Selfie on Oak Log

Selfie on Oak Log emerges from the artist's dialogue with found material rather than predetermined design. Working with the oak log's natural grain and form as collaborator, Quercy carved a self-portrait that amplifies rather than corrects facial asymmetries—eyes at different heights, elongated proportions, a semi-detached ear. The wood's existing structure suggested possibilities; knots became features, grain patterns emphasized irregularities. The process was playful extraction of "most obvious traits," translating face to sculpture through material constraint.
This piece refuses the idealizing tendency of traditional self-portraiture. Where classical approaches seek harmony and proportion, this carving exaggerates asymmetry and unconventional features with confident self-awareness. The result radiates assurance not through beautification but through honest observation—a face that owns its irregularities. Self-derision and humility operate through this choice: amplifying what others might minimize requires both humor about one's appearance and refusal of vanity. The oak's warmth softens what could be harsh self-assessment, lending dignity to the amplified imperfections.
Belonging to the "Untamed Creations" collection, the sculpture sits outside Quercy's systematic chromesthetic translation work, representing free artistic expression without codified constraints. Where the "Synesthetic Explorations" follow explicit rules (circle of fifths to color wheel, harmonic structure to spatial composition), this piece allowed the material itself to determine the outcome—great fun, and proof of the artist's willingness to play without the game.