Oil

Frances Borden 'Self-portrait' 2000

This painting has a haunting fragility despite the coarse texture of the paint. This is achieved through the concentrated focus on the sitters eyes and down-turned mouth which have been exaggerated slightly for impact. Her head is supported by a slender neck which is elongated, pushing her head beyond the top of the painting. The dark enlarged eyes seem to gaze past the viewer into the middle distance hinting at an air of sadness or wistfulness. The choice of colours, although realistic, are controlled and sombre and the cold blue background enforces the overall feeling of isolation.

Using oil as a material for making a self-portrait

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