Shiny, Pretty Things: Victoire de Castellane's Jewelry

Victoire de Castellane has designed jewelry for both the houses of Chanel and Dior.  There.  That's all I need to say about her.  But I'll say more.  Her colorful, imaginative and edgy pieces take fine jewelry to the next level.  Her fantastical designs take you through the looking glass...and they're shiny, pretty pieces of art.

You can Like her on Facebook.  See her Dior pieces.  See her Gagosian exhibit.

My Fan Art Project for Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends

To celebrate Cartoon Network's 20th anniversary, I had the opportunity to participate in an art show--creating a piece of fan art based on a Cartoon Network show.  I chose Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends.

Foster's is a whimsical, character rich show about a home where imaginary friends go to when they are no longer needed--or believed in.  It is funny and sweet and has colorful, creative characters.

I decided to use my love of fashion and photography as inspiration to create couture interpretations of 3 of my favorite characters.  For logistical reasons (and because I didn't have 3 supermodel friends on hand--not to mention studio space to create the set), I designed the fashions for dolls.  Here is my vision for Bloo, Eduardo, and Coco.

The Characters

These are the characters from the show.  My muses are: Coco on the far left, Bloo right next to her, and Eduardo, the big purple guy with horns and the skull belt in the middle.

The Designs

My concept sketches and fabric swatches.

The Models

You'll be seeing more of these girls.  I already have another photo shoot with them.

The Artwork

I titled it "House of Foster's: Eduardo, Bloo, and Coco Couture".


There will be an exhibition (curated by Mark Murphy) of all the artwork created for this show at the Jett Gallery in San Diego this week during Comic Con.  Come by if you're in town!

Artist Series: George Barbier's Illustrations

George Barbier (1882-1932) was one of France's great illustrators from the early 20th century.  Originally a fashion illustrator for several Paris magazines, he went on to create extravagant costumes for theaters, cabarets and movies.  One of these movies was "Mousieur Beaucaire" staring Rudolph Valentino.  His illustrations show the influence of the sensual, naturalistic designs and oriental style that was part of the Art Nouveau movement.

I find his use of color and mix of patterns in each of his illustrations inspiring and relevant to designers today.  The worlds he creates stimulate the imagination with their theatricality.  With a little bit of Vegas showgirl mixed in.  They look like they're having so much fun.

So ahead of his time--the pop of red shoes with the gray and turquoise dress.

Gorgeous headdress--and I love the guy peeping in on the right hand side.

The shape of her dress with the black detail and purple tassels are just exquisite.  And I love the puppy in the corner.

There are so many more!  I will have to have another installment of his illustrations in my artist series.  Maybe I'll attempt to do a few of my own.

All of these images are from Flickr.  They are all from the same person who has a link to his website Steven Poke.  He also has a link to his ebay shop if you're interested in buying any series.

Artist Series: Tim Walker Photography

I love both fashion and photography, and the photographers that combine them beautifully to take the viewer to a different world truly inspire me.  Tim Walker does so much more than show pretty clothes on pretty people.  He creates a mood and tells a story while celebrating beauty.

 

His work is regularly seen in Italian and British Vogue as well as Vanity Fair, New Yorker, iD Magazine.  He has several books (you can find on Amazon), and a website with more of his photos.

He also has photographed animals.  The pastel Persians are what called my attention to him.

This was not done in Photoshop--he used colored powder.

What I would give to go on a shoot with him.

Artist Series: Mom's Quilts Pt. 1

I thought my artist series this month would be my mother's quilts.  Those of you who know my mother know what an exceedingly talented, generous and loving woman she is.  She has touched so many lives with her dedicated involvement throughout the years in Girl Scouts, church choirs, hosting AFS (exchange) students and, among other things, quilting.

She has been creating quilts for many years now.  Her sense of color, technique and design bring a unique approach to a traditional craft and art form.  This is but a small sampling of some of her quilts.  My photos don't do them justice, but you get the idea.

For all the love she gives.

This is one of my favorite.  It is a "watercolor" technique and has 3 dimensional flowers in the center.

Close up detailing.

This is her interpretation of Plantation Heritage Park (with the fountain in the middle).

She created this for Chinese New Year's.  I think I actually sketched out the dragon.

"Her First Prom"

Close up detail of the ribbons and pearls.

Purple is her favorite color and Irises one of her favorite flowers.

Stitching detail.

I think these are called windmills.  I love the color combination.

She created this one for her church choir.  These are mostly hand appliqued.

She created this mariner's compass for my father.  It was from a workshop I attended with her--a week in the mountains of Montana.  Of course her version came out much nicer than mine!  And of course, she had to finish mine so I could give it to my husband.

This is the center.

This is actually a huge king size quilt.  Every square has a different color combination but they all work beautifully together.

Stitching details.

She has made quilts for so many people and has never accepted payment for any of them.  She makes them out of love for the craft and the person she's creating it for.

I'll be going to Florida to spend some time with my mother, so I'm not sure how often I'll be posting.