Self Portrait 1984

Oleg Holosiy made this self portrait, and I’m immediately drawn to the way he's built up the surface, almost like he's sculpting with paint. Look at the area around the eyes – see how the colors blur and blend? There's a real softness there, a vulnerability that's hard to ignore. The paint feels thick in some spots, especially in the shadows, giving the face a sense of depth and weight. But then, around the mouth, the strokes are lighter, more fleeting, like he's capturing a passing thought. I love how the reds around the nose and cheeks bring it to life. It reminds me a bit of Chaim Soutine, that same raw, emotional energy. Holosiy isn't trying to give us a perfect likeness, but something deeper, something more true. It's a reminder that art isn't about answers, but about asking questions, about staying open to the possibilities.