Welcome to my Art Blog! I paint or draw most weekdays and sometimes finish a painting a day. I fondly call them my "Postcards from Paradise" because it's such a beautiful place the Lord made here for us.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Challenge for July; Self-Portraits...Mine is with Legos!

For this month's subject, member Michael Naples chose for us to all paint a self-portrait.

Since I've done a number of these works through the years, I wanted to challenge myself to create something a little different.

A couple of ideas suggested themselves to my mind, but my "little friends" insisted on helping again this month. They've appeared in all my Challenge paintings so far and wanted to make this one fun too. I hope you enjoy this whimsical piece!

(left)
"Make Me Beautiful, Rembrandt!"
Original unframed Oil on board, 6"x8"
©2009
Diana Moses Botkin



The rest of my Challenge Group participants painted their self-portraits without any legos, but maybe they aren't as attached to them as we are at my house! I love all these paintings, don't you?

(far left)
"Self Portrait"
Oil on board 6"x6"
©2009
Michael Naples

(left)
"Self Portrait Loathing"
Oil on board 12"x12"
©2009
Robin Cheers


(left)
"Self-Portrait with Steve's Shirt"
Oil on canvas
14"x11"
©2009
Silvina Day

(right)
"Self Portrait"
Pastel
10"x8"
©2009
Mike Beeman



(bottom row, left) "Making Up Her Own Story" Oil on canvas 24"x20" ©2009
Marie Fox
(bottom row, right) "ME ala Schmid" Oil on canvas 10"x8" 2009
Vicki Ross




8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I really enjoyed seeing everyone's faces (and Marie's bikini). This was a tough but exciting one!

Diana Moses Botkin said...

I agree, Silvina; our July Challenging was challenging AND fun. Thanks for being part of this group!

Shirley Peters said...

I'm impressed with your portrait.. it is so professional. Your blog shows that you do landscapes, mainly. Is that right? If so, I'm surprised, as you have such skill with figures.
I'm new to blogging, and I have only recently found this hive of artistic activity called daily painting.
Great fun.

VickiRossArt said...

LOVE your little friend! great idea and painting...aren't we having fun!

Diana Moses Botkin said...

Shirley: Thank you for visiting and leaving your encouragement. Portraits and the figure will always be my first love for subject matter. I started painting more landscapes when we moved to north Idaho in '96 because the light is SO amazing here.

Vicki: Thanks for the kudos! We are indeed all having fun in our Challenge Group, except for the deadlines!

Marie Fox said...

Diana - you created a fine self-portrait. Although I don't know you in person, I imagine you've captured a true likeness of yourself. It's realistic yet lively and full of good humor. Marie

Diana Moses Botkin said...

Thank you, Marie. I think these self-portraits have let us get to know each other a little better.

As you know, one of the goals of my Challenge Group has been to paint something I wouldn't normally paint and have fun with it.

So far, so good!

Diane Hoeptner said...

What a great bunch of self portraits!! Love this challenge!!