Basement Self Portrait 1969

This self-portrait by Catherine Murphy, painted with oil on canvas, feels so intimate, doesn’t it? It’s like you're right there with her, in her basement. Look at those confident brushstrokes that build up her face, the way the light catches on her cheekbone. It’s a classic painterly move, a nod to all those artists who came before her. She's clearly had a long-standing relationship with the medium. I wonder what she was thinking about as she stood there, looking in the mirror, brush in hand. Painting yourself is such a vulnerable act. It's like you're saying, "Here I am, in all my messy, complicated glory." What I love about painting is that it’s all about the back and forth. The artist makes a mark, then responds to it, then makes another mark. It's like a conversation, a dance between the artist and the canvas. It takes time. It's about being open to surprise, to letting the painting lead you where it wants to go.