Cotton Candy

Last week I was awed by this amazing painting by artist Will Cotton. Candy loving Cotton, was commissioned by Katy Perry to create a cover for her new album Teenage Dream. He was also a creative director for her recent single 'California Gurls'. You can see the inspirations behind Perry's sugary pop video in his sensual work, a delight for the eyes and the tastebuds!

Peppermint Hideaway www.willcotton.com

Candy Curls www.willcotton.com

I was also inspired by the twin themes of girls and sweets in my 2008 series 'Bon Bons'. With models ranging from Kylie Minogue to Beatrix Von Bourbon this series was a big hit with sweetie lovers!

'Allsorts' Acrylic on canvas www.gemmaparker.co.uk

Christina's new look?

It's one of my guilty pleasures to watch the ever changing faces and re-invention of female pop stars. So does anyone else think Christina Aguilera's new look is a bit of a let down?

After seeing her cheesecake it up as a Fifties sailor, an Andrew's Sisters style trio and an army pin-up for Candyman, I was looking forward to finding out what her new look would be for her new single.
So I was disappointed to see her in a Sixties go go dress with all the trimmings in her video 'Keeps Getting Better'.

It's not that she doesn't look good, it just seems a bit lazy and predictable plundering from one decade to the next especially when she claimed to have planned every move of her career for the next ten years! I can't help wondering if her next grand plan will involve a Seventies style Foxy Brown outfit with big gold earrings and hot pants.
I find this kind of packaging of female beauty fascinating and Christina is one of the best at giving us a show for our money, I just felt a bit short changed this time.