Selfie Portraits
Self portrait, 2024
In 2018 I mugged for the camera from my kitchen table. With selfies I created illustrated portraits. Why? I thought drawing myself was a good idea and decent personal challenge. I found modest success and a new confidence from an art show of my work. I sold a few pieces from the show. I plastered some of the work on mugs and greeting cards and sold them in the art gallery’s gift shop and through an online shop. I wasn’t rolling in dough but I made enough money to pay for the iPad Pro, Apple Pencil and Procreate App. It’s the technology I used to make the work.
I started with a traditional pose. But I needed a laugh. I modified my portrait by adding elements related to the moment. For instance, I placed a the party hat on my head to celebrate my birthday. The cornucopia and turkey additions recognized Thanksgiving. I think I was watching RuPaul’s Drag Race so I tucked my head into a wig. At the time our city was choking on smoke from nearby wildfires so adding a mask to my face seemed appropriate.
This personal project evolved. What started as a personal challenge to create a self portrait became a reflection my state of mind in the moment.
Below, self portraits from 2018
