Painting an Idea

So in my "about me" section I wrote that I would write about food, fashion, art, anything that peaks my interest really. Due to technical issues all I have been posting about is classic movies and some recipes. Well I finally got it together! Without further ado here is a feature about one of my favorite contemporary artists.

Now I have been researching Will Cotton for quite some time and as far as personal information there isn't much out there. If any of my lovely readers know any more about this artist please feel free to post in the comment section.

Ron 2009 oil on linen

Born in 1965 in the great state of Massachusetts, he moved to New York in the 80's and pursued a degree in fine arts.  In the early 90's Mr. Cotton used pop iconography aimed at rapture. He sums it up perfectly, "My initial impulse to make these paintings really came out of an awareness of the commercial consumer landscape that we live in. Every day we're bombarded with hundreds, if not thousands of messages designed specifically to incite desire within us."         

In 1996 he continued with the theme of desire and instead of pop icons, he used the landscape itself as an object of affection.  Since 2002 he has painted pin up style and nude women featured in the landscape and has later used cotton candy clouds with the nudes. Mr. Cotton has stated that he is inspired by painters Frederic Edwin Church and Francois Boucher. He is also influenced by pin-up painters such as Gil Elvgren and the photographer Carleton Watkins. You can really see the influence these artists has on Cotton.

Monument 2009 oil on linen    

  " I love the idea of showing someone a picture of a place they've never seen before that might inspire them to want to go there, to force them to imagine what it might be like to experience such a place."      

In 2004 he received the Princess Grace Foundation awarded to artists under the age of 40. In 2008 Mr. Cotton started to show pieces of sculpture comprised of real looking cakes and sweets with loads of frosting. In 2009 he installed a pop-up bakery so he could use real baked goods as a model for his sculptures. For the 3 weeks it was open, every employee got to wear a cupcake tiara that Cotton made for them. 

Will Cotton(center) and the baking team

SWEET, 2009-2010, polystyrene, acrylic polymer, pigment, gypsum

Cotton was the artistic director in 2010 for Katy Perry's music video California Gurls. He also constructed props including the candy land board game set and props using real baked goods. For Katy Perry's album Teenage Dream, Cotton painted a portrait of Katy Perry amongst cotton candy clouds.     

cotton candy katy 2010 oil on linen

Cotton has just released a new book entitled Will Cotton Paintings and Works on Paper.

2011

Well that is it for now... Everyone have a great weekend!

Mrs.M