Why a Green Man?
I'll keep this one short. Ok, so first I, like many but by no means all artists, am a fool for colourful new art materials. I won't say shiny products because this was when I discovered that my favourite paint people (Golden Artists' Acrylics) had brought out some acrylic poster paints. As in, paints for making posters, I believe. They are called "So Flat" and are fascinating, liquidy acrylic gouaches. For those who do not use acrylics, may I remind you that these are plastic. So sometimes they are just too shiny.
The inspiration is a photo of a beautiful model from the front of Vogue. Try as I might, I cannot find the original photographer's name, so I apologise for that. Anyway, the atmosphere of the original was dark and moody, just look at the knife-edge of that man's cheekbones.
I worked hard on the complexion and I think I didn't do too badly. I have no idea of the order of things but at some point I gave him green eyes and a high-collared shirt. Then I started thinking of the first series of The Silmarillion, which was on paid for TV at the time. Yes, somebody that tall and beautiful could well be an Elf, why not? I elongated his ear (I'm sure he has another one too). I filled in the painting with leaves and stencilled mossy bits, gave him a crown. There you go, another version of a very British legend of the Green Man. For some reason, painted on a bit of cardboard box. Beautifully flat and matte as well.
Golden Artist’s Acrylics So Flat colours. Worth a look. They come in small tubs, rather than teensy little tubes.