An exhibition of self-portraits

Abstract

The problem considered in the thesis exhibition is the self-portrait. My intention is to portray myself through the study and interpretation of the head as manifested by facial expression. These portraits are highly personal statements made about the essence of the person within the picture. The interaction between myself, the painter, and ay own reflective image in a mirror becomes for me an extreme psychological experience. Since I believe that I am more familiar with my own physical features and emotional states than with any other persons, these factors should become apparent In the self-portraits. Contending with oneself involves special problems of introspection, objectivity and sometimes even agonizing self-examination. The images generated have moved from a defined, studied approach toward a more expressive, painterly one. Whether working on drawings or paintings, I try to be as spontaneous as possible letting the images flow out of my feelings about each individual piece. I work through direct observation but take the liberty to emphasize certain facial characteristics of the sitter for expressive purposes. I often use heightened rather than local colors and dramatic lighting to exaggerate the sharpeness of the planes. I am not trying to duplicate an exact copy of the person portrayed but rather a pictorial equivalent of that person's countenance and attributes