Seeing all the wonderful photos from those of you who interpreted this week’s SIA artwork was a much needed bright spark in my week. I was just worn out on Sunday and I think that contributed to my funk. The fact that Chicago has also had two weeks of below average temperatures isn’t helping either!

But these photos sure are. Here’s Jodie and her models of all ages from Jodie’s Touch of Style. The first one is her step mom, Nancy, (the 60’s model). then Jodie (the 50’s model) and then her mom, Charlotte (the 70’s model).

 

I personally love Nancy’s outfit the most because I’m pretty sure I’ve worn something very similar!

Next we have Mike and his very nice and classic outfit of neutrals. Mike asked if this painting had a name and, honestly, I don’t think it did. I’ll have to ask the GrowARTS program director the next time I see her.

Of course co-host Jen went above and beyond and found some flowering trees of her own!

And co-host Salazar had the perfect top to wear for this piece!

Kezzie pulled out a beautiful purple print tunic for this week that has flowers and paisley and all the things. She also found some flowering trees!

Finally, there’s me (and Chewie). We didn’t find any flowering trees but it’s okay because everyone who submitted photos this week is my flower. Thank you, everyone!

 

First, I want to say thank you for all the wonderful comments on my post last week on finding our dreams and our passions. It’s nice to know that many of us have felt this same way.

I think that’s one of the reasons the growARTS program resonates with me. Annabelle pointed out to me that many of the artists have never received a paycheck before. Sometimes their first paycheck ever is when a painting they created sells. I mean, watch this video and tell me that this program isn’t amazing.

Which is why I chose another growARTS painting for this week’s Style Imitating Art challenge. I wanted to buy this particular piece so badly but it was already sold by the time I made it to the last show.

It’s all of my favorite colors: purple, gray, black, and white. It would go perfectly in my dressing room (aka a bedroom I’ve turned into my closet) so I’m thinking I’ll need to commission another one from the artist!

I also thought it was appropriate for the first day of May, since all the trees are budding and flowering here in Chicago.

Whether you choose to interpret this painting by wearing these colors, wearing florals or something else entirely, just snap a photo and send it to looplooks@gmail.com by Tuesday, May 9th and I’ll feature it in the round-up post on Wednesday, May 10th.

I’m looking forward to seeing what everyone does with this one!

Don’t forget to enter the giveaway from some fun Chicago swag! 

Time for this week’s Style Imitating Art choice! Plus, if you stay tuned, you can see some of MY new art. And, yes, I hinted about it in a previous SIA post.

Anyway, first up is Jen’s choice for this week. It’s a striking patchwork wrapping cloth from Korea, called a “jogakbo,” that was made by an unidentified artist, ca. 1950–80.

This particular piece is part of the collection at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Met recently released almost 400,000 images of their collection into public domain, And they didn’t just release older artwork images — they’ve got newer stuff, too! For example, this fabric.

Here’s how the Richmond Art Center describes jogakbo:

Bojagi, Korean wrapping cloths, are used to wrap, cover, or carry things in daily life from precious ritual objects to everyday clothes, household goods, and food. Jogakbo refers to a colorful patchwork bojagi that is strikingly contemporary and was historically made with remnants of fabrics from leftover cloths.

I’m looking forward to putting together an outfit inspired by this piece. It’s a chance to break out of the rut I’ve been in with the  neutrals and wear some of the brighter stuff I have in my closet. Or, you know, just stick to beige and black.  We’ll see!

Don’t forget that if you want to participate, just snap a photo of an outfit you wore inspired by this piece and email it to librarianforlifestyle@gmail.com by next Monday, April 24th.

And, finally, as promised, here’s my new artwork:

Yep! I went and got my tattoo for Chewie. It’s my fifth tattoo and, yes, it still hurt in certain spots but, weirdly, it was the outline that hurt more than filling it in. Anyway, I’m happy I got it done and I think it turned out perfectly.

 

You probably all know I’m a dog person. If Chewie’s occasional cameos didn’t give that way already, I mean. In fact, I have three tattoos dedicated to our three previous dogs. But, this week’s Style Imitating Art pick by co-host Salazar is about cats. Tattooed cats.

The official title of this artwork is  “Monmon Cats” (Tattooed Cats) by California-based Japanese artist Kazuaki Horitomo.

I appreciate that Salazar choose another painting with black, red, and white as the primary colors since I have a lot of that in my wardrobe. In fact, I think I’ll take this opportunity to showcase a new top I bought from Moonfish!

If you want to showcase an item in your closet, just snap a picture of an outfit you created as inspired by this painting and email it to 14shadesofgreyblog@gmail.com by Monday, April 10th so it can be featured on her blog. Selfies and flat-lays are also welcome!

As a side note, the studio where I got my last two tattoos is doing another event where proceeds benefit a local dog rescue. I got my three dog-related tattoos after my pups passed away, but in this case I might make an exception and go get the one I need for Chewie during the event. What do you think?

There are so many wonderful colors and prints in today’s Style Imitating Art round-up! It’s so spring-like and it’s making me excited for warmer weather, and blooming flowers, and hopefully finally getting our yard to stop being a huge mud pit.

Anyway! As a reminder, I chose a painting from the GrowARTS program that benefits and provides an income to adults with intellectual and physical disabilities. 

This particular painting is still for sale! If you want to see it in person, GrowARTS is having an event at 1555 W Diversey in Chicago from 6-9PM on Friday, April 7th.

If you just want to see the outfits inspired by the painting, though, keep scrolling.

First we have co-host Jen who, as always, used her accessories in the perfect way. Two different florals to bring in the colors and patterns!

Next we have our other co-host Salazar who says that this time it was all about the sparkles. I have to agree. I love her sweater!

Then there’s Jodi who is totally on-trend with making her floral slip dress cool weather appropriate!Mike couldn’t decide which color palate to go with, so he sent me both. I think they both look great!

Kezzie also sent me two different outfits. The close up of the second one was a “just in case” she didn’t have time to take pictures of the first one. Like Mike, both are wonderful!

Finally, we have Annabelle herself! Of course she couldn’t miss this opportunity to play dress up.

And, of course, my outfit.

See what I mean? So many lovely colors and patterns. Doesn’t it make you excited for spring?

Want to play along? Stay tuned for next week when Salazar will showcase her pick!

 

For this week’s Style Imitating Art challenge I wanted to highlight one of the pieces of art from the growARTS program I posted about a few weeks ago. This particular piece is still available for sale so if you’re interested, just let me know! Or, just use it to create an outfit and send a picture of it to me by next Tuesday to have it featured here on the blog.

As a reminder, Garden Center growARTS artisan training program provides a space for individuals of all abilities to create stunning pieces of art as a means of self-expression and as an alternative path to self-employment.

Art for sale is either painted by adults in the growARTS program or is donated by their family or friends. The artists in the program also get paid a commission for each piece that sells.

This particular piece was painted by one of the women in the program. I believe her name is Stephanie. And while I’m not normally drawn to florals, I did like the colors and the fact that she used sequins for some sparkle.

I have a few other favorites of which I snapped photos, so you’ll probably see those pop-up over the next few months.

In the meantime, use this painting to inspire an outfit and send it to me at looplooks@gmail.com by Tuesday, March 28th to have it featured on Wednesday, March 29th. I’m really looking forward to seeing what everyone does with this!

This week’s Style Imitating Art choice from Jen comes from an interesting source: Pixabay.com. Pixabay is a repository of public domain graphics, images and, apparently, art! Jen uses this website to find images for presentations and trainings and, interestingly enough, I do too. I actually found out about it from our training video producer who works for me. Of course, I’ve never looked for art so kudos to Jen for thinking outside the box and finding this.

Jen, being a good librarian, did some research and discovered the artist’s name and some more of her art here.

I’m hoping I have time this weekend to take some outfit photos for the blog (although the weather is not going to be particularly cooperative). I didn’t have any time to take photos this past week or weekend, sadly. Pretty sure the jeans a t-shirt I wore to paint our old apartment wouldn’t make for good blog fodder.

Anyway, if YOU have time to snap a photo of an outfit you put together based on this painting, just send it to Jen at librarianforlifestyle@gmail.com by next Monday evening (March 13th) to be featured in the round-up.

 

Thanks again to everyone who participate in last week’s Style Imitating Art challenge! This week we’ve got something both retro and modern to interpret. Salazar chose the movie poster from “Sing Street“.

I’m admittedly not much of a movie person so I hadn’t seen this nor had I heard of it (although, I did see “Once” on Broadway!) but Salazar highly recommends it.

Personally, it reminds me of when I was a kid and wanted to be Madonna so badly. I would layer dresses, skirts and bracelets and occasionally even wear crop tops on weekends. I don’t think I’ll be doing any of that this time around, but you never know!

If you’d like to break out your best retro 80s outfit, or just dress in black with a few pops of color, don’t forget to snap a picture and send it to 14shadesofgreyblog@gmail.com by next Monday, February 27th.