ARISTOCRATIC SELF-PORTRAITS

Stephen O'Donnell: “I almost always employ the self portrait as the basis for my work. I have long felt that, by beginning with myself as the model, I am able to avoid the biggest limitation of the portrait as a form: that it is ‘about’ someone specific. In my paintings, because the portrait is only of the artist, the viewer, while including whatever they might perceive of the artist, still has more opportunity to find their own narrative in whatever visual scenario I might present. And being as retrograde in my tastes as I am, my greatest artistic enjoyment and appreciation still lies with the great portraiture of history. As an art form, the portrait, whether recording aristocracy or something much humbler, still completely fascinates me.”

[Source: the Stephen O'Donnell's website]

Discover more about Stephen O'Donnell in his website

ALL IMAGES © STEPHEN O'DONNELL