Andy Warhol enjoyed recurring themes.

A fashion, art, celebrity, social, commercial, media and political commentator. Banksy certainly appreciates the power of Andy Warhol’s style of portrayal. Warhol was extremely clever with his use of commercialism and controversy to promote his work.

Would you agree that it is the Artist and their body of work that interests viewers so much so as to make them into a phenomenon?

Maybe it is the Artist, their verbal commentary and personality that people find as fascinating as their art work itself?

Few Artists can be as mind bendingly fascinating as Andy Warhol.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Sometimes ugly is beautiful. I’m talking about the ugliness in the portrayal. Such a strange looking word in English is ugly. It sounds strange. Ugh.

Let me show you some subtle vulgarity that exists.

‘Impassioned Kisses’ below [#1] is my first take on Pop Art. My Warholian efforts if you will.

I spent several weeks creating, practising and perfecting the artwork design. Interestingly this involved the use of computerised art software. Why? Well, it’s more difficult for me to draw that way and assisted me when I eventually came to use wet-on-wet ‘alla prima’ oil technique with brush in hand.

‘Impassioned Kisses’ really is my first attempt with brush and oil at this composition. Completely freehand on 36 inch by 28 inch canvas.

Why not try an oil alla prima artwork for yourself. Go on, please. I’d love to think that a dear Reader readies a 36in by 28in canvas with their own subtle background design and gives it a go. Wonderful fun you know.

Practice with a computer drawing package then emulate and sign your name as I have done, in your own style.

Here’s a delicious challenge – maybe copy ‘Impassioned Kisses’ and then sign your own name.

For reference purposes the use of alla prima with ‘Impassioned Kisses’ separated my unusual choice of background to foreground colour from the simple Titanium White and Vermilion Red palette mix.

Having later studied Matisse I surprised myself at the choice of one of his most important brush strokes.

‘Beautiful art lines are discovered and re-discovered like sand dunes and swans necks.‘

Again too with an earlier tree painting Matisse produced. It’s a pity I wrecked my own first version of my ‘Lake and Treescape Serenity’ oil by overworking. The artists nightmare that I’m immensely conscious to avoid and the reason I won’t make too many finishing adjustments to near completed compositions.

Once the gusto and flair for a work is over I can only make small changes. My heart has already given its all to the piece intensively. Super focus gleans my best effort for a canvas.

Below ‘Impassioned Kisses’ you can also see my ‘Lake and Treescape Serenity – Version 1’ [#2] prior to overworking. Version one of the latter is awaiting a bonfire although I do very much love the foreground work so maybe it should rightly remain stored up.

Thankfully I’m ecstatic about ‘Impassioned Kisses’.

‘Impassioned Kisses’ – [#1] (a) – foreground highlighted:

(b) same painting with background detail highlighted in low key:

I loaded the brush with paint and made broad flowing strokes. ‘Impassioned Kisses’ does require framing in my opinion. My hope is that you will see glorious shapes, ideas and a frivolous playful energy. Two bodies entwined. A harmony of sweet music. A promise kept, unchanged.

‘Lake Treescape’ [version one, 2012, unfinished artwork] below – prior to overworking.

This is where I had the clouds as I wanted them:

Lake Treescape

Distant trees and landscape unfinished. I need to restore this artwork.

Here is my photograph for the composition:

Onto other artworks with ‘The Boat Is Dark’.

‘The Boat Is Dark [first version]’ below: (unsigned in watercolour, somewhere)

The Boat is Dark

‘The Boat Is Dark’ is purposefully kitsch, garish and ugly. Earth’s ecology, the natural environment and recycling. Further versions must always appear child-like and grotesquely garish until the sea is green again.

You will never forget my paintings.

I love version one with its dreamy Van Gogh-like wooden fishing peg and eerie chromatic sun. Fishing is so serene, so I used photographs taken of local fishing pegs to help explain my concept behind the composition.

Are you wondering why I haven’t posted an Andy Warhol painting.. yet?

Vulgarity and ugliness really can be very beautiful. It has a time honoured place in history, this right now and for all our futures.

Sometimes I wonder how far it will be allowed to go.

My guess is Andy Warhol did too.