Style Imitating Art | “Gosh! Do I Look as Old as All That!” by Dr. Seuss

About Style Imitating Art

Style Imitating Art is hosted by Salazar of 14 Shades of Grey, Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge, and Marsha of Marsha in the Middle. Style Imitating Art challenges us to draw style inspiration from pieces of art. Every other Monday, one of the hosts, acting as presenter, selects an inspiration image that they will each post on their blogs. The following Monday, each host shares her art inspired outfit. Participants are invited to submit their art inspired outfits to the presenter by 10:00 p.m. EST on the Tuesday following the hosts’ art inspired outfit posts. The following day, Wednesday, the presenter will share all of the submissions on her blog.

You don’t have to be a blogger to join either! In fact, you don’t even have to join but you can still use the art to inspire an outfit just for the sake of trying something different. If you want to share your inspired outfit, we invite you do so on Instagram or any other social media platform that you prefer. Just be sure to tag Salazar, Shelbee, or Marsha or use #TeamLOTSStyle and #StyleImitatingArt so the hosts know you have joined. Go have some fun in your closets and join the SIA challenge next week!

This Week’s Presenter

It was my turn! With my 50th birthday now just only 10 days away, I chose this awesome painting by the beloved Dr. Seuss called, “Gosh! Do I Look As Old As All That!”. This piece is part of Seuss’s La Jolla Birdwomen series, a special collection of eleven known paintings that were inspired by the society women in La Jolla, California. It seemed like a perfect choice to represent my upcoming milestone birthday.

The Artwork

“Gosh! Do I Look As Old As All That!” by Dr. Seuss

About the Artist: Dr. Seuss

Born Theodor Seuss Geisel on March 2, 1904, Dr. Seuss became one of the most beloved authors and illustrators of children’s books of all time, selling over 600 million copies of his works which have been translated into more than 20 different languages. (I have no idea how well Seuss translates into non-English languages with all of his nonsensical, whimsical rhyming but that is the magic of Seuss, I guess!)

Dr. Seuss was born and raised in Springfield, Massachusetts, to Henrietta (nee Seuss) and Theodor Robert Geisel. His father managed the family brewery until Prohibition shut it down. At this time, the mayor appointed Mr. Geisel to supervise Springfield’s public park system.

The Geisels were of German descent which resulted in young Theodor and his sister Marnie to experience anti-German prejudices following the outbreak of World War I. Theodor went on to attend Dartmouth College, graduating in 1925. He was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and editor-in-chief of the school’s humor magazine. During his time at Dartmouth, Geisel and his friends were caught drinking alcohol in his room which was illegal because Prohibition was in full force. As punishment, the college forced him to resign from all extracurricular activities including his editor-in-chief position with the humor magazine. To continue working on the paper without the administration knowing, he began using the pen name Seuss.

After graduating from Dartmouth, Seuss enrolled in Lincoln College, Oxford, with the intent of earning a Doctor of Philosophy in English literature. While at Oxford, he met his future wife, Helen Palmer (also a children’s author), who encouraged him to pursue a career in drawing rather than teaching. In February 1927, he left Oxford without completing his degree program and returned to the United States where he immediately began submitting his writings and drawings to various publications.

On July 16, 1927, Seuss’s first nationally published cartoon appeared in The Saturday Evening Post. He received $25 in payment which was the catalyst for Seuss moving from Springfield to New York City. While in NYC, he took a job with a humor magazine, Judge, where his first cartoon appeared on October 22, 1927. Feeling financially stable at this point, Theodor Seuss Geisel married Helen Palmer on November 29, 1927. Six months into his employment with Judge, Geisel published his first work that was signed with his new pen name, Dr. Seuss.

During World War II, Dr. Seuss turned to political cartoons, publishing over 400 illustrations in two years as an editorial cartoonist for a left-leaning daily newspaper in New York City. After the war, he and his wife relocated to La Jolla, California, where he returned to writing children’s books. In 1954, Life magazine published an article on the illiteracy of school children, citing that children were not learning how to read because the books they were given were boring. The director of the education division at a major textbook publishing house approached Seuss with a challenge to “bring back a book children can’t put down.” He was given a list of 348 words that first-graders should know and asked to cut it to 250 words and write a book for children using only those words. Nine months later, Seuss completed The Cat in the Hat, using 236 words from his list of 250. This book continues to sell at the rate of hundreds of thousands of copies annually, outselling the majority of newly published children’s books each year.

The Geisels were married for 40 years and never had children. When asked about not having children, Seuss has been quoted as saying, “You have ’em; I’ll entertain ’em.” The couple kept irregular office hours, had ample money, and loved to travel. Together they visited over 30 different countries. After battling a series of illnesses over the course of thirteen years, Helen overdosed on barbiturates, dying by suicide on October 23, 1967. Eight months later, on June 21, 1968, Seuss married Audrey Dimond with whom he was reportedly having an affair before the death of his first wife.

On September 24, 1991, Dr. Seuss died from cancer at his home in La Jolla. He was 87. His widow Audrey oversaw the estate until her death at the age of 97 on December 19, 2018.

About the Art: “Gosh! Do I Look As Old As All That!”

Although he is most famously known for his children’s books and illustrations, Dr. Seuss created an extensive series of darker paintings that were not meant for public viewing until after his death. The Midnight Paintings were created usually at night and only for Seuss himself. In this private space, he gave himself the freedom to explore darker topics without it influencing his reputation as a beloved children’s writer. These paintings explored controversial topics like sexuality, drug use, aging, and the fear of death.

Aging is the topic explored in today’s ink and watercolor painting. From the La Jolla Birdwomen series, “Gosh! Do I Look As Old As All That!” is one of eleven works featuring a birdwoman. This series of birdwomen paintings was inspired by the activities of the local La Jolla society crowd. As Seuss observed the comings and goings of the society folk, he considered himself a “bird watcher on the social scene” as he captured their essence in these somewhat satirical paintings.

I chose this particular work not only for its message on aging, but also because I love the vibrant reds and blues contrasted against the dark background. It is a color palette that appeals to me. And I just love everything about Dr. Seuss’s works…both written and illustrated!

References/Resources

• Dr. Seuss-Wikipedia
• Dr. Seuss’s Midnight Paintings: A Mysterious Collection of Artworks
• Dr. Seuss Special Collections
• GOSH! DO I LOOK AS OLD AS ALL THAT!

About My Outfit

I was wearing this newly thrifted satin slip skirt which I picked up specifically for today’s Thrifty Six post featuring preloved silk. As we were photographing that outfit, I glanced down at my phone screen where I had saved the painting of the aging birdwoman for inspiration and realized that the peacock design on the skirt was uncannily similar to the brush strokes that create the birdwoman’s feathery parts. So I decided it would be really cool to restyle the same skirt to prove its versatility to myself so I could justify the purchase!

I added a cropped black tee shirt which I was able to tuck into the high waisted band of the skirt. And then I spotted this old fringed kimono robe which was the perfect topper for this challenge. The fringe reminds me of the feathers, the mandala print sort of mimics some of the brushwork in the painting, and the colors are pretty much spot on. Finally, I added my red cowgirl boots and white fedora with feather earrings and thrifted necklaces in a variety of colors that appear in the kimono print. I was superbly pleased with the final outcome!

How did I do? Do I really look as old as all that?!

Be sure to check out Salazar’s interpretation of this painting as well as Marsha’s. 

If you want to be featured with your art inspired outfit in my gallery post on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, be sure to submit your photos to me at shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com by 10:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. 

By the way, my favorite Dr. Seuss book is Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now! I had severe dentist-phobia as a child and the only way my parents could get me to the dentist’s office without a complete breakdown was the promise of my father reading Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now!

There was a copy in the office and my father would read it aloud to me in the most ridiculously animated voice that sent me into fits of laughter. And we all know that laughter is the best medicine for many things…even anxiety. I was so into his reading this book to me that my parents refused to have a copy in the house for fear that I would never quietly go the dentist again. I no longer have dentist-phobia because I go to a freaking amazing dental practice and I have my very own cherished copy of Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now! on my living rom bookshelf.

What is your favorite Dr. Seuss book?

Happy styling, my friends!

Keeping it on the edge, 

Shelbee

Joining these Fabulous Link Parties.   

Outfit Details: Skirt and Necklaces-Thrifted / Earrings-Snake Song / Boots-Country Outfitter / Top-Charlotte Russe / Kimono Robe-Fashion Mia / Hat-Kohl’s