Portrait of the Old Man as an Artist

[John Zeissig]

Hello, all.

I'm an artist who's only recently started doing portraits (9 months) and just discovered this site. I was stunned by the level of accomplishment of many of the posters to this Forum, and I've been scouring the archives for the vast amounts of useful information to be found here.

All my academic training has been in science (electrophysiology and physiological psychology) with a focus on the physiology of vision. However, I've done drawing, painting and sculpture since I was a teenager.

In 1990, I started exhibiting artwork, although rarely paintings. Most of my stuff involves light, sound and motion and would be of little interest to others on this Forum. Nevertheless, I've become fascinated by portraiture and figure painting, with the intention of developing it into something that I can best describe as modern "genre" painting (nothing really new, there are plenty of examples out there).

I'm attaching a self-portrait that I'm using for my signature. The original is 11" x 14", oil on maple panel. Any comments/criticism would, of course, be appreciated. I know that I've much to learn and I can't get the kind of honest feedback from family and artist friends that this Forum can provide.

Thanks,
John Zeissig