MEXICAN DRESS

Here is another snap from my travels through Central Mexico.  I couldn't get over all of the amazing colors - and it made me wonder why some countries and populations are just more colorful than others.  I'll report back on my findings.  But for the time being, this embroidered Mexican dress is one of my favorite souvenirs from my visit to Guanajuato.

Do you have any favorite souvenirs from your travels?  I'd love to see them!

Photo by William Sealy.

DANCE THE ORANGE

"It's remarkably difficult to find words for the flustering magnetism of the color abstractions by the painter Stanley Whitney," began Peter Schjeldahl's review of the artist's solo exhibition at the Studio Museum in Harlem.  I couldn't agree more.  I visited the exhibition just after its opening, on 17 July, and had to think long and hard about its meaning.  Of course, there is the obvious Mondrian influence - punctuated by the fact that music (specifically, Jazz) is a source of inspiration for Whitney.  But what stood out to me the most was the vibrating color.  Schjeldahl quotes Whitney as saying, "I always want to use every color in the universe, but then I have to take some out."  I completely understand that feeling.

Dance the Orange is on view at the Studio Museum in Harlem until October 25, 2015.

Silk shirt and pants: thrifted

Shoes: United Nude (also worn here)

Photos by William Sealy.

ARTSY ONSITE

Last night, I had the pleasure of attending my first Artsy OnSite, at Ameringer | McEnery | Yohe.  Artist Patrick Wilson, whose exhibition opens at the gallery this evening, was on hand to discuss his suite of paintings on view.  While sipping sparkling wine, a small group of us heard from the artist on topics such as his inspiration, creative process, and execution.  He also briefly discussed his use of color, which particularly piqued my interest.

Thanks to Artsy for the invitation, to Patrick for the insight, and to Mark Rosen (@markatthemuseum) for the photos!

Jacket, pants, and blouse: Diane von Furstenberg

Shoes: United Nude

TBT: Morris Louis

I spent last weekend in Washington, DC, and visited the Hirshhorn Museum and the Phillips Collection, which both reminded me of my love for the work of Morris Louis.  The most well known Washington area Abstract Epressionist, Louis' Color Field work has always been very soothing to me.  See my post from 2011 here, wearing one of my favorite dresses (that needs to come back into rotation for spring).

GRAPE ESCAPE

Last weekend, I trekked to Long Island for my first long-awaited experience of the wine country just outside New York City.  The lushness of the grounds and juiciness of the ripe grapes inspired this outfit, along with the highly saturated work of Marylyn Dintenfass.

"Dintenfass uses luscious colors, repetitive forms, and a gestural intensity that combines Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art." --Meredith Mendelsohn

Dintenfass (b. 1943) is known for her oil paintings and prints featuring sensual, gestural abstractions in "ripe, radiant, saturated hues".  Originally from Brooklyn, Dintenfass made the trek to Long Island just like I did, and I can't help but wonder whether the colors and forms of the wine country inspired her work.

Jacket: Diane von Furstenberg

Dress: Suno

Sunglasses: Suno

Boots: Frye

Dintenfass images from rauschenberggallery.com, artinfo.com, driscollbabcock.com, artslant.com, mutantspace.com.  Photos of me by Meri Feir.

RECAP: Favorite Colors of 2013

What a year it's been for Artfully Awear!  In a mood of reflection, I've decided to recap some of my favorite moments of the year.  In April, I launched a project with Pantone, in which I created artwork-inspired outfits centered around their forecasted palette of fashion colors.  My favorites were as follows:

1.  Green Glow

I used the work of Tauba Auerbach and a gorgeous Oscar de la Renta dress to draw correlations with the bright, springy green hue.  Coincidentally, my favorite dress of the year is my favorite color of the year!  View my original post here.

2.  Grenadine

With this hot, bright color, I was inspired by Jason Martin's paintings.  See the post here.

3.  Emerald

Pantone's Color of the Year was also one of my favorites, and it is found in the work of Helen Frankenthaler.  View more photos here.

4.  Magenta Purple

A rich, warm purple is showcased by a Nicole Miller gown and Morris Louis Color Field paintings.  See my post here.

Thank you for a great year!  

ARTFULLY AWEAR + PANTONE: Blue Aster.

I'm picking back up with a brand new post in my series inspired by Pantone colors.  This time, it's the cool 18-4252 TCX Blue Aster, which is beautifully apparent in the accompanying paintings by Swiss artist Karina Wisniewska.

Born in 1966, Wisniewska was trained and performed as a chamber musician and concert pianist before discovering her love for the visual arts, including painting. 

For her, the act of painting in essence records a musical composition onto the canvas.  This ideal brings to mind the visual compositions of Wassily Kandinsky, who said:

Color is the keyboard, the eyes are the harmonies, the soul is the piano with many strings. The artist is the hand that plays, touching one key or another, to cause vibrations in the soul.

Wisniewska's approach to painting is similar to Kandinsky's in that she equates strokes on the canvas with musical representation.  However there is very little formal similarity between the two artists' works.  

Wisniewska applies pigment to canvas using a brush or spatula and often mixes the paint with quartz sand in order to build up a surface.

When I forget what something is called and how I normally know it, that's when I begin to see. By keeping the wrist flexible and varying the pressure and speed, it is [possible] to draw a line without hesitation that will flow like a piece of music. --Karina Wisniewska

Dress: Aqua via Bloomingdale's

Necklace: H&M

Shoes: C'N'C Costume National (available here for 70% off!)

Photos by Meri Feir, images from 1stdibs.com, artnet.com, artsy.net, and karinawisniewska.com.

ARTFULLY AWEAR + PANTONE: Emerald.

After a brief hiatus, I'm back with my latest Artfully Awear + Pantone post, featuring the Color of the Year: Emerald.

Emerald has always been one of my personal favorite colors, and is surprisingly flattering with almost any skin tone. The hue is also well represented in the work of Helen Frankenthaler.

Her oversized canvases, though seemingly abstract, were often inspired by landscapes, such as her most famous work, Mountains and Sea, which measures 7 feet by 10 feet.

One of the few female artists recognized alongside the group of second generation Abstract Expressionists, Frankenthaler (1928-2011) was a Color Field painter.

The thin veils of paint that make up her paintings are reminiscent of watercolors, even though they are actually oils. Her "soak stain" method of thinning oil paint and applying to unprimed canvas was adopted by other artists including Morris Louis and Kenneth Noland.

Two of my favorite posts of all time are inspired by Morris Louis and Kenneth Noland.

Color Field painting was different from Abstract Expressionism in its denial of emotional or mythical themes.

"You have to know how to use the accident, how to recognise it, how to control it, and ways to eliminate it so that the whole surface looks felt and born all at once". --Helen Frankenthaler

Dress: Nicole Miller Artelier (full length version here for $100!)

Shoes: Calvin Klein

Necklace: Anthropologie Chasca

[Photos by @kay_elle_pea; images from stylesight.com, newcriterion.com, justalittlegreen.tumblr.com, and accidental-brilliance.com.]

ARTFULLY AWEAR + PANTONE

Anyone who knows me understands the importance of color in my wardrobe (and life!) and I am beyond thrilled to announce a new series sponsored by THE color experts at Pantone. 

The Pantone team selected a gorgeous palette of fashion trend colors for Spring 2014, and I've created a collection of outfits showcasing their forecasted hues, shown below.

Green Glow, Blue Aster, Emerald (2013 color of the year), Champagne Beige, Knockout Pink, Grenadine, Magenta Purple

I debuted all of the outfits at The Art Directors Club's 92nd Annual Awards Gala on April 4 in South Beach, and I'm excited to unveil the first installment (featuring Magenta Purple) here tomorrow. 

Stay tuned!

Many thanks to Giovanni with Pantone, my quick change specialist, Olga, and my longsuffering photographer, Kathy.