Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Self-Portrait


16 x 20 oil on canvas
I painted this for a self-portrait show. It is painted thinly so it would dry fast and I could roll it up and mail it in a tube.

Artist Celeste Bergin just emailed me to tell me she painted herself this afternoon after being inspired by this painting earlier today, and she said so on her blog entry and linked back here. So take a look at her cool self portrait in black and white - I love the half-glasses and un-self-conscious attitude of it. Thank you for the plug, Celeste :0) She does such arresting work; my favorites are her landscapes with bigtime drama or just really cool moods. I love this painting of herself from today, too... really striking. Maybe I'll have to do a black and white one myself as a tribute back to her :0)

29 comments:

adebanji said...

There's some real character to your face! Lovely use of thinned paint.

Autumn Leaves said...

Tiffany (below) is gorgeous! Love this painting of you too, Camille. I find myself wondering what you were thinking about here. And love that cute hairdo too. Wish I had peeps! LOL

Michelle said...

Great, expressive self portrait Camille. It shows in your work that you love to paint portraits!

Kerri Settle said...

Great self-portrait, Camille. I like the idea of the show! The thin paint almost gives a watercolor effect.

Edward Burton said...

Wonderful self-portrait, Camille. As Adebanji said, there's a lot of character to it.

Dana Cooper said...

Great self portrait Camille! It has your very expressive color and I like the less than fully developed nature of it.

Ann Rogers said...

Great self portrait, Camille..not an easy task. Real concentration in the furrow of the brow!

Camille LaRue Olsen said...

Thank you, Ann and everybody. The look of concentration came from the fact that I was trying to see the camera while staring into bright sunlight so I could get some good strong light and shadows. I've never used such intense lighting before and it sure helped me see the shapes of color better!

Bruce Docker said...

This is a very intense, up-close and personal self portrait. I like the balance of detail and sketchiness. well done.

Alan said...

Glad to have just found your site and seen your work. Character shines in your portraits. I like this SP, with its intense gaze, and restrained colouring. I'd have to vote the portrait of M Burnett -- as a more considered and finished work (I think) -- the most impressive.

Sheila Vaughan said...

Beautiful paint handling Camille. It gives so much intensity to the end result.

Earthula said...

I love the contrast with the look of concentration and the translucence in the paint. An earnest firm statement in a gentle way.

Interesting- the eyes hair background harmonic.

I could look at this for quite sometime to wonder on the fluid meanings.

madrigalist said...

Love it mama! There is so much awesome here.

Celeste Bergin said...

this is one of the best self portraits I've seen...I love the expression and the lack of vanity. Top top top notch.

Gwen Bell said...

Terrific portrait! I like the way you kept it loose...it is so fitting with the intense expression. Great eyes! You've really captured that determined look we all get when we are really working on a painting.

Celeste Bergin said...

thanks for the shout out, Camille--I want to do a color version one day soon. I think the thing I love best about your self portrait is that intent gaze and your icy blue eyes. Well, the background is quite good too! If I were "grading" this ....you would get an A++++++

Dean H. said...

Love the furrowed brow and concentration. The shadow that passes over your right eye is a super touch.

jimserrettstudio said...

Very nice work.

Annie said...

Mooi portret, met veel expressie.
Groetjes!

Lokelani Forrest said...

I really like your SP, inspires me to do another of myself.

Alice Thompson said...

This is fantastic Camille, the look on your face is just priceless. It's also cool that you inspired Celeste. I am proud of you!

Camille LaRue Olsen said...

Thank you, everyone! As I was telling Dean in an email, part of my look of concentration was that I was trying to see my face in a mirror to get the windowpane shadow off my face (obviously I failed there), and I had my camera in the other with the bright sun aimed straight into my eyes -- voila! tortured artist facial expression! I know it looks like I was contemplating the meaning of life but I do that when I'm juggling mirrors and cameras. :D


Thanks for your feedback, I really appreciate it!

Camille LaRue Olsen said...

...oops, left out "not" as in "NOT juggling mirrors and cameras"...

I could definitely stand to do more proofreading before I 'send'...

JRonson said...

Your self portrait r very expressive, i'm impressed :)

bondearte said...

THIS IS A GOOD WORK!
CONGRATULATIONS
PAULO

martinealison said...

It's very difficult to paint her self portrait. Good work.
See you sooner.
Happy Easter

sharon said...

I love the honesty in the expression. Excellent self portrait because it's so full of life.

sharon said...

Excellent self portrait! I love the honesty in the expression, it's so full of life.

William Cook said...

As always -- wonderful work!