Wednesday, January 14, 2009

To quote Monty Python's Flying Circus

click to enlarge image
"And now for something completely different..."

I was watching the program "Project Runway" and they had a delightful episode where the contestants had to design and sew an outrageous outfit for an even more outrageous drag queen. What made it interesting was one of the challengers himself was/is a drag queen performer and costume designer in San Francisco before going to NY to try his hand at clothing for real women.

I just adore these performers who have studied women and really caricatured and exaggerated the stereotypical features of feminine beauty. These are lovely hemales from my imagination that I just wanted to have fun painting. Oil on 16x20 canvas. The one of the left was given to a former classmate because he and his wife thought it was "cool." Purple Purrsylla is still looking for a good home but he/she is making me smile everyday when I see her in the hallway.

14 comments:

liza101 said...

i love the drag queen drawings. What an amazing life story you have. I wonder if you know my mother Jean Amabile she was a SFPD for 20+ years, maybe your paths crossed? Anyway love the blog

liza101 said...

No I haven't. I have had some photos taken, a few are up elswhere on my blog, but never a portrait. If I had one done I'd want it to be either a. me on the can, for the bathroom of course. Or one of those extremly WASPY mantle-piece type portraits, with me in an evening gown, or a suit and mallards everywhere. But of course I would have fierce nails and maybe a weave. Anyway, LOVE the drag queens, you should do more with that kind of stuff. I'd dig anyway

Mary Paquet said...

Sheila, love the drawings! You are something else. Also, saw your DSFDF night scene and I think it's terrific.

Douglas Hoover said...

Completely different indeed! That's what I love about visiting your blog, Sheila, you leave no creative stone unturned.

adebanji said...

Great Humour in paint! You capture these moods sweetly!

JudyMackeyart said...

Fun Paintings of a fun subject matter. Gambare!!

artbyakiko said...

Sheila, these paintings brought me back some wonderful memories of my dear friends in SF. I love your paintings!

Deltra Powney said...

Love these drawings! The beauty of bold drama comes through!

Kate Merriman said...

You are a multi-faceted person - love the energy of these. Fun! I loved that episode of Project Runway too.

Paula Villanova said...

Wow...these are wild! You caught that theatrical glamour that these men/ladies are so good at. Great subjects!

Art By Erika said...

Well now, this is a side of you I hadn't met! I think these are outstanding! I like the gestures and facial expressions and of course, you are quite a colorist!

Art with Liz said...

I'm echoing what everyone else has said - fantastic paintings!

Trevor Lingard said...

Hi Sheila
I love the lower one.
You have captured that look of "is it male or female"....clever.
The pose is fabulous.
Perhaps you might do a series, I am sure they would be very well recieved. (thats not a pun, bye the way).
Best Regards
Trevor

maddsketch said...

Oh man they look fantastic! i luv the first one a lot!