The art of creating an Abstract Self Portrait

[@Jojomoon222]

This was so moving, I am severely sight impaired and registered blind, I cannot see faces very well at all. They are distorted, unfocused, no details really, just light and shade. I wanted to find a way to express my journey of sight loss over the last 1% years through art and you’ve shone a light that I think I might be able to follow. So inspiring listening to you. Thank you

[@ThisPaintingLife]

I'm so sorry to hear that, but I'm also intrigued as to what portraits would look like if you painted what you see. I suspect you'd show us much more than an "accurate" likeness x

[@garmallinson1706]

Louise, these portraits are wonderful. Thank you.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Glad you enjoyed them! ❤

[@cathyfreeman4154]

Love this video for numerous reasons. Thankyou for sharing it. Cheers

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Aww glad you liked it! ❤

[@betsyglass3921]

I enjoy seeing and hearing about your process. I hope you’ll continue to show us how the work is going on this very meaningful project. BTW, What kind of paper are you working on here? The weight and type? Thanks so much for all your insights and wisdom! Betsy

[@jomassey4207]

Really insightful and difficult to do. Ive never tried a blind self portrait and can see the huge emotional changes that a person goes through during a short period. I look forward to seeing your next few paintings and hear what you think. Really made me think about the human condition. Thank you, Jo Massey.

[@debeisenmann6162]

Great, honest reveal! Thank you!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

You are so welcome Deb. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@MaureenMo71]

Every change brought out something I really liked. I hoped. you wouldn't change it anymore. But when you did, I liked it as well. Mad skills!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Aww thank you so much for your kind words.

[@jenniferrinde]

I love all the changes...really interesting!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Glad you liked it!

[@andreaharley4047]

Thankyou louise,its great to have a good idea of where to start as ive never done any kind of portraits,now im raring to go. ❤🙂🙂🙂

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Aww give it a try! You never know what may happen. 😀

[@shaunnalyons4436]

Thanks so much for sharing this Louise. It’s so true, I always think someone else made it super quick and easy. And what is wrong with me laboring over each one for a long time. Super helpful reminder that is rarely the case. I adored all the images you showed of the finished ones. This is a powerful series. I want every one of them and I’m jealous you’re doing it. Ha ha. That’s usually a sign I really want to be doing it deep down. I loved figure drawing and especially the blind studies. Hmmm as ever you leave me much to think about. Thanks again for sharing your process. ❤😊😊😊

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Yes jealousy is always a big hint at what we need to be doing!

[@kateveneroso5754]

You again have posted a exceedingly helpful video! What a useful intuitive process. I find myself always checking your work/videos, craving the inspirational content, process of a particular piece. WOW!!!! You never disappoint! I work the same way, taking a few half hours to come back to an image, so I can see the piece in a new light. Often I go and work on another image. I so like this image. You do not wish clarity as we all have a bit mystery which is part of ourselves, that part we ourself know as our mystery, which being alive makes us all encounter and go into the hidden country of self. Thank you, you are a hero of mine! Thanks again! 😊

[@ThisPaintingLife]

thanks so much for watching!

[@jeanversace6300]

Delightful, Louise.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Glad you liked it Jean ❤

[@amandagordon4318]

thank you for bearing your soul and showing us different aspects of you

[@ThisPaintingLife]

You are so welcome Amanda ❤

[@kerrieb7473]

Oooh such a wonderful process, lovely to see. Thankyou for sharing.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

So glad you enjoyed it Kerrie! ❤

[@cherylmartin467]

It’s been a journey since I watched you last. I really appreciate you I haven’t painted since Christmas February 29 ( leap year) I had open heart surgery. Feeling great and ready for the canvas again. This video was an inspiration 😊 Thank you

[@ThisPaintingLife]

So glad you are healing and even more that I could provide some inspiration to you!

[@tatianasavchenko4133]

Thank you, Louise, your video inspired me to draw the first oil pastel sketch of my self-portrait and I discovered so many signs and ideas in it. It seemed to me that your self-portrait is like an attempt to figure out what is stopping you in your creativity and an attempt to enter or return to this carefree state of childhood, when everything is created easily, joyfully and playfully.

[@mixedmedialife7916]

This is the most interesting and inspiring self portrait vid I've ever seen 😮. I thought the last iteration was absolutely fantastic! I'm not yet brave enough to give this a go, never mind posting it online!👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@paulinechorlton4381]

I love watching you work, seeing how adventurous you are painting and over painting. So interesting, thank you for sharing your process and talking us through as you reflect on the work. I really love the last one you created, it does actually look like you too 😃 x

[@ThisPaintingLife]

You are so welcome and thank you for being here 😄

[@ArtorLifeTorB]

Very nice video 👏💐Great artwork ✍️🎨💐👍

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Thank you so much 😀

[@yopestevens1505]

There's no doubt something BIG inside of you looking for a way out. I can't imagine the introspection and life-review that must be going on while you paint. For me, it would be completely overwhelming and I would be painting thru my tears - no need for squinting, ha ha. You are a brave soul to do it, because I feel this is much more for you than the words "self-portrait" can convey. To me, each of your iterations is beautiful in it's own way, the one with a little girl at your chin (bottom right) really spoke to me. Perhaps she spoke to you as well...the next iteration had a rather angry swath of blue to cover her up! Thank you for sharing your journey, and may your sunshine soon return!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Thanks so much for watching

[@arlierichards9438]

Always grateful for your videos. This one in particular as I am nearing the point of painting again. I dabble now and again but finally healing enough to rejoin life and my creativity. Your videos are such an encouragement.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Aww thank you. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@sarawelder1]

It is so helpful to be reminded that it doesn't come easily even when you have been painting for so long.What I took away from this is ; don't give up...persevere.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Yes, exactly!

[@kvadams9538]

I showed up today to my art for the first time in forever. I did a self portrait after watching your video and as I added, smudged, and somewhat subtracted paint it turned into a very young version of someone who looks nothing like i did, but it doesn’t need to as the importance of what’s appeared has been seen and recognised. Thank you Louise.

[@veena108]

Love the last iteration on this video. Clarity of features in an abstract , especially with your talent is a joy to look at, exhausting though it may be to create. Ihope you finish it at some point, I’m sure it will be worth it. My favorite of your work so far 🙏

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@keldaycreativeart]

Thank you Louise for sharing your process. I loved seeing the change in expressions throughout your work. I have never created a self portrait. You have inspired me to have a go at this. Goodness knows what will happen but I like the idea of being surprised.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

You are so welcome! Just give it a try. 😀

[@denisegrossman3840]

Incredible progressions , it seems like a lot of deep inner work. Very moving and inspiring. Thank you for sharing. 🙏

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@thompson_jules0]

Thanking for sharing your process in such a clear way, it’s super inspiring watching your work progress through each phase🙏🏼

[@ThisPaintingLife]

You are so welcome!

[@juliebabb3365]

thanks for another self-portrait video; they are fascinating. your blind drawings have great character & look increasingly more like you. i have trouble placing the mirror & drawing paper so the angle is the same. maybe i should hang the mirror & hold the drawing pad! glad your trip to CA was fun.

[@catholictortillas777]

I have also been doing self-portraits!. I have been feeling a lot and thinking of different ages also at times. Love your ideas and paintings!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Wonderful!

[@annrubino6252]

Thank you, Louise for another art/life lesson. Your self portrait is amazing, so much to observe and mull over - thoroughly modern.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Thank you so much!

[@karencook732]

I love the process and the iterations! Thanks for the reminder when looking at finished pieces that I don’t know how long it took, the struggle and how many times the artist may have put it aside and come back to it

[@ThisPaintingLife]

You are so welcome and I'm glad it was helpful

[@ames550]

Thank you so much. Fabulous.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@patriciabroderick403]

thank you Louise. very revealing process!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Glad you liked it Patricia. ❤

[@bobwiegers]

thank you for sharing your process. very inspiring and helpful

[@ThisPaintingLife]

You are so welcome!

[@janbarrett2485]

Thank you Louise. You are always so open and encouraging. A tonic actually! X

[@ThisPaintingLife]

You are so welcome and thank you for the kind words 😄

[@lizyoung1882]

Thank you for sharing your interesting process. Enjoy your trip.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Thanks for watching!

[@PinoyAbstractArtist]

Amazing Talent

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Aww thank you 😄

[@tudsemor]

Your portraits are so interesting ❤

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Thank you so much 😀

[@eileengabellini6935]

Love your sharing your process.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@philippaking1732]

Fantastic! Thank you, Louise. 💛💚💙

[@ThisPaintingLife]

You're so welcome!

[@karenwilliams6121]

So interesting & inspiring thank you.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Glad you think so Karen!

[@dianecharest8365]

I love those.

[@cantocant2346]

LOVE watching your portraits as they change! They are beautiful. Thank you for another great video.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

You are so welcome!

[@berniesteadman7676]

It's so interesting to watch your process and progress. Thank you!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Aww thank you bernie. ❤

[@fergiemax1829]

What a wonderful video!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@BeverlyMcanulty]

I understand that you were drawing blindly, but when you added the paint did you look at what you had done or was this done blindly also? I love these. I want to thank you for sharing Art2Life which I joined this year.

[@jeannelutzkow2507]

I love this. Thank you for sharing ❤️. I'm going to try it.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

You are so welcome!

[@googleuser9888]

Fascinating to see your process; the stages, evolutions and permutations, and how the image shifts with your feelings as time moves on. I learned a lot from this about continuing and not judging, and how you can change parts, experiment and move intuitively to the next moment. Thank you so much for sharing this, Louise, and so glad you took the plunge and took up the invitation to visit California!

[@beckyhofer4328]

Louise, you inspired me to do my own self portrait. It morphed over the course of two hours into something that I kind of like! But the main thing it was so fun. I used pencil, charcoal, watercolor, oil, pastels, chalk, pastels, and India ink! Thank you for inspiring me.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Wow this sounds amazing! And fun is what it should be :)

[@deniselini1366]

So fabulous Louise!! They are my fav of your works🫶🫶

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Aww thank you Denise! ❤

[@andeebee2530]

Incredible to see the process

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Glad you enjoyed it! ❤

[@kristih2825]

I love your self portraits, Louise! Thanks for sharing your process. I can't wait to try it out!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

So glad you enjoyed it!

[@bonniejoberg388]

So interesting to see the progression and the change in expression. I think the last time I attempted a self-portrait was with colored pencil in my art journal, the result cracked me up. It did resemble me but it was somehow hilarious as well.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

They can definitely be difficult but I love the challenge!

[@paulafitz532]

Thank you

[@louisea966]

i love these all so much

[@ThisPaintingLife]

thank you x

[@ASMRA33]

Wonderful!❤

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Glad you like it! 😄

[@lcomfort8683]

I love your self portaits. Absolutely riveting!

[@christinao942]

Wow! This was really interesting, the expression changing again and again. Did I understand you correctly that you continue to paint "blind" while watching yourself in the mirror? Thank you so much for all the inspiration and teachings 💕

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Yes, correct

[@sandrarumfeldt8448]

I have finally begun to trust you.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Aww thank you Sandra! 💖

[@dianecharest8365]

I love those. Why don't you find pictures of yourself and do them in a sequence of younger to older. Those are great!

[@ThisPaintingLife]

That's a wonderful idea Diane!

[@lindas5964]

I used to paint & draw as a child but somewhere along the way it became difficult for me to do so. Even if we’re not doing a self portrait, I seem to be confronting myself somehow. I believe you are quite brave to do this as I would be terribly overwhelmed. Maybe that’s why I need to do it lol.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Maybe!

[@latercerapersonadelatrinid4204]

Hello Louise. When do you launch your next course find your joy? Thank you Louis❤

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Hello! I don't have an exact date yet but hopefully this fall so stay tuned!

[@latercerapersonadelatrinid4204]

@@ThisPaintingLife Thanks Louis I will be waiting 💕💕

[@siskonaerhi7159]

😮❤❤😊

[@PinoyAbstractArtist]

Love it

[@ThisPaintingLife]

Thank you! ❤

[@marianneumann7682]

Wonderful video. Thank you so much. What paper do you use?

[@latercerapersonadelatrinid4204]

Luise: Can I ask you a question? When you are going through problems, is it a good time to start painting? I don't want problems to once again prevent me from starting to paint. I'll do it anyway.

[@ThisPaintingLife]

I think this is a personal one. For me, I like to express myself through painting. For others it may not feel that way so I say, do what feels good to you!

[@dianefallon8471]

Thanks Louise for this video. I have been thinking about attempting an abstract self-portrait for a while. Do you start with a photo of yourself or a mirror?

[@ThisPaintingLife]

It really depends on the day. This time was just a mirror.