"I paint self-portraits because I am the person I know best"

Working in my journal with Inktense pencils, acrylics and graphite pencil.  

Kelly Berkey has written some things on her blog that I resonate with me.  It may explain why I have been doing these portrait practices in my journal.  I sit in front of a little mirror to use myself as a guide.  I do not consider them truly self-portraits (although, there is a school of thought that every work an artist creates is, to some degree, a self-portrait).  It helps me with placements of facial features. I guess I have to admit, there is something of me in each one.   This quote from Frida Kahlo kinda explains it all: "I paint self-portraits because I am the person I know best".

Stretching to Sketch-WEEK #3

I decided to participate in Kelly Berkey's "Stretching to Sketch" challenge.  We start out viewing a photo that she has taken of herself or one that her husband has taken of her.  The idea is to stretch, draw and paint the human form.  Kelly mentions: "I was always the photographer NEVER the subject".  Boy, does that feel familiar.  This is my response to Week #3.  I started out on a 4x6 card with the image that was painted using acrylics.  I painted and stamped a page in my journal then pasted the card onto that page.  Also used inks, pencil and a little bit of pastels.  According to the rules, there are no rules.  You can do whatever inspires you, which could be charcoal, pencil, sculpture, wire-work, watercolor, mixed media...  You can check out the other entries here.  Come over and join in on the fun if you are so moved.

How Do You Measure A Life

I am not quite done with this.  I'm thinking of adding a flower on the side of her head.  Around her neck, on the edge of her top it states "how do you measure a life".

How does one measure a life?  With family and friends and memories?  Time shared with people who are interesting?  I guess. I am thinking about this lately because the woman who lives next door recently celebrated her 100th birthday.  She is fun and interesting and sharp.  She and her husband (who has been deceased for a long time) didn't have children (she calls me her "little girl").  She is living by herself but I know she is not lonely.  She a has wonderful family that comes and visits.  I say the because I see other older people that live in my building and I know no one comes to see them.  I find that very sad.  Like my neighbor, I hope to measure my life with happiness. 

It's Where I'm From

Lemonade: Detroit Trailer from Erik Proulx on Vimeo.

It is where I am from.  And where I am living right now.  I find it difficult to explain why I love it, but I do.

5x7 CHALLENGE : : WEEK 1

available on etsy

I got so excited about this I am posting a day early.  I loved the way it turned out.  I painted all four sides (which are 1  1/2" deep) with this lovely flower.  The canvas measures 5x7 as I have stated before.  It is collaged, painted, glazed and drawn on with pastels.  On the eyes, I used glitter.  Way cool!

You’re Perfect You’re Golden Your Light Your Love

PERFECT
Jami Lula

In my eyes, in my mind
In my heart, in my Soul
In my life, I have been
Searching for something, but you were my dream
You’re Perfect You’re Golden
Your light Your Love (My Light My Love
When I breathe , when I swallow
Caress, I feel
When I listen, I hear
The most beautiful Music out of nowhere
You’re Perfect You’re Golden
You’re my light my Love
You’re perfect, you’re golden
You’re my light my Love
Li di de di de di Li de di de di
Li de di di de di
When I’m sad, and dark
Shallow and in doubt
When I’m trying my best to put one foot in front of the other
You’re Perfect You’re Golden
You’re the light of my life You’re my Love from forever
In your reflection, I’m perfect
So I’ll keep looking at you to keep witnessing my perfection
In you, as me
Li di de di de di Li de di de di
Li de di di de di
You’re always there you never leave
You’re holding me, you set me free
Your guiding light, your empathy
Your confidence to express in and as me
You’re Perfect You’re Golden
You’re the light of my life You’re my Love from forever
In your reflection, I’m perfect
So I’ll keep looking at you to keep witnessing my perfection
In you, as me
Perfect, Golden, Light, My Love

This Is My Challenge

I am enamored with these 5x7 gallery wrapped canvases with 1 1/2" sides so much so I have ten now.   I am challenging myself to do one painting a week for the next ten weeks.  On Fridays, I'll post the finished piece.  This is gonna be fun!

Stencil Me In Some More

page from my journal

Working with the same image, introducing color blocking and collage elements.  I wrote on this page then covered it up with a watered down layer of gesso.  Over that I stenciled then experimented with a bold stripe of color down the page on the image.  And then used a different color to highlight the features that were lost because of the darkness of that color.  The possibilities are endless.  But I stopped after adding a bit of collage (word torn from magazine).

Stencil Me In- Part 2

Here I go again, havin' a stencilin' good time.  On this spread from my journal are the same images as in the previous post.  I am playing with spreading paint and layering to create depth.  O, look, the flower on the side of the head, creating a Lady Day experience?  Who knows what I was thinking of.  I like the image of the rose and that I could add a stem if I wanted.  There's more fun to come.  To be continued...