Blog Archives

Golden Sunset

9/30/2016

"Golden Sunset"
Abstract, 48" x 48"
Available.
Inspired by Project Runway, Season 4, Finale, Christian Siriano design

I cannot believe it is Day thirty of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days September Challenge. When I came up with my Project Runway inspired theme I had no idea that it would be this much fun. So what did I learn?
First, I have realized that I can design an abstract painting from just about anything. Give me a photo of a room (or a dress!) and I know I can paint a good painting. I also know that abstract painting is the direction I am heading in the future. I have no doubt.
For my final challenge painting, I based it on who I think is the best all-time designer on Project Runway. It was a tough decision because I love them all. But Season Four had the best designs. And the winner, Christian Siriano, is by far the most talented and successful designer launched from the show. Ever.
The dress I used for my inspiration is a classic and was one of many amazing designs in Christian's season finale collection.
Thanks Project Runway for making this last 30 days such an incredible journey. You really made it work.
Tomorrow all of the participants will be posting a collage of their paintings from this Challenge. So be sure and check back for final thoughts and the fabulous collages of all of the artists!

1 Comment

Hot Pink

9/29/2016

1 Comment

"Hot Pink"
Abstract, 36" x 48"
Available.
Inspired by Project Runway, Season 11, Episode 7, Layana Aguilar and Stanley Hudson design

Project Runway is pretty creative with their "unconventional challenges". I thought long and hard about which one has been my favorite. I think it's almost impossible to choose so I am calling this "one of my most favorite unconventional challenges"!
On this episode the designers were asked to create a prom dress out of duck tape. Yep, duck tape.
I should probably admit that I was not aware that duck tape came in so many cool colors. But the dresses that were created on this show were all really good!
I also love Stanley Hudson who was one of the designers of this dress. He is so incredibly talented and actually showed up at my house one day when we were filming a commercial. Of course I cornered him right away!
I had so much fun creating this painting. Thanks for the inspiration!

1 Comment

Summer Hues

9/28/2016

2 Comments

"Summer Hues"
Abstract, 36" x 48"
Available.
Inspired by Project Runway, Season 5, Finale, Leanne Marshall design

My favorite final collection by a designer on Project Runway has to be the aqua, white and tan ensemble that Leanne Marshall designed in Season five. Her "petal" inspired designs were so cool and the colors she used? Well, they were perfect. At least for me.

To see Leanne Marshall's runway show of her final collection click here. I really loved her bridal gown but the aqua long dress is also simply fabulous.

I absolutely loved creating this painting. The colors are my favorite and I really tried to incorporate some of the petal inspiration. What do you think?

2 Comments

Confetti

9/27/2016

1 Comment

"Confetti"
Abstract, 30" x 40"
Available.
Inspired by Project Runway, Season 1, Episode 1, Wendy Pepper design

As I near Day 30 of this Challenge I have chosen some of my favorites from the fourteen seasons of Project Runway to complete these last few paintings. Yesterday's inspiration was from my all-time favorite episode. Today's dress is what I consider the "all time most hysterical outfit".
This unconventional challenge required the designers to make a dress from items in a grocery store. Designer Wendy Pepper must have thought it was also a bathing suit challenge and/or a birthday party item challenge because that is the only explanation why she designed this itty-bitty outfit. Plus, how (and why) did the balloons ended getting placed on this "outfit".
It's hard to believe Wendy wasn't voted off for designing this outfit.
My painting on the other hand was created in a somewhat of a sporadic way. Truthfully, the craziness is all I could think about when I looked at this outfit. Plus, I was laughing the entire time. I hope you are laughing along with me!

1 Comment

Rainway

9/26/2016

0 Comments

"Rainway"
Abstract, 36" x 48"
Available.
Inspired by Project Runway, Season 13, Episode 8, Sean Kelly design

Of all of the Episodes on Project Runway, this was by far my favorite. The challenge was to design a dress that would survive rain showers on the runway. Most of the designers created looks that featured plastic but Sean Kelly blew all of us away!
Sean designed a fairly plain muslin dress but placed dye in the seams. So when the dress came down the runway, the dye actually died the dress yellow, orange and red. It was incredible.
Click here to see the actual "rainway" revealing. It's so awesome!
I created a painting and used a lot of water to get the same effect! It was fun spraying my canvas and then letting it drip. Wow, has this been a month month of painting!

0 Comments

Orange Blossom

9/25/2016

0 Comments

"Heading to the Beach"
Abstract, 36" x 48"
Available.
Inspired by Project Runway, Season 11, Episode 9, Patricia Michaels design

The episode in which this outfit was created was the Lord and Taylor Challenge. The winning designer's outfit would be sold at Lord and Taylor department stores. The price point was to be $250, which means the garment should be produced for much less than that. Although it was a team challenge, designer Patricia Michaels took a lot of risks with her two-piece outfit. A lot of people thought that two pieces, particularly with shiny pants, at just $250 seems to be a bit of a stretch for the Lord and Taylor buyer.

I actually really like the outfit, especially since it has four different oranges! That worked well for my painting. I just had to add the light pop as the oranges were just too similar in value. As you can see, there is a lot of paint on this one!

0 Comments

Heading to the Beach

9/24/2016

0 Comments

"Heading to the Beach"
Abstract, 36" x 48"
Available.
Inspired by Project Runway All-Stars, Episode 7, Dom Streater design

On this Project Runway All-Stars Episode the challenge was to create high-end evening resort wear using fabric originally chosen by another designer. Dom Streater made her own textile using the rainbow of linen fabrics pulled by Valerie. The resulting striped skirt playfully evoked a beach towel, a bit of whimsy that charmed the other panelists. I really love this dress!

My painting ended up being VERY abstract but I love the modern and loose feel. What do you think of the end result?

0 Comments

All Tied Up

9/23/2016

1 Comment

"All Tied Up"
Abstract, 18" x 18"
Available.
Inspired by Project Runway, Season 12, Episode 4, Miranda Kay Levy design

This Project Runway outfit was created on the episode in which the designers were inspired by bow ties from Tie the Knot, an organization benefitting marriage equality. I figured, if they can design a dress from a bow tie then of course I can paint a painting from one of the dresses!

Designer Miranda Kay Levy landed in the bottom of the group with this design but she was safe. Sando quit the competition and was the only one who went home.

I decided to try something different as I used collage paper to create the black and white hounds tooth pattern in the bottom tow-thirds of my painting. It looks a lot like the dress!

I painted this painting for my August online class so if you would to learn how to create this, head on over to my online classes page. Click the "enroll" tab to find all of the classes.

1 Comment

Sunset Reflections

9/22/2016

1 Comment

"Sunset Reflections"
Abstract, 36' x 36"
Available.
Inspired by Project Runway, Season 8, Episode 9, Ivy Higa design

I have no idea why I picked this Project Runway dress for an inspiration. Perhaps it's because the dress is so bad I wanted the challenge to make it right!

I have to admit I struggled at first with this one. Using a literal interpretation I had lots of plaid looking strokes throughout the entire painting. That was dumb ... it it's a bad dress then don't create too similar of a painting. It wasn't until I deviated much father away that I started liking the painting!

1 Comment

Shimmer

9/21/2016

0 Comments

"Shimmer"
Abstract, 36' x 48"
Available.
Inspired by Project Runway, Season 3, Finale, Laura Bennett design

This Laura Bennet dress, featured in her finale collection in Season 3, is often found on the internet in "the best ever" Project Runway design collections.

Laura's looks all season long showed her signature elegant sophisticated look. Her final collection on the catwalk was as usual very elegant and sophisticated. Even though she didn't win, I love this dress.

I used a very literal interpretation of the dress for my painting. I think it would look fabulous in a very modern living room just like the one pictured here!

0 Comments