La, La, La, Whatever, 24”x24”, mixed media
La, La, La, Whatever
24”x24” • mixed media on wood
2018
When creating the background for this painting I channeled my inner kindergartener and did whatever felt good in the moment. My inner kindergartener likes to say, “hey! I wonder what would happen if we drew this? or glued this on there? or scribble over this part here?!” But it’s more of a dare than a question. So I went with it, and had the best time filling up the space as a backdrop for a giant doll. I just love these vintage dolls with their permanent look of shock and surprise. That fixed gaze was the perfect look to go with the chaos of the background.
One day, when I was taking a lunch break from this painting, I heard the song “Tonight, Tonight” by Hot Chelle Rae… which has the lyric, “La, La, La, Whatever” which totally embodied how I felt when I was making the piece, as well as the look on the doll’s face. And that’s how the title was born.
$1650 (framed)