February 20, 2010

Self Portrait - Green Black and White

Oil on museum quality ampersand gessobord panel - 5" x 7"

I was invited recently to participate in a fledgling artist challenge blog started by artist Alice Thompson. It is called the Calypso Moon Artist Movement. Here's her first challenge:

1. You may use only 1 color (mixed with Black and White). That's right, only one so choose wisely. Remember the importance of contrast. Your base color can be black, white or a gray shade in between mixed with your color.

2. No nudes. I want to see a little more than just your face. Upper body and shoulders carry a lot of character. Give us that. Check out Van Gogh's self portraits to see what I mean.

3. When you post the image on your blog you must tell us how and why you choose the color that you did.

Perhaps not quite following the spirit of the challenge or perhaps because I have a more graphic nature, I choose to isolate the hues. For me - adding black and white to one hue would create a monochromatic (duh!) portrait and I wanted more intensity. I could have brushed more greens into the portrait and indeed contemplated doing so but that would have obfuscated my vision. Why Green? Irish heritage would be the easy answer. I have been described as a somewhat too tall, impish leprechaun. But I wanted something with punch and red was too obvious. I am not a red kinda guy, except around Christmas (for obvious reasons - Ho, Ho, HO!) Purple is my favorite color but I didn't think it would work in this application. In a former life I was known as "Markus the Green" having been a Lord of the Rings apostle in the 60's - long before it was turned into a major motion picture. So green it is.


19 comments:

Diane said...

WOW...WOW... you handsome devil...

Calypso Moon Artist Movement said...

This man leans in confidently as the quintessential artist. Those eyes are difficult to understand. A complex individual- I see a tough but shy gentle quality at the same time. Green tells me that you are alive and flourishing. Thank you Mark- it's Marvelous.

Dean Grey said...

Mark!

Wise choice!

I love the green, black, and white together!

-Dean

Arcobaleno said...

Hi Mark!! beautiful portrait... and you are...MOLTO SIMPATICO!!!!!

Camille LaRue Olsen said...

I really like your piece and enjoyed the explanation of your color choice. I hope others go into as much detail because it's fascinating to hear. It honestly hadn't occurred to me that the color might convey our personalities. (I used to be blonde)

Kaylyn Munro said...

Funny, I thought you might have some sort of impish, leprechaunish character. Comes across well. I like the strong graphic quality. I find that its as easy to make mud with one color as it is with many, so I think you chose wisely!

Anonymous said...

Mark,

Great portrait. The first thing that struck me about it is I see your resemblance to your uncle John in this portrait!

Union Square Farms Debby

Vern Schwarz said...

Mark, your painting just jumps...gotta say I love it. That vibrant green is so vivid and the small dashes becomes so powerful against the black and white. Erin go braugh!

Art By Erika said...

Beautiful job! I like the expression you captured!

Earthula said...

Nice to meet you. Congratulations on the moving of the house!

The green on the glasses in your portrait is the inspired line.

I like what that says about you.

Your studio looks wonderful... around the boxes.

RUDHI RĂ¼scher said...

Hey, love your paintings!!!

Mark Adams said...

Thanks for all the kind comments everyone.

To all my follow Calypso Moon Art Movement artists - Let's just say I'm green with envy. Good job all around!

Earthula said...

Thank you... Georges Rouault is a favorite. What a fabulous compliment!

Kaylyn Munro said...

I asked for a black beret for Christmas and I was nice all year long, really. I think you did not read your list and check it twice. !

Carol Horzempa said...

Great story about why you chose green and great self-portrait!

I enjoyed browsing around you blog...your pet portraits are awesome!

Brenda Boylan said...

Your portrait is the epitome of self portraits...the barret, the beard, the grin, the twinkle in thine eye!

Mark Adams said...

Thanks, Brenda. I guess I am a caricature of the quintessential beatnik/artist. Little children point at me and ask their parents "Is that man an artist?"

....... said...

Hi Mark! All moved in?
I like this a lot.

Mark Adams said...

Hi. Susan. I will be opening boxes for the foreseeable future but we are getting settled in. Glad you like the painting.