This is part of a group of paintings that focuses on the sexualization of children. The original image was taken at a children's beauty contest and I have appropriated it and altered it through medium and intent. There are a couple things at work here, other than my overall intent of dealing with children's sexuality. I am also interested in ideas of ownership. As I was working on this painting I struggled with the idea that I was using someone else's art. i am the last person who would ever support ripping. However, there is a difference between "ripping" an image and appropriating one. As the artist goes through the process of transferring the image and altering the medium, the intention changes, the mood changes. I feel this painting has been successful in that it has a much different feeling from the original painting. You can't really tell here, but the surface quality of the painting is very luscious, with multiple layers of paint built up to give the surface a luminous, smooth texture, almost like skin. It's a very touchable, sexy painting.

The original photograph was taken by Inez Van Lamsweerde and the photograph is 'Kirsten'.

Oil on masonite panel. 3 feet by 3 feet. Feb. 2005.