I have been wanting to create a new self-portrait for several years, so when I found out the prompt was Identity, I knew exactly where to start.  So who am I?  Artistically, I have been part of the creative duo known as Pixeladies for 16 years. But I’m also just me.  At first I thought I shouldn’t work with text, because that’s the Pixeladies signature style. But I worked with text before I was a Pixelady.  I’ve created digitally before I was a Pixelady.  So here I am in all my analog and digital glory.

I enjoy reading about processes, so I thought you might like to see mine.  I started with wonderful photograph that Bonnie McCaffery took of me in April.  Then I played with it in Photoshop.  I like the look of simple woodcuts, so it’s no wonder that one of the iterations was this.

I knew my head had to be exploding, so I digitally cut apart the top of my head and moved them into place.  I wasn’t quite satisfied, so I used the twirl filter in Photoshop to create a bunch of swirled parts. 

Then I had to decide what to do with my face.  Imbed Text? Other art or drawings? I scanned some collaged and stitched magazine paper I made a few years ago to see if I would like it.

I have been collecting self-portrait text for years, so I dug out the folder and started scanning the words and phrases into the computer. 

I added this to the portrait and decided I liked both the text and the rectangles created by the spaces between the collage scans.

I then picked enough words out of the folder to scan eighteen pages (11” x 17”) worth. I put each phrase on a separate layer in Photoshop and hired my grandson to help me name all the layers with the words depicted.  That was a lot of work.  I’m glad he’s a faster typist than I am.

Then I started both adding text and creating the background.  Here’s a screenshot of one of my versions showing a small part of the over 250 layers. 

And here’s one of the layers I painted on.

I couldn’t decide on the colors.  I’m a green/aqua person, so I was somewhat surprised that I ended up using the magenta/purple/orange version.

If you ever see this self-portrait in person, you’ll be able to read all about me.

#Selfie

© Deb Cashatt

July 2019

29.5″ W x 40″ H