I was inspired by the composition and texture in Van Gogh’s Self-Portrait with a Bandaged Ear. This led me to painting my own self portrait in which I am the central figure.
Similar to Van Gogh’s original painting I decided to paint myself from the shoulders up, which would allow the viewers to focus on my expression and the smaller details such as the texture of my hair and the color of my eyes. I used my hair as an opportunity to build up texture and create movement in my painting. I did this by layering colors and building up the paint. In some areas I used gel medium to thicken the paint, creating tonal range and depth.
This self portrait captures me exploring my emotions and looking wistfully towards the future.