Self Portraits | nivverse

SELF PORTRAITS

realism, portrait, body art, microns, ink

a self reflectiom

digital art

stages, phases and inspiration

I’ve been through a pencil stage, a watercolor stage, an I-only-draw-landscapes stage, and most notably, a Frida Kahlo stage. Ever since I discovered her work few years ago, I’ve been a fan. Once I discovered Frida’s own portfolio of self portraits, I felt inspired to do the same. Although I’d drawn portraits of other people before, I’d never drawn myself. I didn’t know what to expect from the process but I couldn’t have predicted the discoveries I’d make along the way.

self discovery

One such discovery was how self portraits helped me understand what I'm feeling. The entire time I was drawing one of my first self portrait, I thought I was sketching a carefree, happy golucky girl. Instead, the underlying sadness and helplessness I had felt for several months seemed to bleed through the page. I couldn’t sketch a happy girl because I wasn’t a happy girl. Unintentionally, I’d chosen colors that made me blend into the background instead of pop. I even looked away from the camera, trying to avoid its candid lens much like I was doing in real life. I hadn’t meant to, but my choices revealed a truth I’d been subconsciously denying.

power of self portrait

Once I saw the finished product, everything seemed to become clear. I finally understood my emotions in a way I hadn’t been able to before...With so many different drawings of myself completed, I’m finally beginning to understand the power of the self portrait and why everyone, artist or not, should make one. These portraits have helped me realize that, even if you lie to yourself, art will always speak the truth. You don’t need to even need to be artistic to express emotion through a self portrait, either. What matters is that, once you begin making a self-portrait, you won’t be able to hide anymore.

My painting carries with it the message of pain." - Frida Kahlo

series