Self-Portrait Gallery

Self-portraits aren't about narcissism.

There are many reasons for painting self-portraits, not least being the continuation of a long tradition of self-portraiture among artists.

In 1927, members of the Group of Seven held a contest to see which of these famous artists could paint the best self-portrait.  A.Y. Jackson completed one painting, but thought "he was taking himself too seriously".  So he turned it over and hastily painted another on the back of the board. This self-portrait won the prize, and later it became a well-known work which now hangs in the McMichael Collection, and also was featured on the front cover of his autobiography. There's a lesson in here somewhere!

This page presents members' self-portraits, self-portraits by famous artists, and a collection of portraiture quotations.

Self-Portraits by 6+1 Members

Lorna Schmidt

I do love working with oil. It has magical powers that transform.

I think this is the image in my mind's eye, not the image in the mirror!

...... Lorna

Liz Rogers


Dichotomy of life – comedy and tragedy – light and dark side, good and evil – thoughts that intrude -all I hear is Radio Gaga

“Is this the real life?”

"Is this just fantasy?”

...... Liz

Josee Vandeguchte

Experiencing a difference looking at the self- portraiture is like looking at a two sided coin of the same coin.

We all long to be understood on occasion,
thus a portrait in itself teaches about our inner self,
look and see what can be found as freedom of expression follows.

........ Josee


Kathy King



A work in progress - not just the portrait, so am I.

...... Kathy

Shirley McFarlane

"Pardonnez-moi ----- Did you say self-portrait of the face(fass) or ace(ass)???" ...... Shirley

Dorothy Acton

Phyllis Pepper

Tessa (and Phyllis) at the Beach

Linda Morin
Is this really me?

I can't see without my glasses!

Although painting my self-portrait was an amusing exercise in realism.... it is not very realistic. 

Should one reveal ones true self?  Perhaps next time. 

..... Linda

Diane Nelles

An Artist's Eye

Always having the eye for detail and prefering landscapes to portraits, this "close up" of me says it all!

........ Diane

Edna Daughtrey

A "Jungle Woman" at heart.

By the expression on my face, I think I've had enough of jungle life, don't you.

..... Edna

Sharon Stewart

Sitting on a hard stool in front of the bathroom mirror staring at myself for a few hours, studying the lines, colours, bumps and I don’t know what all, was quite an experience.  It isn’t really me or is it?

..... Sharon

Rita Viscount

"If you were a thought, this is what you would look like ....  Roxanne Chumko"


I feel the quote to the left is a pretty good way to describe the abstract concept of being, of feeling connected, but spacious, light. In the present, but never quite what I see in the mirror.

..... Rita

Manon Adams

Vivian Kolotylo
Life is a mystery.

..... Vivian

Beth Sills


Beth and all her favourite things.

Sally Stewart
1966 - 2009

Not much difference, Eh?

Do I feel the same?

Not Likely!!

..... Sally

Julie Campbell


If I have to do a self-portrait, I may as well set it in my favourite season and location:  Springtime in my garden!

.... Julie

George Spence




Carol Riess





My forte is not portraits, especially self-portraits. I had fun researching Picasso and then painting my self-portraits Picasso style. I like to keep myself busy and I like challenges. There is always something new to learn and limitations to go beyond.

..... Carol

Self-Portraits by the Famous

Léopold Boilly (French, 1761-1845), Grimacing Man (Self-Portrait), conte crayon on paper.

 Paul Cézanne (French, 1839-1906) Self Portrait in a Beret - Oil on canvas

Vincent van Gogh (Dutch, 1853-1890), Self-Portrait with a Straw Hat

Paul Gauguin, 1893-1894, Self Portrait, Oil on Canvas

Pablo Picasso, 1907, Self Portrait - Oil on Canvas

 Frida Kahlo, Self-Portrait Dedicated to Leon Trotsky, 1937, Oil on board

Montien Boonma (Thai, 1953-2000), Self-Portrait: A Man Who Admires Thai Art, 1982, photograph altered with decorative patterns drawn in colored ink.

Tim Hawkinson (American, 1960-), Balloon Self-Portrait, 2004?, latex sculpture, life size cast from the artist's body, turned inside out, then inflated by an air compressor.

Rembrandt self portrait 1659

Portraiture Quotations

"A portrait is a painting with something wrong with the mouth." ...... John Singer Sargent

"It takes a long time for a man to look like his portrait." ...... James Whistler

"I loathe my own face, and I've done self-portraits because I've had nobody else to do." .... Francis Bacon

"Confound the nose, there's no end to it!" ........ Thomas Gainsborough
"Have you seen that portrait Gauguin did of me painting sunflowers? It was really I, but it's I gone mad." ......... Vincent van Gogh
"Though many request their portrait painted, what they actually crave is to have it look like a photograph, but... thinner. " ....... Bernard Poulin

"Seeing likeness in a portrait is to recognize the craftsman in the artist. Finding soul is to discover the artist in the craftsman." ......... Bernard Poulin

"Portraits remembered are not always the truest likeness of the subject but capture the nuance of a sentiment which inspires inner reflection." ........ CJ Rider

"The ultimate achievement in portraiture is to produce a great painting that happens to be a portrait; a piece of art that would be desirable to someone who is not even acquainted with the subject. " ....... L. Steven Moppert