That Figures
Evolving the Self Portrait in the Selfie Age
For many years, I’ve repeatedly said that I don’t like “smartphones”. I have one, but I don’t like using it except for specific purposes, and then rarely.
The rest of modern society seems to disagree with me. Most people seem to glued to their screens as they walk into walls or crash into curbs.
Since everybody is addicted to their devices, I thought I’d try to incorporate the smartphone into my “figure studies” - self-portraits I’ve been working on in recent months.
Instead of trying to hide the phone, I’ll make it conspicuous.
The above image (“Thank You For Everything”) is a recent culmination of my numerous processes and techniques.
It definitely takes some inspiration from artists like Alex Katz, Fairfield Porter, and David Hockney, but they painted portraits whereas I’ve been manipulating images in software, printing, applying ink, and then scanning. The effect probably has more in common with Andy Warhol’s silkscreen portraits.
At some point, and it could be starting tomorrow, I’d like to work on subject matter other than myself.
It doesn’t have to be other people’s selfies. That’s not the intent. But maybe somebody has a photo of themselves, or a friend, or a relative, or a pet, or some old photo they found, and they want it stylized in the above technique. Well, I can do that, or give it a go.
Want it on a tote bag, or as a metal print? That can happen, too. Feel free to email me or use my Commission form.
On the music side, I’m just listening and adding to my DJ Rushton in Public 2024 playlist. I’ll highlight some additions after the embed:
Pink Noise by Laura Mvula sounds “Oh So 80s” but is actually modern. Mvula was born in 1986. I like it when artists work in a retro sound. For a while.
N.T. by Kool & The Gang was captured at the casino. It’s a live instrumental from 1971, and sounds reminiscent of the Average White Band or any 60s soul band with a horn section. Never heard it before. I think it’s great.
Paradis bleu (Dim Sum Remix) by Revers Gagnant + Matild was heard at Banana Republic. I spend half my time in BR identifying the music. It’s too bad the Shazam app can’t run automatically in there.