koukla carolyn

sp

March 21st, 2006 | Category: Ballpoint, Everyday Matters

I’ve been fascinated with self portraits ever since I learned about Rembrandt when I was in grade school. I have actually done quite a bit of them in the past (see the bottom of this post for links). These two drawings were for Everyday Matters challenge #56/57, but I usually draw self portraits when I don’t have anything better to draw. I pulled a chair up to the dresser mirror and sat there to draw these. It was kind of uncomfortable, but the best I had at the time. I look very different in each one though—I think my mood changed or something. Since I didn’t have a lot of art supplies with me, I did these sketches in ballpoint with no pencil whatsoever which is why my proportions are a little off. Truthfully, I am happy with how they came out considering that it’s damn hard to draw self portraits in the mirror. I can feel myself improving with each drawing I make though. For the past few weeks I have been making a huge effort to draw every chance I get. I am happy that this effort is paying off.

Here are some more examples of my self portraits: my first decent sp, drawn in 2001, nose and lips, from a different angle, drawn in shadow, just my mouth, just my eyes, just my feet, with eyes closed, sideways.

6 Comments so far

  1. Lin March 21st, 2006 9:58 am

    WOW!! AND no pencil!! You should be VERY VERY PROUD!! WELL WELL DONE!

  2. Jeet March 21st, 2006 1:24 pm

    Way to go – the second one looks more serious than the first one, but they are both great, as are all your previous ones. Picture-perfect!

  3. Linda March 21st, 2006 4:49 pm

    They are all really great—your expressions are especially interesting! I’d never thought about the value of self portraits until this EDM challenge, and then yesterday read an article about them in an art magazine. Funny how these things happen!

  4. Sioux March 21st, 2006 8:08 pm

    I really like your portraits…especially the mouths. I have such a hard time with that. Good for you!!

  5. Karen March 22nd, 2006 6:06 am

    Really nice touch with the self-portraits. It’s great to see the progress in your efforts, too.

  6. Terri March 22nd, 2006 6:57 pm

    Hi Carolyn, I’ve been a bit busy of late and haven’t dropped by for a while. You’ve done some wonderful work lately. I really like these SPs, they are great. Well done!! :o)

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