The document discusses the personal and cultural value of self-portraits created by artists. It notes that since the 15th century, nearly every artist across different mediums has explored self-portraits as a way to examine their own psyche or simply because they are the most available model. By viewing these self-portraits, viewers can gain insight into how artists see themselves and their different "selves", and better understand their personalities and what they wish to show or hide. The self has long been an important subject in art as it expresses how individuals view themselves while also providing wider cultural insights. Contemporary self-portraits encourage debates around issues like identity and individuality.

1. The Exploration of Self
The personal value of self portraits
and what artists see.

2. Since the fifteenth century and the advent of the mirror, artists
have modeled for themselves in their own works of art. Whether
it is an in-depth exploration of the artist’s own psyche or simply
because as a model, the artist is clearly the cheapest and most
available, whatever the reason, nearly every artist, in every
medium from painters to sculptors to photographers have
attempted this exploration of self.
Why?

3. By exploring the many different kinds of self-portraits the
artists ask us, the viewer, to attempt to understand the need
to create these works, how we benefit from them, and the
discovery of the different “selfs”. In comprehending the
personal value of a self-portrait, we gain insight into our own
personalities, what we wish to show, what we wish to portray,
and even what we wish to hide.

4. MAY YOUR LIFE
SOMEDAY
BE AS
AWESOME
AS IT IS ON
FACEBOOK.

5. "When I dig into the clay, I pull out a vision that previously
existed nowhere but inside my head, or some other place I
don't know but am in touch with.” Michael Alfano

6. The self has long been an artistic subject for humanity, intimately
expressing how individuals have seen themselves while
simultaneously providing insights to wider cultural trends and
values. It is in this way that self portraiture can be seen as a unique
and important part of our shared cultural heritage, as the self
remains an important subject for artists today. Contemporary self
portraits encourage debate around a range of issues including
individuality and identity.

9. Katherine Griffiths

10. Petrina Hicks, Venus

11. Tobias Richardson, Look at the Giant Museum

12. Alex Seton, Soloist

13. Sancintya Simpson, Blood-link

14. Jacqui Stockdale, Selfie

15. Peter Vidani

16. Phillipe Dame

17. When thinking about your intended self portrait, take a
moment to think about how you want to be portrayed in
your image. We all have more than one side to us. What kind
of emotion do you want to convey? You may know how to
say what you want to photograph in words, but putting it
into visual images and communicating is a different story.
Remember, that you are creating a visual story with your
picture.

18. CREATIVE VISUALIZATION
Be creative. Day dream for a while. Even meditate if necessary. In this
state of mind, you may see images as a primary means of
communication instead of words.
Reflect on your experiences. How do you see yourself? How do you
think the world see’s you? How do you wish the world could see you?
Draw from your life experiences, good, bad or indifferent.

20. Alex Stoddard

24. Kelli Connell

26. The Birth of Cindy Sherman

29. By stepping in front of the camera, Sherman uses her images as a
social commentary on the role women play in modern society by
portraying stereotypes not specific people. Her style has become
quite distinct through her numerous series as she engages her
audiences by leaving so much open to individual interpretation.

33. Cindy Sherman is the ultimate self-portrait photographer
having built nearly her entire career with unique and varied
images of herself, though one cannot really call her images
“self-portraits” in the sense that they do not specifically
portray herself. When asked about the characters she
portrays her response is: “None of the characters are me,
they’re everything but me. If it seems too close to me, it’s
rejected.”

34. "If I knew what the picture was going to be like I wouldn’t make it. It
was almost like it was made already.. the challenge is more about
trying to make what you can’t think of."
- Cindy Sherman