Polka dots and jazz hands
February 1, 2010
“I’m not an artist in the least bit, so the only way to really have fun with this was to draw myself as a stick figure. Because of that, I didn’t really need to worry about how I looked, per se, but I think I focused on my essence (hippy-dippy but true!).
Meet Michelle: An extremely passionate career woman. Photo Credit: www.WhenIGrowUpCoach.com
I see myself as very bright (color-wise) & energetic & quirky & welcoming, which explains the big smile & the outstretched arms. But when I went to label things, I immediately saw the arms as ‘jazz hands’ & added that element of my personality – the musical theater performer – into the self-portrait, too. My favorite quote is, ‘Always reach for the moon – even if you miss you’ll land among the stars.’ I always feel a sense of opportunity & awesomeness when I look at the sky, so stars have always held something symbolic for me. I had to include them here!”
-Michelle Ward, the When I Grow Up Coach in New York City
Mom and pop portrait
January 18, 2010
Portrait by Jonah Trople using Acrylic, Bob Ross Gesso on paper and wood
“I am a 21 year old art student at the Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA. Recently I moved into an attic of a single mom of two, ages three and twelve. At first, I was hesitant, I’m more than down with attics – but single moms and kids? The move was necessary though, I couldn’t afford anything else and previous to this I was living out of my rusting VW Bus, anything was better.
I’ve been living in their attic for about two months now, and it has turned out this has been one of the coolest learning experiences ever. Nothing reminds you of what it’s like to be a three year old better than living with one. It’s put a perspective on everything – what an awful three year old I must have been! Since moving in with this family I have reflected on my own relationship with my parents a lot.
My parents had me in their teens, got married, and then went through college while raising me. For some reason, prior to moving in with this single mother and her two children, I never gave a thought to how much work my parents put into my upbringing. Imagine having a kid in your teens AND going through college at the same time!
I will admit, I wasn’t a typical child – I was a real problem – an honest horror story (I still kind of am…) I can’t believe how much love my parents gave to me, how awful I was, and how hard it must have been for them.
I decided to paint a self-portrait while I was still in the womb to explore (and pay respect to) the love my mother and father gave me. I painted them at their wedding and me in my mother’s stomach. After I had finished this painting I decided to paint myself at their age so I could compare how different our lives were at the same age. wow. Thanks mom and pop.”
Art and story by Jonah Trople
A paint-by-number portrait
January 13, 2010
“This is one of my best features … soft, warm and much friendlier than the crooked teeth they hide.”
Acrylic anger
December 3, 2009
“I have been drawing and painting since as far back as I can remember. In almost every childhood picture of me I have a pacifier in my mouth and a crayon in my hand. Art class was my refuge in high school.
I drew or painted almost every day until my first year of college. I don’t know how it happened, but I got it into my head that I was a big fraud. I had a sinking feeling that I somehow wasn’t a real artist, and it was only a matter of time before everyone else figured it out. I didn’t make art for years.
Then one day not too long ago, something happened that made me angry. And not just regular angry – burning with the fire of a thousand suns angry. I stormed into my apartment and had the thought that I was either going to light the place on fire or find a way to channel my energy elsewhere. After briefly considering what prison would be like, I chose the latter. Without thinking I grabbed my paint brushes and this picture just fell out of me onto the canvas. Talk about therapy!
Making this painting reignited my inspiration. Lately I can’t seem to stop, and my tiny little apartment is losing walking space every week as I get canvas after canvas. These days I am much less angry.”
-Story and art by Rachel Rolseth in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Rick did it.
November 29, 2009
A self-portrait by Rick Hutchinson. Check out his work on 723.com as teds53913. My favorite: “The Caterpillar King”.
Calling all judges
October 21, 2009
“Recently I forced myself into some deep soul searching. After days of introspective reflection, I came to the conclusion that I am shallow.
Actually, I would even go as far as to say I am a narcissist. So after all of this judgment on myself, I stopped. Took a step back. And asked: Who cares?
The only person who can really affect my opinion of myself is me. Sure, a boyfriend can have preferences of which I may try to accommodate. I may have to dress a certain way for work to be ‘appropriate’. Even society will have views and judgments on my outer-appearance. However, who are they to judge me?
I’ve spent 25 years letting society judge me. The only thing that has led to is severe depression, a hole in my wallet trying to ‘keep up with the Joneses’, and an overall sense of defeated self-worth.
So I stopped right there and forced myself to stop covering up my face with hundreds of dollars in makeup from the most lavish boutiques and bare it all to the world.
At first, I was intimidated by what I thought was judgment. Can they see the circles under my eyes? The size of my pores? Blemishes? Birthmarks? However, after a few days I forced myself to truly look at myself.
I started to appreciate my features. My wholly unique features that characterize who I am. Then I started to look deeper. My laugh is big and bold, just like my personality. My heart is open, willing to be crushed, but always a true romantic. My spirit forces me to continue on with charitable deeds – something I’ve always held close to me.
Sure, I’ve got an evil streak, but forcing myself to truly appreciate what I have and what I can offer made me realize that the only judgment is that which I place on myself.
My dear friend Kira once reached out to women everywhere to wear high heels, embracing height. I urge everyone to put yourself out there, naked to the world and force yourself to see how beautiful you really are. Go to a bar. Go to work. Anywhere. I promise. After a few days you will start to see yourself in a brand new light. You will find an inner confidence that will radiate from people to people.
Embrace your natural essence and see that there is nothing more fantastic that everything that makes you, uniquely you.”
-A self-portrait by Tina Alias from New Jersey.
It must be said that Tina has an absolutely contagious bolt of laughter.
The dark side of Nej
October 19, 2009
Jenny created "Reflective" with acrylic paints
“I’ve been painting and drawing most of my life. I taught art at the middle school and high school level for 6 years and have spent the last three years developing a body of work and displaying it in various art walks and coffee houses in the Seattle area. My favorite thing to render is the female face, and/or figure, and I love to create a mood and dramatic expression with the face. Most of the paintings I have of woman’s faces have an air of mystery and depict sultry, sexy expressions.
"Sunshine"
Achieving likeness in general does not come easy to me. This isn’t usually particularly a problem since most of my subjects are not real people. Likeness is even more difficult when I attempt a self-portrait. When I do try to paint myself, my representation usually resembles me the most in my facial expression and somehow I always seem to capture the expression I have when I’m pissed off.
When I painted the portrait I titled ‘Sunshine’, all in warm colors, I felt somewhat accomplished since it was the best likeness of me I think I had ever done. However, once again I managed to look pissed. My original intent was to give the portrait to my husband as a gift, but he hates the painting seeing as how my angry face is not something he fantasizes about being immortalized and captured in a painting. We often refer to the painting as ‘Nej’. This was a nickname my best friend in high school gave to me representing my dark side, or evil twin: the opposite of ‘Jen’.
"Me and Spooky" created with oil paints
Since ‘Sunshine’ or ‘Nej’ was painted all in warm colors, I attempted to paint another self-portrait using a cool palette. I hoped to achieve a more peaceful look with this one. I do not look quite as pissed off in this one, but I definitely look more sad than peaceful or sultry. This one is titled ‘Reflection’, but my husband calls it ‘Nej’ as well.
I haven’t attempted another self-portrait in a while.
We do have one painting that I did years ago from a photograph a friend took of me and my cat while I was in college. This painting hangs proudly in our home, and looks like I did then, but is hardly a head on self-portrait.”
Check out Jenny Gini’s artwork and my personal favorite.
Be anonymous this Friday
October 9, 2009
A digital self-portrait created by Anonymous in Pennsylvania. A happy holiday weekend to everyone.
Poignancy and charcoal with Emily
September 29, 2009
Art by Emily Charlotte Pearl Safford of Salem, Oregon
“I recently met a girl who told me ‘I could put you in a box’. I never really thought I was in a box; I always considered myself to be a nonconformist. Ever since she said that I’ve been wondering exactly which box she thinks I’m in, and whether it’s the same box that other people who have known me throughout my life would think I am in.
There is a quote from the Tao Te Ching that says ‘He who defines himself cannot know who he really is.’ I’ve always believed this, but only now am I really beginning to realize how trying to live with this idea in mind affects me. I have been told I have a lot of integrity and that I am true to myself.
I am a freshman in college, and living away from home for the first time has caused me to question who I am. How can I be true to who I am when I don’t even know who I am? How can I make decisions when I don’t yet know what I want from life? Do I still have integrity if act differently because I feel different, or do I have to act consistently with some set of values I claim to have?
I am a different person from moment to moment. I do not want to live my life based on a set of morals I have picked simply because everyone wants me to have an opinion. We go through life having to make quick decisions, because life is constantly changing and it goes on whether we have enough information to make the right choice or not. Maybe the constant change means I will never know who I really am. But I’m starting to think it means that I may not be able to know who I used to be, and I may not be able to know who I will be, but I will always know who I am.”
-Beautifully stated by Emily Charlotte Pearl Safford
Kait’s portrait
September 18, 2009
Self-portrait by Kait Trott from Portland, Oregon.
