Self Portrait: The Visitor
2008, Oil on Linen
47 x 59 inches, unframed
I have always felt deeply at home in a forest of white pines. This painting was done right near where I grew up. I used some photography to help me organize the composition, but beyond that, the entire thing was painted from life, modeling in front of a mirror. I am staring into the light as I so often face the sun when I am painting. I like to think that as I work, nature becomes curious about what I’m doing and reaches out to interact.