Self Portrait

This oil painting was created in the 90s while I was at university, a self portrait via the style of cubism. The first critique from my professor was that it was too perfect and looked like an illustration versus a painting. I took that to heart, and made some changes that were hard to do. By the final critique it was worthy of being called a real painting. I'll always remember that distinction between an illustration versus a painting... paintings have grit, and a rawness to them that can only come from the soul. That's what this painting reminds me of, to always paint with soul.