About Style Imitating Art…
Style Imitating Art comes from Salazar, Terri, and Shelbee. You can think of it as fashion meets art museum! Style Imitating Art 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. Every other Monday one of the three selects an inspiration piece of art and posts the image on their blog. They then invite others to interpret that art work through their style. The following Monday, they share their outfits. The curator shares submissions the following Wednesday on her blog. Shelbee chose this week’s art work. If you’d like, you can read why she chose it here. I have really been impressed with the different art work we’ve seen this year. It’s been challenging at times but always fun! You can see a few of my looks here, here, here, and here.
Inspiration art work…
About the artist…
Kristy Goggio is a fine artist currently living in Wisconsin. From what I can gather, she is in her early 60s and began her career as a professional artist in 1999. Prior to that, she owned a frame shop and gallery. Do you remember those? You’d go in, select a piece of art (poster actually) and then have it custom framed. I have several D. Morgan prints I had framed at some shop in the mall in Fort Wayne, IN. But, I digress. Goggio graduated from the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design with a BFA. That’s when she opened her frame shop.
A little more…
In 1999, Goggio, at her husband’s urging, entered into the world of creating art as a full-time job. He told her to take a year to see what happened. That’s support, right? Within the year, she had received a contract to create designs for Wild Apple Graphics. You may own some of that artwork as she designed all manner of home decor which was sold at Bed, Bath, and Beyond and Kohls. She learned to work fast because, I’m assuming, she had deadlines to meet. Somehow or other, Goggio also found time to create works of fine art which were exhibited in Fine Line Designs Gallery, a well-known Wisconsin art gallery. I encourage you to visit her website and read her artist statement especially.
Even more…
I don’t usually do this, but I think Goggio sums up her work so well. Here is her process, her art…in her own words:
“I want to let things happen,” said Goggio. “There’s this technique I do where I lay down oil paint, then lay a different color over it, a thin layer.” She then splashes the canvas with a turpentine mixture, creating circles, patterns, little surprises. “It’s always fascinating. I don’t know what will happen. I go from super, super messy then I clean it up – for me it’s much easier than starting with a white canvas.” She usually has four to 10 paintings in various stages of completion at once. “Some are little, some are huge, some I just started, some I put away for a few weeks if I can’t figure out what to do next,” she said. “When you approach a craft that way, instead of a rigid, paint-by-number way, I think you’re being a little more honest with creativity. You start something – maybe you don’t have every thought figured out – but in the middle you learn things, things shift and change. Hopefully you discover something new.” Goggio lets the “mess” dictate where the painting will go. “I paint a bunch of colors and then start to formulate a composition over it,” she said. “If I get a bright blue next to a bright red, that might say to me, that’s where the hat starts (source).”
About the art work…
Now, here is where it gets interesting (well, more interesting)! Shelbee actually bought this piece of art at a thrift store for her birthday. It is probably oil on canvas and measures 24 x 36 in (61 x 91.4 cm). Framed, the piece measures 32 x 44 in (81.28 x 111.76 cm). “Still Life” is currently on display in Shelbee’s bedroom in upper New York.
My interpretation…
I had the perfect dress for this challenge. I mean, the colors would have probably been exact matches. But, I think it went the way of many of my clothes and was purged during one of my Lenten observances. So, I went for the next best. This has the same moody colors, but it’s not saturated like the other one was. I guess you’ll have to take my word for it! Unfortunately, this dress is sold out. April has been doing these small limited editions. The dress is the same style as this one (which you can see here). I thought about wearing the Jane Cropped Sweater again, but then I found this lightweight little cardigan from Eddie Bauer. Does anyone remember that wonderful period of time when Eddie Bauer carried more professional clothing? Oh, I am here to tell you we teachers were in ecstasy! I bought so many dresses, sweaters, and tops that were perfect for teaching. Now, they have returned to their roots which is OK, I guess. But, I miss the Eddie Bauer I used to know!
The Lewk!
As I was kneeling to take these photos, my dress fell into the photo. I kind of like it. You’ve seen these Clarks wedges time and time again on the blog. They’re comfortable and work so well with most of my dresses and skirts. The earrings are amethyst and are old eBay buys. The necklace is from J Jill. I really liked the gold tone against the muted colors of my dress. The bracelet is one of a set of three I’d bought at a boutique last summer in Fishers.
Wrap it up, Marsha!
I was a bit disappointed when I discovered I’d donated the dress I thought would be perfect for this challenge. But, I really hope whoever now has it wears it and loves it. I love these SIA challenges because, sometimes, I have to look at my clothes in a different way. There are times I wish I was a little more imaginative with my interpretations, but I think I’ve done pretty well so far! So, can we talk? Have you ever purchased something only to discover it just might be worth quite a bit of money? What do you think of the way Goggio goes about creating her art? Please leave me a comment or two, and we can talk! I promise to respond as quickly as possible.
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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.
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. I also link up with This Blonde’s Shopping Bag, Doused in Pink, I do deClaire, Mummabstylish, and Style Splash. 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 with Gail and Emma every Thursday. 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!
I have that so often that I sell or give away clothing and regret it afterwards. But hey, we can’t keep them all right? And this is a very beautiful one too!
Thanks, Nancy! Oh, I would have to add another humongous closet if I kept everything. I try to get rid of the same type of whatever I buy. Sometimes, that works. Sometimes, it doesn’t!
Oh Marsha, this dress is so stinking pretty! And the colors and print really are quite perfect for this art challenge. I absolutely love that necklace, too. That definitely fits my definition of a “Frankie necklace”! I am a little bummed about some of things I purged from closet during the last clean out, too. Now that I have a sewing machine, I am sure I could have created some fun things with favorites that no longer fit! But I do still have a room full of stuff to play with so there is that. I really enjoyed reading what you dug up about the artist. There wasn’t too much information to be found. Great job on this challenge, my friend!
Shelbee
Thanks, Shelbee! I may have to send you out on a scavenger hunt to find a piece of her art for me! I love some of her later works, but they’re all sold (I probably couldn’t afford them anyway). I loved reading about how she began something new…I can’t imagine just throwing stuff at a canvas and then ending up with something so magical!
My sewing machine is set up and ready for new projects, but I just haven’t gotten around to doing it! I have a skirt laid out…I need to figure out how to do on-seam pockets. I think I’ve got it straight in my head, and then I talk myself out of it! You have been doing such fabulous things with your sewing machine! Aren’t they fun?
I love this “backup” outfit and have absolutely gone to wear something from my closet only to find that I must have purged it at some other point in time that I didn’t recall.
Thanks, Joanne! I remember thinking about getting rid of that dress. But, I couldn’t remember actually doing it. Oh, well! Hopefully, someone is wearing it and loving it!
I think the colors in this mimic the painting so perfectly, Marsha. And I always love the artist lesson you give too. It’s like being on our art museum docent tour.
XOOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Thanks so much, Jodie! You know what they say…you can take the teacher out of the school…I also just love to learn new things!
I love how the light background of the dress and the cardigan help lighten up the “moody” (perfect description) of the painting! This is a gorgeous summer outfit.
Thanks, Sally! This was a limited collection dress. I already had one in different colors, but this one is in my colors so I nabbed it! I really liked this artist and would love to have a piece of her art…maybe I need to send Shelbee out on a mission!
I need a dresser. Someone to help me put outfit together. I think you would be perfect for the job because I love all of your looks. You could not have shopped the world over and found a better interpretation for this SIA challenge. I need to go gack over to Shelbee’s place because I was there last night and the Internet gobbled up my comment and didn’t post it. I was too tired to fight it and too tired to type it again. But I loved the story of the painting. It looks older than the mid-90s to me. Very pretty. And the colors in your dress couldn’t be more perfect. I also like the necklace you chose. Went back to look at the neckline of the dress and I would have reached for a strand of pearls or something choker length. Love the necklace you picked and the length of it with the dress. Clever girl. And your haircut is adorable. Best hair ever!!
Awww, thanks, Leslie! I just have lots of clothes. I’m always surprised at how well my April Cornell clothing fits the challenges. But, I guess that makes sense because she’s an artist first and foremost. I can’t put my finger on who this artist reminds me of, but there’s someone. Check out her website because her art is so whimsical yet haunting. I’d love to have something by her. I guess I’ll have to send Shelbee shopping! I actually bought this necklace to wear with a very neutral outfit which hasn’t been on the blog yet. But, I wanted something a little dramatic because the dress seemed so muted. Thanks so much about the hair. I’m so worried about my receding hairline. I talked to the dermatologist about it. There’s this fun little cap I can buy (she says it really works) but it’s bunches o’bucks! We did buy a lottery ticket so fingers crossed!
I have been having so many issues with my computer. I will click on something, then it spins, says a network change has been detected, then my computer will go offline. It’s so frustrating. I actually asked Alexa if Mercury was in retrograde because it’s been nonstop for days. I’m lucky to get posts done! And, then, I’ll have a really long comment (sorta like this one), and I’ll hit some button. It all disappears with no back button to get it back…aarrgh!!
This dress is beautiful on you, Marsha- and I think it hits the nail on the head in terms of style imitating art! So I really can’t imagine how perfect your original dress must’ve been… but trust you look amazing in this!
I’ve got a new post up and hope to see you there!
-Ashley
Thank you so much, Ashley! If you say it, it must be true! I saw your new post…you are fabulous in that tangerine color! I loved everything about it!
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Your Plan B dress looks so good, now I wonder what the Plan A dress was like! How could it have been better? Lol.
I am in awe of artists who can just create. I have zero artistic ability, zero. It’s always nice to hear a bit about these artists too!
xo,
Kellyann
Thanks, Kellyann! Plan A probably wasn’t better, but, in my mind, it was perfect! I am with you on the artistic ability when it comes to drawing. I had to take two different art classes for my undergrad. One of the things we had to do was paint an acrylic picture. I liked mine well enough, but it just seemed off. It finally came through when my BIL said, “Who did the paint by number?” Hahaha!! It’s in the attic now! But, you are definitely creative when it comes to clothing! So, you’re a fiber artist!
Oh, I love this Marsha! You look GREAT!
Love,
Krissi of the marquise diamond
https://www.themarquisediamond.de
Thank you so much, Krissi! I really appreciate that!
Your dress colors are so perfect for this artwork! I see a clear inspiration. Love the addition of the cardigan.
Thanks, Laura! I was really happy with the way it turned out!
What a great dress! It looks like it may be a column style? And it has a vintage vibe, so my style. That cardigan is absolutely perfect with it.
Thanks, Daenel! I would say it’s a column with a slight a-line shape. I love the print and am so glad I bought it when I did because it’s sold out. I need to pop over to your blog now. It says I’m subscribed, but I never get any notifications. I didn’t want you to think I was ignoring you.
That dress/ensemble looks great on you!
Thank you so much, Eileen!