I had fun with some little details here. Click to enlarge

self portrait with beETles

Oil on Canvas

20“ x 18”

Wow this was hard. I have never been a good draftsman so it took a really look time to get a likeness of myself. I have realised I don’t have much of an idea what my face looks like. The reference picture was taken on the sofa with one of my favourite vines behind me.

I am working to incorporate more surrealist elements in my practice. In this piece I have included beetles (11 in total – I challenge you to find them!). The vines are also painted in a similar fashion to my hair, and at some points they grow from my hair itself.

In my research for this piece, I discovered that insects have often been used live as jewelry (akin to the beetle broach in this piece); the beetle is adorned with jewels and a chain leash is attached so inhibit wandering off or a coordinated escape attempt. For example, in ancient Egypt scarab beetles were used in battle for protection. In India and Sri Lanka beetles were kept as pets, and kept in lavish decorative cages when not worn. I have included my own broad here, ambiguous as to weather it is jewelry or live.

This painting was the first time I used some new brushes - specifically synthetic ones for blending. I really liked the smoothness of lines I could get with them for the fine detail, for example I could paint the cyst and scar tissue in my eyes fairly well.