his portrait of Al Pacino, we feel a sense of being invited into their conversation, and privy to the closeness between two friends. Fittingly, Depp has chosen for us to view Keith Richards through a haze of smoke, leaving us in no doubt of his legendary rock n’ roll credentials. With his sketchbook as a permanent fixture in his hand, rarely is there a time when Depp isn’t sketching or visually conceptualising the world around him. His mind rejects the ordinary, challenges the accepted and oscillates between the pictorial and the lyrical, giving rise to his own multi- layered expressionistic style. Johnny’s art exists at the intersection of ‘Pop Art’ and ‘Street Art’. Recognisable images of people in popular culture are recast in vibrant, bright colours and overlayed with the energy and wit of Street Art. The result is a series of iconic images of media figures that have moved beyond the impersonal graphic simplicity of Pop Art. It’s Pop Art with feeling.
As an actor, Depp is known for his depth of research and commitment to characterisation. He is an innate student of human behaviour; studying, translating, and harnessing qualities he sees in others to weave into the tapestry of a persona he is creating. This has resulted in laser sharp powers of observation, and the ability to identify and utilise the subtlest nuance. He has wielded this skill in his visual art, using it to create a true authenticity and depth in the portraits of those who have become the most important figures in his life, those who have altered the course of his life and those who have provided influence and inspiration. A closer looks at his portraiture confers the qualities that Depp felt his subjects revealed most keenly to him, or are his strongest points of recall when revisiting times shared and memories made. For Elizabeth Taylor, her iconic eyes have been made the focal point of the composition, such was their power to transfix those around her. Depp’s portrayal of Dylan radiates power and influence, tempered with an openness and humility in his facial expression and slightly bowed head. Upon viewing
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker