I am a digital artist exploring the influence of Dutch Vanitas painting and its connection to beauty
product advertising in the media, experimenting the bridge between publicity and art. Drawing
from John Berger’s idea that publicity borrows from traditional oil painting, I am interested in the
fleeting nature of life suggested by the Vanitas and the pressure to maintain youthful beauty in the
media.

I create hyper-realistic still life compositions in Procreate, using a range of texture tools
and layers, influenced by beauty magazine layouts, but maintaining a painterly artistic process. By
reinterpreting Vanitas symbols of decay and death as suggested consequences imposed on modern consumers, if they do buy into beauty products, my work critiques how advertising fuels desire, fear, and self-worth, through a painterly approach to digital art. I aim blur the boundaries between historical still life and contemporary media, highlighting the enduring pressure of social image across centuries.

Instagram: @annamorrisdesign