"Self Portrait at 34"

"Self Portrait at 34" (shown actual size @ 3 3/4" x 3"), egg tempera on Kelmscott vellum

If you'd like to see the reference photo I took when I was 34, and worked from to create this traditional portrait miniature, I've posted it too over on Mona Conner Portraits.

After trying to paint my rhinestone necklace at miniature scale, I esteem even more the great work of Nicholas Hilliard (1547 ~1619) whose specialty in miniature portraits was elaborate jewelry and lace details. If you Google his name as an image search and scroll, you'll find many of his amazing portraits in miniature.

Self Portrait at 34, in progress

"Self Portrait at 34" in progress, shown at actual size

Here is a peek at a self portrait which I'm painting from photos I took myself with the self-timer setting of my camera at age 34. I'm wearing one of my all-time favorite wardrobe items, a black velvet cocktail dress, which makes it all the more fun to paint, and the tricky part will be to see if I can articulate in a pleasing way the details of the rhinestone necklace I was wearing. Haven't decided yet how I'll frame it, but an oval might be nice....we'll see.