Model-1, from the “Blow-Up Dolls” series | 30”h x 40”w | Oil on canvas | 1998

This painting is one of a series of three paintings that I created inspired by fashion and supermodels from magazines.The models used in these paintings were featured in publications like Vogue, Cosmo, etc. The intention behind this series was to do studies of the skin tones of the models in different lighting scenarios. The title comes from the round mouths that they have, which were initially painted just to make the models seen more interesting by having a circular mouth. After a while, influenced by what people were suggesting, I actually cut the canvas where the mouths are and painted the blowing valve on their arm/leg to add to the illusion that they are blow up dolls.