Pencil

Laurie Lipton - Self-portrait

Extreme care and time has been taken to render the folds of the jacket and a variety of hard and soft pencils used in different areas to build up a tonal quality that is almost photographic. At first glance we are aware only of the face of the artist but on closer inspection it is possible to make out other faces hidden within the folds of the clothing. The drawing then takes on another meaning representing the many different sides to the artist's personality. There is also an unsettling twist to the portrait as you look at the artists face. At first you are aware of her smile which appears open and friendly. But the face is subdivided with one eye relaxed and the other staring alarmingly out from the drawing. The exaggeration of features in a portrait is known as caricature and is often used to add a humorous element. In this painting though the features have been distorted to add a nightmarish aura. Try covering one side of the artists face then the other and consider the different personalities expressed by each half.

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