Freehand Self Portrait

I have been telling many of you to "lighten up" and try painting with some broader or larger strokes. Here is an example of what I am talking about. Matise borrowed some things from Cezanne and broke his face up into planes of color. He almost looks as though he is sculpted from clay. This give the image a 3 dimensional feel. Also note the use of colors like green in the face. No, Matise did not have a green face and I don't think he was green with envy. Even though the color is obviously not the color of his skin, it is hardly noticed at first.

Vincent had the skill and facility to render a very tight image but chose to make broad strokes. They charge the painting with energy, tension and intensity that otherwise would not have been seen or felt.

This may come as a surprise, but Rembrandt did not use cloning brushes at all. Notice how the light in the background is lighter on the right while on the face it is the other way around. Unlike some artists, not to mention any names Mr. Rubens, Rembrandt does not try to impress you with how important he is or how good looking he is. He chooses to show you, very simply, what he looks like on that day. He stares you down with an intense gaze as though he is examining you rather than the other way around.