"Cauld Hands, Warm Heid": Self portrait in oil.

Lewis MacKenzie · 02-25-2013, 05:28 AM

This is my submission for the Royal Society of Portrait Painters' new self portrait competition ("SELF"). The deadline for online submissions was Thursday, so this is what the judges will see, but I intend to make a few additional touches here and there (I want to punch the darks underneath the flappy-ear bits of my Davey Crocket hat, for example). The photos are not great, apologies for that. It's quite a small piece, 42 cm x 21 cm and is painted on plywood primed with acrylic "gesso". The surface was slightly textured, partly because I like to paint on surfaces which make it easy to get soft edges, and partly because sanding that stuff is like sanding rubber. Any comments or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Lewis

Michele Rushworth · 02-25-2013, 11:07 AM

Looks great -- good luck in the competiton!

Lewis MacKenzie · 02-25-2013, 11:47 AM

Thanks Michele. I'll need it, as they've had about 950 entries I believe.

Richard Budig · 02-26-2013, 10:07 AM

Lewis . . . your comment about your textured surface caught my attention. Years ago, for economic (cheap) reasons, I started painting on that Masonite-like pressed board. I still do. I sand the slick side, and then apply gesso. Sometimes, I apply it with a roller, leaving a very light texture, but other times, I apply it rather thickly and swish through it with an old straw whisk broom, or pat it with balled up newspaper, or lay a sheet of Saran Wrap on it while it's wet, and lift it until I see a pattern I like. Later, when it partially sets up, you can go over it lightly with a palette knife and knock down some of the high points and leave it look hand plastered.

That's a great little painting, too.

Lewis MacKenzie · 02-26-2013, 10:48 AM

Thanks Richard, I appreciate your comments.

Your tips for texturing your boards are very interesting, I'll have to try some of those out. I read a great post by Stapleton Kearns about making textured boards, a la Edward Seago (SHAZAM: http://stapletonkearns.blogspot.co.u...s-updated.html). It involves adding oil-based white primer to rabbit skin glue-based gesso, mixing it, then painting it onto the board with a stiff brush. Sounds bonkers, but apparently it works. I think I am going to see if I can sell my big tub of acrylic gesso and get some of the real stuff. Either that or I will just start oil priming my boards.

Muhammad Sida · 03-01-2013, 11:32 AM

Good luck on the competition Lewis

It's a great piece man, I like this very much, looks great, I should try painting on a board, texture is an issue with me.

Anyway, I'm not sure if I'm right or not, it's difficult to tell from picture but does it seem like your hand has been worked to a finish more than the portrait?

It's probably my imagination... Portrait looks great... masterful

Lewis MacKenzie · 03-01-2013, 06:08 PM

Thanks Muhammed! I think it must just be the photo, as the hand is pretty loosely blocked in. I'll post a detail shot when I get back to Glasgow (I'm in London at the moment). Maybe it's a bit more laboured-looking, as I found it quite tricky painting the hand I was working with. mind you, I repainted the head about 5 times, so that ought to look pretty laboured too!