Tag: art

Atlantis Mermaid Love-in

On By ResaIn Gowns112 Comments

Did you ever get the urge to design an “Art Gown” who could swim the oceans & seas spreading love and peace?

HM #1Well, then you know she’d have to be a mermaid, and speak a lot of languages.

Le Drake Noir, as you speak 8 languages (reading and writing in 4), and are constantly posting pics of or from oceans and seas, This “Art Gown” is for you.

HM #2bMy personal challenge with this “Art Gown” was that I could only use what I had in stock. I was not allowed to buy anything.

HM #20I found:

Blue Crushed Velvet yardage

3 white T-shirts, of my design, and 2 boxes of purple dye. I immediately tie-dyed 2 of the t-shirts, thinking of hippies in their tie-dyes and velvet bell-bottoms.

When it comes to “Love &Peace”, the Hippies were full of it.

HM #22Scraps of $200.00/yd. French Lace

Blue and purple acrylic paint.

I soaked the lace in watered down acrylic paint.

When it dried it had become plastic-like, and looked like fan seaweed.

I found I could cut around the lace patterns and it didn’t run. What fun!

I also found a bottle of glue, which I used to adhere the cut out seaweed pieces to her.

The thing about mermaids is, if you were under the water and saw one, she might be swimming under you, or over you.

As I don’t have a glass floor, I climbed a ladder.

HM #6b

It looks like she’s swimming up at me.

HM #5bWhat a beauty!

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I usually do a Black & White here, but this “Art Gown” has a lush glamor that precedes the glamor of the 1940’s, so I antiqued it!

HM #26Le Drake Noir, I enjoy your blog, and I know you’ll look great in this gown!

HM #25

Flora Blanca

On By ResaIn Floral107 Comments

Did you ever have to move a bevy of jaded “Art Gowns” to a new “WordPress” site?

It would be easier to transplant a garden to another city!

Penn test

That’s why this “Art Gown” is inspired by and dedicated to my beloved niece Sherrie. She is the only person I know who would actually help me dig up an entire garden, lug it then replant it.

Penn #2b

Hence, I decided to do a Garden themed “Art Gown”

Penn #5_2

Of course wool and paper popped immediately into my mind.

Penn #12Not just anyPenn #10 wool, but a pure, fine and all natural wool, fit for the Pope’s cassock.

Not just any paper, but pictures of Roses, Begonias, Peonies, Lilies, Orchids and Poppies by “Irving Penn”.

Yes, I cut up the entire book. It is a true labor of love cutting around the beads of dew, thorns, intricate ruffles and fine hairs of “Mr. Penn’s” photographs.

Penn #8

The GownPenn #9

itself is

based

on an

Orchid.

I used 2

bottles

of clear

drying

craft glue . If I made this on a display Judy, it could be varnished and made into a decoupage type sculpture.

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 “Art Gowns” remind me of the mid nineteen hundreds Hollywood Movie Glamor. That’s why I love the Black & White treatment.

Penn #15Dearest Darling ♥♥♥ Sherrie ♥♥♥

Thanks for helping me move my garden!

Penn #16

Dream of Love

On By ResaIn Floral, Romance161 Comments

Did you ever design a gown about falling in love, and dreams of romance?

Mango #6

Well I did, because “love rules”!

So it makes total sense that my “Art Gown” #5 has been inspired  by Imelda Evans of  Wine, Women and Wordplay.  Imelda is an author, and her first novel out is an EBook romance, “Rules Are For Breaking”on the “destiny Romance” label.

Mango #2

Having read the book, the first thing I was inspired to do was make 4 dozen silk organza flowers in shades of Mango.

Mangoflower #1 To prevent fraying, I cut strips of true bias in five widths (2-6 inches) then made squares.

I fan layered 4 squares of the same size, ran a large hand stitch through the center to give me a point from which to pince, twist and secure with a few hand stitches.

Each flower came out different. I used a wired organza ribbon in green to mock leaves.

I saw the flowers on a black velvet gown with a cut silk velvet asymmetrically draped, creating subtle lines.

When the gown was finished, I had to ask it a question about Imelda.

Mango #1b

 “How did Imelda feel when she found out she was a 2012 finalist in Australian Romance Reader Awards”?

Of course Dream Of Love had a direct quote.

“In answer to your question, my initial reaction to being a finalist was shock.  I truly got chills.  It honestly had never occurred to me that I would be on the list.  So when I came across my name and my book, at first, I hardly believed it.

Mango #3

I closed my eyes and opened them again.  Then I scrolled up to the top of the page to make sure that I was really reading the list of finalists.  Then I went back and looked again.

Mango #4

Then I went back onto facebook and found someone I knew who was online (it was quite late) and got them to confirm that I wasn’t hallucinating.  And through it all, my skin was clammy with the shock.

Mango #5

Since then, whenever I think about it, it has made me so happy.

ARRAImelda #2

I know my book isn’t the best book of 2012, but to be someone’s – anyone’s – favourite anything is so humbling and delightful.  It is so encouraging!  I can’t please all of the people all of the time, but if I have pleased even one person that much, I’m very, very happy.”

Well, I’ve read Rules Are For Breaking and if you love love the way I love love, you might want to read it, too.

IMG_33411234Mango #10

 

Love,

Resa

♥♥♥

 

“Art Gown” Dream of Love designed by Resa McConaghy – March, 2013

All photos taken by Resa McConaghy – March 2013

Test shot of "Dream of Love before she was finished.
Test shot of “Dream of Love before she was finished.

AS “LIKES” DID NOT TRANSFER TO MY NEW BLOG, I TOOK A PIC OF THEM.

doldol2

Blue Venus

On By ResaIn Goddesses118 Comments

Did you ever feel like sculpting a gown, but marble and clay aren’t materials you work with?

Venus #1e

I faced that exact conundrum when designing my fourth “Art Gown” which is inspired by Robyn  from THROUGH THE HEALING LENS

Robyn’s Photos combined with her poetry are soothing, loving experiences.

Venus #2

When I asked her about color, she replied that she loved earth tones, and blue like the sky. I also thought of water, as many of Robyn’s pictures are from the beach.

I found a piece of stretch fabric that made me think of deep blue water.

To keep with a sculptural art theme, I stretched a two-piece sarong reminiscent of a 1940’s glamor cut over Judy.

Venus #3

I then began draping a piece of fabric I found in Affordable Textiles, a store on Queen West, pretty close to Qe.

When I saw it on the bolt, I blurted out that it looked like a sky with clouds. At that point the proprietor informed me that I was looking at the wrong side of the fabric.

Venus #4

Draping in the spirit of ancient Rome or Greece was a lot of fun.

Using the wrong side of the fabric, I split it lengthwise, divided one of the lengths into thirds then slashed up for about 2 feet.

 I braided the thirds into a front strap, and did the same for the back.

As an amateur photographer, I rely on natural light. I wanted a sunny day to take the pics of Blue Venus, so the sky with clouds effect would be perfect. The sun peeked out only a few moments. I did my best, and over exposed when things got too, dark.

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Well, that’s my Blue Venus. Thank you Robyn !

I think I’ll say good-bye in Black and White.

Venus #12Venus #13

Venus #3b

AS “LIKES” DID NOT TRANSFER TO MY NEW BLOG,

I TOOK A PIC OF THEM. ACTIVE “LIKES” ARE ON PERMALINK

bvbv2

Graffiti Girl Glam

On By ResaIn Gowns101 Comments

Have you ever felt like painting a graffiti mural on a beautiful gold lamé gown, then shooting it in the alley beside a mural?

IMG_982912

Well I have, & it is inspired by all the ephemeral art my eyes now see around me.

So to thank  Eric Vandersteenen, Director & General Administrator and Monique Deveen, Artistic Director & Main Photographer of the Free Tag Zone network  for introducing me to a new passion, my second “Art Gown” is an FTZ Tribute Gown.

Graffitiglam #11

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Graffitiglam #2

Of course, I needed a gold lamé gown to paint on.

So I basted a crinoline onto Judy , and draped a bodice.

The bodice has inverted waist darts set at a dramatic angle.

Graffitiglam #3

Then I gathered 4 meters of lamé over the crinoline.

I basted the skirt to the crinoline.

5 centimeter wide straps were attached to the bodice, and crossed in the back.

There was extra fabric which I draped into a tail. I just love gowns with tails.

FTZ gown #2

Graffitiglam #5

Draping  the gown took only a few hours.

I figured, I would have it painted in no time at all.

I gave myself 2 part days.

Three weeks later, I was finished. I hadn’t figured on my lack of painting ability, and the time it takes paint to dry!

Here is the result.

Graffitiglam #7

Graffitiglam #8

After a week I began talking to her.

Graffitigam #9Her proper name is Free Tag Zone, but after awhile, I started calling her Freeta for short.

Graffitiglam #10

Graffitiglam #14

I really love this gown, and could not stop taking pics of her.

Well, my tribute to FTZ is over, but ephemeral art lives on!

Kisses to you Eric, Monique and everyone who is part of making  FTZ   such a wonderful experience!

Graffiti glam #15AS “LIKES” DID NOT TRANSFER TO MY NEW BLOG,

I TOOK A PIC OF THEM. ACTIVE “LIKES” ARE ON PERMALINK

GGG

GGG2

Strawberry Kisses

On By ResaIn Gowns71 Comments

Did you ever wake up in the middle of the night and feel like designing a gown?

Well I have, and I totally understand how you feel if you have.

Most recently I’ve thought of gowns as an art form.

I could paint on a gown, or use exotic media (toilet paper, banana peels or my old venetian blinds) to build a gown.

I could write someone’s poetry on a gown.

One recent night I decided an “Art Gown” should be like music.

Live music floats into the air then disappears forever.

Why not a “Performance Art Gown” that I drape on my Judy then take the pins out and it’s gone forever?

Before I take the pins out, why not photograph and name it, like a song performed live,  recorded and enjoyed in the future?

I tremble as I pull Judy out of the closet.

I drag out my stash of fabrics, and make a fabulous and colorful creative mess.I begin pinning away.

I like what I’ve started. However, I see that if this gown needs all this tulle underneath, it isn’t as free flowing as I’m thinking for my first “Art Gown” Post.

I decide to finish this gown later. (I since have and it’s awesome!)

I discover a gorgeous piece of red silk Jacquard that I had forgotten I own.

It’s 6 Meters long, 45 inches wide, and it is stunning.

I immediately think about Boomie and her poetry. I’m truly inspired and name the gown I am about to drape “Strawberry Kisses”

I cut 8 inches off the bottom of the piece of fabric. This is to make a waist band and bow.

Without cutting into the fabric, I drape it continuously over and around Judy.

After about an hour, I end up with a softly pleated halter top gown.

 Boomie , this “Art Gown”, gone forever like a song played live, is for you.

“Strawberry Kisses”

It is backless and cinched in heavily at the waist. That fact that the yardage remains uncut, gives the dramatic swoop at the hem finished with a tail. I love it!

AFTERMATH:

As I clean up my colorful mess, I think about the fun I had designing Boomie’s gown. I feel like an artist. I think of more and different “Art Gowns” I can design for inspiring Blog friends like Carolyn at ABC Of Spirit Talk, Robyn Lee  at Through The Healing Lens or, Imelda Evans at Wine, Women & Wordplay.

Of course Sherrie, my driver, will need a chauffeur gown.

The list goes on like the beat in a song.

SUMMATION:

I wish everyone’s life could be like a gown, long and beautiful!