I have the new pic up since yesterday evening. As some of you know, I picked the first picture due to a similarity to me. What most of you don't know is that I'm artistic and I draw and paint sometimes. The picture I'm currently using is an accurate self-portrait, but with a mask. I've never been good at exaggerating features, although I briefly considered doing a "toon" version of me. I still may.When I was younger, I won a couple contests for oil paintings. One of my grandmothers was a very accomplished artist and she gave me my initial lessons. Later, a truly excellent and talented artist took me on and tutored me one-on-one.
Art is not something which is easy for me. It comes in fits and spurts. Sometimes months can go by without my touching a pencil or pastel, and then I get crazy. I don't know why, but I'm sure it has something to do with the eventual frustration of knowing that I'm not a Michaelangelo. We are often our own worst critics and I tend to be a perfectionist when it comes to what I produce.
But recently SaurKid begged me to draw a robot for him, and we were both impressed by it. I think this is what started the latest drawing binge.
I love working in mixed mediums; some pencil here, pastel there, charcoal, markers, you name it. Then I upload it and play with the picture a little more. In this case, I incorporated a mask, because my family agreed that the actual pic looked too much like me.
Here are the 3 pics: before, after, and maybe. I didn't have time to mess around with another colored mask, so I hurriedly colored over the current one (this is why it's not even close to perfect).
There's a poll to the right. Tell me which one you like! And when you leave a comment, please take the time to explain why you made the choice you did. Thank you! ...Now I'm off with a girl friend to "get our nails did" and have some breakfast. Have a fantastic Saturday!
31 comments:
Well...I voted...for the old one.
Not completely sure why though, resistance to change perhaps.
The original.
There's something special about Cheerios (not a plastic bag of imitations), about Colonel Sanders Kentucky Fried Chicken (not KFC), The Ten Commandments starring C.Heston, a Dorothy Hamill haircut, mom's home-cooked meals, Johnny Carson...
The original has a clear face.
I voted for the new one, with a different masj color (should be bright). At first I thought I really screwed up your poll,. then I see that I am almost first. You are a right talented artist! My brother is a graphic artist... he's supposed to be doing some artwork for my site, but he's also the guy who's been married ten years and still hasn;t developed his wedding pictures. Sigh.
I picked the new one. I like that you created it and the black mask gives you an edge. Cute spiky hair, too. Your talents seem to be endless. GREAT GENES!
i havent voted yet...i am torn. So i will think on it a bit 1st. I will come back and vote sometime soon with reasons.
Actually I liked the one with the big floppy hat that you used to wear.... but since that wasn't part of the vote, I went with the one that showed you full face frontal. You are too pretty to hide behind a mask!
I voted for the new one! Great art!
I have voted!
The old one has more charm.
The old one - I don't like masks.
He doesn't like masks because he has to wear one all the time..... LOL
I like the old one too. I thought the new one was a blonde Yoko Ono....no offense. sorry then I read your post. I like the Twiggy one better. Although you are a great artist. Mine would be a round head with a smiley face.
SRG, ewwww, Yoko Ono? Yeesh, and people tell me I look like Melanie Griffith. I think I'll check my ego at the door now. ;o) Yeah, the mask IS beginning to get on my nerves, but I'll still give it another day for everyone to weigh in. I could be wrong.
Nihilistic, Didja see what SRG wrote? Didja???
Daniel, there is something charming about it.
AP3, thank you!
Ellen, Wow, you've been a reader for a while! I didn't realize you'd been reading so long. Yeah, that was a nice one but I sort of wanted an icon that represented me better.
KristieD, I'll wait!
Kathleen, that's what *I* thought initially! Thanks, BTW. ;o) I can't take credit, my parents had something to do with it, I suppose.
Miss C, thanks! I think I prefer the brighter mask, myself, though I'm not certain yet... Your brother sounds like the typical guy, IMHO.
Paul, true. The face is very sharp and clear. I like the brand idea, though! ;o)
Mike, resistance is useless! Just kidding. Yeah, there will always be resistance to change as a factor in some of the votes.
Okay, I'm going to vote for the old one, not because I dont like the new drawing, but because while the drawing looks good at post/header size, and good at comment size, for some reason at "about me" size it morphs into something vaguely ape-like. Disturbing, I know.
Saurcoon,
Your eclectic collection of icons says a lot about your inner struggle to embrace your middle age status. I applaud you for coming out from behind those false icons.
I’ll be the first to admit that it is not fair that men get better looking with age but I don’t make the rules. I’ve been blessed with really great hair.
I voted for the Saurcoon look because I think middle age women need some mystery in their lives. Recently I fell really hard for a middle age woman in a mask, Mrs. Incredible, what a body and that beautiful black hair. I met a real life Mrs. Incredible but unfortunately I moved a bit too fast with asking her to put on the mask.
I’ll support your decision.
Aaaaa! I recognize you! You're the lady from my dream..!!!!!
But seriously, can you draw one of you holding up a mask like you're at a masquerade ball?
Perhaps butterfly shaped..
Silvery sequined....
I'm going to post my suggestions for a new avatar sometime next week. K?
I like the first one, it is clearer and looks a little innocent I think, kinda expectant too.
actually it is pretty clear written out email me @ yakov_gross@yahoo.com
well, i think any original artwork is cool. i agree that the mask is weird, just because masks in general are weird ... kinda scary.
i still like the old dixie-type green-hat lady w/ gun. that was my favorite, but things change.
Saur,
I'm a bit odd, I go for meaning.
I like the first one because you can see your face and it looks a little like Twiggy. And you know Twiggy was revolutionary to changing the world's perception of beauty. Her image made people throw out sterotypes and think for themselves. See, you are the Twiggy for blogland. You show people that they need to throw out the sterotypes and think outside the box.
That is why I like that pic.
PS. You draw very well!!
I remember when you first changed your picture from the lady with the hat to the girl with the long red hair. Then you gave that picture to your friend and took the most recent one. I love how you draw, you are very talented. I think I like the one without the mask as I like seeing the big blue eyes clearly.
Lee Ann, thank you! I appreciate the well-thought out answer. I've just never been quite happy with any of the icons so far. But I'll admit the Twiggy like one is striking.
Emma, what an interesting analysis! I appreciate it. I hadn't really thought about it that way before.
TS, the problem is that the green lady looked nothing like me. Of course an icon can represent an idea or a feeling, but I wanted something a little more similar. But so far people overwhelmingly like the first one in this post! ;o)
YY, thanks, I'll email you . I'm interested in what you have to say.
Live, Love, Laugh, It does have a somewhat innocent quality, doesn't it? At the same time, it has a perceptive look, though.
Mr. Fabulous, very perceptive! That's exactly what it is: wry. When one of my friends saw the drawing, she said "You captured it! That little smile you get sometimes!" I also can have a very open smile, but this smile seemed more fitting for the blog(?)
Uncle Joe, K! Hope I wasn't anything too creepy in the dream... ;o)
Mr. Gator, Phhhttthhhbbbt! :P
Daveawayfromhome, you know, it's strange: I didn't see the morph that you see when it's made smaller, but there's something vaguely wrong with the eyes when it's shrunk(?) I think...
I voted for the new one with a the blue mask color... It's more 'real' and artsy looking rather than the cartoonish one. All are great- and I'm impressed with your artistic abilities, but if you're giving me a choice---the new one with the blue mask.
I'm an artist myself, and it's just like writing or music--anything creative--sometimes you don't do it for a while, and that's okay. But when you return, don't you find you do some of your best work when you've been away from it?
P.S. -----The c. 2006 ... *smaller* ...... Just my honest opinion. ;)
Great job!
love the black mask it adds a sense of evil and mystery. artist huh? just outta curiosity, ever paint a teddy bear?
I voted for the new one for two reasons.
First, it is your artwork and this is your blog. I feel it is a reflection of you.
Second, the mask adds intrigue, which I think is part of your mystique. You could always make the mask more like those ones they wear to masquerade parties. You know, the ones they hold on a stick.
I voted, but could not view results, so I hope my vote went through.
I like the blue masked one.....but i think more decorations are in order- i like the idea of the masquerade mask . Very talented you are Mysterious Saur!
How about a real picture of you? I would just die with lustful emotions if I saw it.
Not unlike the pic of miz cellania above.
The new ones are neat, but it's hard to beat the old one, saur.
How about the new one without the mask? Either way, whichevwr one you pick, I'm still a big fan!
I did see what she wrote! And I haven't worn a mask since I was 20 years old!
I guess I am like you in the sense that my artistic side emerges eratically. I discovered a long time ago that I simply have to be in "the mood." If I'm not, it isn't happening. Unfortunately, my painting side hasn't emerged in quite awhile.
I voted for the original pic. Now if you could redo the hair on the original pic to match the hair in the two new pictures, that would be something...
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