Category: Art Gowns Art

A Tangle of Sunflowers

On By ResaIn Art Gowns Art, Tribute116 Comments

Dahlings I love you all more than ever! It is with a heavy heart that I have postponed tonight’s fashion show. Instead, Art Gowns offers a Protest Post against all war anywhere, anytime.

The Sunflowers and colours are for Ukraine, and all its people fleeing, dying and defending. AGM Holly has written a special poem.

Thank you, Rene! I’m honoured to be here, and join in this protest.

“Hello, Art Director R. Budd here. We had a mind blowing show ready to go, then this beyond horrid war materialized. So, instead of the catwalk, the AGMs are out on the sidewalk protesting. PBH is MIA. There are reports that she has been spotted in Poland.”

“AGMs Dale and Gigi are working the protests in N. America.”

“AGMs Marina and Shey are working the lines in Europe.”

Peace and love! I’m Boogapony Holly. Ms. Rosso has asked me here tonight to present a song of my choice to protest war. After all, I am GLAM’s poster child whose spirit resides in the 60’s and early 70’s.

I’ve chosen Edwin Starr’s song “War”, performed by Bruce Springsteen. You tell me what is most powerful; the preamble & end shot, the song itself or the performance?

Boogapony and Rene Rosso characters © Resa McConaghy & Holly Rene Hunter

Since January 2018

You can visit the AGMs on their blogs: Holly – House of Heart, Dale – A Dalectable Life, Shehanne – Smexy Historical Romance, Gigi – Rethinking Life, Marina – Art Towards a Happy Day

All photos of Sunflowers generously provided by ©  Timothy Price – Off Center Not Even

Visit Rebecca Budd on one of her many blogs. Better yet, check out her podcasts on Tea Toast and Trivia While there you can find links to her other fab blogs!

Working Spy 300

What Suits Art Gowns?

On By ResaIn Art Gowns Art130 Comments

Darlings! Rene Rosso here, in a suit! Can you believe it?

However, it’s an Art Gowns suit. So when Holly and Resa asked me to host this post, I said “okay!” Still, how did this happen? Well, there was no multi-medium paper at the art store. Resa had to buy a sketch pad.

 It’s been awhile since Resa just pencil sketched. She was excited to rise to the occasion, & started with Shehanne Moore in a Town Suit, very 1980’s come 1930’s.

Then it was GiGi’s turn to model this ultra-uber, never seen before style. No one can wear an imaginary time unknown suit like Gi! (Above)

Craving some colour, Resa added ballpoint pen and turquoise ink pen bows. There was no way I was going to wear a suit with bows! Holly had no choice but to model it.

The musicians were going wild downstairs when Resa came up with a Crazy Free Style Art tulle skirted suit for Marina Kanavaki. Having a colour meltdown, Resa went nuts with felt pens. They soaked through 3 pages of paper, and she had to iron the sketch.

Resa should have drawn me in the above suit. DARN!

This Art Gowns Suit is more like it. Now, I can work on the next song being added to my repertoire “Sweet Love”. I’ve been very inspired listening to Anita Baker sing it.

Their names are hot in the descriptions under the suits they have modelled. They all have fab blogs to visit.

Rene Rosso Character © Resa McConaghy & Holly Rene Hunter

Mermaid Holly will be hosting the next Art Gowns post. It’s a feature on Art Gowns Mermaids with surprise guest Mermaids. Don’t miss out!

Eye’ll see you there!

Cecilia Lionheart & Wild Rose

On By ResaIn Art Gowns Art123 Comments

Cecilia Lionheart & Wild Rose are Art Gowns inspired by Mother Nature.

In a continued endeavour to draw all of the Art Gowns, I decided to team up these two gowns. They represent my thoughts & feelings on the beauty and horror existing in our world.

Holly – House of Heart models Wild Rose in the sketch. This is the second Art Gown, that Holly has modelled in a drawing.

She has honoured us with this poem, expressing the beauty of a Wild Rose. Click on the body of the poem, and visit her blog.

I wonder what will happen to Wild Roses and other flora & fauna, as Climate Change alters our planet?

Cecilia Lionheart expresses the horror, the evil of murdering beauty.

The post was a tribute to Cecil the Lion. Cecil was was a proud and handsome creature of earth. Protected, living in a national park, he strayed one day. Walter Palmer hit him with an arrow, then hunted the poor thing down for 11 hours, then slew him with a bullet. It was all for a trophy.

I dedicated that post to Marina Kanavaki, a devoted animal activist. In the sketch she models Cecilia Lionheart for us.  

Marina drew this wonderful poster for this post. We are so honoured. Click on the poster, and visit Marina’s blog.

There are now 7 Art Gowns sketched out. They are all in the slideshow.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 Wild Rose & Cecilia Lionheart © Resa McConaghy

Wild Rose (poem) © Holly Rene Hunter

Really People? Trophy Hunting? © Marina Kanavaki

You can visit the Art Gowns posts Cecilia Lionheart & Wild Rose by scrolling down the sidebar, finding each girls pic, and clicking on it.

I’ve just begun my 24th ArtGown. They take 3-6 months, depending. She is inspired by the Tango, and will be dedicated to Holly.

In the meantime, there will be a few more Art Gowns Art posts.

B’eye B’eye for now!

The Black Dress

On By ResaIn Art Gowns Art97 Comments

Art Gowns Art presents a collection of black dresses.

The collection is inspired by this poem penned by Leonard Durso, and all my fave models from blog land. Click on the poem, and see it on Leonard’s blog. Have a visit and follow while you’re there!

The opening design and dress below are modelled by Holly from House of Heart.

Georgiann from Rethinking Life models the dress below.

Georgiann introduced me to water colour crayons, which is the predominant medium in this series.

Above is Marina Kanavaki from Art Towards a Happy Day.

For the finale, here above is Aquileana.

Art Gowns Art Black Dresses © Resa McConaghy

2019

🌟 Big Thank You to Leonard for permitting me to use his poem! 🌟

I enjoy all of the creative writing on Leonard’s blog. Some pieces are his originals, others are a glorious find he shares.

You can check out the several books he’s written by clicking on the cover of “Rizzo’s World” and going to his Amazon page. Or you can visit Leonard on his blog, just click on the poem.

 

All drawings have been done to live music.

🌹💙🌹 Sincere Thank You to all the models. 🌹💙🌹

OUTTAKES

The musicians were going all out when I tried another Holly dress.

I super love this portrait I did of Gigi.

 

Art Gowns Art Styles

On By ResaIn Art Gowns Art107 Comments

Last time in Art Gowns Art, I expressed a desire to expand my style & ability.

Above is a an attempt at drawing a black model.

Then I felt like my drawings were stiff, so I began this Crazy Free Art to Music. There would be no belabouring, no erasing, no starting over. It’s just go, with the flow of the music.

The idea was to loosen up. It turns out some around me like the new approach better.

I also expressed that I wanted to illustrate all of my Art Gowns. Below is Natascha in O Royal Treasure.  O Royal Treasure was  dedicated to Ralph and Natascha for their wedding.

For O Royal Treasure, I tried a combination of my formal style w/the free style. Painting white on white is still very illusive to me. Just another thing Fashion illustration never taught me.

 

 

 

 

O Royal Treasure joins the gallery, which now stands at five: Flora Blanca, Mnemosyne, Artemis by Moonlight, Lady Anne & O Royal Treasure.

Art Gowns & Art Gowns Art © Resa McConaghy

Art Gowns Photography © Resa McConaghy

I found an old sketch in my archives, that I remember fondly. It was done for an interview to design the costumes for A House Divided, a Showtime Feature.

I belaboured for days over this sketch. The massive amounts of erasing at the tail exposes the fact. I got the job, in spite of my eraser!

♥️🎨 ♥️

Art Gowns Gallery Project

On By ResaIn Art Gowns Art116 Comments

Where can I take the Art Gowns?

{Painted canvases are atop, the original pics are below.}

It would take someone savvy to wear an Art Gown. Fact is, some of the back tails are 7′ long. There can be side tails and front tails. Of course, I can tame tails for a fashion show.

 Well, I had 10 of the photos I took for their blog printed on canvas. Then, using iridescent acrylic paint, I high-lit,  filled and/or embellished the canvas.

Of course, with the iridescent paint, one needs to view the paintings from certain angles in various lightings.

I have done 10 paintings in this “Art Gowns Iridescent” collection.

I entered them in an art show, but have never heard anything back. Friends say I am too, niche, more unique than they can sell.

 I’ll be doing a second 10 piece collection. The chosen Art Gowns will be printed in black and white. Strong colours will be abstractly influenced.

Anyway, good chance of getting in a show in about a year, and I will have 2-10 piece collections.

For now, here are 5 of the 10 canvases I have done. The iridescent quality is insanely difficult to capture. Did my best. I’ll post the other 5 later.

Below, “Art Gowns Iridescent” pieces are side by side. The original is on the left. The canvas print with iridescent paint is on the right.

Can you see the difference?

MYSTIC LAKE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LA ESENCIA DE TITANIA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AUTUMN ORCHID

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ATHENA GRAFFITI GODDESS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MNEMOSYNE

(The only Art Gown piece unreasonable to display side by side)

Art Gowns & all Art Gowns Art © Resa McConaghy

2014 -2019

A new Art Gown has been started. I’m thinking 3 months, unless ……

Art Gowns Dazzle the Runway at the Coop

On By ResaIn Art Gowns Art, Art Gowns Guests120 Comments

✨✨ The runway was aglitter with the glamour of the Art Gowns modelled by some of the Coop’s most gorgeous Chicklets. ✨✨

“Good evening! My name is VIRGINIA, and I had the honour of being first onto the runway begowned in Empress D’Amore“

“Off the top, I’d like to thank the original Empress D’Amore for being here with me tonight. Together the Empress and I will be discussing the highlights of the Hallowe’en Fashion Show at the Coop.”

“Thank you, Empress!”

Hello Virginia, and the pleasure is all mine! Let me just say, in my most humble opinion, that yours was the most regal Art Gown in the show!

“I won’t argue that! Now, on with the show!”

Presenting: MIA in Mystic Lake

“So Empress, what can you tell the folks at home about Mystic Lake?

Well, Virginia, she was inspired by ducks, specifically a ceramic duck created by  Belén Soto

“So, are those feathers I see?”

They are faux feathers made from hours and hours of hand shredding an over-dyed cotton gauze.

“Fascinating”

Presenting: INA in Athena ⭐️Graffiti Goddess⭐️

“Do my eyes deceive me? Is this Art Gown entirely hand painted?”

Yes, Virginia! She took 6 months to paint. She is covered in Tarot and Astrology symbols that relate to the Goddess Athena.

“I supposed Aquileana helped Resa with that.”

It is Obvious, isn’t it!

Presenting: LACY in Mnemosyne

“Ah, Mnemosyne, mother of The Nine Muses.”

That’s right, Virginia! A statuesque beauty in anyones books.

“So does Aquileana help Resa with all of the Goddesses?”

So far, yes. According to Resa, she is very inspired to make Goddess Art Gowns.

 

Presenting: ISABELLE in Tenesa

“Hmm, how did this …erm.. gown get into the world of Art Gowns?”

Don’t be too, harsh on her. She really is quite modern, in a street way. She’s an alley rescue, you know.

“From the alley?”

Yes, Resa insisted on making her an Honorary Art Gown. One day it’s a cat rescued from the alley, the next day it’s a rescued gown.

 

  ⭐️ 💥 ⭐️ BEHIND THE SCENES ⭐️ 💥 ⭐️

” Last week, The Empress and I got a special behind the scenes peek.”

Virginia, it was a thrill to see the skilled & talented Chicklets working the art.

“Let’s take it away!”

IRIS – Working on Lady Anne

“Well, she’s a wild one! Kind of rock and roll.”

Some say steam punk, others say she’s a biker gown.

“She appears to be all leather & lace.”

It’s up-cycled leather, from Resa’s boyfriend’s old leather coat and pants.

“She looks familiar?”

Yes, Holly modelled this Art Gown for one of Resa’s sketches, recently.

LOIS & LILY pinning the flowers on Flora Blanca

“Flora Blanca seems to be one of the more popular Art Gowns.”

True, she is quite the refined Art Gown, made for Resa’s niece, Sherrie, and you know, people love flowers!

“Where can the fans see more of Flora Blanca and the other Art Gowns?”

All one has to do is scroll down the Art Gowns sidebar. When you find the gown you love, just click on it. It will take you to the original post.

Well, Empress, it’s been a wonderful evening!” 💖

Yes it has, Virginia! I’m hoping we get to host another event very soon. Perhaps, a Red Carpet!💖

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

All © Art Gowns are designed, made & photographed by:

Resa McConaghy 2013 – 2018

All Chicklets art © Georgiann Carlson

🌹🌹🌹THANK YOU, GEORGIANN🌹🌹🌹

Art Gowns Art Update

On By ResaIn Art Gowns Art77 Comments

LADY ANNE, aka “Lady Rene Anne” modelled by Holly – House Of Heart.

⭐️ Thank You, Holly! ⭐️

Lady Anne was created for a lover, a musician & composer. He gave me his old leather coat & studded pants. I added Chantilly lace.

Below: I did a fantasy gown for “Gasperilla Pirate Festival”

Held almost every year since 1904 in Tampa, Florida, my creation (on paper only) is nostalgic of the festival’s Early days.

I adore this poem, which is definitely an Art Gowns poem.

                                                                         by: Leonard Durso ©

remembering
the way your gown fell
to the floor
as you almost shyly
stepped away
leaving it forlornly
abandoned
like my heart
this night

⭐️Big Thank You to Leonard for letting me use his poem!⭐️

Thank you to editor Louise White! She did an article in Asset Intelligence Newspaper  on me & Athena ⭐️Graffiti Goddess ⭐️, which was a tandem project with  Aquileana of La Audacia de Aquiles. She also gets a credit in the article.

Click on image if you want to read the article.

🦄 Big hugs & thank you’s are on their way to Aquileana in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

She has inspired me greatly with her posts on Mythology, Tarot and more. 🦄

I’ve sketched her in 2 of the goddesses we did together, Artemis & Mnemosyne, and am excited to sketch her in Athena in the near future.

Click on the sketch to the left to visit the post.

All Sketches & Art Gowns © Resa McConaghy

Visit any Art Gown by clicking on her pic on the side bar!

Art Gowns Art Cards

On By ResaIn Art Gowns Art, Art Gowns Brand100 Comments

🌹Thank you🌹to Georgiann Carlson.  She made 10 “Art of Glamorous Fantasy” business cards for me. I chose the one below.

Rubber stamp art by: Georgiann Carlson

“Not so fast! As one of  your very first Art Gowns, first to get to 175 likes, dedicated to your niece, Sherrie,  and first post after the Art Gowns were evicted from Queen’s end,”

Flora Blanca

“I think I, Flora Blanca,  am entitled to a say in this! I’ve picked out the card below, as I see it embraces us, the Art Gowns, and Resa.”

Rubber stamp art by: Georgiann Carlson

“Don’t be absurd Flora Blanca! Resa would never run around naked, not since that incident when she was 22. She makes the Art Gowns, and we are all very elegant.”

Mystic Lake

“Something sophisticated, like the Fitzgerald’s “Romantic Egoists” is in more order. The card below is the way to go. I’m sure Zelda would approve!”

“Mystic lake, I adore you and Flora Blanca, but really, the two of you are so pretentious! As the Empress d’Amore, I am highly educated, and qualified to be royally opinionated.”

Empress d’Amore

“Resa’s card should express the fact that we, the Art Gowns, are a collection. That she makes us from scratch, by herself. She is, after all, classically trained.”

Rubber stamp art by: Georgiann Carlson

“I treasure the Empress’ opinion. Her taste in fantasy business cards is impeccable.”

O Royal Treasure

“All due respect Empress D and O Royal T, you may both be royalty, but you are not from Fairy! Magic only happens in Fairy.”

La Esencia de Titania

“Resa’s card should express the coming of glyphs, a name askew & the bottom line. Simple, fun and to the point of magic is the way to go. As a 5 thousand year resident of Fairy, I say this card delivers that message!”

“Hello! I might be standing in the dark over here, but I can see you all clearly in the moonlight. However, I just don’t see your logic.”

Artemis by Moonlight

“The card should enforce the fact that Resa’s work is original, unique and glamorous! Voilà “

Rubber stamp art by: Georgiann Carlson

“I expected this cacophony from all of you Art Gowns, especially Artemis. You are always over analyzing the situation.”

Goddess Mnemosyne

“Simply put, the card should be of contemporary street art style and pointed at the brand. May I present the only obvious option!”

Rubber stamp art by: Georgiann Carlson

“I’m sorry Mnenosyne, I just don’t see the brilliance in that. Where’s the gleam and glow of the Art Gowns?”

Ballroom Lux

“I have no choice but to insist on the card below. It’s simple, yet emphasizes Resa’s ability, which results in us, the Art Gowns.”

“Wow! That is just not sexy enough. Lady Anne and I discussed this last night, and believe we have the perfect selection. Lady Anne!”

Cecilia Lionheart

“Thank you, Cecilia Lionheart!”

Lady Anne

“We now introduce, to all of you, the perfect card!”

Rubber stamp art by: Georgiann Carlson

“Look, you’re all right, and all wrong. Why can’t she just use the one she wants? Why can’t we all just get along, instead of bickering about the minutia of Resa’s life?”

Atlantis Mermaid Love-in

Hey! How did all of you gowns get out here? I thought I locked the door to the back yard?

Resa wears Tenesa

“You left your keys laying around one day. I found them and sent Mini-Me out to have copies made for all of  us.”

Autumn Orchid

“Having explained that, I’d like to put my two cents in! This card is a modern classic, and really the one for Resa.”

Photo © Sherrie Yager

As you can see, Georgiann, I’m being bossed around by a bunch of Art Gowns.

Well, they are my girls, so I love them. AND I adore you! How fabulous & generous you are  to have made these cards for me. Thank you x all the cats and flowers in the world!

All Art Gowns & Art Gowns stories © Resa McConaghy

All photos of Art Gowns © Resa McConaghy

All Art Gowns Art Cards designed and made by © Georgiann Carlson

Mini-Me in the Nine of Pentacles

“Don’t look a me! All I did was run out and get a few keys cut. By the way, has anyone seen my set? I seem to have misplaced them.”

 

Art Gowns Art

On By ResaIn Art Gowns Art, Goddesses160 Comments

It began with the fact that my new Art Gown will take at least 6 – 8 more weeks to complete. I wanted to post sooner.

Aquileana said I could use her as a muse to sketch the Goddess Art Gowns we had done colab posts on. Thinking I’d only get to do 1, she chose Artemis. It was so much fun, I painted the sketch. To read or learn about Goddess Artemis, and to view all of the creative collaboration, which includes a poem by Oloriel, see Aquileana’s post-   “Artemis´ Dual Archetype”

Above is Art Gown, Artemis. To view the post “Artemis by Moonlight”, click on it!

It was so satisfying doing Artemis, that I segued into Mnemosyne.

It was fabulously fab to revisit my early fashion sketching abilities. Yes, I have a lot to remember & catch up on!

To read or learn about Mnemosyne, and to view all of the creative collaboration, which includes poetry by Christy Birmingham, see Aquileana’s post- “Mnemosyne”

Above is Art Gown Mnemosyne. To view the complete post, click on the above pic.

Art Gowns Artemis & Mnemosyne designed & handmade by Resa McConaghy

2016 & 2017

Outtakes and filtered images

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Sketches © Resa McConaghy – February – 2018

 

🌹 Thank you so very much, Aquileana! 🌹

I think I should do more Art Gowns Art in the future. What do you think?