THIS IS IT!! Day 3-6-5!!!

I've been considering what sort of comments I would make to commemorate this day and this one last artwork in the self-portrait project. It's so hard to believe that 365 days have gone by - an entire year - since I started this project. What started out as nothing more than a way to motivate myself to do one of the things I do best - to make art - has grown to something that has been a constant presence in my life.

I have known for some time that I wanted to do something a little special for the final self-portrait. Initially, I thought that I might allow myself to break those self-imposed rules and actually spend several days working on this last piece. I also considered several different viewpoints, themes, expressions...you name it and I probably considered it as a possibility. When it really came down to actually making the artwork, however, the one recurring thing that has shadowed me nearly every day of the past year reared its ugly head once again: the elusiveness of enough hours in the day.

Many things conspired to lead me to create this painting in one setting, but I do feel a sense of comfort knowing that I worked in my element - that place where I have created nearly every successful artwork throughout my life: at the very last possible moment.  I began the painting around 11:00 pm and added the final brushstroke nearly four and a half hours later in the early morning hours.  I realize that other artists will find this practice to be nothing special or out of the ordinary, but I have some incredibly fond life-long memories of making art into the wee hours of the morning.  To take it a step further, while I know that not all artists are night owls, I think that a great deal of time working in solitude certainly is a common trait that we share.  While the life of creative type people is often a lonely one in many respects, I personally think it's a wonderful bond to share with other artists.

I know I'll catch a little hell for the expression I'm wearing in this painting.  "Why couldn't you paint yourself smiling?"  The answer is simple enough: it was late, I was tired, and I was weary from a full year of self-portraits!

So it's with a strange mix of prideful accomplishment and a heavy heart that I complete this project.  It's hard to believe that I don't have to make a self-portrait tomorrow!  I will say, however, that the experience has been incredible and the personal challenge is one that I would accept again without even having to think about it.  Thanks for reading, thanks for looking.  It's been a blast...

#365 October 20, 2011,  Oil on wood panel
Sounds: The Avett Brothers, I and Love and You

Day 340

In order to complete this self-portrait, I had to enlist some help. Throughout this project, I've made numerous drawings drawings with voice balloons (usually depicting a statement made by a bird). This time, however, I completely drew a blank at what the bird should be saying.

So I went to class and asked the opinion of my students. Essentially, I asked "What is the bird saying?" And I got so many great answers in return, I decided to present a Top 10 of my favorites!

10. "Why so serious?"

9. "...got nothing? That's what I thought. Just keep laughing!"

8. "R A W W W W R! . . . peep?"

7. "Are you my mother?"
(With this one, it occurred to me that the bird I drew did bear a slight resemblance to the one in a book by P.D. Eastman...)

6. "Looking good today, jim."

5. "Never more."
(I can certainly appreciate the Edgar Allan Poe reference...)

4. "Furthermore..."
(When I first read this, I did NOT really see it as a Poe reference; I just thought it applied because the bird could appear to be lecturing...)

3. "I am not a bird."
(I really like where this one comes from. In my Art Appreciation class, we spoke about Rene Magritte's painting The Treachery of Images, which is a painting of what looks like a pipe and the words "This is not a pipe." The point is that it really is NOT a pipe: it's an IMAGE of a pipe. I guess this really isn't a bird either...)

2. "Hey man, I just shit on your car."
(This one just made me laugh...)

And the number one answer - which made it onto the actual drawing - reminded me of a Will Ferrell sketch on Saturday Night Live...

#340 September 25, 2011,  Ink wash and pen on wood panel

Day 322

I was ready for something completely different today. I felt like I've been so reliant on either pencils or pens, that I've fallen into a bit of a rut with the project. So today, while my students worked on their own projects and I lamented the absence of my computer which prevented me from doing any office work, I decided to work on my self-portrait.

I discovered a small 4x4 inch wood panel that I had primed a couple months ago. So I grabbed a couple pencils and started off to work...

Wait a minute!! I thought I was trying to break out of a rut! Pencil would've created a nice effect on that surface, but it wasn't different enough.

So, I grabbed a starburst-shaped stencil that I had cut two or three years ago and a couple cans of spray paint to create a background. Then it was time for some acrylic paint . . . but no realistic colors!!

All in all, I had a lot of fun making this self-portrait. I have a thought about what it means to me personally, but after giving so much explanation yesterday, I think I'll let the image speak for itself this time...

#322 September 7, 2011,  Spray paint and acrylic on wood panel
Sounds: Butch Walker & the Black Widows, The Spade

Day 162

This is perhaps the most finished "artwork" to date in this project.

To me, there's something very special about working in oils as opposed to any kind of drawing. I don't know if it's the added element of color, or if it's the perceived added level of difficulty. As for me, I know that it takes me longer to make a painting that it does to work in pencil, or pen, or charcoal.

And I can go a step further to sat that it simply feels good to put paint onto a surface with a brush. It literally puts me at ease and makes me feel comfortable and relaxed. Why I allow myself to go stretches of time without making a painting, I'll never know...

#162 March 31, 2011,  Oil on wood panel
Sounds: Avett Brothers, I and Love and You

Day 160

Last week I was helping one of my students with her painting. Kay is what she and I both call "an older and experienced" student, and she's an absolute joy to have around. As we discussed what she should do to make her painting better, I got more and more eager to put some paint on that canvas. Finally I seized the moment and said "how about I just show you what would work?"  It felt so good to hold the brush and to make marks with the paint!  To make matters even better for me, as I went on and on about how much I liked her stiff bristled brush, she gave it to me - although we jokingly agreed that I would "pay" her with an A in the class!

This is one of the great perks of teaching art.  I love being around people when they're making art - it's pretty inspiring.  And while I love being the facilitator to the learning process, the best part is when the students make discoveries on their own.  Seeing them figure out just the right mixture of paint to get the exact color, or how to make the perfect brushstroke to capture an image, or just being in the presence of people making something that's never existed before is motivating to me.

As some friends and I used to say when we were in college: let's go play in the studio, because it's usually too fun to be called work!

What is completed of this painting was made in about an hour and a half, give or take.  I originally thought I'd eventually finish the entire panel, but I think I really like the unfinished look.  And yes, I did use the brush I got from Kay...

#160, March 29, 2011,  Oil on wood panel (detail)

Sounds: Jeff Black mix CD

#160, March 29, 2011,  Oil on wood panel

Sounds: Jeff Black mix CD

Day 150

I think what I'm saying in this portrait pretty much says it all:

WHAT?!?

It never ceases to amaze me how occasionally an artist can have an idea for an artwork, then make that artwork, and still have no idea what it means! Today I had a little more time to work on my self-portrait, so I decided to work in acrylic. I also decided to show myself in profile. As usual, it didn't take long for a blackbird to make an appearance.

The final element that I added was the voice balloons. Why is the bird saying "LOL"? I have no idea. That was literally the first thing that came to my mind, so I ran with it.

Personally speaking, I don't use the letters "LOL" in texts, emails, or anywhere online. I don't fault anyone who does use it, I simply choose not to. (Although I do tend to give my daughter Katey a hard time about her frequent use of it on occasion!) I don't know if I'm being a traditionalist or just a contrarian when I insist on using "HAHA" in situations when I'm making a joke or indicating that something is funny, but that's just me.

Regarding what the self-portrait means, I still have nothing...

#150 March 19, 2011,  Acrylic on wood panel
Sounds: Rodney Carrington, Morning Wood

Day 97

I had some fun today!

It was nice to finally do a self-portrait in oils, because that's really my primary medium under normal circumstances. But for various reasons (namely some little hands belonging to curious little people in my house), I made the choice to avoid using oil paint until I could work in the studio when my painting class resumed during the spring semester.

Time and time again, I have discovered the benefits of making art in the presence of my students. At the very least, it provides them with a real demonstration of one possible technique for making paintings. Furthermore, I think there's a lot to be said about the credibility of an art instructor that is actually making art! Granted, most college-level teachers are either required or strongly advised to make their own art, but there are always horror stories of teachers who can instruct, but cannot make their own work.

The panel is actually the remnants of an old sign. I think the effects are pretty great, and ultimately I might add more of a background to this painting. It was also challenging to paint over the slick paint of the lettering, as opposed to the rougher surface of the chipping white paint.

I should also point out the obvious: yes, I painted myself bald and beardless. In order to speed up the painting process, I used my artistic license to paint only the essentials!

#97 January 25, 2011,  Oil on wood panel

Day 35

I loved yesterday's portrait so much that I decided to stay within the same materials and the same style. I think this one is even better...

#35 November 24, 2010,  Acrylic on wood panel
Sounds: Tool,  Aenima

Day 34

This is getting pretty fun!  I will say that this painting turned out looking very different than I had originally planned, in part because it wasn't supposed to be a painting in the first place.  I had an original idea for a black and white image, then I thought I'd add a bit of a spot color, then it turned into a full color painting.  I'm sure glad it became what it did!

When it comes down to it, you shouldn't look too hard for a meaning.  I like whimsy, I like silliness.  Yes, there's probably a meaning behind this one, but I'm a little unsure what it is.  And while I still find that a little strange at times, it's a concept that I have come to embrace.  I love the fact that an idea can just pop into my head (or in this case, it can evolve from a different starting place) and I am so moved by it that I don't NEED to understand it.

#34 November 23, 2010,  Acrylic and charcoal on wood panel
Sounds: BR549, Tangled in the Pines