Brushstrokes and Broken Bonds or How to lose friends
Have you ever heard the quote;
““Every time I paint a portrait, I lose a friend”?”
It speaks to a reality many artists face when venturing into the world of portrait painting. It's a realm where capturing someone's true essence clashes with their fear of being seen as they truly are. In this blog post, we'll explore the challenges of portrait painting, the strain it can put on relationships, and the struggle for self-acceptance that artists often face.
Portrait painting is a journey to capture the unique essence of an individual. But here's the thing: people can be uneasy about being seen without their usual masks and facades. When we unveil their true selves through art (or maybe better true to us), it can make them uncomfortable.
As artists, we face our own struggles too. We want to please both our subjects and ourselves, spending countless hours on a single piece. But our pursuit of perfection can sometimes lead to frustration (and often realy does). We end up creating crap work that falls short of our intentions.
These tensions can strain relationships. Friends who agree to be our subjects may feel exposed or misrepresented when they see the final result. It's like a delicate thread being pulled too tight, causing strain in the friendship we once had. I tried to paint my firends portrait, i really do think she is quite pretty, but when she saw i painted her side profile ( which she absolutely hates) she started crying and screaming at me. Ofcourse i did not ment any harm to her nor did i do it to make her upset. I really think she have beautiful profile, with very interesting colection of earrings and itriguuing tattoos, and wanted to capture her in highly stylized manner but it all came out dissaster.
A painting made on top of the infamous portrait
It might be that as an artist im talking from very privilidged point of view. We create the work so even if we paint ourselves we still can curate how we present. But i feel like theres this very hidden misconception of self in many people.
Portrait painting is a journey of self-expression and empathy. It challenges us to navigate the thin line between perception and reality, giving us glimpses into the beautiful complexity of the human experience. As artists, we must balance honoring our subjects' desires with staying true to our artistic vision, all while embracing self-acceptance in the face of criticism
In the world of portrait painting, John Singer Sargent's quote holds true. It's a process that can strain friendships and create internal conflicts. But it's through these challenges that art becomes transformative. By accepting imperfections in ourselves and others, we can forge genuine connections and create meaningful representations. So, let's embrace the complexities of portrait painting and celebrate the power of art to unveil our true selves.
