SWEATER WEATHER

It's finally sweater weather, and what better inspiration for autumn layering than Jayson Musson's Coogi canvases?  

The Brooklyn based artist uses the eponymous 'Cosby' sweaters to cover canvases, which become some fusion between Abstract Expressionist painting and landscape.  

Originally marketed as 'wearable art' in the 1980s, the sweaters became a symbol of status for African Americans in the late '80s and early '90s.  Musson deconstructs the garments and reassembles them, finding a balance between their street culture significance and aesthetic relevance to fine art. 

In Art in America, Judith Stein asserted that, "In their ability to communicate a cultural narrative, Musson's Coogis are related to the faux-batik Dutch textiles favored by Yinka Shonibare, which encode the history of colonialism in Africa."

 Musson's alter-ego, Hennessy Youngman, discusses art world tropes like the ones his work purports through a series of web eposides called Art Thoughtz.  

Sweater: Coogi

Skirt: Vintage

Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs

Heels: United Nude

Images via www.jaysonmusson.com and Artsy.net.

TO THE LIGHTHOUSE

Georges Seurat, The Lighthouse at Honfleur, 1886

Stephen Scott Young, Dawn's Light, Coast of New England, 2008

Paul Resika, Blue Wave, 2008

Andrea Kowch, Light Keepers

I just returned from a much-needed, albeit brief vacation in the mid coast of Maine.  On my last day, I was able to explore the Historic Lighthouse at Pemaquid Point, located in a picturesque setting on the rocks since 1827.

While we were clambering around on cliffs, I began considering the various depictions of the lighthouse in painting.  In a quick search on Artsy.net, I compiled these few widely varied examples, ranging from a close-hued Pointillist painting from the 19th century by Georges Seurat, to contemporary painting, both Realist and abstract, to a fantasy-like, almost Surreal, contemporary work by Andrea Kowch (previously featured here).

Which style do you prefer?

Dress: Vintage (thrifted for $5!)

Shoes: Sperry

Hat: H&M

Images via Artsy.net; Photographs by Hope Huynh.

ARTHUR DOVE

Damp, early fall afternoons on the shore call to mind the abstract work of American artist Arthur Dove.

Dove (1880-1946) is frequently considered to be the first American abstract painter, who began his artistic career as an illustrator for Harper's Magazine and The Saturday Evening Post.

Dove believed that his artwork's main component should be spiritual, and was inspired by landscape and life as a farmer and fisherman. Dove referred to his artistic style as extraction; that is, he aimed to isolate the essential aspects from a scene.

Upon returning from a period of living abroad in Europe, Dove became acquainted with photographer and art gallerist extraordinaire, Alfred Stieglitz, who is credited with commercializing Dove's art career.

Dove received his first one-man show at Stieglitz's legendary 291 gallery in 1912, which was the first exhibit of abstract art by an American artist.

Duncan Phillips, founder of the Phillips Collection, became acquainted with Dove's work through his exhibitions at 291 and later, Intimate Gallery and An American Place. Dove's work helped Phillips to realize the process behind abstraction, and he became Dove's most prominent collector. The majority of Dove's oeuvre is now housed by the Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C.

"We cannot express the light in nature because we have not the sun. We can only express the light we have in ourselves." --Arthur Dove

I'm wearing an Elizabeth & James caftan and French Connection necklace.

[Dove images from brooklynmuseum.org, picasaweb.google.com, metmuseum.org, angellier.biblio.univ-lille3.fr, and metmuseum.org, respectively.]

JOHN SINGER SARGENT

Watercolor is a medium that is often relegated to the realm of studies or prepaintings. Because of its swift, permanent nature, the use of watercolors can easily capture a subject within a few broad, well-handled strokes.

John Singer Sargent (1856-1925), most known for his portraits in oil, particularly the sensational Madame X, completed over 2,000 watercolors during his artistic career.

Though his portraits exhibited intense control and uncanny likeness (bordering on flattery) his watercolors exhibit a tendency toward impressionism and an affinity for working en plein air.

Sargent traveled through England, France, Italy, and the Americas, and his oeuvre exhibits quite a wide array of landscape subjects.

When asked about his strategy in watercolor painting, Sargent replied, "Make the best of an emergency."

I'm wearing a Jean Paul Gaultier sarong dress over and H&M swimsuit, Marc by Marc Jacobs leather sandals, and a straw hat by Scala.

[John Singer Sargent images from wallcoo.net.]

WOLF KAHN

An important lesson I've learned from art is how to discern color where, at first glance, there appears to be none.

This is, of course, a metaphor for being able to discern the positive aspects of life--whether personally or in the world at large.

An artist whose work represents this idea beautifully is Wolf Kahn (b. 1927).

Kahn is an American artist, whose poignant landscapes combine color field abstraction with realism.

Kahn studied under Hans Hofmann, whose students produced some of the greatest art of the 20th century.

Most of Kahn's works are executed in pastel or oil, both mediums which provide highly saturated hues, and imbue common landscape depictions with keen emotion.

Kahn's work has been said to combine "the palette of Matisse" with the abstraction of Rothko.

I was inspired by the way Kahn utilized highly saturated neon colors, and found a suitable backdrop that reminded me of Kahn's linear depictions of the landscape.

Though my surrounding landscape was a bit grey, my favorite neon skirt and bright accessories became all the color I needed for a cloudy afternoon.

I'm wearing a vintage skirt, vintage silk blouse, Johnny Wujek x Modern Vintage wood & leather heels, socks from the drugstore, and a Dannijo necklace.

If you can't recognize the color in your landscape, why not become the color yourself?

[Wolf Kahn images from sensationalcolor.com, stumbleupon.com, rmcornelius.blogspot.com, and zainteriora.net, respectively.]

SUNSETTING

I almost always take context into consideration when deciding what to wear. When the landscape was covered with snow, I felt it important to wear outfits that contrasted with the white background. Now that the snow has melted, I'm back to having a bit more freedom to dress according to my surroundings.

The flecks of color in this vintage cardigan brought to mind Van Gogh's infamous brushstrokes, so I decided to emulate some of his landscape paintings in the colors of my outfit and my choice of location.

It always strikes me how the sun in Van Gogh's paintings really looks like it's on fire, exactly how it appears in the last few moments before it sets, which is when these outfit photos were taken.

Van Gogh was a brilliant colorist, and I adore the way he used contrasting colors to establish space in these paintings. For example, in the work below, the highly saturated yellow versus the pastel purplish-blue give the illusion of an entire field of depth.

Although Van Gogh's life and work has been highly romanticized due to his untimely death, there is no denying that he incorporated a sense of beauty into his works that is unparalleled by scores of other Expressionist paintings.

My very favorite aspects of Van Gogh's works are the brushstrokes. As I said before, hundreds of thousands of these make up each work, and, insignificant though they may be in isolation, together they create the masterpiece of a Van Gogh painting.

"Great things are done by a series of small things brought together."

--Vincent Van Gogh

I can file this quote under my New Year's resolution to live my life like an action painting, making each stroke an important part of the whole.

To keep with the Van Gogh theme, I wore cool colors against the fire-like reflection of the setting sun, with the addition of fuchsia, which was particularly reminiscent of Red Vineyards (the first painting in this post).

My entire outfit is vintage (metallic mohair cardigan, silk blouse, belt and belt buckle, hammered leather purse, and Levi's bell bottoms) except for the suede Zigi SoHo booties.

Also, thank you to Mode. who nominated me for the Stylish Blogger Award!

Don't forget to follow Artfully Awear on Tumblr if you're interested.

[Van Gogh images from mystudios.com, silouanthompson.net, artinvest2000.com, and nonprints.com, respectively.]