Elvis Immortalised By Art Supplies

Published: 2010-11-23

The King of Rock and Roll has been committed to canvas by a fellow celebrity using the finest art supplies.

Rolf Harris painted Elvis in 2007 to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the singer's death after being inspired to use art supplies by a friend who confessed to being a huge fan of the King.

The Australian is no stranger to painting monarchs having already created a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II for a special edition of the extremely popular television programme 'Rolf on Art' but this time the subject was rock royalty.

Rolf chose to use different coloured art supplies to create a contrasting portrait of Elvis which is covered by a blue hue and sees him punching the air while wearing clothing typical of his Las Vegas era.

He said: "I found out, to my amazement, that it would soon be thirty years since Elvis passed away and I thought that this remarkable man, on stage, in his trademark white jumpsuit, would make a wonderful painting."

The Fine Art Blog praised the painting and said that the entertainer's use of art supplies demonstrated a variation in the artist's usual style.

Blogger Russell said: "Personally I think 'Blue Elvis' reveals Rolf Harris's versatility as a painter and this is an outstanding figurative piece of work in its own right; the fact that it is a tribute to such a beloved icon makes it even more satisfying to me."

Harris has passed on his art supplies abilities to his daughter Bindi Harris who has managed to establish a successful career despite the huge celebrity of her father overshadowing her progress.

Rolf told the Guardian: "I think she's become an artist in spite of me. She's been under my shadow all her life and now it's her turn to shine."

Bindi revealed to the Guardian that she used art supplies to create oil portraits of local people before going to Bristol University to study the subject.

She describes her paintings as "slow release" and relates them to the feelings experienced when meeting someone for the first time as they provoke a willingness to explore.

The whole Harris family have exhibited together before as Rolf's wife Alwen is a talented sculptor.

Rolf told the BBC: "I hope everyone who visits the exhibition is touched in some way by the whole family's art."

Alwen met Rolf at a London City and Guilds Art School when the Australian moved to England to develop his career.