My newest painting "River of Joan" is greatly inspired by Dutch artist Hieronymus Bosch and also by my fascination with Joan Rivers' surgically enhanced face. It all started a few weeks ago when a friend sent me a close-up photo of the wonderfully venomous Ms. Rivers. I stared and stared, trying to get my head around what she's done to her face. Her cheeks appear over-inflated, pillow-like, and nearly ready to burst, her facial skin is impressively stretched beyond its limits, eyes are coal black and cat-like, her hair is sleek blonde with carefully groomed wisps sprayed firmly into place. In order to attempt an understanding of her face, I began painting her portrait. Several weeks later, this is the end result...and yet I've reached no further understanding. I'll go ahead and say it though, I think she looks great - but I tend to gravitate toward the strange and unusual.
Each character appearing in the painting was done separately and later added to the scene. This allowed me to move elements around and play with composition.
Devil Joan emerges from an acid lake to attack Bjork because she doesn't like the swan dress the quirky songstress wore to the Oscars. Luckily for Bjork, her swan hissed and chased Devil Joan back into the caustic depths of her hellish lair.
A fish commonly found in the River of Joan. It feeds regularly from the gurgling Fountain of Botox.
Yes, that's Laura Flynn Boyle holding a duck.
The true secret to Joan's flawless visage. Medium: Digital painting created on Cintiq 12WX. Prints available soon.
The hissing swan is my favorite - made me laugh on a Monday morning, a rare feat indeed. Thanks for sharing your talents.
Posted by: lemme out | July 23, 2012 at 11:42 AM
Just a great, inspiired painting. Thank you.
Posted by: Fred Wickham | July 07, 2012 at 02:46 PM
I'm a fan of Bosch's design, and this is a excellent honor. Joan has lengthy since become a caricature of herself, the only observe she is able to perform kidding about how much face perform she is had done.
Posted by: best chiropractor jacksonville | July 03, 2012 at 02:37 AM
Wow, this is great. You are a true artist my friend.
Posted by: Ryan | June 17, 2012 at 05:38 PM
I love all the mysterious creatures lurking around the edges of this mad vision! The fish lipped beings are rather pretty in their own funky way. Or maybe that's just me becoming too overly influenced by pop culture and distorted beauty "norms" again!
Posted by: Lipstick Mystic | June 08, 2012 at 12:38 PM
I love this! Thank you.
Posted by: Pandy | May 18, 2012 at 08:53 PM
A question and a request.
Q: Is "dee cee" new slang for Ann Coulter?
Request:
I humbly submit that you wave George Clooney's magical hot dog over the controversial breastfeeding "Time" magazine cover.
Thanks ever so much!
Love,
Verndetta
Posted by: Vern | May 12, 2012 at 05:19 AM
Beyond brilliant, as always!
Posted by: Susan Olsen | May 11, 2012 at 09:42 AM
What greedy, envious, jealous spite spawned inwardly you bring out..
If malice or envy were tangible and had a shape, it would be the shape of a boomerang. ~Charley Reese
Posted by: dee cee | May 11, 2012 at 03:05 AM
Tres magnifique!
Posted by: janet | May 09, 2012 at 04:53 PM
I'm a fan of Bosch's style, and this is a good homage. Joan has long since become a caricature of herself, the only note she's able to play joking about how much facial work she's had done.
Love the tiny Bjork.
Posted by: Noelegy | May 07, 2012 at 03:01 PM
These would make a wonderfully illustrated, but, truly scary children's fairy tale book!,..And imagine if you extended the art to all the stuff she had done on the rest of her body!
"Eeewww! Scary, Scary Boys N' Girls!!!" Go ask Alice,... I'll think she'll know.
Feed your head!
Posted by: The Mave | May 07, 2012 at 02:01 AM
Bizarre. Hellish. Genius. If Hieronymus was alive today, this is what he would paint.
Posted by: Webmaster Pete | May 04, 2012 at 10:38 AM
Methinks Melissa should purchase this (@ $450,000.) to hang above her fireplace as a sort of Dorian Grey/Lon Chainey warning.
P.S. The Lumberjack Hoisting Joan's forehead is killing me.
Posted by: Vern | May 04, 2012 at 05:17 AM
Freakin' amazing.
Posted by: Kipling | May 03, 2012 at 08:53 PM
The solo fish piece would make a great bathroom wall treatment. All of it would, really.
xoxo Portia
Posted by: Portia | May 03, 2012 at 04:22 PM
You capture her likeness. A job well done 14!
Posted by: Sammy | May 03, 2012 at 03:27 PM
Joan never looked so bad in a good GOTA kind of way!!
Posted by: The Mave | May 03, 2012 at 03:25 PM