Project Minima:

Monday, December 17, 2012

The Artist Not Wearing Banksy or Hirst

I've been toiling away in my studio for the past week or so on a little something something.  Ready?  Oh, but first, let me show you the latest Style Imitating Art inspiration...

Roller Rat by Banksy

Everyone's probably familiar with England's (in)famous street artist, Banksy.  But perhaps you were like me and unaware of this particular piece which has a hilarious back story.  Given a museum show in Bristol, Banksy had several rooms of his work, plus he put things amongst the museum's regular collection.

Lo and behold, the art world's darling, Damien Hirst, had one of his ridiculously expensive spot paintings housed there.  And that is what it looks like now after Banksy painted over it adding his trademark rat.  hee hee hee.

Okay, now you're ready to see what I've done after the break!



the artist in her studio, not wearing a Banksy or a Hirst
Nice, huh?  I designed it myself, the top I mean, not the image.  Using my true love's scrap pieces of canvas, I sewed 3 strips together to make a poncho-type form and then came up with a fastening devise for the sides of buttons and loops.  I used seam binding for the round hole I cut in the center for my head and also along the bottom hemline.  The sleeve edges are the selvedges.   I laid the whole thing out flat to paint the spots with my acrylic paint, basically just using red, yellow, blue and white.  When that dried I slapped on the gray mixing black with white.  And finally topped it off with his ratness. 

I actually have detailed shots of the garment on my dress form for those of you who might be interested.  Just click on Clothes for Winter  under "The Artist Not Wearing Banksy or Hirst" to see 'em.

And now, I'm joining Patti and the Visibles at Not Dead Yet Style as well as the crowd at Monday Mingle.  To see what others did with Banksy's artwork, check Style Imitates Art on Tuesday.  Can't wait.  I'm going to take part in Lakota's Ta-dah Tuesday and the Pleated Poppy too.

And since I've decorated myself, more or less, I'm in for the Ethical Fashion Bloggers December Christmas challenge.  It illustrates my thoughts about the holidays exactly come to think about it.

You can also find my how-to on Refashion Co-op.

This just in...linking up to Spy Girl's 52 Pick-me-up: Cartoon.  Check it out.

36 comments:

  1. As always, you leave me gobsmacked by your genius. That rat shirt is THE BEST :)

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  2. Ha! Love the original work and your top.

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  3. The most awesome shirt! I love the painting and the fact that you turned it into a shirt. Love rats!

    Re: Leaf sweater - I'd love to pair the two you mentioned, but it's barely been cold enough for a jacket most days! Wondering what happened to winter and where she got lost. I hope it at least gets cold enough to wear my vintage sweater dress one day.

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    1. Nothing like a rat to decute-ify something.
      I know Chicago has been balmy comparatively speaking. It's been cool, but we haven't been snowed in yet! In fact, it hasn't even covered the ground.

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  4. This is my favorite rat shirt *Ever* - love it. Thanks for the back-story, and for sharing your art (anagram for "rat") with Visible Monday.

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    1. I'd love to see your other fav rat art shirts, Patti. Thanks for having us over for Visible Monday.

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  5. I agree - genius. You are a sly one - "This is not a painting" shirt. Clapping. And that's a pattern I think I could manage! But your choice of painting for this couldn't have been better - artist painting on art, painting on canvas, painting on shirt...

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    1. Yes, you've got it. I was going to write that on the back...but then...I'm one for letting the art speak for itself.

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  6. Love the loop & button closures and the laid-flat photo. Beautiful execution. Awesomely cool garment!

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    1. Perhaps I'll go into production and get sued.

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  7. Geez, this is creative on top of creative. I love it!!
    Are you going to heat set it so it's washable??

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    1. Yea, just like the original(s).

      Does that mean ironing it? Never painted anything on clothes before, so I haven't done that. I'll have to look it up to see how. Although I know acrylic paint doesn't usually come out of anything you get it on.

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    2. Fabric paints are usually ironed for several minutes to make sure they're washfast. Alternatively you can tumble them in a hot dryer or just let them sit for awhile. Your acrylics have a somewhat different base but it should be fine if you don't wash your top for a week or so to make sure the paint is set.

      I love rats! OK, the tame ones. We used to have pet ones when my kids were young and they are very smart and very cute.

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    3. Ok, do nothing, not even wash it - that I can do! ah, Louisa, you had pet rats, how endearing. Must see some pictures of you and your old pals.

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    4. Ummm...don't have any. Sorry! The only photos of the dear ratties are with my then-school-aged kids. Somewhere. Gee, it was more than 25 years ago!

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    5. ah well, time flies. I guess I have my own picture now, don't I?

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  8. What a refreshing change from the cutsie & twee animal prints everyone's wearing at the moment. I adore Banksy and the rat's one of my favourite works. You did brilliantly.
    We've got a Hirst exhibit on a year's loan to the town gallery, I think I've seen it almost every week since we got it. x

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    1. There you go, I'm wearing an animal print! I remember you went to the Hirst show recently. A year loan to the gallery, wow. However did that come about? Is he connected to your hometown in someway?

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  9. I am so honouerd to be connected to you, my dearest Pao.
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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  10. This is a wondrous piece of art and showcases once again your amazing creativity. Who knew that 'ratness' could be transformed to wearable art and displayed so beautifully. Sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to see what comes forth next from your magical studio.

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    1. I always thought my studio looked like a rat's nest...hmmm

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  11. You are officially in the Hall of Fame with this one. Not sure who's Hall, but definitely mine. This is recycling at it's finest- witty, serviceable, and unique. All hail the Queen.

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    1. Hey Jean, nice to hear from you again. No no, I'm in my studio, not the hall. Just acting in character.

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  12. OMG--FABULOUS!!! I adore it!!

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  13. I love Banksy - he started out in Bristol when I was there at University - so obviously I think this is genius!

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    1. How cool is that?! Well, he certainly is a genius!

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  14. I love the original and your wonderful rat shirt. It's amazing.

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  15. Oh Jill, I just love to impress!

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  16. Thanks a lot for sharing this amazing knowledge with us. This site is fantastic. I always find great knowledge from it. Paint Poncho for Rollers

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