Self Portrait 1980

This portrait is framed and sealed. The reflection is from the glass of the frame.
I'll show you I painted myself with my husband next. :)... more

by Mary Lynn Plaisance

Title

Self Portrait 1980

Artist

Mary Lynn Plaisance

Medium

Drawing - Pastel On Textured Paper

Description

This portrait is framed and sealed. The reflection is from the glass of the frame.
I'll show you I painted myself with my husband next. :)

I began taking lessons in pastels in 1980. Before I went to portraits, I drew still-life paintings, squares, cubes, small animals, and more. I enjoyed learning the basics of art and had many books with pastel paintings. I made a board for my easel with a piece of wood wrapped in layers of cloth that I stiffened around the wood. The easel cover was made from the textured paper I painted on. I used duct tape to secure it over the cloth.

I KID YOU NOT. I used DUCT TAPE... I have photos. :)
I placed my soft board on my table easel and used clothes pins to hold the textured paper to my paint board so I could begin drawing at home. Everyone in the class did the same. It worked well with hard chalk. I was not too fond of the soft chalks.

When I bought my first book of portraits, I was hooked on facial features. I drew pictures of family members and gave them to them. Soon, other people wanted their portraits done, so I started a small business called Portraits in Pastels. I sold many for 50.00, which brought in extra money while raising four sons. My husband was offshore; the boys went to school. I had some free time before they came home... and I drew portraits.

Uploaded

May 2nd, 2023