Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Hello my beloved internet loves! O how I have missed the giddy feeling of getting the most marvelous comments from the worlds most adorably brilliant people after posting a little something.

Glenn and the duck, the spool of thread, the five cents, and the vegan mosquitos (whom he failled to mention) were correct. I was kidnapped by avocado-flavoured ape men in large rubber pants. I'm sorry. It won't (but probably will) happen again.

And now, you're doubtlessly wondering, what has this silly little broad been painting lately?

And my answer would be: two self portraits!

They're nearly done. Let's have a gander at them in progress. I find unfinished paintings terribly embarassing, but I love looking at other people's works in progress so much that I suppose I ought to share my own. Enjoy! I nearly wrote ejoy. Have some e-joy!


Alright. So I look scary. That's step one in Self Portait making. Make yourself as creepy as possible.


Then you want to make your skin all blotchy and patchy and weird.


Then, when everyone suspects that the painting could not possibly ever pass for decent, pull awesomeness out of your ass:


The above is a bit of a bad photo, and it's still not completely done. But O does it excite me! Now let's look at birds! Once again, splotchy, disproportionate and scary first:


Then, suddenly, without any warning, awesomeness!


And finally, almost done, with just a bit of details in the birds and hairs to go:


Oh they're looking so lovely! I have never attemtped a realistic-ish self portrait before. Actually, I've never attempted a realistic portrait at all. Ever. Except for one of my dear friend Lana, but it's still highly stylized and from a very obscure and forgiving angle. Anyway, I must say, I'm really quite proud of how those are turning out.

8 comments:

Estela said...

Those are so amazing! I love the birdies in your hair! They look so comfy and safe
amazing work

Spitting Image said...

I knew it!

Anyway, that was cool, thanks for showing the process. I've watched people paint live before for a few hours, and I'm amazed at how lousy everything looks up until the final touches when the last layers of paint are added, then suddenly it works.

Fog and Thistle said...

These are fantabulous and I love seeing it as a work in progress, always interesting to see how other people work. And yay, yay, yay so glad you've returned to our blogaverse, missed your humorous updates, toots!

High Desert Diva said...

They are awesome. Loved the stage by stage photos.

Welcome back to blogland.

Oh...and it appears you are the proud owner of my mother's 1970's floral couch.

I swear it's the same one.

Fatally Cute said...

Oh very nice! Great to see the process.

Sarah Jane said...

Awesomeness out of your ass, indeed! You are exquisitely talented! I love the realism of the collar bones in the last painting.

Well done!

I'm also embarrassed to show my unfinished paintings, so thank you for taking the leap and showing off your creations in their incomplete stages. :)

amy said...

That is one amazing collar bone.
It is quite embarrassing showing works in progress. It's almost like you have guests coming over and they arrive early while your house is still a mess. They're not supposed to know that you are capable of being a slob. Your veiwers aren't supposed to know that you don't get the painting right the first time.
I love both paintings, and they really do look like you.

Cicada Studio said...

The one on the bottom is so impressive. I'm excited to see the work in progress- it's so revealing and enlightening. Great work. I'm glad to hear you're happy with it yourself.