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2019 Digital self portrait of a nude young woman sitting with a quizzical expression while holding a pencil to her mouth, in a simple cell shading style. Bright pink background. Art by Jessica Amber

Artwork Details

Title:The Thinker
Date:December 2019
Medium:Digital Art
Software:Procreate 4 App
Tools:
  • iPad Pro 9.7″
  • Apple Pencil

Blurb

This is a self portrait, a feminist piece about accepting ones self – every hair, every quirk, every strange thought – and succeeding not despite those things, but because of them. You are beautiful and unusual and messed up and perfect, and you will do what you want to do and achieve what you want to achieve.

About This Artwork

Version 1: 2017

Watercolor self portrait of a nude young woman sitting with a quizzical expression while holding a pencil to her mouth, in a simple cell shading style. Brown background. Art by Jessica Amber 2019.

My main goal in this artwork was to emulate my artistic idol, Fukari. I really wanted to hone in on the artistic qualities that made their work so interesting to me. The linework would have the thick-to-thin variation due to often being inked with a brush pen. The handling of anatomy was stylised, with narrow lower limbs. The shading would be done by one-directional hatching.

As for the subject matter, I wanted to do something personal. As an artist, I feel like any time I draw something the least bit personal, it is a bit like being nude in public. You’re giving people permission and power to see, scrutinize, and criticize you. How much are we willing to bear ourselves for the sake of art? How can I leverage the exposure to my advantage?

So I drew myself. Nude, awkward, a bit hairy, quizzical.

I did this artwork with an indelible brush pen and watercolour paint.

Version 2: 2019

A pattern of colourful nude girls on a green background. Art by JessicaAmber 2019

​In adapting this artwork for sale on Redbubble, I experimented with a 70s retro colour scheme, and turning the artwork into a pattern by repeating and rotating the figure 4 times in a circle.

Ultimately I wasn’t happy with this choice.

Version 3: 2020

2019 Digital self portrait of a nude young woman sitting with a quizzical expression while holding a pencil to her mouth, in a simple cell shading style. Bright pink background. Art by Jessica Amber

Maybe the 70s thing didn’t work out because I’m not a 70s person. I’m more modern, more start and vibrant. This is a self portrait, so it needed to look more… me!

I gave the image a hot pink background, and made the figure white (almost my skintone, haha), with a blue shadow like in the original watercolor version.

I’m much happier with this verison.

Where to Buy

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