Exploring the Benefits of Drawing Your Self-Portrait

Dearest reader: you may recall, from some of my previous posts, that about a year ago I decided to take up drawing both as a spiritual practice and for my mental health. For me, drawing provided a means to scratch a burning creative itch and an outlet to process a weird recipe of grief, secondary trauma and a host of other peculiarities.

After spending last Summer teaching myself some basics, I enrolled in a drawing class at the local Dallas College campus (formerly Richland College). Recently, beginning my third round of drawing, our instructor Jay tasked the class with completing our self-portrait. Having done this in an earlier class, I was excited to see what improvements, if any, I’d made (and yes, I can see through various exercises we’ve done that I’ve gotten better. But there is a ways to go yet). Even though I wasn’t in class that night—I was busy recording a podcast (more about that in a future post)—Jay emailed me the assignment.

Before making a single mark on paper, I spent most of the week studying other self-portraits done by way more renowned artists than myself.

I also spent considerable thinking about the makeup of my self-portrait and how I would approach it. Again, I did all of this prep work prior to making any marks on paper.

Before selfies were a thing, self portraits were king. In doing my research, I came across a few examples of self-portraits done by famous artists. Each self portrait offers a unique insight into the artist’s perspective, emotions, and self-expression.

What is a self-portrait? A self-portrait is a representation or depiction of the artist by the artist. It is the artist’s visual expression of how they see themselves.

What are the benefits of drawing your own self-portrait? Drawing your own self-portrait affords you the opportunity to explore your identity, physical appearance, personality, emotions, and inner workings. For me, drawing my self-portrait provides an avenue to unearth my thoughts and uncover things burning deep in my soul.

Below is a list of renowned self-portraits. I encourage you to look them up and get a closer look at these intriguing works of art.

1. “Self-Portrait with Two Circles” by Rembrandt van Rijn: Believed to have been painted in 1665-1669, this self-portrait shows Rembrandt at an older age, looking directly at the viewer with a thoughtful expression. In the portrait, Rembrandt holds his palette, brushes, and maulstick . The painting is notable for its monumentality and the mysterious background consisting of a shallow space with the fragments of two circles. The geometric circles and background have provided much fodder for discussion among art critics.
2. “Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear” by Vincent van Gogh: Painted in 1889, shortly after Van Gogh famously cut off a portion of his ear, this self-portrait depicts the artist with a bandage covering the injured ear. This self-portrait demonstrates Van Gogh’s determination to continue painting despite great hardship and difficulties.
3. “Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird” by Frida Kahlo: Painted in 1940, this self-portrait by the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo features her adorned with a necklace of thorns and a hummingbird, symbolizing her pain and identity.
4. “Self-Portrait without Beard” by Vincent van Gogh: Painted in 1889, this self-portrait showcases Van Gogh’s face without his iconic beard, presenting a more vulnerable and raw image of the artist.
5. “Self-Portrait with a Monkey” by Frida Kahlo: Painted in 1938, this self-portrait depicts Kahlo holding a small monkey on her shoulder, representing both her connection with nature and her inner struggles.
6. “Self-Portrait” by Leonardo da Vinci: Created in the early 16th century, this self-portrait by the famous Italian polymath Leonardo da Vinci is a red chalk drawing that provides an intimate glimpse into his appearance.
7. “Self-Portrait with Palette” by Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun: Painted in 1782, this self-portrait showcases the renowned French portraitist holding a palette and brushes, emphasizing her artistic skill and profession.
8. “Self-Portrait in a Straw Hat” by Édouard Manet: Painted in 1877, this self-portrait by the French painter Édouard Manet depicts him wearing a large straw hat and looking directly at the viewer with a confident gaze.
9. “Self-Portrait with Two Pupils” by Adélaïde Labille-Guiard: Painted in 1785, this self-portrait shows the French painter alongside two of her female students, challenging the notion of women’s limited access to art education at the time.
10. “Self-Portrait” by Frida Kahlo (The Frame): Painted in 1938, this self-portrait by Kahlo features a decorative border resembling a retablo (a Mexican devotional painting) with various symbolic elements and personal references.

Drawing my self-portrait brings to mind the words of Psalm 8:

“What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, All sheep and oxen— Even the beasts of the field, The birds of the air, And the fish of the sea That pass through the paths of the seas.”

Psalm 8:4-8 (NKJV)

In talking with my Mom on the telephone Saturday morning, she reminded me of my Dad’s love of photography and how I had intended to be a photography major when I first went to college. I shared with Terri how expensive photography was back then (and it’s not inexpensive nowadays) and how I simply couldn’t afford to be a photography major. Plus, I had a number of other distractions that I’ve mentioned in previous posts over the years.

And here I am, approaching 60, investing time in things my parents were individually passionate about: visual art and photography. I guess I am the sun total of my parents!

Exploring these creative endeavors has helped me know myself better, even reconnecting some of the wires whose signals got interrupted. This has brought me to a place of joy and peace.

Happy blogging,

The Devotional Guy™

Rainer Bantau