Stella Vine: Likeness

“I didn't think anyone really liked what I was doing and I literally have the bailiffs at my door.”

Stella Vine

Richard Alleyen, "First blood to Saatchi as a star is born", http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/02/24/nsaat24.xml The Daily Telegraph, (2004-02-24)
On her situation before Saatchi's purchase.

Thinking

“I like to watch old films. Meet Me in St Louis, Cul-de-Sac and Buffalo 66 are some of my favourites.”

Stella Vine

Williams-Akoto. "My Home: Stella Vine, artist" http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/house-and-home/property/my-home-stella-vine-artist-517456.html, The Independent, (2005-11-30)
On her favourite films.

“I have always been ambitious, no doubt about that. I always felt like I had to reach the dizzy heights of fame and success or whatever the heights are of a number of given professions I have dabbled in, to prove myself, "Stripper of the year" a bafta or whatever, for me it was by creating something interesting and entertaining or moving, but not by compromising the thing I was creating, that thing had to reach those heights, I guess it's about being accepted and loved a bit or a lot.”

Stella Vine

Stella Vine blog, http://web.archive.org/20060421143212/stellavine.blogspot.com/2006/03/harry-pye.html 2006-03-11
On ambition and creative drive.

Love , Success

“I like strong/vulnerable interesting women, and then sometimes I like painting beautiful men, like Kurt Cobain, or Mr Darcy.”

Stella Vine

"Stella Vine's The Waltz at Museum of New Art" http://www.detroitmona.com/stella_vine.htm, Detroit Museum of New Art, (2006-09-15.
On the subjects she paints.

Women , Men , Beauty , Strong

“I felt like a social worker a lot of the time.”

Stella Vine

"Debt, Diana and homesickness" http://www.journallive.co.uk/culture-newcastle/theatre-in-newcastle/2004/06/08/debt-diana-and-homesickness-61634-14312773/ The Journal, (2004-06-08)
On stripping.

Time

“My working hours are not that conventional. I often get up about two in the morning and do a painting, and then I'll have a bath, and then I often feel very hungry around 4am, so I'll go into Soho and have a meal somewhere like Balans. That's what I love about living here - there's always life around me.”

Stella Vine

Williams-Akoto. "My Home: Stella Vine, artist" http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/house-and-home/property/my-home-stella-vine-artist-517456.html, The Independent, (2005-11-30)
On working in London.

Love , Life , Feeling , Painting

“I heard Postgate's Desert Island Discs last year and I was very impressed by him as a man, and thoroughly enjoyed his choice of When the Saints Come Marching In. Listening to a creative visionary, one's life suddenly feels exciting again - you just want to get making, and doing. Thank God for people like Oliver Postgate - when you discover them, life takes on a whole new meaning. What an incredible man.”

Stella Vine

Jackson, Nicole and Edemariam, Aida. "Homespun Genius" http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/dec/10/bagpuss-oliver-postgate, (2008-12-10).
On Oliver Postgate, creator of Bagpuss.

Life , God , People , Feeling

“This is a dark painting with a bit of violence because I was very affected by Diana's death. I cried all day because I liked her, warts and all. Most of all I liked the way that she wanted to be loved and didn't mind admitting it.”

Stella Vine

Richard Alleyen, "First blood to Saatchi as a star is born", http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/02/24/nsaat24.xml The Daily Telegraph, (2004-02-24)
On Hi Paul Can You Come Over, her painting of Princess Diana.

Love , Death , Way , Painting

“I identify with people like Diana who just want to be loved by everybody. If somebody doesn’t like me I find that very upsetting.”

Stella Vine

Catherine Deveney, "Stripped bare", http://living.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=288312004 The Scotsman, (2004-03-14)

Love , People

“The art world is really exactly the same as the sex industry: you have to be completely on guard, you will get shafted, fucked over left, right and centre. And you will also meet charming, wonderful people like a rainbow at the end of the day.”

Stella Vine

Source: David Smith, "Art? It's like the sex trade", http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1759321,00.html The Observer, (2006-04-23) : On the art world.

World , Sex , People , Art