Fertile Ground

Oil /canvas, 20x20 inches

I was genuinely inspired by Mr. Fred Roessler, whose self-portrait photos are elegant in their simplicity and filled  with a delightfully uplifting sense of  humour.  If I could adopt him as a muse, I would surely do so.

His self portrait entitled Pasture,  lead me to think of the pasture that the ceramic lamb sits upon to be a very fertile ground for endless ideas and inspirations.  The cogs in the sky are the workings of a rich imagination and the landscape is filled with other possible ideas in the guise of sheep.

The Sun's Embrace

Oil/Canvas, 18 x18 inches

There is nothing more beautiful then the feeling of inner peace and well being. It makes us glow and world around us is illuminated with joy.  This painting is inspired by the dreamy and playful self-portraits of Mysi Anne.

32 Flavors

oil, gold leaf on wood panel, 12 x 16 inches, 2011

There are moments in life when a woman will question her self worth. When confronted with rejection we can feel vulnerable, insecure and ugly, in spite of the strength and beauty that is the force of life inside of us.

When I saw the self portrait photo created by Mygigi, I was compelled to paint it.  The title comes from a song written by Ani Difranco.

This painting was shown in a recent exhibition at  Galerie de la Ville in Dollard des Ormeaux


Here is a close-up:

Shadows in the Night

oil/canvas, 14 x 14 inches

A portrait is more than a depiction of the person-subject,  it is an encounter between two people.  When this encounter is a virtual one, as is the case with the paintings in this project, I enter into the world that the artist-photographer creates and allow myself to explore different venues of interpretation.    

Bex Finch is the inspiration behind this painting.  The title of her self-portrait: ''Threatened by shadows at night, and exposed in the light'' became the point of departure for a journey into the theme of night.  I have recorded my impressions of this journey in a short process video. 
You can see it in HD at You Tube.

Girl with a Towel

charcoal/bristol , 14 x 17 inches

This drawing was inspired by Miss Aniela, a photographer from Great Britain. When I saw her self portrait it reminded me of Vermeer's painting of "Girl with a Pearl Earing''.  I was particularly drawn to her critical expression as she looks out at us over her shoulder.

Mysi Anne

Graphite/Bristol, 14x17 inches

It's been far too long since I have posted anything. If you look on my other blog BMF Art, you will see that I have been busy with teaching and stuff.  I hope to be getting back to posting more portraits here in the coming months.

This portrait study is of  Mysi Anne, a photographer living in Indiana. 

''Après moi, le déluge''

20 x 22, oil/canvas, 2010

This painting has been inspired by  Sophie Wilson, a graphics student from England.  Her engaging self portrait photos  have a whimsical quality whose spirit I wanted to capture in this painting. A graphite study of Sophie was posted earlier this summer. 

The famous expression, ''Après moi, le déluge'', (After me, the deluge) which is most often attributed to Louis XV is apparently more likely to have been said by his mistress Madame de Pompadour, while having her portrait painted by Quentin de la Tour in 1757. *  What a splendid historical anecdote to underscore the intentions of this painting!

*References:
Tradición Clásica 
Grasping Reality with Both Hands 
Liberté