private view - a collection of self portrait
This was the first self portrait I have done since I was at Art School and I found it incredibly difficult. Firstly I drew a number of sketches both from looking in the mirror and from photographs, I also did a few water colour sketches as I thought I might use water colour for the final piece. Eventually after a lot of hard thinking I decided to try a lino-cut, as this is the medium I work in most. Lino is not easy to work with when it comes to shading, and I found it quite a challenge. I wasn't satisfied that the actual portrait head said very much about me, so I decided to make a frame for it and in that I put things that are to do with me. I drink a lot of tea, so I put in mugs, and on the mugs I put different kinds of symbols, a sailing boat, because I like sailing, musical notes because .I like music, the astrological signs for Cancer and Libra to represent my daughter and my partner. In the comers are the fishes to represent Pisces, my own sign, and my love of the sea, and also I like to eat fish ! The Sun is top and bottom because I like the warmth and don't get enough of at the sides are cats, which have long played an important role in my life.
I would not have attempted a self portrait if it hadn't been for this project, and it certainly made me think long and hard about what I was doing. On the whole I'm glad I took part in it!