Self-portraiture is such a difficult task that few artists regularly undertake it. After all, how to disconnect the id and release any sort of unguarded truth when the subject matter is one's very own complicated self?

The challenge has got to be tougher for teens, young people who are still wrassling out the particulars of who they are now and who they might be some day. But teens are resilient, and, in the case of the wonder kids who are in Santa Rosa High School's ArtQuest program, they're also terrifically honest, terrifically smart and terrifically plain old talented.

This is our second year working with ArtQuest, under the direction of Tanya Braunstein and Glen Graves. This year, we asked the students to explore the self-portrait from three angles: their physical self, the person they are at home and their public persona. Drawing from the results of these three revealing chapters, we chose one shot from each artist to reproduce in these pages.

I am personally amazed at the honesty expressed by these young artists. I jokingly suggested that if I had to take a self-portrait, I'd just shoot the contents of my purse. Would I actually dare to print an image depicting my slovenly habits and insane need for extra lipsticks? No way. These kids are far braver than I'll ever be.

All of the shots taken and approved, plus the ones reprinted here, will be on exhibition at the Santa Rosa High School multipurpose room through Dec. 20. A free artist's reception kicks off on Wednesday, Dec. 19, from 3pm to 5pm. 1235 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa.

We applaud the artistry and hard work of this year's crop of ArtQuest kids. Bravo!

Hannah Bowen: Hannah took this unvarnished shot of herself just after waking up one morning.