Style Imitating Art: Tom and Jenny by Andres Valencia & #SpreadTheKindness Link Up #303
About Style Imitating Art
Style Imitating Art is hosted by Salazar of 14 Shades of Grey, Terri of MeadowTree Style, and Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge. Style Imitating Art challenges us to draw style inspiration from pieces of art. Every other Monday, one of the hosts, acting as curator, 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 curator by 10:00 p.m. EST on the Tuesday following the hosts’ art inspired outfit posts. The following day, Wednesday, the curator will share all of the submissions on her blog.
You don’t have to be a blogger to join! You are invited to share your images on Instagram or other social media platforms. Just be sure to tag Salazar, Terri, and Shelbee 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!
The Inspiration Artwork
The inspiration artwork was curated by me. You can read why I chose this work here.
The Artwork
Tom and Jenny by Andres Valencia (Acrylic and Oil Pastel on Canvas, 2022)
About the Artist: Andres Valencia
He is called Little Picasso and he has very much earned that distinction in his 11 years of life. American art prodigy Andres Valencia was born in 2011 in San Diego, California, to parents who fostered his early interest and talent in painting. He began his large scale, colorful works when he was just 5 years old and often needs a step ladder to paint his prodigious canvases. But these aren’t just colorful paintings done by a kid. These are works of art by a highly skilled and educated creative who has been studying art history for as long as he could read. Young Mr. Valencia is also an avid military history buff and this interest shows through in some of his more profoundly insightful works like Invasion of Ukraine.
Valencia is strongly influenced by George Condo, Pablo Picasso, and Cubism but he also cites RETNA, Richard Hambleton, Raphael Mazzucco, and Salvador Dalí as influences since his father began collecting their works seven years ago. He said that he is drawn to artists based on their specifically unique styles. He uses a combination of oil stick and oil and acrylic paints to create his boldly colored and “wildly imaginative fragmented facial compositions.”
He paints, studies art history, and sculpts in his home studio on a daily basis. He often begins a piece with a small sketch but then allows his creative force to take over once he begins work on the large canvas, always relying on his color wheel for guidance. Ideas often strike him as he is falling asleep which results in late night painting when he will sometimes work on multiple canvases at a time.
He has been hugely successful in the past two years with his works catching the attention of art collectors and media outlets around the world. In 2021, he was featured on Good Morning America and his entire body of work sold out on opening night at Art Miami. In March 2022, he sold every painting he had exhibited at Art Palm Beach in one day and he has recently caught the attention of Forbes magazine and the London Times.
About the Art: Tom and Jenny
Tom and Jenny is a 2022 acrylic and oil painting on canvas, measuring 48 x 68 inches (122 x 173 cm). I can find no other information about this work except that it was sold. I would love to know if Tom and Jenny are inspired by real people or if the artist simply conjured them in a half sleep state. I also am curious what they are smoking and what kind of gathering they are attending. Are those cigars? Or blunts?! Is this a group event or an intimate meeting of smoking buddies? Are they romantically involved with one another or are they merely co-workers or casual acquaintances? They might even be siblings or some other familial relationship. So many questions. But I guess that’s a sign of truly successful artwork…when it makes the viewer ask questions!
In any event, Tom and Jenny are dressed in a most wonderful way for a Style Imitating Art prompt with the contrast of black, white, and grays (for those who may prefer a more neutral look) against the vibrant pink, green, yellow, and blue (for those who might want a more colorful outfit).
Resources/References:
- Andres Valencia Art on Instagram
- Tom and Jenny on Instagram
- Andres Valencia
- Chase Contemporary: Tom and Jenny
- Ten-Year-Old Prodigy Andres Valencia Evokes George Condo, Picasso, In Vibrant Paintings, Including Visceral Contemporary ‘Guernica’ Confronting Invasion Of Ukraine
- This 10-Year-Old Art Prodigy’s Latest Painting, Inspired by Picasso’s ‘Guernica’, Will Benefit Ukraine
About My Outfit Inspired by Tom and Jenny
When I chose this painting for our inspiration this week, I knew I wanted to combine pink, green, black, and white to reflect those four dominating colors in the work. I just had no idea which wardrobe items I could find in these colors that would work well together. And then I waited until the very last minute to really get started on creating an outfit.
It was the day before Thanksgiving and Jeff and I were braving the grocery stores late in the afternoon. But it was our only opportunity with cooperating weather that we could squeeze in a quick photoshoot along our way. So I decided not only did I need an outfit to reflect the art, but I also needed something comfortable for walking through three different and very chaotic grocery stores on Thanksgiving Eve.
What’s better for shopping in the snowy cold weather during the holidays than leggings and a cozy sweater? I reached for one of my coziest sweaters ever in hot pink (perfect for our upcoming Barbiecore theme for The Good Buy/Good-Bye Book) and thrifted sequined leggings that add just the right amount of holiday sparkle to this comfy casual outfit. By the way, this sweater is so warm that I can barely tolerate to wear it indoors. And I am always freezing cold so that’s seriously warm recycled polyester!
I opted for my sherpa lined lug sole boots to reflect the black and white of Tom’s outfit and then I added my ivory beret to bookend my outfit in the same black and white scheme. I was going to wear a bright yellow hat to represent Jenny’s yellow hair but I don’t have a bright yellow hat, so I wore yellow glass heart earrings instead. And then I really needed some kind of scarf to break up all the pink of the sweater and the bold lines of this floral print really reminded me of the bold black lines that the artist uses in all of his paintings. I grabbed my gray fingerless gloves because they were sitting out but they tied in the bits of gray from the painting while also coordinating with the bits of gray in my scarf.
I didn’t have much in the awesome shade of avocado green except for these socks and this big wide green ribbon that often comes in handy for Style Imitating Art challenges. I wore it as a tie for The Hallucinogenic Toreador and as a hat band for Calyx. And for this look, I wore it as a giant bow to secure my floral scarf in place. I thought the big green bow was maybe a little over the top, but Jeff really liked it and people were stopping me in the grocery store to compliment my happy colorful look! So I don’t know if I nailed this Style Imitating Art challenge in the way that I normally do, but I definitely came up with a super fun and comfortable holiday outfit!
Now it’s your turn! Did you style something inspired by this wonderful painting? Be sure to check out Salazar’s interpretation of the painting as well as Terri’s take on it. If you want to join us and be featured in my gallery post on Wednesday, November 30, 2022, please send me your photos by Tuesday, November 29, 2022, at 10:00 p.m. EST and then check back for the group gallery of art inspired looks.
Featured Favorites
Reader Favorite (Most Clicked): Tomiko of Kiku Corner
Fashion Favorite: Ashley of Le Stylo Rouge
Other Favorite: Patrick of Adventures in Weseland
Keeping it on the edge,
Shelbee
Linking up with these Fabulous Link Parties.
Outfit Details: Sweater-Target / Tunic-Torrid / Leggings-Express (Thrifted) / Boots-Shoe Dazzle / Hat-Wona Trading / Gloves-Amazon / Earrings-Gift from my children / Scarves and Socks-Old
32 Comments
Michelle
Fabulous! The sequined leggings are amazing! I’ve never seen sequined leggings before. And the whole outfit totally jibes with the painting. It’s amazing that the artist is just 11. What I’ve learned from this art challenge and the Barbie Core challeng coming up is the my closet is seriously pink deficient.
Michelle
https://funkyfashionstyle.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Michelle! These leggings are super fun but the sequins are starting to shed. I leave a little trail of sparkles wherever I go wearing these leggings! Bright pink is such a happy color and I have acquired quite a bit of it since I started blogging and realized that I love the color on myself. And isn’t this one seriously impressive kid?!
xoxo
Shelbee
Lovely
The pink sweater pops! The bow is cute, and those boots are fabulous.
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Lovely, thanks so much! I really appreciate that!
xoxo
Shelbee
Marsha Banks
OH, MY GOSH!!! Going to three grocery stores the night before Thanksgiving!!! You deserve some kind of award! But, this outfit is fabulous for doing that! I’m betting you made more than one person smile and have a better day, Shelbee! I don’t know what I love more…the sweater, the leggings, or your hair! It’s all just perfect! I’m hoping to pull something together…I’m just on the struggle bus right now!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Marsha, thanks so much! Yes, it was pretty crazy out there on Thanksgiving Eve! Thankfully, Jeff came with me as emotional support. I practically begged him to not make me venture out there alone! But we had a fun time nonetheless, observing the chaos! LOL
xoxo
Shelbee
Mica - Away From The Blue
The sequins are so fun and this looks like such a cosy outfit! hard to believe you have snow when it’s so hot and humid here!
I think the bow really makes this fit the theme so perfectly 🙂
Thanks for the link up!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Mica! It is definitely a super cozy outfit! I wore it again yesterday but with my regular fleece lined leggings. We are into the snowy season now so I hope you enjoy my snowy photos! Stay cool, my friend.
xoxo
Shelbee
Jennifer
You look so cute!!
Jennifer
Curated by Jennifer
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, my friend! I hope you are having a wonderful week!
xoxo
Shelbee
Jill
That first photo of you laughing is such a great shot! I love your interpretation, and this fun look! Your sequin pants are fabulous!
Jill – Doused in Pink
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Jill! I love when my husband captures laughing photos were I don’t look totally ridiculous! Haha.
xoxo
Shelbee
Amy Johnson
Such a fun outfit. I love your sweater! Thanks for the party.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Amy! I hope you are having a wonderful week!
xoxo
Shelbee
Pamela
Oh wow what a fun outfit to assemble! I hadn’t heard of this child prodigy before but I shall be well informed and cheering him on in the future, wonderful!
Pamela
http://www.style-yourself-confident.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Aw, thanks so much, Pamela! This was really fun and I, too, will be watching and supporting this talented young artist!
xoxo
Shelbee
Melody Jacob
Hello dear, thank you for the link up.
Its cold outsode and you dressed warm and lovely for the weather.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Melody! It is the cold and snowy season here now…until May!
xoxo
Shelbee
Joanne
I just love that bright pink sweater and the scarf/ green bow are perfect for showing off the colors in this really unique piece of art work.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Joanne! I felt a little silly a first but then I settled into it being a cheerful outfit, silly or not!
xoxo
Shelbee
Rena
Shelbee,
Don’t doubt yourself. This is an excellent spin on the inspiration piece.
Rena
http://www.finewhateverblog.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Aw, thanks so much, Rena! I really appreciate that.
xoxo
Shelbee
Julie
Love your cute outfit for hanging out in the snow!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Julie! I am already over the snow and it’s still November! Haha.
xoxo
Shelbee
Patrick Weseman
Looking so very nice and you nailed it. Very cool. Thanks for the blog love. Thanks for hosting and I hope that you are having a wonderful week.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Patrick! I hope you are having a wonderful holiday season, my friend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Cheryl Shops
Love your pink sweater but also OMG so much snow! Wowza!
Cheryl Shops | http://www.cherylshops.net
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Cheryl! That snow was already halfway melted away when we took these pictures! We got 63 inches of snow the weekend before Thanksgiving which gave the kids a 10 day long Thanksgiving break from school!
xoxo
Shelbee
marie WATSO
Thank you for hosting. I love, love, love the bright colors in the sweater and the scarf.
Keep the FAITH,
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Marie! You are so sweet! I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Suzy Turner
Shelbee, I totally think you nailed it! And I adore the big green bow…I think it brings the whole outfit together, and I’m not surprised at all that people were looking at you and complimenting you on your wonderful, bright style!
I love all these gorgeous colours together. You look stunning, my friend!
Big hugs
Suzy xx
P.S every time I go to type Big Hugs, I keep mis-typing and it says, Big Jugs…one of these days I’m not going to spot it in time LOL!!!!! xxx
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Suzy, thanks so much for your kind compliment and for the giant laugh at the end! I like big hugs and I have big jugs! Hahahahaha
xoxo
Shelbee