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Self Portrait – Private (45.5 x 60.5 cm)


Artists who have been incapacitated have been known to paint several self-portraits as they grow older, not because of vanity, but because they are less able to go out into the environment and paint, and/or take photos. They use themselves as subjects.

This serious, if not slightly sad, self-portrait of the artist is a fusion of portrait and caricature, a *‘portaricature’. Though many of the techniques that the artist used in his other portrait paintings are evidenced here, there is less colour in the skin tones of his face. This suggests he used different paints or mixing techniques. However, the subject does appear to be older in this painting, and this may account for whitening and softening of the skin colour, and there also is a better use of tone. The head is spherical, and in portraiture the use of tonal value for a subject’s face, creates an illusion of form, (volume), and depth.

The artist’s ‘portraits’ suggest that he may have been influenced by artists such as Modigliani (1884 – 1920), who painted mask like faces, and deliberately exaggerated facial features.

Compare this painting with ‘I See Blue’ and ‘Hey Phil’ in Portraits for more information on the techniques that the artist used in his paintings.

Acrylic on Masonite, late career. (Cleaned and framed.)

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