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1st Edition
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- Artists
- Shaw, Chris
 - Edition Details
| Year: | 2010 | | Class: | Original Art | | Status: | Official | | Technique: | Original Mixed Media | | Paper: | Canvas | | Size: | 36 X 48 | | Markings: | Signed |
- EB Awards
- Nominate Now
- Event
- Mind Spring Art Show
- Comments
- Read 2 Comments
- Add Comment
I have a long hisÂtory of makÂing Green Elvis Icons, though few have been used as posters or painted as art. I did make sevÂeral large scale Green Elvis paintÂings as conÂcert art for the big sumÂmer conÂcert fesÂtiÂvals in the 1990′s. These images were seen by milÂlions, and since then, the Green Elvis has been a tradeÂmark image of mine. That said, I retired the theme many years ago.
Recently, I had the opporÂtuÂnity to make a poster for the docÂuÂmenÂtary film “AmerÂiÂcan ArtiÂfactâ€, a film about Rock Poster artists which I am feaÂtured in. After stewÂing on it, I figÂured there really couldn’t be a betÂter image to use than a Green Elvis, he is after all, a true AmerÂiÂcan ArtiÂfact. I got to work right away at makÂing the ultiÂmate Green Elvis.
This image is firmly rooted in Masonic GeomÂeÂtry, and of course it has a nice handÂful of Masonic symÂbols included. If you look closely, you’ll notice that everyÂthing from the hands, to the angle of the elbows are based on the Freemason’s square and comÂpass. The angles repeat at many scales throughÂout the paintÂing. The hands are approÂpriÂated from Albrecht Durer, one of my favorite artists, who was coinÂciÂdenÂtally one of the leadÂers of FreemaÂsonry in his time. His work is very influÂenÂtial to me.
The quesÂtion I always get, is why the old Elvis, and why green? The answer goes back to my childÂhood. My mother once told me (she was probÂaÂbly jokÂing) that Elvis was like Jesus. That stuck for some reaÂson. When Elvis died, I watched how he was deiÂfied in the comÂmon conÂsciousÂness. He did in fact, sufÂfer for us… Its really an interÂestÂing conÂcept to me. One day I received a postÂcard from GraceÂland, it was the worst picÂture of the old Elvis ever. It was printed so badly that his skin was greenÂish… That was the inspiÂraÂtion behind the first Green Elvis, which was my first “modÂern iconâ€.Acrylic on Canvas
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