The Portrait Project

The Challenge: 15 photographs of 15 artists who create 15 portraits. Any media. Any style. Six by six inches. Period.

The result: Facing Ourselves, an exhibit of nearly 225 portraits at the Main Art Center in the Downtown Kingsport (TN) Association building.

Why did I do it? Well, I don't do faces. I'm bad at faces. And the only way to get over a mental block like that is to do what you fear. And the best way I've found to make myself do something I don't want to do is to commit to do it publicly. And that works even better if there's a deadline, like this exhibit So there you go.

Was it easy? No way! (But I did much better than I thought I would, although limiting myself to eyes and nose helped a lot, I suspect.)

Was it satisfying? Mostly. (I am generally pleased with the results, although I still have plenty of room for improvement.)

Would I do it again? Are you crazy?! I don't do faces! (But I am considering a mixed fiber media project based on one or more of these portraits and here I am committing to do it publicly. Now I just need a deadline!)

Click thumbnails for a larger image. Click the image to see the source photo. (More photos coming soon.)


Mary Noles


Ruth Crowe



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