Life in Paint
Lately I’ve been seeing art pop up that paints real objects and real people as though they were painted or drawn. I suppose the over all idea is something that I first saw when I went to a live performance of The Tragical Comedy or Comical Tragedy of Mr. Punch. The costumes and make-up were very much inspired by Dave McKean’s artwork for the original graphic novel. Master of mixed-media that he is, he tends to combine photographs with drawings and well pretty much anything. So when they did the play the, costumers chose to add a drawn or painted element to the actors on stage.
photo is from the LA Times
Well in the last week or so, I’ve seen that idea of painted life come up a couple more times. And I have to say that the effect is stunning every time.
This video for “Forever Dolphin Love”, completely drew me in, and so much of it is specifically that aesthetic. Well that, and the fact that this guy’s just got such an amazing face to work with here.
Forever Dolphin Love – Connan Mockasin from daniel brereton on Vimeo.
Then just a few days ago, I found the work of Alexa Meade.
And how incredible is this? She’s creating live paintings and then photographing them. I’m sharing the links I’ve seen of hers directly here, because I think it’s just so much fun going through her work.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexameade
http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/hyperrealistic-acrylic-body
All in all, it’s a style that really speaks to me. And I’m tempted to experiment with it a little myself. Maybe just once, I could paint the world, and my friends, and get to walk around in that reality, just for a little while. I don’t even know if I could pull it off, but I think I’d like to try sometime.