Self.
Graphite on Drawing Paper.
February 3, 2013

Only one time before have I attempted to draw my own portrait. I think I was about 12 years old and going through the usual pre-teen vanity-dilemmas, so after a ten minute quick sketch with heavy graphite I frustratingly gave up.

Self Portrait.
2011.

I attempted the feat once again this afternoon by referencing a photograph from mid-2011, with much more motivation for the experiment than I had about 10 years ago. It was actually a really great exercise: not only did I get to practice and develop my drawing technique, but I actually learned much about my own face. (I suggest everyone put aside some time to create something in model of themselves — it is therapeutic, to say the least!)

I’ll admit, I kind of muffed the background, and it could benefit from a little bit more time and attention. But that’s just the thing: I didn’t want to spend too much time on the overall drawing. My tendency is to work, work, work something to death — the curse of being a perfectionist. After two hours or so without allowing interruption or time to over-analyze anything, I scribbled in the bottom and the background and I called the image finished.

Now that I’ve completed the drawing and compared it to the original photograph, I’ve realized that I made a few changes. The most interesting perhaps, from a psychological stance, is that I turned my gaze upward whereas in the photograph I am looking slightly downward. How is that for subconscious expression — I guess you can infer that I am in a good mood!

:D

Thanks for stopping in to view my creation!