June Self Portrait...in progress...

Angel Wings, Pacific Beach CA

So...continue pity party...me, cats, hanging out at home with Netflix, pillows, Aleve and a heating pad.

I decided to work on my June self-portrait while I watched that 80's movie, Heathers.By the way, that is one crazy movie.  I digress...

I had the idea when I was in California to do a variation on my usual 'angel pic' as the inspiration for my June Self-Portrait.  

I should probably give some back story on the angel pic...John and I take 'angel pics' every year we go back to visit San Diego.  There are some wings painted on a wall just around the corner from our old apartment in Pacific Beach.  I think we first discovered them shortly after we moved into that little studio apartment, we were always walking around, reveling in how great it was to have so much cool stuff within walking distance.  And then one day we found those wings.  It was 2006.  We took some pictures, I think that might have been the day that we walked to the jetty.  

When folks came to visit us, we had them take 'angel pics'.  We still have some vertical frames up in our place with the pictures of the people that came to visit us during our short time on the west coast.  When we left CA, we each took an 'angel pic' then headed out for the long cross country drive with our two cars and all of the belongings we had out there.

I loved living in California.  For me, it kind of represented really stepping out on our own.  We didn't have anyone out there really, so everything was what we made it.  We found jobs, found a place to live, made friends- everything was on our time.  I am often torn when I think...would I want to go back?  On one hand, it is so far.  But there is a certain amount of life that it brings int both of us.  So, for now, or from now on, which ever it may be...we promised ourselves that we would go back every year to visit.  And we have.  We moved in June of 2007 and we have been back every summer since, taking an 'angel pic' at the end of each trip.

So that is the story of the wings.  And here are some 'angel pics' from 2006-2012.  Kind of fun to look at 'em, at least for me.

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Angel Pics, Jenny and John 2006-2012

What does this have to do with my portrait?  Yes, thank you for getting me back on track.  ('You' of course is my imaginary audience)  I took my regular pic, but then I had the idea to get John to take a picture of me holding my blank sketchpad in front of the wings with the intention of drawing that picture...

(Left) 2012 Angel Pic (Right) Drawing of Angel Pic- graphite/watercolor'/acrylic

My idea was to use that drawing and somehow insert it into the photo to make it look like I was holding the drawing of my picture.  Now, keep in mind that I was doing this using my limited graphic design skills.  My friend Jessie (yep- the one that I was supposed to be with in Miami)...anyway, she would be my go-to person to get the image inserted and have it high resolution, etc.  So...what I did tonight is kind of like a preliminary.  I am not 100% about what I made tonight, certainly not the image inserted into the image...but also about the actual drawing...might redo that.


Well, here is what I came up with;

(Left) Picture holding drawing (Right) Drawing holding picture