Thinking of Monet

Monet's last years fall into the Belle Epoque....and his art reflected those carefree years before WWI changed the world for good. I have been absent from this blog for more than a year. My husband was diagnosed with a serious illness shortly after the previous blog. I nursed him, and lost him in May. As it goes, it took  a long time to pick up my art again...and I am glad to find that my blogs and my patient followers are still here.

In my new painting, I created a carefree landscape. It is inspired by spring and by matric dance photos I have seen. I am also posting some Monet images:

"Lilac Brollies" by artist Marie Theron
405mm x 305mm oil on canvas board
SOLD

I quite liked an earlier painting that I did in 2011, called "Busy Lizzies". On seeing a photo of figures in movement that I would love to paint, I immediately reverted back to that cool fresh style of painting. The new one is simply called "Lilac Brollies" to rhyme with the earlier name. To crown it all, the owner of the first painting, wants to buy the new painting as well.

"Busy Lizzies" (2011) by artist Marie Theron
405mm x 305 mm oil on board
SOLD

The freshness of the Great Masters of Impressionist painting, will always be appealing, and I decided to add some "wiki" images of Monet's umbrella ladies to this post for everyone to enjoy again and again!

MONET

MONET

MONET

MONET

The Edwardian Era: The Wasp Waist

The Victorian era had a somewhat austere atmosphere under their queen who was for ever in heavy mourning gear, under shawls, pleats and petticoats. Edward VII brought with him a licence to lightness, and the fresh spirit of La Belle Epoque blew in from the continent. The Edwardian woman was dressed up, out and about and sure to be seen with her sinuous S-curved silhoette!

The mainstay of the Edwardian fashion form was the tailor made corset, also seen as a "health corset"! The waist was clinched in to the smallest possible size and the tummy totally flattened. All available flesh was pushed backward to form an ample posterior and upwards to show a heavy breast line. Read more about The Edwardian Silhoette here!

I made up this painting to continue my list of typical Edwardian fashion traits:

• Edwardian ladies, although going around with low necklines at night, was dressed from their chins to their feet in the daytime, even wearing long gloves and never venturing out without hats and parasols.
• The "wasp waist" ruled supreme! The process could start with ribbons tied tightly, then the corset would be pulled over and tightened with some help from a ladies' maid!
• Heavy trimmings and lots of detail in the bodice helped to enlarge the top and minimize the waist even more. Even padding could be placed against the skin under the arms. In this dress the mock bolero has scallops, contrasting trim (often in velvet as was seen in my previous painting), a blouse effect and plenty of buttons ( a great craze of the times).
• A flat tummy and neat pleats kept the flattened effect in place in the front of the skirt.
• This was the time of Art Nouveau, with its flowing organic lines. I painted a type of screen to show the relation between Art Nouveau design and the Edwardian sillhoette. Both styles followed a design of balance and counter-balance and exaggerated curves.
• Edwardian collars were high and stiffened with stays and bones, making the neck appear very slim and were playing the role that the pearl "dog collars" played at night.
• The Arts and Crafts Revival put the emphasis on beautiful handmade furniture and objects. Likewise an enormous amount of labour was spent in the making of one ladies outfit with its matching jacket, parasol and hat, belts and shoes, with all the trimmings and insets, boning, ribbons and lace. Working girls with careers could never keep up the pace!

The S-shaped stance, so very pretty, was not very comfortable and one often sees photos of Edwardian ladies leaning onto thin parasol handles, walking sticks or any nearby pedestal! There is a lot more to learn about this fashion era! My collage shows the dress pattern which inspired my painting, ( From "Costume and Fashion") and some waist-thinning corsets from the same book and from Dover clip art. Read more about the wasp waist and waist-thinning corsets here

Hats for Smart Wear

Towards 1927 smart suits were worn by women and "misses" alike. The world started a lasting love affair with crisp white shirts, also called overblouses in the Twenties as they were not always tucked into the skirts but had a band around the hips to round off the design. The blouses could be made from chiffon, a material called radium silk, and popular English broadcloth! Now why does that last material sound so strong and practical?

Feathers and porcupine quils were found on hats throughout the Twenties and I decided to use a Berti Borelli type of design for my belle with the unexposed hair, the black parts being part of the hat design and not hair! And, yes, you can buy vintage style hats on E-Bay today! And one last thought, one can still spot the Victorian bonnet in the style!

Ample make this Bed

I have done a set of belles where I have used soft pastel colours.The hair is straight from the Twenties! It was the ideal style for ladies to wear under the lovely cloche hats and little gold croched evening caps.. My daughter Susan chose a poem by Emily Dickenson to go with this image:

Ample make this bed

"Ample make this bed.

Make this bed with awe;

In it wait till judgment break

Excellent and fair.

Be its mattress straight,

Be its pillow round;

Let no sunrise' yellow noise

Interrupt this ground."

Emily Dickinson

The Barrel Line

Utility clothes worn by women during World War I, was extremely drab. Wartime fashion gave us a heavy wide skirt in rough material, not a pretty button in sight!

At last in 1919 at the end of the war this skirt made way for 'the barrel line'. Dresses were now tubular with the anatomy of women quite suppressed. No shape and no waist were shown. If you did not have a boyish built, a 'flattener' was needed. The skirts of these dresses ballooned inwards near the ankles to show for the first time some well-turned ankles in femine shoes to cleverly make up for the absence of daring near the neckline!

In my painting, I exaggerated the length of the barrel line, the way it is often done on pattern packets. The soft detail of the belt shows off the dropped waistline which is the most outstanding characteristic of fashion from 1919 to well into the Twenties. The cloth is soft and silky and pastel-coloured.

Acrylic on Stretched Canvas

COPYRIGHT MARIE THERON 2010

A Stroll in the Rain

Some of the nicest childhood memories are those of strolls we took in the rain. Isn't it a treat to be almost isolated in a bubble of peace while it is softly raining? My Parisienne looks cosy and contented! Around the corner is a coffee house with steamed up windows and wonderful aromas....

180 x 180mm (10 x10)

Acrylic on Canvas Board

COPYRIGHT MARIE THERON 2010

At the Couturier

For an elegant lady who lived in the twenties and thirties in an environment of liveried servants, clothing was an investment. Here I imagine her in the setting of the show lounge of her couturier, making a decision about a coat, while it is modeled for her by a live mannequin. I do believe you had to have morning, afternoon and evening coats!

My little belle looks serene in a blue suit with a tight-fitting flattened bodice. Suits in pastel colours were popular and female curves were abandoned. Frenchwomen had a battle with this, but English and American women found it easier to achieve the boyish frame, being naturally more angular.

The photo comes from Costume & Fashion by James Laver.

I came upon a very special blog today, called "Eye Prefer Paris". I thought I would show you this delightful post on Parisian dogs in their winter coats.

180 x 180mm (10 x10)

Acrylic on Canvas Board

COPYRIGHT MARIE THERON 2010

Winter Pleasures

This is my absolutely favourite little painted lady! I have waited until you were truly shivering over there in the Northern Hemisphere before I posted the painting here. So please disregard the fact that I am writing this on a sunny summer's day in Cape Town!

In her book: French Women for All Seasons, Mireille Guiliano writes: "Most of us don't have a choice to sit winter out. The fact is that not every bird gets to fly south. And I confess I wouldn't want to: I love my morning walks in the winter, breathing the cool crisp air, and I can't imagine living in places without much seasonal variation. "

Well said! Wear your coziest coat and let me know what you see and experience out there. And tell me what you eat and drink out there!

180 x 180mm (10 x10)

Acrylic on Canvas Board

COPYRIGHT MARIE THERON 2010

The Little Black Dress # 2

180 x 180mm (18 x 18 cm)

Acrylic on Canvas Board

COPYRIGHT MARIE THERON 2010

AVAILABLE in South Africa from January 2011

Price R400 + R50 Postage and Packaging

Wherever you go, however you celebrate this holiday season, have a wonderful time! Enjoy and keep well!

I have loved starting this blog and am full of ideas for 2011. I will be full-out busy with family commitments and travel, but on my bedside table and travel bag I have a stack of books on Art Deco, De Lempicka and fashion history. Already waiting in my studio are some wonderful paints I found: a very pale blue and quite a range of purple hues! It is going to be GREAT FUN for me to pursue this course.

For the final image of this year, 'the little black dress' and 'a timeless look'. The name of my painting is: "The Night is Still Young"

The Little Black Dress #1

180 x 180mm (18 x 18 cm)

Acrylic on Canvas Board

SOLD

COPYRIGHT MARIE THERON 2010

What is fondly known as 'the little black dress' was first introduced by the amazingly talented and original Coco Chanel, who emerged as the voice of fashion in the Twenties. Early on in her career she introduced a short, undecorated black dress for evening or cocktail wear. Even today it is considered essential that a lady should own at least one of these practical items of clothing that can be dressed up or down. It still plays a part in fashionable wardrobes after 90 years.

I made two paintings to commemorate an item that is timeless, both vintage and modern!

This is the first painting and is called: 'Le Dance'.

Cool, cooler, coolest!

180 x 180mm (18 x 18 cm)

Acrylic on Canvas Board

COPYRIGHT MARIE THERON 2010

AVAILABLE in South Africa from January 2011

Price R400 + R50 Postage and Packaging

It should be remembered that 1918 not only saw the end of the war, but also the end of clothing restrictions durable textiles. The shorter tube-shaped dresses, silky materials and lace, and light pastel colours during the Twenties gave such a new feeling of freedom of movement.

I had to giggle a bit when I read how v-necks and boat-necks were denounced by one and all. The press and the pulpit were even involved in campaigns against it! But fashion was persistent and everyone got used to "pneumonia necklines" which were supposedly bad for the health!

One of the nicest developments was the easiness of making these dresses. With a sewing machine and pattern, lovely clothes could be made by one and all. Unlike the previous century, girls from all walks of life could dress well.

Enjoying the Cold Weather

180 x 180mm Acrylic on Canvas Board

COPYRIGHT MARIE THERON 2010

AVAILABLE in South Africa from January 2011

Price R400 + R50 Postage and Packaging

America in the Twenties saw a lot of affluence, with lots of money made in new ventures and even some of it even through gambling. I quote from The Great Gatsby again:

'She's got an indiscreet voice' I remarked. 'It's full of ' - I hesitated.

'Her voice is full of money', he said suddenly.

That was it. I'd never understood it before. It was full of money - that was the inexhaustible charm that rose and fell in it, the jingle of it, the cymbals' song of it.....High in a white palace the king's daughter, the golden girl..... (F. Scott Fitzgerald - The Great Gatsby)

How well he writes. I like it when one knows a story by heart through constant reading and watching films. It is then, on re-reading it, that little gems like this are found.

I tidied my paintbox, and found this lovely colour 'Permanent Magenta' by W&N, hidden in there. How well it matches the violets and purples I have been using in this range so far.

A Little Light Rain

180 x 180mm (18 x 18 cm)

Acrylic on Canvas Board

SOLD

COPYRIGHT MARIE THERON 2010

Although I devote some of this blog to the Twenties, a period that often had very adverse publicity, I like to show the sweetness and innocence of the period and the feminine love of fashion. F.Scott Fitzgerald spoke about "the freshness of many dresses" That love for lots of fashions was always part of womenhood and it is still there today.

Parks and delivery bicycles are so Parisian! I hope you like this belle with her little umbrella strolling outside on a wonderful crisp morning.

The Cloche Hat

180 x 180mm (18 x 18 cm)

Acrylic on Canvas Board

SOLD

COPYRIGHT MARIE THERON 2010

The bell-shaped cloche hat was first designed in France by Caroline Reboux around 1908. It was a development of the dowdy Victorian bonnet. Soon a truly small and fashionable hat appeared in the twenties and became all the rage. It was made of soft felt and fitted over cropped hair to give a small head shape. The shape contributed to the new slimmer lines of clothing during the Twenties.

The little pointed ribbons on the hats were always a puzzle to me. On Wikipedia I found a fascinating explanation. The ribbons were carrying all sorts of messages: The arrow-shaped pointed ribbon showed that a lady was single but has given her heart to someone. A firm knot was symbol of a firmly married lady, while a bow indicated someone interested in friendships.

The year 2007 saw a revival of the cloche hat on the catwalks and the streets. There are lovely hats available on e-bay, designed by Berti Borell. Let me know if you bought one!!!

Cosy and Chic

180 x 180mm (18 x 18 cm)

Acrylic on Canvas Board

SOLD

COPYRIGHT MARIE THERON 2010

Before I started this blog I have already followed the blogs of Ronelle (living in France), Mangonette and Anne-Marie ( a French teacher in Canada).

All three blogs have the most tasteful and inspiring photos of food, fashion or interiors, lovely articles and poetic words. There is a lot of French style in these blogs and you'll love to follow them.

So to these three bloggers: I noticed today that your blogs related to c-o-l-d weather....so I will just sweat it out in sunny old Cape Town and present you with my cosily dressed French belle!

A String of Beads

180 x 180mm Acrylic on Canvas Board

COPYRIGHT MARIE THERON 2010

Available in South Africa from January 2011

Price R400 + R50 Postage and Packaging

The French, the Twenties and all things vintage are beloved symbols. This set of paintings started as a fun exercise , but it soon became viable as they seem to be popular for dressing rooms, as gifts for lady friends or in clusters of four anywhere.