Self Preview
 

I jumped the gun on this and tried to post it from a Mac, since this was scanned using Mac software - but when I saw it... yuk!

I sent the image to my home comp in a more compatible file, but it decompressed pretty lousy and small. I'll re-post soon with a better version, but here's a preview. Oil on linen, 14"x17". Done using natural light from a big studio window.

Rob, I'm looking at this on a truly terrible small monitor,but your painting looks awfullygood to me. It's my favorite painting of yours. The modeling in yourface looks especially fine.

Rob!

This is a beautiful painting! This is the kind of self-portrait I love to see, intense and introspective, which only happens in the mirror.

This is a fine, fine painting - I love it.

Great self portrait, I especially like what you've done with the edges.

Very nice work Rob! The lighting, composition, expression, execution - all super. If this is a bad photo, I'd love to see a good one.
One note - I find the bright blue photo in the background a bit distracting (keeps pulling my eye up off of the main focus of the painting). Was this intentional? If so, it sure works. (I am thinking the cloud photo might have some personal significance since it is also the background for your avatar photo).

Very nice Rob! :thumbsup:

I like this a lot Rob. Careful of those dark clouds moving in from your back side. Cumulus?

Beautiful. Subdued palette - love it!

Boy, Rob this is great. Maybe it's time for me to try one also since I can't get my niece for a life painting for a few weeks, till school lets out. This is very good.

Wow
 

Geez, what wonderful comments! Thanks, guys! This may be hard to believe, but I'm actually a little taken aback and embarrassed, since this is a portrait of me!

Chris is right - I do look a bit intense in this. Well, I was concentrating! We all have that bit of Narcissus in ourselves, so here we see me trying hard to fight it off and be totally objective. And since that objectivity is so very important in portrait/figure painting, I'm so very glad I did this; it was a good lesson.

That being said -- Patricia, I highly recommend giving it a shot. Get that mirror set up & go for it

I appreciate the comments re: palette, David. I've been feeling a little inadequate about it since there seems to be quite a disdain for cadmium use in flesh tones amongst some of the bigger fishies. I like to think I have some semblance of control.

Mike - don't worry: they're cumulus humulus, or fair-weather clouds. Although, if the barometer falls a couple tenths, they could become congestus. This answers Heidi's question; I'm sort of a geek about clouds. My recent landscape work is more about clouds than land. That's one of my paintings behind me in my avatar.

Also, Jimmie, Kim, Mary and Linda (favorite painting of mine, Linda? - High praise indeed!) - thank you so much! I will soon post some detail once I get over this techno-hurdle.

Rob, I keep coming across this in the 'New Posts' list... and every time am surprised I haven't replied to it yet. :o I really like what you've done here and wanted to let you know!

Now am just gonna it the 'Submit Reply' button, before I get distracted by something else! ;)

Wonderful!

Good work Rob. That's great light to work in, isn't it.

It feels good to see work of this quality being done from life. Works like this mean something. Remember, we are all part of future generations long distant past. You will look at across time out of that self-portrait to those who come after us.

Please continue to share.
Bill

My sincere thanks to you, Mr. Whitaker, for such a flattering and inspirational post. I am a big admirer of your work and am fairly speechless that you see such quality in mine.

I must admit, my focus over the past year or so has been on the landscape, as I'm doing fairly well with them career-wise. But (and isn't this always the way?) my true passion is for the figure and portrait. If I could paint figures outdoors for the rest of my life and have a decent market for it, I would be one happy camper.

Your affirmation of my abilities in portraiture helps to keep that dream alive. I'm fortunate to be practicing art for a living, period - and I do not want to appear ungrateful for that gift. But, there is a part of this garden that is not yielding much fruit, despite its potential. I just have to find the time and opportunity to tend it more.

Very nice! I don't know if you want any suggestions or if this was posted as an unveiling, but here goes: you might want to soften the edges or the contrast on the eyes since they seem a bit intense and staring. Other than that, great work.

See the work of www.hongminzou.com and Allan Banks at http://portraitartist.com/banks/banks.htm -- I see no reason why you can't make that concept work for you too!