ENTRY NO. 28 / Heather Young
“If Elvis Had Met Me”
SIZE: 24 in. x 36 in.
MEDIUM: Oil Wash on Panel
PRICE: $2,400
ARTWORK STATEMENT: "If Elvis had met me..." is part of a series of paintings that illustrate humorous quotes (and frequently bad advice) from influential women in my life. My eccentric Aunt Barbara Jean was convinced if Elvis had met her, he'd have married her. The painting is vibrant in color like she was, and features the shag dress she used to let me spin around in as a little girl. I applied several layers of oil washes to the surface. After each thin wash of paint, I used erasers to subtract pigment from the surface to reveal the colors underneath. This technique allowed me to add real movement and depth to the dress. I had fun working with non-traditional colors, for my very unconventional Aunt.