She's an Open Book

Not only is she an open book but she got

mentioned...honorably!

The guild where I paint had decided to have a self-portrait show.  I had a

previously done one under the bed so I decided just for fun to try

and execute an idea I had been toying around with for a while in my head.

I wanted to make a book-like painting.

A painting that was acceptable on the surface but then opened to

several more possibilities.

So this is the result.

I've been working in black and white for a bit so I kept with the theme (and

those who know me well know that adding a little red reveals my interior and

wardrobe colors!)

I used two deep cradled wooden panels and gessoed them well before painting.

The insides were a bit of this and that collage, after all this was just an

experiment.  After adding two hinges ( harder than it sounds) and an

appropriate lock (a real brain teaser) here is what I had.

The left side, below, represents my first 50 years of life: yep, a bit of a loud

mouth, an organizer, someone who wanted to lead.

And the right side of course symbolizes the next fifty years: much more of a

seeker, a follower, trudging uphill and enjoying the adventure of it all.

Well, I had no illusions of a prize with such an irreverent piece but I was tickled that

the judge insisted on awarding an honorable mention as he

found it too creative to ignore.

With that bit of encouragement I have additional more art books on the drawing board...and

this time I will have the kinks all worked out.

p.s. everyone should do a self-portrait, it really makes you think about

yourself and the image you project versus what you wish you

projected....hmmmmm

need I say: this piece is NFS!!