This canvas I paint over every few years with a self portrait.
Good practice, plus, with photography being what it is, there is still a record of the last version.
Self portraits usually look a bit odd, an intense stare, a pensive mouth. Concentration looks a bit angry when painted.
This version is not finished yet.
Influenced by the paintings of Cezanne in a great book about the American, insular and eccentric but brilliant Barnes Foundation (thank you Oxfam in Muswell Hill, £4). One day I hope to visit in person.
Some details of the painting.
The first session and a fun experiment with curves in photoshop.
Earlier Self Portraits on the same canvas.
A sketch in oil pastels made around the same time in the same position.
Nice work. I like the details.
Thanks Eric. Hope you like what happens to the painting as it nears some kind of conclusion.