Lilies are still Lilies Painting

By the time I painted this, I had already produced a number of the darker paintings and this image was therefore, an attempt to see if I could leave behind some of my erstwhile ‘friends’, which is to say the shadows, heavy textiles, brocades and dark glazes and bring things out into the daylight with a brighter colour scheme and mood, whilst also, I hoped maintaining a little of the weight and definition of the more ‘Venetian Mannerist’ pieces. Anyone who knows the territory will recognise the obvious and enormous debt this picture owes to the suite of drawings by Giandomenico Tiepolo showing gangs of Pulchinelli up to no good in various Venetian locations. Although I could never hope to achieve the level of animation and vitality of his images, I was certainly looking to acquire some his sense of joy in mischief. I’m not sure if I succeeded in doing what I set out to do with this my feelings are mixed, but I do like the slightly more modern, art deco atmosphere which seems to have crept in and the idea of Pulchinelli wearing richer garments than the normal dirty rags that are their stock in trade is also something I may choose to develop in future.