Self Portrait

Excellent work Vincent.Have you entering the portrait exhibition at the NPG? Stu

Four fantastic paintings but, for me, this one is wins outright. I can only dream of capturing skin tones like that, it looks so realistic with the different pigmentations and those eyes.........You look a bit scarey though, I feel as though I have annoyed you in some way and you are about to tell me off !! A great portrait, more please.

Superb painting, but like Val I am a bit intimidated.... wouldnt like to meet you on a dark night.

Amazing! Love the strong composition which I think adds to the slightly intimidating feel and I love the clarity.

Hi Stuart, thanks for the comments on this one. Yes, I have exhibited four times at the National Portrait Gallery since 2004 and have been slected for the BP Portraits twice, it's a great show!

Hi Val, Slyvia and Lesley. Thanks for your comments and very nice to meet you all. I've done so many self portraits over the years and many where I am smiling like a fool. I was simply trying to look serious but as you should be able to tell I am not that scary. I'm only glad that it's a self portrait as a sitter would probably take the dark alley bit as a personal insult, but I don't, I am very used to those sort of remarks as I've had this face all of my life :)

Wonderful detail in the skin tones. Eyes are amazing. You do look worried, but I shouldn't worry - the painting has turned our brilliantly!

I'm particularly impressed by the whiskers which I find really difficult to do; the skin texture but above all the eyes which are just amazing. I will learn an awful lot from this for my own portraits.Thank you for posting it

Thank you Thea and Diana.

Not scary not nice,!!! scary very realistic,, as usual opened my mouth and stuck my foot in it. I have attempted a few self portraits and the deep concentration, always makes me look like very grumpy old woman... maybe I am! . I am always gobsmacked when artists achieve this anount of realism.

Excellent work!! Everything was said.

Just came back to have another look at these and to show my husband. I hadn't noticed the sizes before. How on earth did you get so much detail in the skin in something this small. I'm staggered. Do you teach? I would dearly love to learn how to paint skin even a tiny bit as good as that. There are often discussions on here about the value of photo realism against artistic impression but these paintings just totally confound any arguments. This one in particular is not only realistic it's extremely artistic.

Thanks Sylvia, I didn't take offence and I appreciate your encouragement.

This portrait is so perfect. I can see every pore and dare I say wrinkle........ Truly professional.

Thanks again Diana. I've tried teaching and I am not very good at it.

Hi Carole, wrinkle where ??? :) only kidding ! Thank you for your encouragement.

very stunning and intense,wonderful painting...chris

powerful!