A reflective (!) self portrait in oil sticks and oil pastels, on a mirror back. The challenge was to create something using a surface, theme and materials never used before.
Previously I haven’t attempted a painted self portrait, or used a mirror back, or used oil pastels and oil sticks in a complete work – so hopefully this suits.
Here is the progression:
“Running Out Of Tomorrows”

1. I cleaned this old mirror back that I found at an auction several years ago.

2. I decided to leave the little metal glass holders on the frame – don’t know why, just like them. The blocks of wood on the back of the frame, that were there for attaching the mirror to the top of a chest of drawers, I removed, so that the frame can sit flat against a wall if hung.

3. I sealed the surface of the wood with Atelier Binder Medium to make it acid free. I decided not to sand the surface of the wood as I liked the rough grain texture.

4. I cleaned, sealed it with Binder and then painted the back with brown acrylic paint.

5. I sanded and then used Wattyl stain/varnish to treat the frame, outside of the area where I am going to paint. I wanted the frame to look messy but needed it to be varnished.

6. A piece of music (Irving Berlin “It’s A Lovley Day Tomorrow”) and one of my prints are collaged on to the surface with Atelier Binder Medium. I already know that the self portrait is going to be reflective (!) as I see how much I am aging. I am running out of time to create all the things I still want to say visually – the collage pieces I have selected point to my art practice and some of the techniques I am excited to continue exploring.

7. An oil pastel rough sketch for placement is wet with turps. It’s a bit weird looking in a mirror to paint myself – I have no trouble painting other people.

8. I work up the portrait with more oil pastel and attach the snakeskin and a lino cut print that I did of the cliffs in Scarborough.

9. I begin using oil sticks and dry brush the texture of the wood.
10. A detail showing the first layer of Alizarin Crimson with the oil stick.

11. While waiting for layers to dry I work on cleaning the metal glass holders.

12. I spend time looking at myself in a mirror and building up the portrait with oil pastels – it is uncomfortable and I see – really see – how much I am aging. I love how the sticks work on the texture of the wood grain.

13. A detail close photo of the beautiful texture of the wood that I am dry brushing – here I have used charcoal, which mixes well with the oil pastels and oil sticks.

14. The work is at the point now where I can begin assessing it as a whole.

15. I redraw areas of the face with oil paint and a liner brush to try for more accuracy. I’ve decided I need more indications of rectangular shapes (the areas of my art that are yet to be fully explored) and the area behind the head needs to be lightened.

16. I think it is completed. “Running Out of Tomorrows”. Really happy with the expression – realization!