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.

"Self portrait with Vincent"

Oil on Canvas 16" x 24"

Tomorrow the theme of the daily painters is self-portraits. I was really looking forward to doing something fun with it until the robbery. Today was spent dealing with insurance people and data recovery so I didn't get into the studio to paint. To tell the truth my heart just wasn't in it. The other problem is I look kind of weird right now (er, more weird than usual). To celebrate my birthday we had a few folks over for a 50's themed dinner party. Since I was halfway there already, given my propensity for black turtlenecks, bongos and berets, I decided to go full beatnik daddy-o. I trimmed off the Santa beard and left the goatee which I dyed dark brown. To add to the authenticity I had my copy of Allen Ginsberg's Howl in my pocket in case an impromptu poetry reading was called for. I fear I may look like one of those sad men who use Clairol "just for men" a bit too long. I thought it would wash out but this stuff is good. I cut what was left of my beard really short and the grey is just starting to peek through. Before you know it I'll be getting the senior discount again.

I did this painting in 2005 after my beloved Vincent went to join his brother Theo in the morning stars.