Since the summer, much in my life has changed and after a long period of being unable to spend time in the studio, I finally got back in the saddle. After a review of the work I did leading up to the exhibition, it felt time to take a break from the deep and meaningful surrealist style for something a little more light hearted.
This step and decision to try something completely new and very different was a difficult one to take, as a 'proper' artist seems to retain a subject and style, and many stay committed only to that. Creatively it is a step that I need to take though and so the change has been necessary and hopefully successful!
My long standing fascination with 50s fashions, style, furnishings, lifestyle and books combined with my love of tattoos has lead me to try my hand at a contemporary twist on 50s pin up girls. I love the cheekiness without the crude, in your face sexual connotations. Typically work by artists like Gil Elgrin I love dearly, although Alberto Vargas' work is also stunning!
I am currently researching pin up artists and thoroughly enjoying the process. Current pin up artists like Ralph Burch and Olivia De Berardinis show very different styles, both of which I admire but do not wish to directly emulate.
The first pin up I have created 'If...But...I miss you!' took quite a while to design, to try and find something close to the style I want to achieve, and also to find the right medium and support. I am very pleased with the finished result but can see with more experience of this style, my confidence will improve and hopefully the paintings will grow with me.
I feel very at ease with this style, love every single pencil mark and brush stroke....the subject is so typically me, right to the core...and for now I want to explore this road, even if it does shatter some illusions of being a 'proper artist'.
The painting can be bought on Ebay, ending 8th November 2009...thankyou for looking!
