Gloria (2017) is a tribute to silent film star, Gloria Swanson. I was inspired by both her independent way of thinking and her inimitable beauty. She was a woman who knew her own mind.
At the peak of her fame, she rejected a lucrative studio contract, in order to produce her own films. Like the subject of my previous painting, Anna (2017), Gloria wanted complete creative control. My painting, is based on a still from her first independent production, a silent film called “The Love of Sunya” (1927).
I particularly liked the simplicity of Art Deco dress and jewellery she is wearing. Renowned costume designer, Renee Hubert, designed them especially for her. Although 90 years have passed, I felt there was a certain timelessness in her style, which made her seem contemporary and relatable.
Iconic
Gloria Swanson was ahead of her time, not only in her sartorial choices. She became vegetarian in 1928 and a proponent of the no sugar diet decades before it was a trend. Her sixth husband, William Dufty, became a convert to her way of eating. Subsequently, he wrote the classic book, Sugar Blues, which warned about the dangers of sugar.
I wanted my painting, Gloria (2017), to capture the essence of her character. She was ambitious and determined, but she was also glamorous and feminine. As a silent film star, she needed to convey emotion without words and this is evident from the look in her eyes. Her face shows a hypnotic sensuality paired with a steely core.
Although the original image was shot in black and white, I wanted to bring some colour to the piece. Gloria was an Aries and this fire sign is ruled by the colour red. It was for this reason, I used shades of red to draw attention to her jewellery and lips. I kept the little black dress because, I thought it was classic like Gloria.
The result is a painting that shows the true power of an exceptional woman and allows an icon and trendsetter to be appreciated for generations to come.