Self-Portrait at 28 After a Vacation at the Beach

”Self-Portrait at 28 After a Vacation at the Beach.”

Oil on unprimed paper. 9 x 12 in.

2023

-

When I went to South Florida last year, I was determined to get a picture of my brothers and mom for family portraits. But when I got there it seemed like every moment I spent with them would be spoiled by me trying to stage a picture for a painting.

Why not just enjoy the moment? Even if I’m not going to remember every single detail of it tomorrow, let alone 10 years from now, why not just live it?

So, I decided not to go through all of that and just enjoy the precious time I got to spend with the ones I love.

My solution to not having any image reference of my family was to take a self-portrait while my skin was still tanned. While it still showed remnants of a time well spent. To let a self-portrait tell the viewer that I had in fact spent a few days at the beach with the best of company.

Two months later I went back and while we were all spending some time idly by and talking in the room we had booked; I snapped a picture of mom. Hopefully I’ll get to that one soon.

-

January 12th, 2024 – 3:57PM.