See, the razor blade isn’t supposed to be saying “stop” though, it’s supposed to be pinning me down and cutting my hair. That’s why I need the snipped off hair on the other side. Without the cut hair, it loses one of the more important meanings that I put it in for: the idea of modifying myself for the sake of art.
Obviously it’s your piece — I’m just enjoying my own personal interpretation. I wouldn’t be using razor blades for a haircut. If I was cutting with blades, it would be ALL ABOUT “stop”.
Most people also wouldn’t be using razor blades to carve up their arms, either. The bipolar thing is irrational.
As it is, I think the self-cutting is implied.
I’m not going to technically critique your painting because I know absolutely nothing about painting. Actually, that’s not true. I know I suck at it.
But, I will say this…
I freaking LOVE it! I’m with Liberal. If I could afford it, I’d buy it. I have never owned a painting before and I’ve never wanted to. But I can definitely see myself sitting on a couch and staring at your painting for hours.
I’m also pretty damn proud of myself. I am not an artistic person. I don’t see hidden meaning in art. I see pretty pictures and statues of naked overweight people. But, when I saw the razor blades, I immediately associated it with mental illness. Not with suicide or anything morbid like that. For some reason though, it made me think of my middle sister (the one who had been diagnosed as a bipolar schizophrenic).
By the way, I showed it to my sister and asked what she thought. She said, "I think it’s friggen awesome!).
Pardon me for not using artistic terminology and for coming here from what I know to be an unforgivable “don’t know art but I know what I like”, but
That painting is cool as hell. If I could afford it I’d buy it and display it in any room of my house (though my preference would be the dining room) as a focal point.
I should perhaps mention that I’m a collector of Mardi Gras/masquerade/Commedia dell’Arte masks (not the cheesy ceramic tourist things but the real “leather and feather” ones that I would be embarassed to tell how much I’ve paid for). Even those I know it has absolutely nothing to do with the inspiration for the painting, one reason I like that painting is it reminds me of one of my favorites that’s an explosion of blue and dyed ostrich feathers. (And I display them in my dining room, hence… 
)
Also reminds me a bit of some Arcimboldo’s stuff, and as I’ve mentioned he’s probably my favorite Renaissance era artist.
I definitely think you should go with the hair on the other side of the blade. I totally missed that you mentioned that before. (I think that will also clean up that bottom right corner for my tastes.)
Otherwise, lookin good, and I’m loving the hair. I’m not exactly sure what your teacher’s problem with it was/is.
Let me just pop back in to say I don’t have a problem with the razor blades. My concern was simply with the one in the middle, but since you already said you’re adding the hair back in, problem solved!
Who cares whether or not the razor places imply self induced cutting? Have you ever seen some surrealistic masterpieces, let alone the self portraits of this chick?
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It reminds me of Josephine Wall. Lots of colorful detail, lots of things to peruse. It’s a beautiful painting.
It’s going to sound silly, but the nostrils look a bit big to me. That’s the “wrong” thing that jumped out at me.
I like it a lot.
ivylass: in the one linked in the OP or in the updated one I posted after painting last night?
Opal I am a huge SDMB lurker and a fan of yours from afar.
That being said I don’t know squat about art but here are the two things I have to add.
One. The ear is not quite right; it jars me out of the composition for some reason. Perhaps placement or shape I’m not quite sure.
Two.
The piece is just two clean. I understand the symbolism but with the handprint on the shoulder you seem to be going for some realism and I don’t see it being consistent in the piece.
For example, I look are the razor blades and think there should be a fingerprint or smudge of paint showing they were part of the piece whether they were thrown or placed by the hand.
Or just having a few drops of paint spilled on her, on the shoulder, or dripping down from the brush onto the hair or face or blades.
I really like it and I like the energy it has.
Just my opinion I hope it helps.
have a great day
Mr. Peabody: the ear isn’t finished. I have to get the details/contour right first, and then I will be going over it with a darker glaze which will push it “back” so to speak so it will not stand out so much. The shape of my actual ears are slightly strange, especially at that angle. Perhaps when they are finished and “pushed back” that will fix what the problem is for you? I think the main problem is that they are too bright, which as I said is a side effect of them not being complete.
The razor blades are not even close to being done. Right now all they are is roughed-in shapes in the right general color range. I will paint them to look like metal, probably with a little rust and possibly paint (similar to the handles of the paint brushes). They are the least-finished element in the painting so far, because until just the other day I didn’t have any actual razor blades to use as references. Heh. Sad, I know. I agree with your criticism of them–but it’s because essentially I haven’t really started on them yet.
I think it’s very good. But like other posters, I don’t like the hand print on the shoulder and think Mr. Peabody’s suggestion (dripping paint) is a better idea. Unlike others, I like the space in the lower right corner; the razor blade appears to be cutting off that section; if it’s too “blank” maybe do paint drops there too or paint a different subtle neutral color. The right hand is obviously your right hand – you’re doing a self-portrait of you doing a self-portrait, and I think that lower right corner makes the observer think about what is happening or going to happen or hasn’t happened.
Opal…I just saw your more completed version. The eyes seem to stand out more, and the nostrils look much better.
It’s absolutely lovely. I’ll give you an A. (Not that it counts, but still…)
This is due on Monday so I am on the home stretch. Tonight I worked on the razor blades and the cut hair, mostly, as well as lightening up the upper right corner. I darkened the ear. I also lightened part of the hand print, but that makes it too much of a “baby blue” for now. Tomorrow night I will do a little more work in the hair and do a cobalt blue wash over the lightened part of the handprint, which should maintain much of the lightness, but return the depth of color.
I gotta tell you, every time I see it, I like it more. I like how the focus is on the eyes immediately, and then you look around and see there’s more detail.
For your first big painting, you’ve done extremely well. I’m no frou-frou art critic, I don’t think I can tell you the difference between Manet and Monet, but I know what I like, and I like this.
Opal, it’s gorgeous and you’re very talented. Please let us know when and how we can buy prints!
I like those choices you made, darkening the left side in particular.
Now it really looks to me like you’re concealed in the paint.
Well done!
PLEASE!!! I would love a print and I think my sister would actually lighten her ban on sticking nails in the wall if it meant we could have that on the wall.
It looks even better now with your adjustments.
I’ve set that as our desktop wallpaper. Is that ok?