My next two paintings of people I love and admire were easy to choose, Kurt Cobain from my University days and Mick Jagger, icon of the sixties. These key figures resonant to my past have been great influences on my art. I’m drawn to their uniqueness, which I continually aspire to achieve.
There are many parallel’s between art & music and as I listened to a really interesting interview with Jools Holland and Christine & the Queens the other night, I agreed with her influences. Bowie for continually changing and showing us different facets of his personality and the unique voice of Bjork. I would also add Kate Bush and Blondie to this category. To listen to the full interview, click here:
I love the ‘whitened out’ face look which I’ve achieved in my Jagger portrait. The whitened out face is something that’s been around for a long time past and present. In pop video’s, for example Bowie’s ‘Life On Mars, one of my favourite songs, his face is completely white with just his lipstick and green eye shadow showing. It’s a technique used by mime artist's like Bowie, in stage and television lighting and particularly in fashion photography where straight frontal light eliminates the features. Hark back to the Goth period too and it’s musical influences.
I mixed things up a bit with Jagger, whereas Cobain uses a more traditional oil approach working from dark to light, Jagger is based on a watercolour technique leaving the canvas mainly white and then applying colour, giving it a light and loose feel. Both paintings are available to purchase, contact Marvellous Art Gallery or Facebook me.
Mick Jagger, oil on canvas size 40x45cm
Kurt Cobain, oil on linen size 30x30cm
