Autoritratto, 2013

Autoritratto (ow∙tow∙ree∙trat∙tow)=self-portrait. Who says ‘selfies’ can only be on your phone? Try this mixed-media collage project at home

You will need:
 -3 self portraits on paper, all about the same size
 -a hard surface such as a cradled wood panel or board
- acrylic matte medium. This is acrylic paint without the colour, and it can be used as a glue or as a protective coating
- bits and pieces of old artwork to collage

1. Draw or paint 3 ‘selfies’ on paper. If you are like me, you have lots of them lying around from different art classes. You can also make 3 photocopies of the same image, and colour each one differently.
2. Crumple each of your selfies into a ball.
3. Open them up again and tear into several pieces.
4. Find your ‘inner Picasso’.  Create a new mixed-media selfie using the torn, crumpled pieces. Collage them onto a firm surface with acrylic medium. I recycled a cradled wood panel that was previously painted and sanded by my nipotino Vito. I let parts of his original underpainting show through, such as the blue squiggle on my forehead. We think it makes me look smart!
5. Collage in other bits of paper. My selfie actually looked a bit creepy before I added the hair! The hair is old pieces of monotypes and lift prints on rice paper. I also added some text using photocopy transfer with acrylic medium.
6. Use paint, oil pastels, or anything to work on your selfie some more.
7. When you are done, paint on a few coats of acrylic matte medium to protect the surface. If you like shiny, then use gloss medium. If you used chalk pastels, you will need to use a fixative first.

Ecco, fatto! Un autoritratto tecnica mista!