I stumbled on the word autoportrait, the French term for self portrait, which I now use to refer to my portraiture work. This definition applies to my self portraits as they are only loosely based on my physical image and are more an internal or private likeness. The “auto” in autoportrait suggests the process of automatic drawing which speaks to my gestural approach in these compositions. Working from the unconscious and taking risks with materials support this notion. This series serves as an outlet for an unrefined look at myself. I’m after a direct, honest inner portrayal without an obligation to render an exact likeness.
