The Self-Portrait: "Who do you think you are!?"

Out of all the traditional subject matter (still life, landscape and portraiture) the most confrontational of them all is by far the realm of the self-portrait. It can almost be seen as some form of self-torture where one is made to glare at one's mug for days, even months. Sometimes I'm sure it must feel as if the mirror is playing a documentary in real-time of the artist as he struggles to fulfill his vision. 

'Self-Portrait with Ancestor' 2008 By Daniel Monteath

I never really made myself go through the torture side of the self-portrait so much. I just drew a grid on a photo I took and painted it as if by numbers. Easy peasy! What artists back before photography would have done must have been extensive. Mirrors, lighting, keeping still, getting all the angles just right all the time. Model and artist in one. It's intense. I almost can't believe it exists and that I have been naive to it's awesome power. 

I would really like everyone in the world to participate in like a world Self-portrait day with the purpose of self-reflection and appreciation. I really feel that painting ones portrait is a massive act of respect and adoration, a glorification of an image, if you will. I think it's a very important phenomenon.

Some might say it's an example of Narcissism. However many self-portraits I've seen have not always been flattering for the artist. I also have noted that several artists have taken more metaphorical approaches to the traditional portrait format. I remember seeing a readymade sculpture that was titled 'Self-portrait' for example. 

'Self-portrait with river and sacrificial doe' 2012 By Daniel Monteath

This self-portrait was done using white acrylic on black canvas. I like that it has a quirky, stylised look. I also gave myself a faun ear. I wanted to start looking at the image in terms of angles and lines. I was really getting into the fine brush i was using and started drawing some lines that were very gestural and circular. This reminded me of the Disney style that I wanted to develop further. It's amazing how much depth you can achieve via this method.

'Self-Portrait with Ghostman on Skis'  2012 By Daniel Monteath

'Self-Portrait with Ghostman on Skis' is a study of my head looking up towards the ceiling. I gave myself faun ears in this painting as well. Pretty much, I was fascinated by the idea of transforming my image by creating a context that was purely designed to disguise the image. This is very much a meditation on a Dali technique that provides the viewer with a surprise image after an initial first inspection. 

Next blog entry: Creating Self-portraits in the Recording Studio.

Recording at SIT Sound in Invercargill 2012