Face Making

Artist Gwenn Seemel’s blog about all the faces she makes while painting faces.

Le blog de l’artiste peintre franco-américaine Gwenn Seemel.

Every person is a work of art.

Friday 25 April 2008 - Comments / Commentaires (0)

I am painting every person’s portrait one face at a time. 

I’ve made this outrageous goal my life’s work because, more than any other image, an individual’s own likeness is most able to touch that person.  Hate it or love it, a subject can’t help but be profoundly affected by a portrait. 

Leveraging this unique aspect of portraiture, I am saving contemporary art.  I am making art matter, one person/portrait at a time.



how to paint a portrait

This is the beginning of my portrait of James.  Under-colors down, then getting more of a solid grip. 



how to paint a portrait

Painting is a cycle of losing the lines and shapes and features, then finding them again.  Here, I’m in the middle of the “losing-everything” part of the cycle!



how to paint a portrait

Getting back on track.



how to paint a portrait

Really figuring out the structure of James’ face.



how to paint a portrait

Bringing together all the threads of the painting into a whole.



James Surgeon

Gwenn Seemel
James
2008
acrylic on canvas
22 x 22 inches
(detail below)



James Surgeon


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CATEGORIES: - Process images - Philosophy - On portraiture -


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