My latest painting, Marilyn (2020) is a tribute to screen legend, Marilyn Monroe. Although her life ended tragically, her legacy has lived on in her timeless image.
Marilyn Monroe was born Norma Jeane Mortenson. She spent her childhood living in foster homes and orphanages. At age 16, she married for the first time.
Through a chance meeting, she went from being factory worker to pin-up model. Finally, she became a successful actress.
In 1954, she married baseball star, Joe DiMaggio. After divorcing, in 1956, she married talented writer, Arthur Miller in 1961. However, she never truly found lasting happiness.
Edgy Aesthetic
Marilyn went from rags to riches. Incredibly, her films grossed around $2 billion in today’s standards. Unfortunately, her career was cut short after her untimely death.
At age 36, she died from a barbiturate overdose. Although more than half a century have passed, her image remains as popular as ever.
When painting Marilyn (2020), I wanted to capture her sexual and edgy aesthetic. My piece was inspired by a black and white still taken from the 1950s classic film, ‘Some Like it Hot’. I loved the simplicity of the composition and the ornate earrings she was wearing in the shot.
The symmetry and pulchritude of her features inspired me. Moreover, I was drawn to her bedroom eyes. I kept my palette subtle and mostly neutral.
Yet, I chose to use a deep and vibrant red to bring attention to her lips. Additionally, I drew the focus to her blonde hair. As I did in my recent piece, Meditation (2019), I used gold paint to highlight the hair colour. Thus, when the light hits the painting, it looks iridescent.
The result is a painting that pays homage to a talented actress and screen icon taken too soon. Marilyn (2020) embodies the strength of femininity and conveys that beauty is timeless.