Hello to everyone out there in the Do Art Nation! We hope your creative projects have been going well, and that you’ve been having a great spring.
A few weeks ago I talked about the new book I’m reading: “Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain” by Betty Edwards. I’ve been trying to do the exercises as I read the book, which means it has been slow going. But I finally got around to doing one of the very first exercises: drawing a self-portrait!
I’ve drawn self-portraits before, but normally I use a photo reference. I suppose I like drawing self-portraits for the same reason why people love taking selfies, or why self-portraits have been a staple of art and artists almost as far back as recorded history. We see ourselves almost every day, but like so much of the world we rarely look at ourselves. Drawing a self-portrait, like drawing anything from life, forces us to really look at what we’re drawing and reproduce not only the picture itself but also the thoughts and feelings that go through our minds as we draw it.
This time I did as the book suggested: I set up a mirror on my drawing table, and drew myself as I looked in the mirror! It took me about 20 minutes to make a self-portrait that I was relatively satisfied with. Betty Edwards recommends this as an introductory exercise, to track your progress as you go through the exercises and improve your ability to draw perceptually.
Have you ever drawn a self-portrait before? Let us know in the comments, and share the results. I’m always excited to explore new avenues of creativity, and I hope that you will share this journey with me. Have an awesome week and keep creating!
