found myself to be happy with one yet. lol
This was my first, which was done in college. I had used a lamp to cast my shadow on a life sized canvas then proceeded to paint in my silhouette. The gray background like shadows. I didn't want to see any of my details, and wanted nothing to do with painting myself at this time.
This second painting I did from my inner eye in my mid 20's. I was working as a cigar girl in a casino and had a lot of life choices on my plate at the time. I've always looked to painting as a place to escape to think. Like going for a drive to clear your head. I hadn't planned on painting myself when I sat down...but its what happened.
This latest painting I did from a photograph taken of me during my modeling days around 2008. I had been primed by another artist, that I should do another self-portrait. I mean what the hell- After painting it I realized however, that although its a sexy shot, it's too serious, and artificial. It doesn't portray who I am today ...maybe why I let the paint run; its paint not me. Interestingly I now find myself wanting to paint another, only this time of a more natural shot of me...I'm thinking by the reflection of a mirror while painting. Like a Van Gogh.
Vincent Van Gogh...did over 30 self-portraits!
Why did Vincent do this? Simple really, he was poor and could not afford to hire models and it was a convenient way to learn to paint people. I find it interesting that he created his very first painting at 27, yet created over 2,100 paintings in his life time. Only one of which by the way did he sell while alive, it was called "The Red Vineyards".