'Dreaming of...' - Inspired by Frida Kahlo and Barbie

This original artwork is painted using Winsor & Newton gouache on 300gsm Fabriano watercolour paper. The artwork size is A3 (297mm x 420mm) and is framed in an oak frame with an off-white mat.

After a visit to the Art Gallery of South Australia to view Frida & Diego: Love & Revolution on Saturday morning, followed by watching the Barbie movie in the evening, I was inspired to create an artwork to combine these two unique figures.

Growing up I loved Barbie and had a friend with the Dreamhouse and all sorts of accessories. At the time our imaginations took her on all sorts of adventures and she could do anything. As I got older, I was more critical of her perfect looks and thought it was sending the wrong message to young girls. Now that I know more of the story of her creation and how Barbie led the way in encouraging girls to dream big and let them know that they can do anything, I have a new appreciation for what she has done for girls the world over.

Frida changed the world in a completely different way. Through her art she explored personal and emotional issues which can be seen in her many self-portraits. Frida had polio as a child and then had a life-changing accident as a teenager that left her in constant pain with many medical issues. Embracing her culture, her disabilities and her sexuality show her inner strength and convictions. Along with the message that it’s ok to feel your feelings she is an inspiration to many.

This artwork is a combination of Frida’s ‘Thinking about Death’ as the background with the first Barbie to be released replacing Frida in the foreground. I have taken the liberty of adding a few pink flowers as it couldn’t be a Barbie painting without pink.

In the Barbie movie she starts to think about death which makes her question her life and eventually visit the real world. Frida often thought about death but understood it is another path to life which she symbolises with the lavish green leaves from her Mexican home.