It can be said that every picture we create as artists is a self portrait. This is true but sometimes we need to look at ourselves more closely for a full examination of all that is good, bad, and changeable. I’ve done these images over the years but not recently. So today I’m showing you my morning mirror that I see everyday, warts and all.

At sixty-one I sport a monk hair style, eye lids that are starting to close off my blue eyes, a crooked nose, facial hair in need of a proper trim, and lips that look like I’m constantly frowning when I’m not. The look is that of a worried, fearful, skeptical, old man who is tired of paying bills.

This is not me totally, its what I have allowed age to have it’s effect on me. Every morning I see this mirror and make plans to have a coffee and a shave, so when I leave my confines and greet people I can raise the eyebrows, put a larger smile on, speak positively and and be energetic. When I’m with people I feel I am 90% of the true me, and the 10% is left at home in the mirror. The deep fear I have is that the 10% will soon be 20% and then 30.

The backdrop for this self portrait is early american style of furniture which I was raised with along early american values like the motto “Do unto others”. I positioned my self straight on like a police mug shot. with no pre-finessing or photoshopping of my skin, it is all that I am. Lighting was soft large window light with flags to darken and vignette. Skin detail was exaggerated on purpose via SilverEffects Pro while making the Black and white. The format is longer than the perspective of the camera, for the belief that when reality is to be included, it never matches the format of the camera. So concludes my Sunday sermon.