“L is for Lennon”
Another in the ABC MUSIC series, John Lennon.
‘What kind of clothes do you like to wear?’
‘Neat lines in dark shades. I love suede, leather and cord.’
‘What kind of clothes do you dislike?’
‘Baggy things or anything in a bright colour.’
— Interview with 16 Magazine
Telling a Story
There’s two dates to know for celebrity deaths, at least that’s what my dad told me when I was a kid. September 30th, 1955 (James Dean), and December 8th 1980, the day John Lennon was shot.
Perhaps there is something about the appeal of the rebel, the loner, the one who took their own path and would not conform. Our favorite ‘era’ Lennon was the ‘greaser’ period in his early years. Looking back at the influence of rockabilly seen even in the early Beatles’ days, makes it kind of badass to see photos of John bedecked in leather, ornamented by buckles and chains, with his high-top sneakers (shades of punk rock to come.) That’s why I chose this particular feeling of John to portray.
Movement, youth, joy, and light-heartedness are what I intend the viewer to experience.
Along with the art, the accompanying playlist mentioned above includes some of my favorites, and some songs in tribute to John.
You’ll see my portrait is staged with the actual newspapers my dad saved from when he was twenty in 1980 when the news broke.
I hope you like it.
“Shine on.”
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.
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 ____”
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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
