The Artist Self-Portrait Part 3 She Speaks

Mapping out the shapes, shadows and highlights.

My artist self-portrait has come a long way since the first photo I posted of it.



Working it....

This is a challenging exercise for me as I am not a portrait painter. Seeing, mixing flesh tones, being able to transfer what I see to the canvas, not liking what I see and making decisions along the way to include or exclude what I see. This is all not to even mention the internal challenges (along with realizations and insights) that are arising as a result of painting myself.

I moved the painting operation out of the
bathroom and set up a studio in the corner
of my living room. This changed the
light source drastically.

In my last painting session, a friend, and Queen of Portrait Painting, Carol Young, suggested a flesh mix. Well.... that mix worked magic! The painting came alive when I added a yellow glaze. She loves yellow and says it feels like the sun just kissed her. And... she kept on talking.



Getting there with my new flesh mixture.

During this last session, she went to giddy at coming alive, to not speaking to me, to becoming totally disgusted, to copping an attitude when I left her lips looking not-so-great. LOL! She's a trip. I can't wait until our next session.

Her current state... working on the lips...
now she has attitude!

Sir Kitty, looking for black paint to do
his own self-portrait, or paint himself
into mine!

I went to Tucson over the weekend. When I came back, Sir Kitty was at the chair, looking over the paints on the shelf. I think he might have been looking for black... to paint himself into the picture!

Mary Rush Gravelle, Artist

Until Next Week

• Create art

• Appreciate art

• Buy art


I would love to hear your comments on this article, please leave one if you feel inspired.


About the author: Mary Rush Gravelle is an artist who resides in Cottonwood, Arizona with her beloved cat, Sir Kitty. Find her work and daily comments on her facebook page. Her art can be seen on her website, maryfineart.com. She can be contacted via email at: mary@maryfineart.com.