Though some ideas had come up about a symbolic art pieces. Regarding the Ego. Which I will share after this segment.
Having only a few days to make a self portrait, I really wanted to paint it.

For years I tried to refine my pastel painting techniques with a portrait teacher learning to make skin look like skin.
But I got to a point where though the pictures were pleasing and had some realism. After a while I did not find the end product that exciting and felt I wanted to go more abstract.

So with this opportunity I decided to paint one of my selfies undetailed, more loose and free hand. I really enjoyed the quick process not caring too much how I did it. I got to a point where there was so much wet pain on the paper that I could not paint in any definition. It was in danger of starting to turn to a grey mushiness.

One of the other students suggested that I take a break, which I did. It saved the painting from becoming a scribbled out brown mess. I was able to reassess the dimensions and add a few things.

I as happy with the result. It’s not a pretty picture, but I found it to be more interesting and less immediate. Maybe the mood of it.

Though I feel that it could be greatly improved, with some parts over painted.
I feel that the piece would have more impact if I were make it larger. My tutor suggested that I make it so larger that the paper has to be literally squashed into a large space. I like that idea, so will move towards that.

I also want to make pieces that are more abstract and symbolic with reason and thought behind them. But I am enjoying making art works that are an immediate response to the idea of self.