As befits her name, this portrait shows New York Mistress Ariana as equestrienne, in jacket, gloves and breeches, training her pony-boy at a warm exotic location, maybe a hacienda. He is harnessed in a bizarre horse-head costume and ready to pull her pony-trap, with another just to the side.
But is he merely a pony-boy?
Surely this one is a unicorn? And rare enough to be the unicorn that has commissioned this painting!
This depiction of now retired Goddess Virgin started many months back with a thought of a road of banknotes thrown down for a mistress by adoring admirers. (Yes they aren’t the right colour for banknotes, I know)
The idea then developed into a road paved with gold, and by extension to the Yellow Brick Road from the Wizard of Oz.
Then how would this Goddess look in a Dorothy costume, made subtly sexy by black leather gloves, a basket containing chains and collars etc.
In her right hand a riding whip , in her left that ever ubiquitous lifeline – the mobile phone.
Following her some way back struggling to keep up – a human ‘Toto’. The Lion looks on with stiff tail but the Tin man and Scarecrow are just resting in the field, having a quiet smoke -too exhausted to notice!
This is a very personal commission.
All Sardax commissions are personal and unique, of course, but this one especially so.
Mistress Scarlet of Glasgow is depicted here arriving back from a visit to a faraway country indicated by the flags on the suitcases being loaded by one of her maids.
She has just entered a hunting lodge somewhere in the Scottish Highlands and takes off her coat and gazes down at us commandingly. To greet her, another of her devoted maids (the commissioner herself) has been strapped in extremely uncomfortable bondage to present a welcoming glass of her favourite relaxing drink. How long can he hold it for her? How long has he been waiting?
On the wall of the lodge there are paintings that allude to Mistress Scarlet’s personal and professional lifestyle – a visit to the gymnasium, spa and one of her sessions whipping another maid.
Beneath that an opera programme and some of her favourite books to while away the secluded hours -and isn’t that one of Sardax “Venus in Furs” there?
For this commission I was fortunate enough to meet the mistress herself on a trip to London and made a sketch from life. Being able to draw the subject directly helps of course to get a better idea but is by no means essential. For most photos and even video clips are more than enough reference.
The Art of Sardax 