Self-Portrait of Jessica Rockwell in oil
I’m always telling everyone to get their portrait done as young as you can. Youth can be Beauty! After you are 2 years old … don’t wait.
Suddenly I realized that I had reached 40 with no oil portrait of myself. Hmmh. Once someone mentioned painting the old mug, but I didn’t like his “realistic” approach. Fabulous painter but his portraits were glum in my opinion. I didn’t want to be remembered for posterity that way. If I painted myself, I could portray just what I wanted. There are no bags, wrinkles or extra chins in my world. Okay, let’s get the lead out. I arranged with a friend to photograph yours truly. (No sitting there in front of a mirror for an eternity for me.) The original photo was taken indoors and all pink, but that didn’t matter. I do have to admit I painted in several backgrounds until I was happy with it though. Less turned out to be more.
But wait, there’s more to this story. I happened to enter it into the show at the Beverly Hills Art Fair and where it got the “Best in Show” award.
If you can blank out the schlepping, there’s a lot of fun to remember about a show. The Beverly Hills Affaire in California takes place on a carpet of grass. I had my very own little subsection and thought I would bring my oils to pass the time. I know people like to watch you paint. Well, I couldn’t believe it—I was swarmed by a crowd! There was no end of people to talk to. And many again who left their names for me to phone the next day. So that was rewarding, right? Can you imagine the shock that came over me when I awoke the next morning with no voice at all? Nada. Not even a whisper the first day. It was 4 days before I could utter with any acceptable sound for a very short time. All that enthusiasm fading, fading…. I did catch up on it, finally, of course. Thank goodness!
All right, there’s still a story about you. Or at least a portrait to be done—yes? Just … pick up the phone!
And stay tuned for the Mark of the Rockwell Portrait Artist…
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow, Best in Show!! I can see why. It’s so “you.” And so much spirit being portrayed. I really love your stories! Not only an artist but a writer as well. You give a face to “multi-talented.” Go girl!
Love, Donna
Thank you very much! This whole blogging is a new experience for me but very rewarding since “finding my voice”. I always used to hate to write because I got the idea I was supposed to write only lofty stuff about being a great artist or something. When my husband mentioned I should write about my adventures, it suddenly gave me a chance at having fun. I mean, every painting was fraught with interesting observations and occurrences that I have always wanted to record. Now I am taking the opportunity to do it. It’s a gas!