Why do artists always draw themselves?

Is it a matter of having a free model or does it have more curious aspects?

On most of the articles found on web the answer is mostly being your own model for all the time you want and for free…But if this is the reason: Why every time I paint a different person either male or female, I get comments like “It’s you!”? I think the reason is much deeper than that.

I think self portrait reveals more about the artist’s irrational psychological ego.

Observing some of the known master pieces you can find two kinds of self portraits:

  • The first group: “The first is “the Professional” self-portrait: this is an artist’s self- depiction at work in the studio, and obviously encompasses an enormous amount of the entire genre, from its earliest era to the present day. The second groups pertains to a broader and more varied range of work, and is loosely termed ‘the Personal’, and reveals moral and/or psychological features.”*

Some of the first group examples are a part of the most know master pieces such as Las medians for Velazquez, self-portrait in the studio by Dalì, self- portrait as allegory for Artemisia Gentileschi, self-portrait of Sofonisba Anguissola, artist in a studio for David Teniers (which is not quite sure that it’s his self-portrait), self-portrait in the artist’s studio with the painting of ‘The Death of Nelson’ for Samuel Drummond…etc.

  • The second group can be presented by  Parmigianino  with his self-portrait in a convex mirror, Rembrandt van Rijn in The Prodigal Son in the Brothel and Frida Kahlo with her self-portrait dedicated to Dr. Eloesser. These artists wanted consciously or not to comunicate something about themselves which they know or they don’t.

I did many self-portraits but I started years ago two paintings that I didn’t finish until now; the title of the first one is “A letter to my mother” and I didn’t decide yet then title for the second one. As you can imagine it’s hard to work on them; “A letter to my mother” is only a damn simple self-portrait but every time I touch it it becomes my Dorian Grey’s portrait. What I have inside these two is the hardest emotion to materialize on canvas. 

One day I will finish them, both.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Shehime” Everyone saw this painting commented that it’s me in a male version, I always wondered: What did really show that it was me? My face is quite different compared to the male model I used on this pianting.

 

I didn’t pick yet a title for this one but yes this is me and not only me but I’m also hugging myself.

 

“A letter to my mother” unfinished.

 

 

*Self-Portraits by Paul James