Figurative artist Haley Hasler uses the self-portrait as a vehicle for larger narrative painting.
At my current solo exhibition, on view at Museum of Art Fort Collins, in Colorado, the walls are covered with paintings of one woman, in various guises, poses and narratives. I was asked to speak about the work. It was clear that one question had to be first addressed: why the self-portrait?
I must answer this question for you before I tell you about my technical process, because the why and the how are intrinsically linked. It started with a practical problem:
I needed a model. As an art student 20 years ago, models were expensive, and I found in my always-at-the-ready reflected image a means to taking on the problem I was obsessed with: how to paint a face. This began a 20-year inquiry into the purpose and meaning of the self-portrait in today’s world, with oil paint and brush on canvas.
This story is from the October/November 2018 edition of International Artist.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October/November 2018 edition of International Artist.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Fresh Eyes
Anna Rose Bain discusses the passions of being an artist and helping students transform their own work
The Next Level
Jacob Dhein uses a wet-into-wet technique to create painterly depictions of a variety of subjects
Wild Spirit
Alternating between broad glazes and fine details, Claire Milligan captures the intricacies of the animal kingdom
The Bridge Between
Watercolorist Thomas Wells Schaller delves into the nuances of observation and imagination
The Color Continuum
Catherine Hearding demonstrates how she utilizes color to enhance the mood of her landscapes
Points of Precision
A strong focal point and attention to detail make Nicola Jane's artwork jump off the page
BE YOURSELF
Harley Brown's fascinating things no one else will tell you
JEFFREY T. LARSON
Expertly Putting the Pieces Together
Hot-Blooded
Blending elements of realism and surrealism, figurative artist Anna Wypych’'s paintings are dominated by vivid reds
Adam Clague Incandescence
Adam Clague’s masterful understanding of contrast allows him to paint subjects that seem to glow from within