Process
The process of creating this self-portrait has been very satisfying to me. However, the process of actually assembling the elements of my self-portrait, and of merging all the elements into a cohesive whole, has been very difficult. Photoshop is NOT an easy program to learn! I believe I have 13 layers involved here. I did a little edging, a little automatic exposure correction, and a lot of trial and error in the scanning resolution process. I did "gang scanning", cropping, rotating, image re-sizing, and a LOT of color correction (especially on the photo on the lower left).
What still needs to be done here is to clean up some of the small color variations in the scanned slogans, to touch up the old black and white photos (or rescan them at a higher resolution!), and to standardize the intensity and color contrasts throughout the image. But that will have to wait for more skill acquisition! The fact that the quality and type of images used varies so much has made it more difficult. However, I've learned a lot already, and am satisfied with this image for now.
Printable PortraitPrintable Description
Artistic Inspiration
My artistic inspiration for this self-portrait was Frida
Kahlo, an artist with a rich sense of color and psychological symbolism.
She was politically active and introspective, and her art challenged many.
A rich tapestry of life is revealed by her paintings, and every object
has symbolic overtones. Even when she appears to paint the same thing over and over (as in her
self-portraits), each painting captures a different view or feeling. Above all, she’s intriguing.
She has inspired so many people, and she is an icon for the artists of many countries.Frida Kahlo Self-Portraits Frida's Astrological Chart with Paintings