Velvet Elvis
A friend warned me of the danger of the “velvet Elvis syndrome”. This is when a painter use famous people to promote their work, hoping that the association will create greater interest. Rather than depending on their own ability, they hide their lack behind a halo of the famous. This dependence leads to weak work and dictates its direction.
With this warning, there is still a place for some famous peoples paintings. As it turns out, there’s been around 50-plus since 2013. The fact that were famous was not necessary a consideration when painted, it was secondary in choosing the image. The following deliberately meant as portraits of the famous. Their fame is based on my personal criteria. Feel free if you think, someone has been left out to tell me and might include your choices.
- Ho Chi Minh Museum History of Great Leader
- Glenn Gould 20th Century Celebrated Pianists
- Lady Gaga Eating in The Buff
- Rough Trade, “She Makes My Body Twitch”
- Maria Khoreva Hardest-Used Tools Feet
- Moon River: Crossing You in Style Someday
- Video Animation Of Manson Family Paintings
- Big Hair Batman Hairspray For All
- Alfred Hitchcock, One World’s Greatest Director
- Johnny Cash The Gambler, The Man In Black
- Barbra Streisand, One of America’s Greats
- Muhammad Ali: Float Like A Butterfly, Sting Like A Bee
- Coco Chanel Got Chanel Perfume from The Nazis
- Dolly Parton, She Ain’t No Dumb Blonde
- Lucille Ball, I’m Not Funny. What I Am Is Brave.
- Malcolm X Inspiration Behind Much Of The Black Power Movement
- John Waters: Without Obsession, Life Is Nothing.
- Dalai Lama, Spiritual Leader Of Tibetan Buddhism
