FACING MYSELF

In May 2023 I began a practice of ‘mirror meditation’ and portrait drawing called Facing Myself. The process involves a mirror, coloured and quick mark making tools (oil pastels and wax crayons - and sometimes marker) and paper. I begin by practising ‘mirror meditation’, an experience in looking deeply and feeling. Then responding intuitively and creatively - through colour and without trying to make the portrait ‘pretty’ or in perfect proportion. I have found this process personally very creatively fulfilling, fruitful and freeing! While working on this project I came across the series of work by painter Chantal Joffe called The Front of My Face which has been very inspiring to stay going with this pursuit of honest, quick and gestural portraiture. So too, has the writing of Ruth Ozeki in her book Timecode of a Face.