“I try to paint subjects who are a little provocative, or challenging, or cheeky. I like the painting to have some ‘life’ or attitude about it. Its great to look to the burlesque world and challenge the conventional idea of what is beautiful, as a woman I’m bored of body image and ideas of beauty fed to us in the media. I like that these girls have an interesting mix of nostalgia (in their costumes), as well as being totally modern women, they are not afraid to be who they want, a fantasy even. I like to make a tribute to them in some way, immortalise them in that moment, celebrating who they are and what they love to do - by doing what I love to do. I hope that by painting these amazing women I’m actually celebrating all us girls in general.”
- Emma Mount at travelling with the ghost
(via gauntlet)