Self-Portraiture

An artist’s body of work in a very real sense constitutes a self-portrait. From subject matter to style to choice of materials to choice of palette, each work is in some way a clue about the artist’s inner self; each aspect is a more or less subconscious reflection of, response to, or interpretation of his or her life experiences and world view.

Sooner or later, however, many artists
consciously set out to create one or more self-portraits.

Make a Self-Portrait – Things to consider before you start
http://www.channel4.com/culture/microsites/S/selfportraituk/making_selfportrait_01.html

Why Artists Need to Create Self-Portraits – Pam Gaulin
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/316943/why_artists_needs_to_create_selfportraits.html

Making a Self-Portrait - National Portrait Gallery – the following questions and considerations are posed as some of the things you should think about before you start – visit the website for explanations and examples:

1. How large or small are you going to make your self-portrait?
2. What shape will it be?
3. Where are you going to place the figure?
4. Will it be abstract or not?
5. Are you going to put in a background?
6. What will you wear?
7. Will you have props that give a sense of of life, interests, or personality?
8. Will there be a title?
9. How will you pose?
10. What mood will you be in?
11. Will your facial expression indicate how you're feeling?
12. Are you going to let people know that you are the artist?
13. Are you going to be the only figure?
14. Do you appear with your partner?
15. Occasionally artists include an image of themselves reflected in a mirror
16. You might make yourself a figure among many
17. You might show yourself as an artist among artists, thus confirming your status as ARTIST
18. How many self-portraits will you make in your lifetime?

http://www.npg.org.uk/live/edthisisme01.asp

Self Portrait Creativity Exercise – Amber Gibbs
http://ambergibbsart.typepad.com/ambergibbsart/2007/06/self_portrait_c.html

“The Exploration of Self: What Artists Find When they Search in the Mirror” – Jeanne Ivy – this article takes an extensive look at the subject of self-portraits as an artist’s signature, projection, self-study, fantasy, narrative, and metaphor.
http://userpages.umbc.edu/~ivy/selfportrait/

“Exploring Identity Through Self-Portraiture” – Rose M. Barron – This is a 2006 Master’s Thesis
http://etd.gsu.edu/theses/available/etd-12012006-103336/unrestricted/Barron_rose_200612_MAED.pdf