Dolly Parton portrait by illustrator Deanna Meyer.
— “D is for Dolly” —
Another in the ABC MUSIC series, Dolly Parton.
“If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, then, you are an excellent leader.”
―
Telling a Story
Since my toddling days I heard Dolly’s music playing at my paternal grandmother’s home. She especially loves the Dolly Parton & Porter Wagoner albums.
I’ve always admired Dolly’s work ethic and charitability. During this pandemic I have come to admire her even more and I got “the Dolly shot”, Moderna. Thanks Dolly!
This piece is a little homage to an amazing human. Here’s some of the detail:
This piece is archival quality paper and ink.
My Dolly Parton illustration was created digitally using a drawing app called Procreate.
I really enjoy gardening as well as art, so you’ll find a lot of attention to nature in my work.
This is a butterfly native to Tennessee, a Pipevine Swallowtail. I wanted to include as much accurate detail as possible.
Much of the fun in the portrait was imagining Dolly’s makeup. I love painting eyeshadows and lipstick!
Sight and Sound
Mix Tapes
Recently I thought I’d share something I started to do: Make soundtracks, or little “mix-tapes” that either directly relate to my piece of art, or, that came to me while painting the piece.
While I work I sing – loudly. I dance too, on occasion. You can think of it as an eruption of emotion into the art. It’s cool actually, pretty cathartic.
Music comes to me. Sometimes it leads me in a way that I know a direction or ‘genre’ I want to head toward. Sometimes it’s a total surprise and comes together at the end. Additionally, by way of Spotify I have discovered so much music, the ways in which one can leap-frog from one musical lily pad to another in this modern era is actually very astounding.
While painting my mind is traveling and sometimes a piece of music will get me to researching, & sometimes it serves as a conduit to learn/find something new. It’s in this sort of spider web-like way that the playlists I make are woven together.
I thought that since I get these sort of, ‘visions of music’, (I don’t know how else to call it) that I ought to create some organized fashion to keep my musical thoughts in order.
These are eclectic collections, and I do intentionally sort the order of the songs, and also tend to insert instrumental pieces for levity.
Listen:
My Spotify handle is “Deanna, Dammit”
Art playlists will be title “Drawing ____”
In the Details:
•Digital Painting, Yes, this is hand drawn, via an ipad!
•Painting and Text by illustrator Deanna Meyer, of Grease and Grace.
•True vintage fonts used whenever possible.
•11×14″
•Archival quality ink on 100% cotton rag, non-reflective paper for long lasting fade resistance
*Due to differences in monitors or screens, colors may vary in printed form slightly.
— PRINT ONLY, no mat —
Packaged with backing board and protective plastic sleeve.
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ABOUT THE ARTIST
Hello, I’m Deanna. Creating little worlds is all I want to do.
I spend my days in my illustration studio, surrounded by herbs and antique curiosities, in rural Pennsylvania. I enjoy many interesting adventures with my husband, daughter, and Shmoop, the “Office Cat.”
Since I was a young child, I’ve been creating. Some of my earliest memories are of drawing historic clothing, making fairy tale paper dolls, and designing my own “book covers.”
The work I make is influenced heavily by my affinity for historic eras: Color palettes, patterns, textures, architecture, typography – the list goes on. From Medieval to Mid-Century, I love it all.
If you don’t want to miss anything, follow IG: #deannameyer for illustration and vintage musings. I’m an artist, herbalist, and mother with Multiple Sclerosis & Endometriosis.
I’m also an official artist of the Brooklyn Art Library’s Sketchbook Project.
— Deanna
