The Girl with the Graff Earring

Jonny Arnold & Cherie Strong

The Work

This piece is a contemporary reinterpretation of Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring, cleverly renamed The Girl with the Graff Earring. I fell in love with the work because of its playful combination of classical portraiture and modern graffiti influences. It holds significance for me personally as it represents the evolution of my own taste and approach to art and framing, and it celebrates collaboration between two artists I admire.

Year: c. 2016
Medium: Posca & charcoal on oil paper
Image size: 225 mm x 345 mm
Framed size: 585 mm x 685 mm
Catalogue: 0019

Provenance

I purchased this piece directly from Jonny Arnold and Cherie Strong, likely while they were living in the UK, and it was shipped to me. The artwork hung in my studio for a long time and was a constant source of inspiration.

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Framing

The artwork is framed in a Dutch ripple frame, crafted by renowned Australian framer Graham Reynolds. The Dutch ripple style originated in the 17th century in the Netherlands, characterized by ebonized wood with undulating, wave-like patterns. These frames were designed to subtly enhance the artwork, allowing the image to dominate while adding a refined, textural element.

Dutch ripple has been my favourite frame of all time, and it is central to my career and approach as a framer. Historically, the original Girl with a Pearl Earring by Vermeer is often seen in ornate French gold frames, but Vermeer would have intended a dark, ebonised frame like a Dutch ripple — simple, moody, and elegant. The ripple frame allows the viewer's eye to move naturally into the artwork, highlighting the subject's porcelain-like face without distraction.

I have long advocated for Dutch ripple frames in Australia, pressing moulding importers like Bellini Fine Mouldings for years to release them. Eventually, they brought out three different sizes in a Dutch ripple design, and I was among the first to receive samples. My persistence even earned me recognition from Bellini for my role in introducing the style. Having this frame made by Graham Reynolds — one of Australia's leading frame makers and a highly respected figure in traditional framing — makes it even more significant. This frame represents a fusion of historical accuracy, technical excellence, and my own passion for period-appropriate framing.

About Jonny Arnold & Cherie Strong

Jonny Arnold is a contemporary artist known for his evolution from street art to fine art, exploring figurative and narrative work with oils, acrylics, and mixed media. Cherie Strong is a fellow artist and collaborator, often integrating contemporary themes with expressive portraiture. Together, they have created works that merge classical references with modern techniques, as seen in this collaboration. Jonny and Cherie also work together on pieces under the name Slightly Bruised Fruit.