@graeme
I think John isn’t the first one who replicates something from pop culture and adds his own thing to it. There are emough good examples out there.

Firstly I think it’s a little too easy to dismiss magazine covers as a ‘vapid subject’. Although formulaic they are not so easy to produce. I genuinely do admire the men and women who are involved in their production. Many people believe magazines are a dyeing format… I’m not sure I believe that… but I certainly would lament their passing.

Secondly for me the magazines are just a beginning point. I add to them, I twist them I project my reactions onto them. I don’t feel the need to justify these decisions… this is a very personal thing. It is a form of autobiography.

Perhaps, simply, what you find vacuous I find inspiring and exciting.

I certainly do care about improving my technique… although I do not feel it is essential for me to achieve perfection in this instance.. for me the idea works better if it is imperfect – fucked up somehow.

As for you your final question. You could not be aware of it’s irony. I have been depressed. Not a bit down. I mean properly depressed and Covers has been part of my recovery… so I can reply honestly, from the heart… No! doing this makes me happy :) and if I am a mere fad I really don’t care. First and foremost I’m doing this for my own well being.

If you’d like to continue this discussion please feel free to contact me directly through my blog.