how we see ourselves

Shutter brother, Artfarmer, in the studio with his self portrait.

Artists use self-portraits to explore the basic question that plagues all of us: who am I? As early as the mid 1400's artists began painting themselves onto canvas. Later, with the invention of the camera (and mirrors) photographers began turning the image (and their artwork) inward as well. Yes, a mirror or a photograph can tell a person what he or she looks like, but we all know that the physical image doesn't reflect the whole self. We all know that photography can be 99% optical illusion. Self-portraiture insists that an artist embark on the journey of self-exploration. This journey of self brings about choices, the main one being how to represent him/herself authentically. You always get to choose how you see yourself, that is the beauty of self portraits. There's a growing group of like-minded friends ready to begin the journey of self... just as artists have done for hundreds of years. Does self portraiture call to you as well? 

There are lots of conversations I've seen online lately discussing the concept of "everyday beauty" and people are torn as to what that exactly means. Some folks feel this phrase has been overused, misused, or misconstrued. Everyday beauty is sometimes not beautiful at all, right? It's messy... we all know this. And so going with the literal definition of "beauty" can be confusing when approaching a topic as broad as art and self. And yet so often we try our best to clean it up. We shine it and polish it and try to make it presentable. Are we caught up in comparing our insides to other people's outsides? We photoshop and airbrush and texturize and soften. I have been known to do these things too, because I want to see what is aesthetically pleasing with my life... and so I organize the composition of my frame to put chaos into order. But can't everyday beauty include chaos? What is real is what is true: it's dishes in the sink, migraines, new love, and decay. Sometimes it screams in your face, sometimes it laughs. 

So, what is beautiful? Everyone has their own opinion. Self is beautiful, as is optical illusion. I believe life and reality... and the thought that we are here at all with our paints and film, exploring these thoughts... that is beautiful. All of it, no matter what, is worth documenting. You are allowed to view your life and your self with whatever filters you want to use. It's your life and your everyday! Your masculinity, your femininity, your weakness, your strength... it's all truth and worthy of being seen.

Today I'd love to hear your thoughts and words on the subject. What do you find yourself portraying most in your images? Why do we do the things we do? Share any images today of what you find to be beautiful, and help us redefine everyday beauty.

Comments

[Marcie]

What a beautiful..thought-provoking post. I have to say - I shy away from self-portraiture. But what I do find myself drawn to most of all is nature. In its simple and raw and ordinary beauty:

http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/home/2012/4/2/where-she-lands.html
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/home/2012/4/1/imperfectly-perfect.html

[Jennifée]

Such an interesting post indeed, and one that merits reading more than once in order to take it all in.

Everyday beauty, for me, is getting away from the polished, the glossy, the impersonal and the artificial, and celebrating instead what is real and personal to me. Everyday beauty in my photographs lately include the morning sunlight falling across my mismatched plate and teacup as I eat breakfast, the colour of a kiwi against a blue plate, and the shapes of the pieces of mushroom that will go in my dinner:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jennifee/7011530075/

[kelly barton]

for me everyday beauty is soaking up the simple that i have been gifted. a very hard thing to keep close in todays world of gadgets and this desire to be in constant contact. i love the little niche's around my house that are filled with those things i adore most. simple everyday beauty.

so happy i found you here this am, friend. miss you.

[Gabriela]

What a thought provoking post and I've never done much on self portraits, but will participate in the Now You. The timing in my life could not be more appropriate.

[Kelly]

I'm equally scared and excited about what this project has to offer...but I feel it is necessary, at this moment of time for me...
http://kelly-justaclickaway.blogspot.com/2012/04/now.html

Go Bravely!

[Anna]

Hi Meredith,
You always weave magic with your words! Wonderful post today. I enjoyed the portraits of Artfarmer . The last image in the mosaic really tells the artist's story perfectly. His apron reminds me of my father's, with its years of creativity forming its own modern painting. Artfarmer, you are a truly gifted photographer! The patterns, compositions, color harmonies, and significance that you pull out of the urban landscape is striking. Love your work.
I'm not much for selfies, so, for me, everyday beauty means finding that which is interesting, engaging, and heartfelt, wherever I am. Since I live in the woods, it may be the conventional beauty of woodland wildflowers or my gorgeous garden, or maybe fresh green weeds in a roadside ditch. Trips to the city bring exciting new subject matter, like these recent shots along the RR tracks. Some folks would have seen uninteresting mid-morning light, dirty tracks, and broken RR elements; but I saw beauty in the geometry of the tracks, leading lines, wonderful value arrangements, and shapes. Everyday beauty is always there for the taking, we just need the eyes to see it.
http://vandemarkdesigns.blogspot.com/2012/03/rr-line.html

[Heather]

I think whatever the artist lavishes with love and attention, in order to create his or her art, is beautiful, because the artist seeing the beauty in it makes it so. I just take photos of stuff I see everyday. When I sketch, it's the same. My 'everyday beauty' would be the zen or tao or 'wabi sabi' idea of the beauty of the ordinary imperfect things that get overlooked in the course of our daily lives.

Here's a shot of shepherd's caravan I drive by every day, http://joyfulwise.com/2012/04/02/weekly-photo-challenge-arranged/ and here's a self-portrait I took this week: http://www.flickr.com/photos/heather-cox/7042245801/in/photostream.

[artfarmer]

I'm so honored and excited to see my work appear here at shuttersisters thank you Meredith! Regarding everyday beauty- Gertrude Stein once asked the French artist Henri Matisse whether, when eating a tomato, he looked at it the way an artist would. Matisse replied:" No, when I eat a tomato I look at it the way anyone else would. But when I paint a tomato, then I see it differently." This is the way of everyday beauty when you want to find it you need only look. The key then is to find a way to create conditions that cause us to make this mental shift to a different mode of processing the world- the way of seeing well.

[soonie2]

Such an interesting topic, everyday beauty. Like all fine art, music, dance, it's so subjective. It seems to mean something different to everyone...and that, I believe, is the beauty of it!

[Summer]

This is a wonderful, wonderful post. Thank you for the thought provoking words. . .

Everyday beauty, I believe, is just living the every day. Taking part in the process of discovery to become and be the most authentic people we can be. I recently, timidly, began a selfie project and I must say it has been life changing. I have more to go, but I'm understanding that beauty truly comes from within. . .

http://www.runningchatter.com/2012/02/its-not-about-vanity.html

[Gotta Run]

Enjoyed your post and thanks for sharing the portraits - I think my favorite is the one on the bottom left.

The wildflowers in Central Texas this time year has all us locals excited; after such a long drought we've had some good rains and there is color all around! Here's a sample of some of the wildflowers in the area::

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gottarun2009/7041814135/in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gottarun2009/7002715393/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gottarun2009/6996516561/in/photostream/

Have a good day!

[kelly]

Exploring self-portraiture is really calling to me. I wonder how much longer I can fight it off... :)

[Diane]

I just signed up ...... I think I'm scared!!!!!
I've done some selfies ..... but I've photoshoped myself ..... :-/ ...... so, yeah, I'm scared!!!!!!!
:-D

[Imagine you will fly...]

I believe almost all my art is a self portrait ... one way or the other.

http://whispersoftherainbow.blogspot.ca/2012/04/similarities-art-work-resembles-artist.html
http://whispersoftherainbow.blogspot.ca/2012/02/artworks-are-self-portraits-in-way.html