Style Imitating Art: “Buon Giorno Venezia”

Style Imitating Art…

Welcome to Style Imitating Art which comes from Salazar, Shelbee, and me. 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. And, guess what? I’m the curator this go round! Originally, I had planned something by Georgia O’Keeffe, but I discovered Caroline Zimmermann’s website! I was entranced and chose “Buon Giorno Venezia”! 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. I chose this week’s art work for this round of Style Imitating Art. If you’d like, you can read why I chose it here. Please send your photo to me by Tuesday, March 26th 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.

“Buon Giorno Venezia”…

About the artist…

Caroline Zimmermann was born in California in 1964. As you can imagine…well, as I can imagine…she loves to surf and does so whenever she can. Zimmermann can also lay claim to having visited all four hemispheres in search of “the perfect powder, the perfect wave, or the perfect light to paint (source).” When I read through her biographical details on her website, I feel like a definite underachiever! Although she began painting in oils at age six, it was Zimmermann’s love for surfing which led her to paint the various landscapes she encountered on her travels.

“For Caroline, surfing was a humbling experience, one that translated well into her art. She sees the ocean as a place of great energy, where waves are given to you, not taken. Caroline’s surfing and painting have always complemented each other well. ‘Just like in catching a wave, when I start a painting, I never know what I am going to get, and I love that anticipation,’ she says (source).”

A bit more…

Zimmermann graduated from Cal State Fullerton in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. In 1994, she received her Master of Fine Arts degree from the California College of the Arts. During the 90s, Zimmermann’s focus turned from the sea to the land as she began capturing the landscapes of Tuscany and Provence. In 1997, at the age of 32, Zimmermann was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent surgery as well as chemotherapy. With the agreement of her oncologist, she returned to Tuscany for her last two rounds of chemotherapy as well as to recover.

Still more…

Zimmerman spends most of her time in Laguna Beach, her home for over 30 years. If she’s not there, you can find her in Provence or Tuscany. And, if she’s not there, she’s traveling somewhere else to find inspiration and joy. I would say Caroline Zimmermann has a serious case of wanderlust and, luckily, has the abilities to nurture it. During the pandemic, Zimmermann and her husband created “lockdown films.” She was in Tuscany and Provence during that time! Oh, don’t even look at those films if you have major garden envy like I do! You can read much, much more about Caroline Zimmermann here.

About the art work…

The art work is oil on canvas and measures 40 in x 30 in (101.6 cm x 76.2 cm). You can read Zimmermann’s blog post about her trip to Venice. This painting was inspired by that visit.

“It amazes me how humans can forge an existence with such grace and elegance in such an improbable place. How decay, corrosion and erosion etch the most beautiful patinas of time on structures built in the unlikely medium of salt water. Slowly, relentlessly and like rust, never sleeping, water works to reclaim all that Man has done and return it to the briny deep (source).” 

My interpretation…

Honest! I don’t go out and buy new clothes for fashion challenges. I had ordered this cute little shirt dress from Old Navy before I picked the art work! I may also have it coming in white…actually, I do! Don’t order it right at the moment because it’s a Best Seller which means you won’t get any discounts on it. But, you and I all know it will soon go on sale! I picked both up during their recent half off everything sale. The description says it’s 100% cotton, but I have to believe there’s a little bit of spandex in there. There’s a nice bit of give across the shoulders, and it isn’t because of that back inverted pleat. Another thing…this isn’t a true shirt dress. It’s a pull over with three or four buttons (with a nice hidden button placket). And, I’m wearing a regular for those of you over 5’1″! Many of the reviews talk about how short it is. You can tell it’s short as it’s just at or even a skosh above my knees. I thought the blue and white vertical stripes were perfect for the building to the left. I added two different scarves and tied them in a very loose Windsor knot to bring in some of the green and yellow. Unfortunately, I don’t have any red scarves! Shocker, I know!

The Lewk!

My first outing with the Annmarie sandals this year (available in limited sizes here). I’m not sure if I’ve written about this or not. Jack actually chewed up the top half of one of the first pair I had. I decided to size up when I reordered them…big mistake. These are a bit big, but the velcro band helps a bit. All three hinged bracelets are old and are from Talbots. I have man hands so I rarely find bangles to fit! Luckily, these were hinged! The earrings are some kind of green gemstone, but I don’t remember what! They’re not prasiolite. But, they were an old eBay purchase!

Wrap it up, Marsha!

There are so many times I wish for things I just can’t have. One of those things is artistic talent. I wish I could paint like Caroline Zimmermann, but I also wish I could play the piano like Elton John! Sometimes, we just have to go with the talents we do have, right? So, can we talk? Are you a surfer? Maybe, you’re a water skier? What hidden talents do you have? Do you have a red scarf? Please leave a comment or two, and we can talk. I promise to respond as soon as possible.

Don’t forget…

If you want to be included in the Style Imitating Art round up, send me your photo by 10:00 EST Tuesday, March 26th. Photos of everyone participating will appear on my blog on Wednesday, March 27th! This may be the perfect painting to start out with…there’s a little bit of everything in it…color, texture, graphics! Come on, give it a try!

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.

Affiliate links, discount codes and such:

Just a reminder that Marsha in the Middle may use an affiliate link. Those links are usually italicized. If you click or make a purchase from an italicized link I provide, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your support. I am an April Cornell Brand Ambassador for another season. You can use my code, MARSHA15, for $15 off any order over $100. Use Marsha12 for 12% off any order of $65 or more at Buykud. I also have an affiliate code for Kantha Bae! Use MarshaintheMiddle in the promo code box for $5 off any order (excluding Bestie restocks)! I have also become a Halftee Partner. Use the code, MARSHA2098, for 20% off any purchase. I am also an affiliate with Clara Sunwoo. You can use my code, MARSHA10, for 10% off your entire order. In case you didn’t know, bloggers must disclose the use of affiliate links. That’s why I include this in each post.

Where you can find me:

Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style,  Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge, Chez Mireile, The Grey Brunette, and Away from the Blue as well as Deb’s World and A Fresh Cup of Coffee. I also link up with This Blonde’s Shopping Bag, Doused in Pink, I do deClaire, Mummabstylish, Style Splash and Elegantly Dressed and Stylish. 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. I co-host Traffic Jam Weekend every Thursday with Melynda, Lisa, and Sue. I also host Final Fridays on the last Friday of the month as well as 10 on the 10th on the 10th of the month! I do hope you’ll check out all of these blogs and link parties!

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