Name: Vikki North
Location: USA
Title: ‘Antique Baby Christening Gown’
Price of Original: $350 (Prints Available)
Size: 12″x16″ Un-stretched Canvas Panel
Medium: Acrylic
Artist web site:
http://www.theredchairgallery.com/
http://redchair-vikkisblog.blogspot.com/
From Vikki:There’s a shop in old town San Diego. It’s located in an old Victorian house and sells antique dolls and clothing. As I walked into one room, I saw a gown similar to this one hanging alone in a dark cupboard. It actually startled me.
Although one of the most innocent things, it was also one of the creepiest things I had ever seen.. Conceptualizing my thoughts of Shifting Shadows, the little spooky gown in the shadows of the cupboard came to my memory. (I actually own this little baby gown I used as my subject )
14 responses so far ↓
1 Rusty // Oct 30, 2009 at 10:43 pm
Vikki,
I like thinking about the people who used items we now treasure as antiques or collectibles. Children’s items bring about striking images. Your way of bringing a subject out of the darkness makes it seem touchable.
2 beckielboo // Oct 30, 2009 at 11:26 pm
Placed on the dark background is breathless. No wonder you were startled when you saw the gown in the shop. I am always amazed that you do with acrylic’s what you do! My mentor!
Just an amazing, beautiful piece! I wish I could buy this one myself!
3 vikki // Oct 31, 2009 at 12:10 am
Hi Rusty,
Thank you. This was actually a quickie and a lot of fun to do. I had thought to put some background behind it and then thought…no …creepier just the way it is. LOL
4 vikki // Oct 31, 2009 at 12:14 am
Hi Sweet Beckie,
We missed you this time!
I glaze with acrylics as you do with oils. You just have to work a little quicker. And of course the nice thing with acrylics is they dry quicker also. You can re-glaze many times within an hour. That’s a lot of fun.
5 Sonya Meglaurel // Oct 31, 2009 at 6:24 am
Vikki, never ceases to amaze me what you come up with and where your mind is while in the process. This is not so much “creepy” as it carries moments within the lace and drape. How you address the light in your subjects just leave me in awe!
6 WILLIAM MALTESE // Oct 31, 2009 at 10:29 am
I speak from experience, my dear milk-bath pardner, Vikki (who I see — private aside, here — “can” spell angel, at least if given time to think about it), when I say that there is nothing quite so difficult as reproducing the drape of material in a piece of artwork. Which leaves me perfectly amazed that you insist this piece was a “quick” one (not to be confused with a quickie). We should all be able to manage something so hauntingly wonderful in a short time span. Enchanting!
7 marianne // Oct 31, 2009 at 6:00 pm
vikki- really nice. i can feel the fabric and, as always, love the added dimension that your story gives to the work.
8 Dana Aldis // Oct 31, 2009 at 8:28 pm
Wonderful piece, Vikki – it’s got quite a presence to it. Haunting. Perfect for the theme.
9 Sarah // Oct 31, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Vikki, that something so pure and innocent has the ability to be just as ‘creepy’ is so hauntingly wonderful to me. And I, also, love to imagine your story/explanation of your work that so inspires you.
10 Chaotic Tranquility // Nov 1, 2009 at 7:59 am
Kinda disturbing the way it seems to be free-standing, gathering shadows into its pristinely delicate lace .. Absolutely fabulous piece !
11 vikki // Nov 1, 2009 at 2:02 pm
Thanks Sonya. I think we are pre programmed to see lace and draping material as SO mysterious… especially when it’s in shadow. It holds secrets!
And Me Shower Love- Thank you. The Challenge has disciplined me to
‘work quickly’ because other duties call. It gets tough sometimes. I made a vow to myself at the beginning that I would NOT ask anything of the members that I didn’t do myself. I skidded up to my own deadline with this one. I started it on Wednesday afternoon- and I think I put in about 7-8 hours max. LOL
Hi Marianne- I think some of the most fun paintings we create as artist come out of our memory and experience, rather than a ready made subject in front of us. They’re all about ‘what we felt’ at that moment.
12 vikki // Nov 1, 2009 at 2:05 pm
Thanks Dana. This was really fun theme. And talk about missing someone in the gallery. Where were you Miss Master of Shadows? This one was right up your alley.
Hi Sarah- it happened. The store also has a room of ‘dolls heads’. (I fathom for collectors- doll makers) Shelf after shelf they sit staring at you with those hideous marble eyes. I was like OMG!!
There was a long velvet coat that was in a small (skinny) size. The clerk ripped it off the mannequin and insisted I put it on. She said “We haven’t had anyone who fit this so perfectly. You must get it!’ I got out of the coat and store quicker than I’ve ever done anything! Talk about a totally creep-out experience. Lol
Hi Chaotic-
I knooooow! Isn’t it distubing? I felt exactly the same. Thanks sweet girl.
13 Mary Mary // Nov 2, 2009 at 6:03 pm
Vikki, this is such a beautiful and thought provoking painting. Well done!…It leaves much to the imagination. Who wore it? When?…….
14 Candle Artist Jfay // Nov 2, 2009 at 7:50 pm
I love it Vikki! It’s like a spooky ghost dress, but yet very beautiful at the same time. Love the colors and eeriness, and the flowing of the fabric – Cannot believe it was another quickie — Looks like it took a very long time to create.
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