Self-Portrait for my Birthday

Here's my latest self-portrait. I used a limited color palette obviously, and did no primping before hand. For the hair and the lips I carved into wet paint using a small brush I hadn't ever cleaned from previous use.  It's bristles were stuck into a furry spike, and I like the texture it added.  Some reactions to this painting include - "whoa, you look pissed" and "is that supposed to be your mother?" (from someone who has never met my mother), and "it looks like you're saying 'whaddya want NOW?'". I see some truth in all of these :). I think I look brave, or that's what I see. And I think brave is what I'm "going for" this year, now that I'm 34.