Creativity Sparks: A Day in the Life of Creative Exploration #CED2010

The Self Portrait Challenge from Kim Owens, from Blissfully Art Journaling today was written like this:

 

This is an exercise that I used when I was an art docent for my daughter’s class. We were studying the art of Alexander Calder –an American painter and sculptor (1898-1976). He is best known for his wire sculptures.

This is very easy exercise, but it will most likely make you a little uncomfortable. Be fearless!! You should do this directly in your journal – not so easy to throw away. This is about the process – not the finished piece.

You will need –
Your journal
A free-standing mirror or a full length mirror that you can sit in front of.
A pen – absolutely NOT a pencil

When you are comfortably seated, look at your face in the mirror. Study your face for a few moments and then place the tip of your pen on the journal page. Choose a starting point on your face (i.e. your chin). Start drawing your face without EVER lifting you pen off the paper. You must move the pen across the paper as you follow the contours of your face with your eyes. Don’t look at the paper – your hand must be in sync with your eyes. When you move your eyes up the side of your face to your ear – your pen should move up the paper. Move smoothly – don’t think about what you are drawing. The pen and your eyes are joined as one. Just move, explore your face, let the pen flow across the paper. Use a light touch. Don't forget to sign and date your portrait. Then post your artwork.

 

I had about a half hour free this afternoon and the challenge kept calling me, so I grabbed a chair and plunked it down in front of the bathroom sink-and-mirror.

 

I am about to take a drawing class to remedy my limited abilities there, but I wanted to complete the challenge. I brought a crayon with me, one which bragged it was purplish but was actually closer to blue.

I started with my hair line and before I knew it, a not-too-embarassingly-bad (though I wouldn’t call it good) self portrait came into form.

 

I finished the crayon draft and wondered for a moment why we don’t do self portraits of the rest of our body with as much regularity. I was thinking of Elizabeth Vigee-Lebrun, one of my favorite 19^th Century French Self Portrait artists and also the months theme at Creative Every Day.

 

Elizabeth, I can’t imagine her painting her wrist and calling it a self portrait.

 

I could, however, imagine Leah Piken-Kolidas of Creative Every Day rejoicing in a wrist only self portrait. Again, recognizing my limits as a drawing artist, I leaped in and found… not so bad. The edge of my hand and wrist, holding the very journal I was drawing in at that moment.

 

Yesterday, later in the day I went to an audition at The Empty Space theater for an upcoming production of Hamlet Machine.  No, it isn’t Hamlet a la Shakespeare, I have heard it called a deconstruction of Hamlet. Tt is a unique theater production meets performance art. I don’t even know how to describe it but what I do know is this:

 

I relished the audition, which was a completely creative, wacky experience of creating three separate characters in voice and body while reading from a Dr. Seuss board book I had never read before. I had a blast and if the audition was all that was, I would have been bummed but it would have been enough.

I sat in my drive way after the audition and thought, “I really want it. I really, really want it” and took this self portrait. From a different angle you can see my chin is in a constant quiver, about to cry state. Intriguing, how I am literally "holding the quiver in" here. This series of self portraits, not at my most beautiful – is so beautiful.

 

The part that surprised me was the role I would play includes nudity and simulated… umm… intimate acts. Both of which I agreed to do.

 

I went to the audition thinking I was too old to begin with, but never expected to be included in the cast, at least in the role of Gertrude – given the whole nudity concept. I am reminded of four years ago – was it only four years? – the first time I did a nude photo shoot, completely for my own personal growth.

 

I never expected to come out of that experience with art which made me feel beautiful and more comfortable with myself. I expected the contrary.

 

My comfort with and appreciation for my physical form has continued to increase even as I am not standard, culturally appreciated norm of young, firm, thin, unscathed by life.

 

Whether it is my wrist or my nose or my hip or my more pudgy than I would like shadow, there is a continued appreciation for who I am and the space I fill.

 

Julie publishes her ezine, the Daily Passion Activator, which includes an Essay and a Poem every week day - inspiration delivered directly into your email box. Why not Subscribe today? It's free.

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Comments

[Tammy Freiborg]

Love the crayon version of you and the wrist/hand "self-portrait". Try a dining room chair/stool or something with a lot of negative space.

[Timaree (freebird)]

You did great! Really! Now did you do this straight in your journal or on a separate piece of paper. I always want my journal to stay "nice" but maybe this will be a good challenge.

Good job on the hand too.

[Julie Jordan Scott]

Timaree - I did it directly in my journal. I have several journals - all the time I have about three going, so I don't have to worry about quality... I am more about process at this point with any drawing I do. Tammy - thanks for the chair suggestion. We are starting my drawing lessons sometime this week or next. Very excited.

[Ramona]

Dear Julie,

Thanks for visiting Create With Joy and leaving me such a nice note! It took me a long while to finally sit down and make my first ATC, but when I did, I found myself hooked - I sure hope you'll give this wonderful medium a try! Look at it this way: a 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inch piece of paper is SO small, how can you pass up the opportunity to NOT play and experiment?

I'm sure that if you join an ATC swap, your partner will be DELIGHTED to receive whatever art you send - most of the people I have swapped with are wonderful souls! There are many diverse styles out there - and everyone from beginners to published artists - most fall somewhere in between! I keep all of mine in a special book where I can go back and treasure my art. You learn a lot just from studying other people's art!

I look forward to getting to know you better and invite you to become a Kindred Spirit on my blog!

Hugs,
Ramona :-)
http://create-with-joy.blogspot.com

[Lis]

"Whether it is my wrist or my nose or my hip or my more pudgy than I would like shadow, there is a continued appreciation for who I am and the space I fill." - this is so inspiring, so true! Thank you for this honest post. I find my daily photographic self portraits have opened me up to a renewed appreciation for myself, my life - wrinkles, grey hair and all!

[leah]

You were so right, I love the wrist portrait!! :-) And I'm loving your explorations, as always, Julie!

[pamela]

Julie,

I absolutely love the exercise and plan on doing it soon. I see how having a nude photo shoot could make us feel more comfortable with ourselves. I really enjoyed reading this. Thanks
Pamela

[Bev Baird]

What a great exercise. I am going to have to try it. There is so much I want to try and learn!
Love your self-portraits.
Take care.

[iHanna]

This is a great exercise, because the result maybe shouldn't be pretty but messy and your inner self more than a portrait? And moving the pen without lifting does create a mess if you try!

I think you did a great portrait, hope you will experiment with many more!

[ELLIE]

love the self portrait - came out wonderful!!
thanks for stopping by - I so appreciate it!!

[Ruthie]

Love self portraits :D

[Shannan]

Wow! How incredibly brave to consider a role with nudity... I would have totally done it 10 years and 20 lbs ago... but would be much to modest now.

YOU GO!!!!!!

[Melissa]

I am totally impressed with your willingness to push your boundaries with a role like that! Awesome! I want to try to do that self portrait exercise too. Good luck with the role!