So I sketched the different parts of what I wanted in the final image
The background aspects
To show my Welsh side, I thought using the flower of Wales would be a good way to symbolise it
In Frida Kahlo's image, she is bleeding and in my interpretation of the image I will be using hair removal products to be the cause of my 'bleeding'
I thought that instead of thorns I would have stinging nettles as they are something I see a lot more often in my day to day life
In contrast to the hair removal products, I wanted a bloodless tampon to symbolise my PCOS and struggle to get periods
My cats
This is a drawing of my cat Teg (Tegwyn), she is a tabby cat which means she is an absolute PAIN to draw due to how textured the fur is but I was able to get a good likeness
These are also meant to be Teg, I tried drawing her in a different position as in my portrait I wanted my cats to be sat on my shoulder
This is my other cat Mittens (left), he is a black cat with some white bits - so a LOT easier to draw, and I managed to nail his vacant gaze! Teg (right) looks very grumpy... (she is hard to get right)
Me!
So I practised my eyes, I made the light of the eye a square as I got the reference from a selfie on an iPad
I practised my curly hair, my rather large nostriled nose and my unwieldy eyebrows to try to be 'real' and unflattering of myself in a true Frida Kahlo way
I took a few selfies (and got my partner to take a photo of me - a big ask, since I HATE looking at pictures of myself!) and I tried to be as unflinching as possible
How the process is going
I must admit, I've fallen a bit behind with this website as I've been focusing on the actual painting! (ironic I guess). I think I'm on track to finish the final piece by the end of the month...
Here is the beginnings of my final piece
Nettles do not cause me to bleed - a placeholder title? My partner is holding the picture. As you can see I added in shamrocks to show my Irish side :) (And more hair removal items)
Anything I have learnt
It was interesting thinking about the individual components, and how thoughtful Frida Kahlo must have been in her portrait (especially since she didn't have such direct inspiration as I have, where a lot of my thought was 'what she did but personal/local to me').
Drawing myself felt slightly off putting, as I've said before that I have pretty bad body dysmorphia and I really struggled looking at the photos of myself (which I will NOT be posting so you will have to take or leave how 'accurate' you think it is). I sort of tried to imagine I was drawing someone else - it was the best way to squirrel it to myself I must be honest
