self portrait: noun

A pictorial or literary portrait of oneself, created by oneself.

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Well, I'm not sure where to start with this post. Guess I'll begin Monday night watching Tracy Weinzapfel's online painting party where she issued her August Dare canvas.

 "To use a picture of yourself."

What? ..::blink, eye roll, moan and groan::....I did them all.

 I even said to myself that I doubt I'd do one that would actually ever get used. Maybe do one to be a good sport, and then toss it in the trash afterwards. I really thought that would happen as my first attempt was so bad that it's actually the first layer underneath the finished canvas. This morning, I woke up and said, well, if it's going to be trashed then have fun and don't worry about what it looks like! Try it again! So I took some book pages and adhered them with my medium. Scanned and printed out a church directory picture, then sat at my desk and begin stamping, painting, spraying, daubing, spritzing, dropping, smooshing, you name it...I was doing it. I literally painted over the picture itself, and I am loving the effect.

And, ok, so my skin isn't really this smooth, but hey it's a journey into what I think represents me, so I guess this is how I think wish I look...to me. lol I also pulled out tons of stickers from my stash; like waterfalls to represent the mountains and hiking which I like to do, butterflies...just  becuase I love them, a fish because I am a Pisces.

Flowers which I love growing, a camera to represent my photography, snowflakes to show my love of the snow, and the sea shell since I was born in Florida. The flower over my eye hopefully shows my sense of humor in that I never want to take myself too seriously.

And LOOK, I love it so much that it has a spot on my bedroom wall. Right above one of my favorite wall hangings I made. The 2 kind of go together I think. :) I haven't done a self portrait in ages, and it's not something I would have set out to do on my own, but I am so happy that I have done it.

The words that I wrote on my shirt are 3 different quotes/sayings I found on Pinterest:

I am on a journey, with my work, my expolrations and a few sad stories. I travel with a suitcase full of outrageous blessings, I am on a quest for truth, beauty and quiet joy. I am a writer, an Artist, an Explorer. I am on a journey.

and

Life is a great big canvas, throw all the paint on it that you can. danny kaye

also

Make Time for your art.

So, are you up for the challenge?

Here is Tracy's creative Dare for you for August:

recording of her Live show here

1. Create a project featuring a photo/portrait of YOU!
2. Journal or use words to describe who you are TODAY!
3. Incoporate your own handwriting in your piece

Also entering this in
Try it on Tuesday - Anything Goes
Fab 'n' Funky Challenge #132 - Anything but a card

 Frosted Designs Fabulous Friday Challenge - color challenge