Tag: Artist

Sad Café III

On By ResaIn The Sad Café101 Comments

The painting mesmerized. Couldn’t tear myself away. In a spell, my thoughts were of Holly and her Sad Café.

Oil on canvas (1889)
Woman at Her Toilette : Louis Anquetin – French (1861-1932)

It was in the Salon titled Post Impressionism at the AGO. I was floating after having just seen Monet’s Water Lilies. Then I saw her, combing her long red hair.

At my mirror I braid silver thread through my hair.

“- though images of women dressing, are traditional within European art, the figure’s direct gaze and pronounced makeup suggest the she is a courtesan, a sex worker who catered to upper class patrons.“

My skin smells of yesterday’s perfume mingled with the haunting presence of strong cologne and the sweet scent of sweat and rope.

The details in this painting are luscious. I got in with the camera, as close as was allowed. The slideshow highlights shots of this Cloisonnism style work of art. The details are “Imitating medieval stained glass windows, cloisonné enamel and Japanese woodcut prints.”

“Cloisonnism features flat areas of solid colour enclosed by curving outlines, such as the green contour that encircles the woman’s porcelain skin.”

Cloisonnism was a bold new style invented by Anquetin, with his friend Émile Bernard.

The Sad Café


I’ve been here forever

hidden away in fantasies,

dimly lit rooms where 

moonbeams caper blithely

over the river Seine.

All of my memories are strangers,

they come and go. 

I want them to know 

the smokey purple of lunar tides,

the bittersweet of Rose red.

They linger on lamp lit streets,

shadows on tiger paws.

                                                               ©️ Holly Rene Hunter

… intoxicated by long red hair

Since the first Sad Café poem I drew a picture to, my heroine has had long red hair.

At the mirror I brush my hair and pull it back with a silver plated comb, slip into smoky seamed stockings

All Pullquotes are from ©️Sad Café poems by Holly Rene Hunter

Photos ©️ – of Woman at Her Toilette taken by Resa McConaghy

Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, Canada

Thank you Holly!

Visit Holly on her blog to read all her Sad Café poems and all her sublime poetry.

Source: Art Gallery of Ontario – Quotes in bold italics are from the plaquard beside the painting.

John Lennon

On By ResaIn Rock Stars

Holly and I have added John Lennon to our collection of Rock Legends posts.

John Lennon

Pop on over to Holly’s House of Heart blog to read the post, leave or check out comments and see which video and edition of my drawing she chose!

This is not the video Holly chose, but it is the one I used to do my drawing of John.

Drawing & photos ©️ Resa McConaghy – June 2026

Dorabella & Dorinda do Doors

On By ResaIn Dan Antion's Annual Door Challenge119 Comments

It was the social event of the season. Announced in all forms of media, it would raise a lot of money for GIFFT (Global Initiative for Flora & Fauna Trust).

photo ©️ Teagan R. Geneviene

Scandalous gossip ran rampant. Apparently 2 Cafe dancers from the Kit Kat Club, (Dorabella & Dorinda) had been selected to headline the entertainment.

photo ©️ Robbie Cheadle

How could that have happened? Simple. Dorinda pointed out to the board that their smash hit act, THE MIRROR, was drawing in hundreds every night.

Dorinda, wearing a vintage hand crocheted dress, told the board to think of all the money their act could generate. That was all the board needed to headline the 2 girls.

When the hoi polloi found out that Suzette was doing hair and make-up for the girls, ticket sales soared.

It was near impossible to get a beauty appointment at Suzette’s Pink Place, as she only took 2 each week, tops.

photo ©️ Suzette Benjamin

The Mirror

by – Holly Rene Hunter

In the mirror
nothing comes nor goes 
without passing
A woman admires 
gold baroque and the 
form inside it.
When she dances 
the image moves with her.
Over her shoulder
The sad café is still and silent

filled with sacrificial shadows
of devotion in repose, and so
she dances for no one but
the mirror.

The big night came

A car was sent for the girls.

photo ©️ Teagan R. Geneviene

They arrived in style to the hotel.

An overflow crowd was being held back behind velvet ropes.

photo ©️ Dan Antion

They took an elevator to the Grand Ball Room, where a special stage had been set up for their performance.

photo ©️ Robbie Cheadle

The show was a massive hit.

Dorabella and Dorinda had helped to raise a lot of money for GIFFT . A dinner and Gala followed.

The Gala

Everyone gasped when the girls made their entrance to the Gala.

Dorinda wore a hand beaded strapless black voile gown.

Dorabella awed in a cerulean silk with interwoven gold thread gown and floralette styled tail.

An orchestra began playing waltzes. Dorinda & Dorabella’s dance cards were filled.

A big Thank You to Dan from No Facilities for hosting this Annual Doors Challenge. He has a weekly doors event on his blog, with many participants.

Click on above badge to go directly to the 2026 challenge and check out all the entires!

The Gowns in this post were designed and hand made in the spirit of Art Gowns Sustainable Glamour especially for this challenge. Photos ©️ Resa McConaghy -2026

Special Thank you to Holly Rene Hunter for her contribution of poetry for this post. I love the way her poetry and my gowns work so beautifully together.

Please note: GIFFT (Global Initiative for Flora & Fauna Trust) is a fictitious charity!

Dream Big

On By ResaIn Art Gowns Art188 Comments

Emotions & Art Gowns

The Art Show was a success, a thrill, and a joy. This was Diana’s 8th showing. It was my first, marking it as a personal milestone.

Asian Beauty – oil and sparkles – Diana Ladyshewsky

The Artists

Resa above and Diana below

One day Diana (a hair stylist to the stars I know from working in film) took me to an empty store, and drew a mental image of an art show we could have.

She said we can turn this empty space, into a showcase place for our art.

Above is before and after. The after shot is not quite the finished space, but close. I did change light bulbs from halogen to warm white led’s.

Diana took one side. I took the other. Diana got her paintings hung up in no time at all.

Mine were still along the floor. Then she hung mine up in no time at all.

She came up with the welcoming furniture.

I made a slide show that was projected on the screen at the back.

Diana paints with oils, sometimes adding sparkles or gems. A self taught artist, her spirit resides with notable self taught artists: Frida Kahlo, Henri Rousseau, Grandma Moses and Jean-Michael Basquiat and others.

  • Irish Bride
  • Blues Singer
  • Frida Goes to New Orleans
  • Unnamed
  • Resting Angel

I adore her & her art, and will be doing a more comprehensive article on this artist in the near future.

The Art Gowns

I was able to display 3 Art Gowns at the show.

Jade

Mademoiselle Emily

For Gigi

– by Holly Rene Hunter (from original post)


She is fine
like Dynasty porcelain.
Her words are the chimes of
a host of carillons that ring
True and wise, clear as bells.
Her hair is a storm
Of Harlow platinum
eyes, a deluge of diamonds.
Not to give into Winter
She winks over her shoulder,
saunters Emmy's catwalk
adorned in Chanel and Lavender.

Queen Isabella

  • Inspired by & dedicated to Isabella (RIP)

Thank You Tim!

SURPRISE!! Timothy Price (Off Center Not Even) sent $$$$ to my PayPal, to help with costs. Although the space was free, there were lights to buy, photo cards for handing out, diesel gas for Diana’s truck, a deal we worked out with the restaurant beside us for wine and pizza and more.

My Art Gowns Art (photo prints on canvas with iridescent paint hand detailed on top,

  • It’s hard to take pics of iridescent paint

…and Rock Legends made the wall.

A few posters were made up to sell.

I’ve always had a penchant for Bugs Bunny feet.

Wrapping out was a sweet sorrow.

From the top and bottom of my heart – Thank You, Diana!

Neil Young

On By ResaIn Reblogs, Rock Stars

Join Holly (and moi) over on House of Heart for another post on Rock Legends.

Neil Young

As always I am thrilled and honoured to provide the drawing. We decided on a young Neil. He is in his very early 20’s in this drawing.

Holly chose a fabulous song by Neil that, quite frankly, I had forgotten about. Check out her choice! This was the song I figured she’d pick. She must have had a hard time picking one song. His catalogue is brilliant!

Wedding Love

On By ResaIn Reblogs, Weddings88 Comments

Robbie’s gown has icing on it.

Resa’s gown thinks she’s a sonnet.

Both are made, to love, an homage.

Different Kinds of Art: Wedding Love in Fabric and Cake by Resa and Robbie

Robbie Cheadle made a fun and gorgeous wedding post on Latinos USA with Art Gown Victorian Sonnet and her fabulously creative cakes. Pop on over for a taste of beauty!

By the way,

As a guest artist at my friend’s Pop-Up Art Gallery Show, I have space to show 2 Art Gowns.

A few Art Gowns pics printed on faux canvases, then painted over selectively with iridescent paint, will also be there.

Additionally, five portraits will be on a slice of wall. The 4 below are now framed.

One of the drawings below will be the 5th. If you’re leaving a comment, let me know which one you’d pick!

This is my first time showing in public, and it is a small sample try. If you are already in Toronto, pop by if time allows!

Special thanks to D. Wallace Peach, who sent me all the special antique fabrics that became Victorian Sonnet!

Finally, to all my northern pals who have endured a cold, snowed-in, icy and hideous winter,

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanza, Merry Solstice – To all who celebrate anything this time of year, have a good one!

On By ResaIn Reblogs

Thank you to Robbie Cheadle and Latinos USA for featuring Flora Blanca this Holiday Season!

Different Kinds of Art – Resa McConaghy’s Enchanting Holiday Art Gowns Part 1

While we are celebrating the Holidays, pop over to Gigi’s for an Art Gowns’ Fashion Show of all original designs, created especially for CHICKMAS at The Coop!

The CHICKMAS FASHION SHOW…begins now.