I designed this traÂdiÂtional OrthoÂdox style Madonna Icon from the ground-up using geomÂeÂtry and speÂcific geoÂmetÂric proÂporÂtions. It got a bit too comÂpliÂcated and seriÂous for my tastes and I spent a while creÂatÂing subÂseÂquent drawÂings that simÂpliÂfied and hid the underÂlaid geometry.
With all the lofty ideals present in the comÂpoÂsiÂtion, I thought I might dumb-down the image and porÂtray the Madonna as if she was sellÂing a 40 ounce botÂtle of malt liquor – perÂhaps on TV. MadonÂnas are always sellÂing someÂthing, its just not malt liquor. I had her pose with the botÂtle as if she were Billy Mays. Where I live, 40oz botÂtles of malt liquor seem to be a mainÂstay at my local marÂket – as is the lotÂtery. When I won $100 on a scratcher, I thought it wise to get the money in new, sequenÂtial bills, and use them as the painting’s backÂground. The bills are laid out in a very speÂcific manÂner. This paintÂing is a bit of an ode to my corÂner store.Acrylic & Currency on Canvas
