Myself

I used to be terrified of portraits. I didn't like looking at people I didn't know. But I think, now, they are my favorite type of art. It takes a real artist to capture another person. Who can deny the mesmerizing pull of a Chuck Close painting? And it is even more difficult to try and capture yourself. An interpretation of the subject by the subject itself is the most fascinating of all possible stories told by the artistic medium, be it paint, pen, clay or camera lens. Frida Kahlo, Van Gogh. It's like spying on a person's inner most secret... how he sees himself. He's letting you in, but only the truth he wants you to see. Or is there more? Or is it all a lie? Such a beautiful, intimate, mysterious dance - and it's staring us right in the face.

A self portrait is very difficult for me to paint. It opens my art up to not only criticism of my technique (since I am the painter), but criticism of me (since I am the painting). Unfortunately, it's also the art I find the most pleasure in creating. It's cathartic. It's part of who I am. It's extremely personal for obvious reasons, and yet sometimes when I am done, I don't see myself in the picture at all.

I have done about 7 self portraits in the past 13 years. I will post them all here eventually. These I did while living in Miami between 2002-2003.