artsy forager

Category: Fashion

  • Fashion Plate: Leigh Viner

    Fashion Plate: Leigh Viner

    What do you get when you take one part line sketch + one part abstract expressionism + a flair for fashion?  The stunning work of Denver artist/photographer/designer, Leigh Viner.  Leigh elevates what could be a simple fashion sketch to fine art by her extraordinary eye for composition, figurative expression and well-placed explosions of color and texture.

    Push

    Look closely at the women Leigh is painting.  These models aren’t faceless mannequins, each one has a story to tell.  Their faces are full of subtle emotion– vulnerability, longing, confidence.

    Perceive
    Gatsby

    The strength of her work is in it’s simplicity.  She is an artist that understands “less is more”.   In her hands, a simple line drawing becomes a striking portrait with just a few limited dashes of color.

    Draw The Line
    Abstractions Aside

    To see more of Leigh’s work, visit her website.  Her work is available for purchase in her Etsy store, jkldesign, which features original art, as well as prints of her artwork and photography.  Leigh also writes a delightful blog, CREATE.  You’ll be inspired.

  • Artsy One To Watch: Mitra

    Argie Mitra has such creativity and talent oozing out of her that it seems she has her hands in everything.  She’s an artist, a stylist, a jewelry designer, a costume designer, a window-display designer AND an up-and-coming fashion designer with her own independent line, Mitra.  If there is a creative project going on, you can bet she will be part of it.

    Lacae Trapeze Dress, Mitra, Myco-Reverie Fall 2011

    It is this sponge-like absorption of the artistic world around her results in designs that are a fantastic amalgamation of inspirations put together in a uniquely Mitra way.

    Mitra, Myco-Reverie Fall 2011

    This young designer is just a year out of college and she is well on her way to accomplishing great things.  I first got to know Argie when she worked as a gallery assistant while I was working for Fogle Fine Art.  It has been such a privilege to watch her blossom and I can’t wait to be able to say I knew her when!

    Nidia strapless top, Dusia maxi skirt, Mitra, Myco-Reverie Fall 2011

    To see more of Argie Mitra’s fabulous designs, please visit her website and Facebook page.

    All images are courtesy of the designer’s website.  Photography by Lauren M. Gherardi.

  • The Designers Who Would Be Artists

    The Designers Who Would Be Artists

    It seems that the art world is embracing fashion and its cultural influence.  The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s recent Alexander McQueen exhibit, Savage Beauty, broke attendance records for fashion exhibits at the institution.  Designers, especially ones specializing in couture fashion, seem to have more freedom than ever to create uniquely artistic forms.  We see designers such as the late McQueen taking inspiration from the art world and creating masterpieces in their own way.

    Dress, VOSS, Alexander McQueen, razor clam shells stripped and varnished

    Are these practical clothes?  No.  But then, art isn’t created for practicality’s sake.  It is created to be an outlet and a source of inspiration.  McQueen and other designers like him have taken inspiration from the forms and textures of ancient and modern sculpture to develop glorious garments that inspire.

    Jean Paul Gaultier
    Mary Katrantzou
    Stephane Rolland
    Manish Arora, Autumn/Winter 2011-2012

    On a simple dressmaker’s form, these could be mistaken for museum-worthy sculptures, but when worn, they become a moving work of art.

  • Haute Off The Canvas

    Haute Off The Canvas

    The paintings of Wm. Coleman Mills have an undeniable texture– they make you want to touch them.  And they are full of gorgeous, saturated color, which makes you want to wear them.  So after hearing the pleas of fans of his artwork, the artist set about the task of recreating his artwork into textile designs, namely scarves.

    Sunset At Grand Lagoon scarf
    Sunset At Grand Lagoon by Wm. Coleman Mills, encaustic on canvas, 144×48

    Those who know me well know that I have a weakness for scarves.  It’s one of the reasons I was excited to move to the Pacific Northwest– scarf weather year-round!!  So when I heard that one of my favorite painters was debuting a line of scarves based on details of his work, I got just a little  OK, a LOT excited.  These lovely textiles beautifully capture the essence of a coastal Southern summer, but are versatile enough to wear any season of the year.

    Wind Swirling On Gulf Water scarf from WMCM Studio

    The scarves are made by photographing each inspiration painting and converting the photo into a digital CAD file.  It is then cropped and digitally screen printed onto a lightweight cotton voile and hand-finished in the artist’s hometown and current residence of Fairhope, Alabama.  Each scarf is 24×72 inches and made-to-order.  They can be backed with either silk or cotton and are signed and numbered by the artist.

    Water's Edge scarf from WMCM Studio

    This is your chance to own a beautiful piece of wearable artwork!  More info on the scarves is available on the WMCM website and pre-orders are being taken now!  I can’t wait to see what other textiles he comes up with next.. I’m thinking throw pillows, bedding, window treatments, etc!

    PS– Be sure to take a gander at Coleman’s artwork while you’re on his website.. not to be missed!

  • Artsy Shoe Love

    Please enjoy this oldie by goodie while I spend the next two weeks camping, packing, visiting with the mom-in-law and moving from WA to OR. See you in September!

    Art
    Art isn’t just limited paint on a canvas or carved marble.  Anyone who knows me knows that I love shoes, so these babies by Israeli born designer Kobi Levi won me over at first glance.  Amazing stuff!  I hope you enjoy seeing them as much as I did!

     

    Happy Shoesday, my friends!

     

  • Resplendent Enigmas: Brad Kunkle

    Resplendent Enigmas: Brad Kunkle

    A man gives many question marks, however, a woman is a whole mystery.  ~Diana Stürm

    Artist Brad Kunkle is a creator of feminine mysteries.  Haunting, glistening visual fairy tales which are at once throwbacks to the past and yet thoroughly modern.

    Candela, oil and silver leaf on wood, 33×32

    His work takes inspiration from the Pre-Raphaelite era, as evidenced by the medieval-feel of the compositions, near photographic precision and intricate surface detail.

    The Quickening, oil and gold and silver on linen, 44×22

    But don’t be mistaken, Kunkle’s figures and compositions are not antiquated, but rather fresh and current.  The paintings are like pages of out a Vogue magazine fairy tale– and I mean that in the best possible way.  These aren’t helpless ingenues, but contemporary women caught up in circumstance.

    Afela’s Nature by Brad Kunkle, oil and gold and silver on linen, 16×14
    The Arrangement, oil and silver leaf on linen, 34×18

    These are the modern daughters of Eve, tempted and tempting, the subject of desire and blame.  Filled with sensual strength tinged with sadness.  Kunkle tells the story of their past by placing them in classical compositions and poses, but the elegant background treatments and inherent edginess keep them firmly on current ground.

    The Source, oil and gold and silver on linen, 26×18

    To see more of Brad Kunkle’s work, please visit his website.  If you’re in the New York area, his work is represented by Arcadia Gallery, where he will exhibit a solo show in Spring 2012.

    Featured image is “Girl With Serpent and Pearls”, oil and gold and silver on linen, 25×30.

    All images are courtesy of the artist’s website.

  • Coming in September!!

    Featuring posts on fashion-designer artists, jewelry artists, artists with style for miles, fashion inspired art, art inspired fashion and much more!

    Be runway dressed and ready to brave the paparazzi for Artsy Forager’s very own artsyFashion Week!

  • Pulp Fashion: Isabelle de Borchgrave

    OK, the fashion loving girl in me is coming out! Check out this amazing show opening at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco. “Pulp Fashion: The Art of Isabel de Borchgrave” is a study in fashion and sculpture, meticulously recreating garments from the annals of art history out of paper. Wonder if George will let me take me a detour through San Fran on our trip to the NW?

    http://www.artinfo.com/news/story/37480/watch-out-for-paper-cuts-pulp-fashion-show-brings-recycled-finery-to-san-francisco//

  • Wearing Picasso

    Wearing Picasso

    One should either be a work of art, or wear a work of art.  ~Oscar Wilde

    Image via The Sartorialist

    preview

    Image of Guernica by Pablo Picasso, via Museo Reina Sofia