This painting began from a
photograph in a mirror. The plant exists, but the room is just a
collapsed hybrid of mental and physical space. The only atmosphere here is in the boiling black & red of the wall and the out-of-register
light of the face.
In the first version, my goal
was to bring each form out of the red background. The basic posture was taken
from the photograph, but I did enjoy the dopey English Country Gentleman feeling in the clothes and inclination
of the head.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrWlyW4A6YR8FRI4cr5ggcZCkuzeVHa7n6RfobUGUjAYGj57-sYaJq0l4dOQm4l6VcMmNQTPo77foGHcLGqBgHbqaEpM4BQCBWYDRdxym2LRNeFyWB9sqjnRzey2_CoDJBsufG26vTvsqo/s400/Self+Camera-1*+copy.JPG) |
Self Camera-1 |
By version 2, most of the basic furniture was in place. I did eventually eliminate the window (an element I tend to overuse). The
slanted floor-light, which seemed to call too much attention to itself, was
also later replaced.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPW8o-2omRer_AFNbv1ln-vIQDi4Cad6BGtTEeJI5FYvH_CY96aKhzh4GpsNxtwGcorInPdNaTKQWxutSZMR5Iw21hJFKn2DJ-cXDFNXMWUxzDR2U_iU3_CxllysA2ovQb0bnJZBKnJ2Ag/s400/Self+Camera-2*+copy.JPG) |
Self Camera-2 |
Version 5 was a linear
fiesta. The clashing horizontals overpowered the composition and drew the eye
away from the figure. The rough comic book rendition of the face did achieve a likeness, but one that
felt drawn on the surface instead of formed from the head.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLuDKgY1lnWoZ5kIutzzH50PDmNR_IIHF7o6nMeGUMwcPuIGurMLKB_8vdlJrPvpE-rnj2eaStQOuh9pJGyuWaEYbrKtU-ZHzwSDKsopUKAe8n4ZZUo7yLhzROaWWkktOk53MV6g2El_J6/s400/Self+Camera-5*+copy.JPG) |
Self Camera-5 |
Even though I turned down the contrast in version 6,
it was still too stiff and rectilinear. By this point, I knew that the
rendering wasn’t working. It may have looked like me, but it didn’t feel like
me.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT63OiyFJHXBp7TJyWtUWHOl4AItZPyhZk-Vvs8EOj-Z8-QebbQ9shviI38lr_BediZWXBhod8_8h0GhVEu03C74Gv3NoK-6haUsGiXC8J9EM9OI59pqOh8eF7hb1SK3lNS6QAa2VO3XsX/s400/Self+Camera-6*+copy.JPG) |
Self Camera-6 |
Version 9 was the key to the
final painting. Blurring the mirror image helped me get to a stronger visual
equivalent. Clearing away the window centered the focus on the figure. It was a
stripped-down composition, but one that was starting to work.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lxJ0CEg9CFx8WpCwWUV7ATYlsjFrYe8DB4V32orVIxMOFG_5eHwfrrDyepaa15LSiUFctotkLJzz_TDWT5ruJ2sqRQQGEkZG9XJ0foK_OO553qYlmA5VIkrDU9uu1MyL4u9YoNOlft0C/s400/Self+Camera-9*+copy.JPG) |
Self Camera-9 |
Any screen or lens can
misrepresent, even the lens of self-image. But a painting like this, based on
equal parts experience and
invention, is not simply an
isolated object. In fact, it’s closer to instrumental music. It’s another
extension of continuous time.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qpzDJw2YJY4uz0b2K55khNnHRVOKls95TTsYtbC-ntLSdGUl64qE8tFLYadalgGrFKT5tgo7OGUyLenCgoYtC74145yXePFF3elOjdvmgtgp_ey9FjoxwXWE6ibUhdxtsqv1Zm4SFsgS/s640/%22Self+Camera%22-oil+on+canvas,+40%22+x+40%22+copy.JPG) |
"Self Camera"- oil on canvas, 40" x 40" |