Self Portrait No. 2

[Theo]

[habakuk]

A considerable amount of new hair has grown on your face since the N° 1 portrait.   I feel the way the left eye is not totally covered is a bit problematic for my way of looking. I rather see the eyes both totally covered. Unless you intended to make me look at that eye and stay there for 99% of the time I spend with your portrait. The softness gives a painterly mood and I do like that quite good.

cheers
®

[eob]

I like a lot the overall composition and lighting. Unlike Roland, though, I would prefer no softness, because I feel that it goes against the general expression of this image.

[aprilS]

I'm intrigued.

I like the strong diagonal of the composition, light into dark, hidden and revealed.

At first I was thrown by what seems to be "a tip of the hat", acknowledging my presence yet not inviting me in. A little sinister, perhaps? On further study, I decided the image implies I would have to work to get to know you, and that there may be a dark side it could be uncomfortable to explore.

Given all that, I'm also not convinced about the softness. That suggests someone more "cuddly", which may be a contradiction you wanted to imply.

As a side note, I'm quite taken by the nearly abstract forms in the hand, and can imagine a number of studies using this approach on just that element of the subject...

P.S. I couldn't locate Self Portrait No. 1...?