GILLIAN AYRES

This vintage skirt has been hanging in my closet for some time, and only recently did I note its resemblance to the work of English painter Gillian Ayres.

Ayres (b. 1930) is well known for her large scale nonrepresentational paintings utilizing thick impasto.

Central to Ayres's work is the use of bold, uplifiting color and texture built up with her hands.

Although she figures prominently in the British art scene, Ayres has very little interest in art theory, and instead champions the visual impact of her pieces.

In 1960, Ayres was the only female artist included in the seminal Situation exhibition at the Royal Society of British Artists Galleries in London. Works included in the show were required to be no less than 30 square feet in size and nonrepresentational.

She was honored in 2011 with the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).

Ayres is represented by the Alan Cristea Gallery in London.

I'm wearing a vintage skirt and necklace, Rebecca Beeson tee, and thrifted espadrilles.

[Ayres images from leninimports.com, taylorgallery.co.uk, millthorpesschoolart.co.uk, and fadwebsite.com, respectively.]

PORTRAIT OF IRENE

Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Portrait of Irene, 1880

I'm sending thoughts and prayers along the East Coast and beyond, in hopes that all will fare well in the wake of Hurricane Irene.

"An artist...must have confidence in himself, and listen only to his real master: Nature." --Pierre-Auguste Renoir

[image: picasaweb.google.com]

BERTHE MORISOT

I took these photos of my little cousin and myself earlier in the summer, and I must say it was quite the challenge. From dressing Adelaide, trying to get her to sit still (hence the coconut marshmallow in her hand), and ultimately enlisting other family members as assistants, it reminded me of just how much work little children can be! The whole affair lasted 20 minutes, and that was about 18 minutes longer than she would have liked. All told, Adelaide was a good sport, and I'm happy to have a little girl to dress up.

These photos were inspired by the work of Berthe Morisot (1841-1895), a French Impressionist painter.

Morisot was considered one of les trois grande dames of Impressionism, along with Marie Bracquemond and Mary Cassatt.

As a descendant of the Rococo master Jean-Honoré Fragonard, and eventually the wife of Édouard Manet's brother, Eugène, Morisot was provisioned with an understanding and capability in art that was rare for a woman of her time.

Morisot's work was intended as a response to her haute bourgeoisie upbringing, and addressed the cultural restrictions of her gender and social class.

Morisot and Eugène Manet had a daughter, Julie, in 1848, who became the subject of the greater portion of Morisot's paintings thereafter.

Julie's memoir, Growing Up with the Impressionists: The Diary of Julie Manet, was published in 1988.

I am drawn to these works for their subtlety--the beautiful brushstrokes belying a bevy of saturated hues, and the sweet subjects of mother or nurse and child.

I'm wearing a Plenty dress and Cynthia Rowley x Roxy sandals. Adelaide is wearing a cotton sundress I bought at the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet in Hawaii.

[Morisot images from shafe.co.uk, abcgallery.com, and artchive.com, respectively.]

ART TO WEAR: AbEx

Jackson Pollock, Number 1A, 1948

If you've visited this blog a few times, you're probably acquainted with my obsession with Abstract Expressionism (examples here, here, and here). However, I'm not completely sold on these new Litas. I appreciate the similarity to AbEx, but buying paint-splattered shoes sort of seems like you're missing out on all the fun. New DIY project?

What do you think? Would you rock the Lita Paint?

$174.95 at Solestruck

[Pollock image from artchive.com.]

FOOK ISLAND

Having recently read a short piece on Walter Battiss' Fook Island, this vintage skirt seemed to me the perfect piece to channel Battiss' utopian island ideals.

Walter Battiss (1906-1982) is widely considered the most important South African painter of the 20th century.

Influenced by Ndebele beadwork, calligraphy, and archaeology, Battiss traveled throughout Africa creating religiously symbolic work that gained an international following after a visit to Europe in 1949, where he met and befriended Picasso.

Battiss was also active as an art critic and instructor, and published nine books as well as founding the periodical Del Arte.

During Battiss' later career, he created an imaginary utopian island, which consisted of its own language, plants, animals, and even driver's licenses and passports. Fook Island was Battiss' departure from conceptual art, and gained a following both within the art world and in the general public.

Battiss received an Honorary D Litt et Phil from UNISA for his conception of Fook Island, which gave voice to what Battiss termed "the island inside all of us."

I'm wearing a vintage skirt, vintage leather belt, thrifted blouse, Lauren Merkin leather clutch, and Steve Madden sandals.

[Battiss images from betheredothat.co.za, johansborman.co.za, chessaleeinlondon.wordpress.com, and pelmama.org, respectively.]

ART TO WEAR: Winslow Homer

Winslow Homer, Natural Bridge, Bermuda, 1898

Winslow Homer, Rocky Shore, Bermuda, 1900

I've decided to start sharing some art-inspired fashion finds via brief "Art to Wear" posts.

Doesn't this dress perfectly capture the mood and scenery of the Winslow Homer watercolors?

Artist's Rendering Dress available at anthropologie.com (and it's on sale!).

[Homer images from canvaz.com and worldgallery.co.uk.]

RUFINO TAMAYO

There's something so fresh and summery about the combination of pink and orange (which has been dominating street and personal style sites), and I love the warm, bright palette's similarity to the work of Rufino Tamayo.

Tamayo (1899-1991) was a Zapotecan Indian artist who traveled abroad and eventually founded the Tamayo Contemporary Art Museum in Mexico City.

During his early artistic career in Mexico, Tamayo was looked down upon by other artists such as Diego Rivera and

José Clemente Orozco, whose work dealt with overt political themes.

Tamayo, more interested in the personal, everyday human identity, relocated to New York, and eventually Paris, where he found wide recognition and popularity for his work.

A key element of Tamayo's work is his use of mixografia, a technique in which handmade paper was used to build a textured surface, upon which the artwork was created.

"Art is a means of expression that must be understood by everybody, everywhere. It grows out of the earth, the textures of our lives, and our experience." --Rufino Tamayo

I'm wearing a thrifted silk blouse, vintage silk pants, vintage necklace, Johnny Wujek x Modern Vintage heels, and a Cynthia Rowley clutch.

[Tamayo images from artloft.com, metmuseum.org, and galeriedada.com, respectively.]