Style Imitating Art…
Welcome back for my interpretation of a beautiful piece of watercolor art! Salazar, Shelbee, and I are the curators. You can think of this series as fashion meets art museum! SIA challenges people to find inspiration in different art works, create looks based upon that art work, and share them with the curator for that piece. Salazar chose this beautiful painting for us though I have to admit it looks like something I would pick. I hope you enjoy this post, the information, and my interpretation.
How it works…
Every other Monday one of us selects an inspiration piece of art and posts the image on their blog. We then invite others to interpret that art work through their style. The following Monday, we share our outfits. The curator shares submissions the following Wednesday on her blog. Salazar chose this week’s art work for this round of Style Imitating Art. If you’d like, you can read why she chose it here. Please send your photo to her by Tuesday, October 20th, 2026 by 10 pm EST. Style Imitating Art is an interesting way to inspire your outfits. You can see a few of my looks here, here, here, and here.
The artist…
Lizzie Riches was born in East London in 1950 and grew up near Epping Forest. This created an undying love of the natural world for her. This, and an early visit to Audley End and the National Gallery, led her to create amazing works of art centered on the natural world as well as interpreting portraits through the eye of an Elizabethan artist, particularly Elizabethan portraiture.
“When I was about six , my parents took me to Hatfield House and I fell utterly in love with the rainbow portrait of Elizabeth the first. I just wanted to be able to paint pearls.”
Schooling…
Riches began art school at the Camberwell School of Art as well as Goldsmiths’ College Schools of Art but soon realized the curriculum wasn’t meeting her needs. She left the school to develop her own special style. She did this by studying the paintings she’d loved as a child.
Style…
Riches’ work has been described as “colourful [sic], joyous and life affirming” due to her imagination and upbeat style. For many years, she lived in rural Suffolk where she observed the birds, animals, plants, and insects in that area. Now, her interests include exotic flora and fauna. She “is particularly fascinated by the relationship between human civilization and the natural world.”
Evolution of style…
In 1973, Riches moved to Norfolk where she began to paint as an artist. Her first pictures were “detailed oils of exotic animals on Oriental carpets. These paintings fell into the surrealist realm. Among her influences are Rothko, Matisse, Bogdani, Audubon, and 18th century Dutch flower paintings.
Portal Gallery…
Riches joined London’s Portal Gallery in 1976. She exhibited with them in Chicago, New York, Paris, and continuously in London (since 1976). This gallery introduced Riches to The Red Dot Gallery which was close to her home in Norfolk in 2011.
The Golden Caroline…
In collaboration with The Red Dot Gallery and The National Trust, Riches created a series of paintings in celebration of “an aspect of Blickling Hall’s history” in 2012. This project was “In Search of the Golden Caroline.” Most of the paintings, which were a history of Lady Caroline Suffield, were portraits, but some included more exotic locales and subjects! “Hidden in sixteen new paintings by artist Lizzie Riches is a series of clever clues that will lead one ultimate winner to a unique prize – a wood-carved, gilded and jewelled apple called ‘The Golden Caroline’.” The exhibition was in the 17th century library and showed the history of the family and gardens.
Commissions…
The London Transport commissioned a painting as part of the ‘Art in the Underground.’ I checked but couldn’t find out if the two prior posters we’ve featured (here and here) were the same kind of commission. Other commissions were 16 paintings for P&O’s luxury cruise liner, ‘Aurora.’ Another series of 18 paintings show the character and history of the “classic and noble grape varieties were commissioned by Websters Wine Publishers for ‘Grapes & Wines’ by Oz Clarke.” In 2000, Riches painted an 80 foot mural for a country house in Kent.
At last…
You can find other painting by Riches in The Sainsbury, Standard Chartered and Prudential Collections. In 2016, she was commissioned to paint several pieces for “the Restaurant and Bar area of the recently refurbished Queen Mary, these were loosely in the style of Doris Zinkheisen who had painted the original murals.” She also exhibits, through Portal Painters, at the London Art Fair in January, The Affordable Art Fair in Battersea in March and The British Art Fair at The Saatchi Gallery in September. Wild Apple Graphics of Woodstock, Vermont also created prints and posters of her work. I found a wonderful interview with Lizzie Riches here. I encourage you to check it out. Her answers are exactly as you would think!
The artwork…
A Bird in the Hand was painted circa 2019 and is actually cataloged as undated. It is oil on canvas and measures 16 x 12 in (40.6 x 30.5 cm). It was sold by The Red Dot Gallery, and the owner and selling price were withheld.
Sources…
My interpretation…
As soon as I saw this painting, I knew exactly what I was going to wear! And, for once, I was right! Unfortunately, I don’t have a ruff though I did, for one hot second, consider ordering one! So, instead of a ruff, I have a slip with lace at the bottom! I think Lizzie would approve of the artistic license I’m taking, don’t you? This is the Kiara dress from Gudrun Sjödén. I see they added a turtleneck under it. Now, why didn’t I think of that? Of course, I don’t have one in the color they show nor do I have a light colored one! The slip is also from Gudrun Sjödén and is one of the first things I ever bought there. I usually have scads of these little ceramic birds scattered around the house. But, of course, they are packed in the containers for my pumpkins. This one sole bird was all that I could find. She’s a rustic little bird, but, unfortunately, she’s not painted as prettily as Lizzie’s is!
The Lewk!
Want to know why I picked these L’Artiste Gaviria shoes? First, I love them and don’t wear them near enough. Second, I wanted to show off my cute Sock Candy English Rose socks, but they don’t show up very well! And, last, I think they really look cool with this dress! I added an old pair of J Jill earrings in autumnal colors.
Wrap it up, Marsha!
This is another artist I’d love to have a painting from! I thought about contacting her to commission a portrait, but who am I kidding? I don’t have that kind of money, but it could be fun. I could put that on my 70 things list! I did forget to mention I deliberately waited to take these photos at night. I had done an Instagram reel at twilight, and it turned out so well. But, for some reason, there is this blurring around my face, probably because of the overhead light. I do like the effect, though! So, can we talk? What do you think of Lizzie Riches’ kind of art? Would you make a trip to see, and possibly find, the Golden Caroline? Have you ever commissioned a piece of art? Please leave me a comment or two, and we can talk. I promise to respond as quickly as I can.
Don’t forget…
If you want to be included in the Style Imitating Art round up, send Salazar your photo by 10:00 pm EST, October 20th, 2026. Photos of everyone participating will appear on her blog on Wednesday, October 21st! If you’re interested in joining us, consider all of your options…the colors, the textures, the feelings they evoke! Come on, give it a try! I think you’ll love it!
Thank you!
I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for reading, commenting, subscribing or emailing! It truly means so much to me! If you’d like to follow me on Instagram, you can find me here.
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Where you can find me:
Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style, Is This Mutton, and Shelbee on the Edge. I also link up with I do deClaire, Mummabstylish, and Style Splash as well as the Senior Salon Pit Stop and Slices of Life. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I also am a co-host for Ageless Style on the third Thursday of the month and Songful Style on the last Monday of the month as well as the Global Writing Challenge on the second Thursday. I now co-host Fashion Files with Amy at Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa every Tuesday. I co-host Traffic Jam Weekend every Thursday with Melynda, Lisa, Cat, and Rena. I also host 10 on the 10th on the 10th of the month! I do hope you’ll check out all of these blogs and link parties!
That’s a great interpretation of the painting! Now I’ll just have to get over the disappointment that there isn’t a ruff 😋
I really like the paintings and enjoyed reading the interview.