Tag Archive for Isaac Hernandez

Untitled Self in Yellow


I painted this large self-portrait, the largest so far, some time last spring. I was exploring with the idea of making a happy painting with a serious face. I don’t even know if this is the final version. I think I worked on it some more after I took the top photo in April. I’m pretty sure I was still working on it come summer. But is it ever final? Only when you die. That’s final. And you can bet it will happen.

It’s big. I used close to two giant Senelier oil pastel sticks.

How I love to get my fingers dirty. The Senelier oil pastels are especially sticky, yum!

Evolution of Self

IsaacHH-111026-3035

I’m already working on a new self-portrait, surprise!!! But I had promised to share my previous self-portrait, so here it is, including a video with a few phone snapshots of the process and a voiceover explanation. I hope you enjoy it.

In the video I speak a little about knowing that the perspective wasn’t right, but that I went on painting without correcting it because I was afraid I would mess it up, even though I knew I would eventually change it. There are so many layers that I ran out of yellow from my Holbein set, and I had to use a Senelier oil pastel giant stick in order to complete the painting.

I’m also including a few stills below. Please excuse the distorted perspective of the images, it’s all part of the creative process… except I added more distortion at times with photos in which the camera wasn’t parallel to the painting, deforming the painting more than it was in “real” life.

I love you, son

Isaac Hernandez Herrero. I love you, son (I). Oil pastel on paper. ©2010 Isaac Hernandez/IsaacArt.com

I made this drawing on a field trip to Elwood with my son’s school. The kids were playing happily. I wanted to go jump on the rocks Read more