This circa 1956 self-portrait shows McClung in her early twenties, not long after finishing college, wearing a soft gray collared blouse against a rich green background. She looks straight at the viewer with dark, watchful eyes and red lips, her short dark hair framing a calm, alert face. The painting feels honest and direct, with no extra fuss in the background or the pose, just a young woman taking a clear look at herself. You can see the skill she picked up at the University of Alabama in the careful shaping of her cheekbones and jaw, and there's a confidence here that suggests she already had a strong sense of who she was and where she was headed. New York City and the Art Students League would be her next adventure.