IT'S . . .

L to R: Natalie d'Arbeloff, Cindy Woods, Sparky Donatello

At the urging of Natalie d'Arbeloff, famed author of Blaugustine, I have taken on the job of defining the parameters of our new Self-Portrait Marathon. First, the underlying reason behind the parameters: if drawing is first of all about seeing, and it is, then it follows that drawing yourself will involve seeing yourself. Drawing well (and by that I don't mean skillfully, but honestly) means you'll have to see yourself clearly and deeply. That's not an easy thing to do. That's why this is a marathon. If you want to climb on board, here's what you have to do. For the next month, you must do a self-portrait at least once a week; more often, if you want to, but be reasonable. Work in any medium you want, post it to your site, and send me the address of your post so I can list it here. And think of your series this way: your last portrait is the stepping-off point for your next. Build on what you've done, see yourself more deeply. That doesn't necessarily mean draw more pores and wrinkles, although it could. It means reveal more of yourself, to yourself and the rest of us. I, for one, am dying to see (a) what you look like, (b) what you think you look like, and © what you want me to think you look like. I think I'll do some screen captures and post our entries in a gallery here, side by side, so we can see how a portrait changes from week to week. Oh boy, this is going to be so much fun, kids! And listen, you don't have to be highly skilled. Sometimes that even gets in the way. Let's not measure ourselves against each other. We're all exploring, and there are a thousand paths to the top of the mountain. So when you have something posted, send an email to wally at wallytorta dot com pointing me to it. Oh, and if you don't have a site or place to post, send me your scan and I'll post it here. Okay. . . . ladies and gentlemen, start your mirrors!

Comments

[jenny hossy hoss hoss]

wally!! im taking a break from packing and just want to say that i'm so in! when i get back...:))

:))

[Julie Oakley]

Fantastic idea - yes I'm in as long as I can squeeze it in

[vit]

oh flippin' 'eck... as if i haven't got enough to do.... ... we'll see....

[Natalie]

Thanks for this great send-off, Wally, it's exactly what was needed. What masochistic fun this is going to be.

[Sparky]

Jenny: ah yes, Tuscany calls. But get cracking once you're back. Julie: squeeze! Vit: hey, there's three of you, what are you complaining about? and Natalie, I forgot to tell you how beautiful your first self-p is.

[Cindy]

I've got no where to go and nothing to do, I'm in!

[Sparky]

That's what I like to hear!

[janey]

I posted my first. I'm on the obsessive side so you may have started something here that eveyone is going to regret.

[lydia]

Can I do it in my own abstract collagey way or does it have to be drawing and painting?

[Sparky]

Do it any way you like, cootie.

[Pica]

I'm in. Woo hoo! I did one the other morning and terrified myself, so it's definitely time to do this.

[Natalie]

Wally, people should be emailing you with their blog's address, right? So you can add them to the list, right? That's what I thought.
Everybody got that?

[Sparky]

Only when they post a pic. So we all know whose blogs to visit.

[Brenda]

If I post a comment here that I'm gonna try, then hopefully I will. I like this sort of marathon very much :o)

[Deb]

I don't have a blog! But I have a self portrait. What to do??? And I'm soooo competitive!

[vit]

done and posted. me version no.1.
oh god.

[Sparky]

Deb! Email it to me, I'll post it here!

[Alanna]

I started my self portraits a few weeks ago, and wnat to participate in the self portrait marathon! count me in!!! Visit my blog at:

http://paintedcats.blogspot.com/2006/05/me-me-me-me-me-meits-all-about-me.html

[Carmen Sidlaruk]

Is it too late to join this? It will be quite a challenge, but a good one. Since I have never drawn myself. And only attempted at sketching portraits of other a could of times (I thought they were a start, but not good).

[Sparky]

It's never too late! Draw!