Self-portrait

painted portrait of a powerful woman — Gwenn Seemel
*Self-portrait*
2004
acrylic on canvas
48 x 34 inches

This is an early experiment in sympathetic magic, which I explored further in 2010 with this self-portrait. In 2004, I was struggling to make a living, struggling with my self-esteem surrounding my art, and struggling with my inability to form lasting intimate relationships. I wanted to be a stronger person, so I painted myself that way.

My series Empathetic Magic stems from the concept of sympathetic magic.