Self Portrait at 40

I had my 40th birthday last month, so I thought I’d paint a self-portrait to mark the occasion.

Here it is, oils on 12″ x 16″ panel.

I have thought it would be a fun idea to paint a self-portrait on my birthday every year, but I think this is the first time I’ve actually done it. Here’s one from when I was about 24, just after I started painting (now hanging in my mum’s living room).

And here’s a digital painting I did in Photoshop when I was about 30:

As you can see, my hair has been slowly migrating south to my chin over the years!

It’s always fun working on a new self portrait. Hopefully I won’t be 50 when I do my next one!