Blue Print for Richard Diebenkorn’s “Interior with a Book”

Hello, and welcome to Style Imitating Art’s “Reveal Monday”. Today is the day that the hosts, unveil our interpretations of the chosen artwork.

What Is Style Imitating Art?

Style Imitating Art is hosted by Salazar of 14 Shades of Grey, Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge, and me. Style Imitating Art challenges us to draw style inspiration from pieces of art. Every other Monday one of us selects an inspirational image and we each post the image on our blogs. The following Monday we share our art-inspired outfits. The following Wednesday, the curator shares all of the submissions on her blog.

This Round’s Art Work

I chose one of my all-time favorites to view when I visit the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art. This painting is a mix of still-life and landscape, with the Californian coast being the subject of the landscape. It’s a medium size painting, about a five-foot square, but large enough to get lost in. It’s an excellent painting for meditation. I can just get lost in all those blues.

Richard Diebenkorn was an American abstract painter influenced by the Abstract Expressionism movement of the fifties. He was born in 1922 and passed away in 1993, at seventy-one. A strong foundation is dedicated to his life and art, which can be found HERE.

What I Styled

As last time, when push came to shove, I really didn’t have too many items to choose from in my closet. I have one really gorgeous blue silk blouse but had just recently used it when we used the portrait of Queen Elizabeth for our inspiration, So, as I did last time, I relied on the closets of my daughters.

This time around, I used a blue summer dress from my youngest. As far as color and in a general beach vibe, I thought this dress was just right. I am going to make some claim to this dress because not only did I find the fabric for this dress, I also made it for her. So, even though, she is the one wearing this dress now, a lot of me has gone into it.

This pattern just has a gorgeous wave-like pattern. To me, it is just the right amount of Boho for the summer, The split sleeves with the ties at the sleeve ends, make it summer and beach perfect and something I would wear if I was sitting at a beach house reading a book and looking at the Pacific Ocean. I think it would even make a great swimsuit coverup. IMO, this dress is “California Dreaming.” And a BIG plus, I put pockets in this design, because everything needs pockets!

OK, I know I am from the Midwest, but this is my version of a beachy vibe.

I will give a shout-out to the online fabric store where I found the fabric because they really have a great selection of cool fabrics (although this one is no longer around). If you sew or are interested in sewing and are really bored by what JoAnne offers, Stylemaker Fabrics should be on your radar. They really have some cool stuff.

I think this pretty much sums me up. This has always been one of my favorite paintings to visit when I’m at the “Nelson”, as we call it. If you ever are in Kansas City, I also realize that what I see in this painting has been my interpretation. I’ve always assumed that the blue on the top is the ocean, maybe it’s just sky. I have no idea. But, I really do think it is the Pacific.

I hope this painting also inspired you and you find it as meditative and gorgeous as I always have.

Send me what you come up with at meadowtreestyle@gmail.com along with a small blurb on how the work influenced your choices by Wednesday. I will do a roundup this Thursday featuring all your designs. Things are running later this round because of the holiday tomorrow.

Take care everyone and stay creative!