Friday, April 16, 2010

Self-Portrait Friday...

I had intended to post this earlier, but there have been some heavy storms here and the internet was out all day.

Andrew Thornton painting collage self-portrait
It's funny, because I waited all day to write this... but I don't really have the words. I thought about writing about Northern European vanitas paintings, Jolly Rogers, the goddess Kali's necklaces, Mexican Day of the Dead sugar skulls, Mesoamerican crystal skulls or even my Skull Shop... but the words just aren't there tonight.

This small-scale self-portrait with a skull necklace was painted in the faux fresco style on collage mounted on board. I had originally left the collage completely unobscured in the background, but the patterns were too dominant and distracting and gave it a distinctively "urban tribal" flare that I wasn't digging. So, I muted the background with a few washes of paint.

12 comments:

Joella said...

Self portrait Friday it is... I just posted my first ever self portrait mixed media collage earlier today as well! Great minds think alike...LOVE your piece!! Just curious as to what inspired you to do a self portrait?

Pearl and Pebble said...

This one is my favorite by far, Andrew! It is absolutely incredible and I love everything about it! Well done:)

Nicki said...

I really like it, Andrew. It looks like all your different self portraits express your different moods. The background is great too - it looks like spirits are surrounding you.

nina said...

your ability to capture your heart and spirit with paint amaze me every single time, andrew....wonderful!!! xxxx

kathyd said...

I love this self portrait. it might
just be because i love skulls .
great one andrew .
thank you for sharing .

Kerri Fuhr said...

Wow Andrew! I knew you were talented but this is really amazing! Thanks for sharing!!

p.s. will you be at Bead and Button this year??

Sharon Driscoll said...

It rocks Andrew...and not just because of the skulls. I love going through Kahlo's portraits as they progress along her life path. A journey undocumented seems lost sometimes.

Alice said...

Love it! The background reminds me of batik.

HappyDayArt! said...

It's a bit tribal, but it works. Nice painting!

Andrew Thornton said...

Hey Joella,

I used to work on self-portraits many years ago. Periodically I would make a few, but really got me painting again and painting self-portraits was Nina Bagley. She's hosting a self-portrait friday on her blog and it has been very motivational!

Andrew Thornton said...

Hi Kerri! Yep, that's the plan! I think I'm doing all of the shows for Green Girl Studios except for one in Raleigh. Hope to see you in Milwaukee!

Jean Katherine Baldridge said...

how did i miss this- so wonderful--I love your work