Ricky as devil oil and marker on paper 16x20
This painting is the result of watching (and thoroughly enjoying) Ricky Gervais' performance as host of the Golden Globe Awards while studying Luc Tuymans' washed out, one-shot paintings. Luc Tuymans is a contemporary painter who makes no effort to disguise his photograph or film still source material, and Ricky Gervais is a comedian who acknowledges the realm of celebrity as a rediculous, self-congratulating balloon of self-importance that should be popped every now and again. And I find that level of honesty in both cases very refreshing.