Self-portrait
 

A self-portrait to start of 2009. It is oil on canvas and 38" x 32".

The posted image is a detail of the face.

Here's a link to a large version of the whole thing:

Self-Portrait

Hi Thomasin,

Good to see you back and active.

The theme of this new portrait looks as if you express your self in a symbolic way.

"You are inside a bubble and have blod on you. This looks very dramatic, have you had any bad experiences lately?" That's how I read it, I may be wrong.

Thomasin,

This is exciting to see! I love the intensity in your eyes, and in your whole expression. To me the colors symbolize passion (red), spirit (blue) and soul (dark). It reminds me of a mandala. I know I'm getting Jungian again but I can't help commenting on it. That circle does seem protective against these powerful forces.

Allan and Alex, thank-you for your insightful comments. I was feeling unsettled when I painted this, but the symbolism wasn't intentional or conscious, although, I agree with you that it looks very much part of the image. After what I just said in your post, Alex, about painting not being art-therapy, I think I have gone very much against those thoughts in this work.

Oh, I don't know. . .I think you are being too hard on yourself, Thomasin. I got the impression that you were referring to paintings that functioned ONLY as art therapy and did not have much to say to (or did not speak to) the viewer. This one speaks to me. All your work speaks to me!

Hi Thomasin,
Intriguing as always. I just had a question for you. Is this the final stage or are you still working on it? The only reason I ask is that you haven't signed it. Also, could you tell us if this the painting you intended at the start or is this more of a stream-of-consciousness work. I do both and am sometime surprised at how little I reach what I intended or how much I achieve when not intending anything in particular but just let the session flow.

Alex,
Thanks for your confidence in my work - as usual. Actually, this painting did keep on saying to me that it needed more work and so it has been started again.

So. Clayton, it was, when I posted it, in its final stage, but has since become more and more dissatisfying and so has been begun again. So things do change as my perception of the painting changes. Sometimes the painting seems to need lots more work and sometimes, when I am just getting ready and have the energy to paint for hours and hours, the painting is suddenly finished - both are frustrating!