2. IDENTITY THEFT

For this piece I’m going to advocate that readers undertake a form of identity theft, but this isn't the nefarious enterprise it might seem. Picture instead a Stars in Their Eyes-style opportunity to become, in a painting at least, someone quite different from yourself. This may at first seem like a frivolous exercise, however, when we begin to explore self-portraiture through purposeful role playing, we can gain much greater insight about our true selves.

There is, of course, some truth in the notion that we paint well that which we know, be this the familiar face in the mirror or our lived experience. It could also be said, however, that we may not feel able to become – and by extension, cannot conceive of depicting – that which we cannot see.

When attempting to look beyond the raw materials of our own