The Mona Lisa. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I know. I’ve not blogged for ages. I’m not going to apologise, I’ve been busy, very busy. Now don’t fall over with shock, but my latest project has nothing to do with crochet. I know, shocking, isn’t it? I thought I’d give my hands a break and go back to my roots of painting . I studied Fine Art ( painting)at art college way back when.
Back in the day when I was a young lady, I worked as a scenic artist for the Cape Performing Arts Board in South Africa. I spent my time tacking down massive canvases in warehouses and sloshing around horse glue size with a sweeping brush , preparing the backdrops for various operatic and theatrical productions.
Sometimes I would have the honours of actually painting the massive canvases too. After all, my audition to get the job in the first place was having to paint a replica of the Mona Lisa, in poster paints for a production of Annie. The painting was a success, so much so that it was stolen by someone on tour. I learned to spatter with 8 ” decorating brushes like a pro, often having to ‘break down’ a copy of a Rococco painting on the instructions of the set designer , as it read too well from the audience. Breaking down involved spattering great gobs of paint over a beautifully detailed painting- heartbreaking thing to do.
Fast forward 20 odd years and I’m back spattering on canvas and painting replicas of gorgeous pieces of art , except this time, instead of being on a huge scale, these canvas are tiny. And they are being turned into bags.
My new venture is c.Art.
The name stands for craft meets Art, or carry Art. Also you cart your stuff around in your bag.
The basic concept is turning paintings on canvas into bags . Most bags feature an image or two combined with appropriate embroidered text. But words are not enough to describe the bags. You need pictures . So here they are:
This bag was made for a huge Aaliyah fan. It’s not terribly representative of the c.Art style but it was a commission.
Another commission, this bag truly showcases the c.Art style. Here we have a grafitti inspired image with words chosen by the client embroidered on to the bag.
Note the drippy, spattered canvas over written with text: that’s the c.Art style. All the bags are lined in luscious satin and fastened with magnetic snaps.
Here’s a bag made for my muse as a gift, the brilliant, creative, performance artist Marnie Scarlet. This is the back of the bag featuring appliqued flowers and a portrait of her in one of her costumes. This was based on a photo by the wonderful ML Imagery.
Here’s the front of the bag featuring a portrait of the great lady herself , based on a photograph this time by Helene Jaspers.
Detail of the stitching and glitter . 
This bag is a tribute to a legend, the late, great Bruce Lee. Here’s the inside of the bag showing one of his wonderful quotes:
And here’s the front of the bag, with another one of his quotes. Image based on the famous cracked mirror scene of Enter the Dragon. 
This next bag is a clutch bag , an adaptation of one of my other bags, this time featuring a cat rather than a dog. The bag is lined with satin , with a zippered inner pocket and magnetic clasp. 
Sometimes I make from other materials, this time from a beautiful pearly pink pvc. This is based on a graffiti version of Frieda Kahlo.
This clutch bag made from the same pvc, this time with a very graphic image .
This drawing , by my eldest daughter, inspired all of the bags. I transferred this drawing onto a bag made from some old oil paintings of mine , cut up to make a tote bag for her 21st birthday. 
This was how it worked out. 
She was very happy with her gift. 
Here’s a small evening bag based on the famous painting of the Lady of Shalott.
Painted on canvas and lavishly oversewn, edged with red satin, lined with black satin. 
The back of the bag features a verse from the poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson of the Lady of Shalott. The bag features a crystal topped frame and a red silk cord. 
Here is the Medusa shopper. This bag was my fastest seller, purchased only minutes of it’s completion. It was sold to the wonderful artist Sue Kreitzman.
I call this one the Mercury clutch, featuring the God Mercury and words by the God Freddie Mercury. 
Another bespoke bag , this time for a gentleman who chose this rather lovely quote to be featured inside his bag:
and this one on the back :
This is the front of the bag, a composite image of all of his passions: capoeira , architecture, jazz and the sea.
I think it came out rather well. I also unwittingly created ‘Debrixton’, the blue canvas fabric , similar to Denim but not created in Nimes ( De Nimes) hence Debrixton. Get it?
Some of my bags verge on the ridiculous, but splendidly so. Another bag for the fabulously adventurous Marnie Scarlet. This one is called Nell. E. Phant and features a detachable elephant trunk. The images are based on photographs by the splendidly creative Tigz Rice Studios.
Trunk on and trunk off. 
This bag is made in soft pink pvc with velvet straps , canvas portrait applique and artificial flowers.
This bag was another commission . I call this one Optimism. 
Another bespoke bag, this one features a stylised portrait of the client.
This next bag was specially made as a gift for my partner. He’s crazy about a certain character…
On the back is a quote from Bruce Lee. ( elaborated by Royce Da 59)
Here are two clutch bags. The first with the dog is my own personal bag, the second a version for another client, featuring her cat, Bowie.
Close up of the original tea party bag, based on a wonderful piece of graffiti.
So that’s it for now. I’ve got so many ideas in store, I almost don’t know where to begin.
I’ll be back to show you more.
Oh, if you’d like to follow my progress with the bags, do head over to my facebook page www.facebook.com/c.Artbags
There will be a website soon. I’m still working on it.
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- The Power of the Brushstroke (thesmartset.com)
- Fine art meets literature… (anneraven.wordpress.com)
- Arts and Crafts (ohshesartsy.wordpress.com)
