SEASONS
of
SELF REFLECTION
A Self-Portrait Series
Each of these illustrations is reflective of my personality. I am a Pisces but I am also a Tiger, according to the Chinese zodiac calendar.
As self portraits, the symbolism within these illustrations represent memories from my childhood and through my adult years. They portray my love of fantasy, of art and literature, animals and nature. They depicts my adoration of the aquatic realm and the wonders and beauty of the deep cold snow, which blanketed the land throughout the heart of Quebec winters.
of
SELF REFLECTION
A Self-Portrait Series
Each of these illustrations is reflective of my personality. I am a Pisces but I am also a Tiger, according to the Chinese zodiac calendar.
As self portraits, the symbolism within these illustrations represent memories from my childhood and through my adult years. They portray my love of fantasy, of art and literature, animals and nature. They depicts my adoration of the aquatic realm and the wonders and beauty of the deep cold snow, which blanketed the land throughout the heart of Quebec winters.
A TIME FOR CHANGE
'A Time for Change'
Autumn Illustration
Autumn Illustration
This project reflects various aspects of my personality and memories, for which there are two specific elements that are repeated in each of these illustrations.
Tigers: My Chinese Zodiac sign
Clocks: A reflection of passing time
The following piece portrays my memories of playing the violin, growing up on a hobby farm with a forest nearby, exhibiting a few of the wild inhabitants of that rural existence.
This illustration depicts the wonders of nature with dark, starry night skies, far from city lights. If you stood in the field at night away from the porch light, you were surrounded by a pitch black sky lit up with small bright twinkling stars.
This image is a reflection for my love for nature, astrology, music and literature.
This illustration depicts the wonders of nature with dark, starry night skies, far from city lights. If you stood in the field at night away from the porch light, you were surrounded by a pitch black sky lit up with small bright twinkling stars.
This image is a reflection for my love for nature, astrology, music and literature.
HERZING COLLEGE 'Self Portrait' project
Software: Photoshop
'A Time for Change'
Things we saw growing up . . .
Some of the detail in this section includes a fox which were relatively elusive on our farm. Rats would sometimes get into the boxes in basement and scare my mother. Dragonflies, spiders and butterflies were abundantly present and chrysalis casings could be found if you looked hard enough.
Though I played the violin as a child, my father would sometimes accompany me on his cello. We also had over a thousand books of every genre gracing our book shelves, promoting the love of reading and learning.
'A Time for Change'
Butterflies . . .
I used to gather acorns as a child because I liked their shape and feel. I would press oak, maple and ash leaves between the pages of a book and my brother would chase the monarchs, trying to catch them in his net.
Fireflies could often be seen in the dark of night and are represented by the the orange lit candles throughout the image.
Fireflies could often be seen in the dark of night and are represented by the the orange lit candles throughout the image.
'A Time for Change'
Farm living . . .
Wasps played a memorable part of my childhood, as there were a few times when I was chased by one or a swarm of many.
My mother would often read to me as a child and some of my favorite books were about nature and astrology.
My parents instilled the importance of being on time. They also stressed that without asserted effort and time management, one would eventually and inevitably run out of time - hence the hourglass.
My mother would often read to me as a child and some of my favorite books were about nature and astrology.
My parents instilled the importance of being on time. They also stressed that without asserted effort and time management, one would eventually and inevitably run out of time - hence the hourglass.
'A Time for Change'
Autumn Self Portrait
This self portrait photograph was manipulated to use for the main image in this illustration.
HERZING COLLEGE 'Self Portrait' project
Software: Photoshop
Software: Photoshop
A TIME FOR REBIRTH
'A Time for Rebirth'
Spring Illustration
As a child, I often imagined what it would be like if our river teemed with exotic marine life.
I learned to swim at a very young age in the river that flowed through our hundred acre property. Perhaps it had something to do with my Pisces water sign, but regardless, I felt extremely at home in the water.
I would swim beneath the surface while blowing bubbles through my nose, looking out for the sun fish and turtles that lived close to our bridge.
This image is a reflection of my fascination at a young age with marine biology.
HERZING COLLEGE 'Self Portrait' project
Software: Photoshop
'A Time for Re-Birth'
Young memories . . .
Some of the detail in this section includes a photo of me as a two week old baby and at five years of age, which was when I learned to swim.
Later in my adult years I traveled to Australia to get my scuba diving license in the Barrier Reef in Cairns, where I was able to see some of the marine life shown here.
A map of the world rests inside a compass, a detail that implies voyaging to foreign lands.
Later in my adult years I traveled to Australia to get my scuba diving license in the Barrier Reef in Cairns, where I was able to see some of the marine life shown here.
A map of the world rests inside a compass, a detail that implies voyaging to foreign lands.
'A Time for Re-Birth'
My Chinese sign . . .
A closeup of me and my Chinese tiger sign. In this case it is a symbol of protection from the snapping turtles of my youth to the great unknown dangers beneath the Barrier Reef waves.
One of my adventures in Aus led me to Russel island, which is remotely located eight miles from shore. I was with a friend on the island for a week, surrounded by giant clams and mangrove trees that housed thousands of sea doves which cooed an eerie song every night.
At one end of the island was a small hill. From the top, you could see a two thousand foot drop, which looked down onto a small horseshoe alcove with violent waves crashing against the rocks. On one excursion, I witnessed several extremely large great white sharks thrashing about with their prey, which they had strategically herded into the small bay.
The sight of the Great White feeding frenzy is something I will never forget.
One of my adventures in Aus led me to Russel island, which is remotely located eight miles from shore. I was with a friend on the island for a week, surrounded by giant clams and mangrove trees that housed thousands of sea doves which cooed an eerie song every night.
At one end of the island was a small hill. From the top, you could see a two thousand foot drop, which looked down onto a small horseshoe alcove with violent waves crashing against the rocks. On one excursion, I witnessed several extremely large great white sharks thrashing about with their prey, which they had strategically herded into the small bay.
The sight of the Great White feeding frenzy is something I will never forget.
'A Time for Re-Birth'
Water memories . . .
This detail showing the octopus and seahorses are a couple of sea creatures I always wished would magically appear while I swam in the river.
Another aspect of this image shows large dense schools of fish. While flying on my way to Aus, I spoke with captain of the plane. I told him I was going to get my scuba license and asked if he had done any diving. He told me he used to be a a diver but it ended one day when he found himself in the middle of a large group of Barracudas chasing a school of fish. The pilot said he was so afraid he was going to die in the frenzy that he never went scuba diving again after that trip.
Another aspect of this image shows large dense schools of fish. While flying on my way to Aus, I spoke with captain of the plane. I told him I was going to get my scuba license and asked if he had done any diving. He told me he used to be a a diver but it ended one day when he found himself in the middle of a large group of Barracudas chasing a school of fish. The pilot said he was so afraid he was going to die in the frenzy that he never went scuba diving again after that trip.
'A Time for Rebirth'
The fear of the Snapping Turtle . . .
This shows a closeup detail of the great white shark.
The first representation depicts my fear of the very large snapping turtles that lived under our bridge. And although we also had painted turtles that inhabited the river, the sea tortoise in my mind is the most exquisite of the species.
The second representation is for the actual Great White sharks I witnessed in Australia. As the oldest living predator on the planet, they should definitely command a great deal of respect.
The first representation depicts my fear of the very large snapping turtles that lived under our bridge. And although we also had painted turtles that inhabited the river, the sea tortoise in my mind is the most exquisite of the species.
The second representation is for the actual Great White sharks I witnessed in Australia. As the oldest living predator on the planet, they should definitely command a great deal of respect.
'A Time for Rebirth'
Preliminary Spring Self Portrait
This was the first Spring experiment, using clam shells and my portrait. I used a portion of this image for the final illustration.
HERZING COLLEGE 'Self Portrait' project
Software: Photoshop
'A Time for Rebirth'
Spring Waters Concept
Before I added my portrait photo, the idea for the overall design began with this water and clam shell mock up.
HERZING COLLEGE 'Self Portrait' project
Software: Photoshop
A TIME FOR DREAMS
'A Time for Dreams'
Winter Illustration
I loved the snow, the cooler weather and the beauty of our land while winter held it's grip over many long months.
Our 'hobby' farm supported a variety of domestic animals but our horses were by far the most beloved by me. I can still remember the thrill of watching them play as they excitedly pranced around through newly fallen blankets of snow.
Walking through the fields in winter you could still see evidence of frozen flowers, drooping their heads in crystalline frost. Our barn roofs exhibited icicles which grew to enormous lengths and would stick to your skin like cement if you held them in your hand.
The weather could turn extremely cold (-20C to -40C) with high northerly winds, creating a necessity to dress in many layers, preferably wool or fur to keep from freezing.
This illustration is a memory of time passing much more slowly during the long snowy winter. After many months of cold I would sometimes wish for the warmth of spring when watching frozen flower petals blown away by icy winds.
HERZING COLLEGE 'Self Portrait' project
Software: Photoshop
'A Time for Dreams'
My love of winter . . .
Some of the detail in this section depicts my desire to frolic in the snow along with our horses, represented as a ballerina reaching out to a white Lipizzaner Stallion. One of the most beautiful and graceful horses in all the breeds.
The highlighted shadow of deer represents the wild animals that were scarcely seen in the winter months, while the frozen balls of ice announce winter's firm grip on every aspect of the land.
The highlighted shadow of deer represents the wild animals that were scarcely seen in the winter months, while the frozen balls of ice announce winter's firm grip on every aspect of the land.
'A Time for Dreams'
Wishing for Spring . . .
In this section of the illustration, it shows my desire for the greater warmth of spring. If only I could blow away the snow and icy cold in one breath, as one blows away the feathery seeds from the white puffy dandelion.
'A Time for Dreams'
Bundling up in the cold . . .
Here the close up of the figure, bundled in the velvety blue cape is walking through a winter blizzard with a tiger. The woman's shadow is reminiscent of the groundhog's, which only appears when spring is announced. In this scenario, it represents the desire to end the cold with what always seemed a distant reminder of the warmth of spring.
'A Time for Dreams'
Winter Self Portrait
This was the first section that I created for the winter illustration. In this version, I had the clock-worked face encased in ice. I didn't end up using the ice portion of this image but kept the rest to use for the final piece.
HERZING COLLEGE 'Self Portrait' project
Software: Photoshop
'A Time for Dreams'
Winter Playing Card design
Winter Playing Card design
This was a preliminary idea for a playing card deck design. This illustration shows an unfinished version of the '2 of Spades'.
HERZING COLLEGE 'Self Portrait' project
Software: Photoshop
Another Self Portrait Photograph
Photographer: Michel Dugas
The portrait shot above is not a computer illustration but a black and white photograph, taken in my twenties.
This photo and the portrait photo for the illustration of 'Winter' - 'A Time for Dreams', were both taken by Michel Dugas. At the time, he was a prominent photographer working for the Montreal Gazette. These portrait photos were taken in an era before digital cameras were available. In those days, everyone used film.
For this photograph, Michel used a special film that only portrayed the image in white and black. Because it dispensed with any grey tones, the image appears somewhat surreal, resembling a black and white silhouette.
This photograph is a relevant image for this series, for I have always thought of my character as 'black and white'. I believe this self-analysis is the result of growing up in the French Quebec culture, where the people are friendly, outspoken and refreshingly honest.
The photographic vignette, depicts a seemingly realistic side of my personality. It examines a visual portrayal of those age-old phrases I heard as a child:
'Take me as I am' for 'What you see is what you get'.
I like that.
For more information on commissions and pricing, please send your inquiries to: info@kgray.ca.
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Coming Soon
Coming Soon
The final illustration for 'Summer' in the Self Reflection series.
THANKS FOR WATCHING
THANKS FOR WATCHING
