VIVACITY

There was a period when I was experimenting with new themes and I realised after a few paintings that I was celebrating iconic women that aren't remembered as widely or as much as they should be, particularly in response to the lazy, hackneyed use of Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn - mesmeric as they are. They now have the equivalent omnipresence of Mickey Mouse or Banksy's Balloon Girl as shallow artistic/cultural signifiers of cool. Esoteria has its dowwnside though, a few pop trash portraits ala Warhol are the proverbial hotcake. Angie Dickinson, Juliette Greco - not so much. The fools! And besides, it also had to do with all them mutable memories (see art statement puff piece) and the pleasurable impact that funny and gorgeous women like Carole, Lucy, Veronica etc. (Margaret Dumont . . . one of these days) had on the malforming mind of young GOMACG with his colouring pencils and felt tips. Now that takes me right back to Saturday afternoons in front of the TV, a mug of coffee, a whole packet of biscuits (bourbon creams, nothing but the best) and a Bette Davis double bill. No! i'm not going out to play! Happy days!