Versace Retrospective, Musée Maillol, Painting Greens 🥬

 

This weekend I was going away to paint greens 🥬 

But fate 🌞 intervened, canceled my train 🚊 and I went to the VERSACE Retrospective instead.

I’m painting GREENS + red hearts ❤️ at home 🏡 

The red hearts ❤️ come from  

Versace's obsession (one of many)

With artist JIM DINE heart ♥️ paintings.

But I’m jumping ahead of the story.

Gianni Versace was born in Reggio di Calabria in 1946,

Son of a seamstress 🧵 and an appliance shop owner. At age 9 he designed his first dress for his mother’s shop.

Their home was set near ancient Greek ruins 

And a Greek temple, 

Later to play an important role 

In his signature logo.

Versace spent his youth apprenticing in his mother’s shop, hands-on cutting ✂️ draping, constructing. 

At 26 in 1972 he left Calabria to make his way in the design center of Milano with no formal training, 

But years of practical experience and great determination & ambition. He free-lanced for JENNY and COMPLICE.

In 1974, Versace was the first to make clothing out of leather for the couture.

In 1976, his brother Santos joined Gianni to start his own line. A year later his sister, Donatello joined them.

In 1979, he opened his first shop in via della Spiga in Milano, showing outrageous men’s wear.

Fashion critics labeled him ‘Vulgar’. 

Celebrities loved 

❤️ his designs

Perfect for stage, screen, the music🎵 world.

Versace said he wished he could sing, but he had no talent!

Meanwhile his designs reflected 

The ancient world he grew up with,

And traditional Italian art history like Botticelli.

The Baroque featured strongly

Adding a sense of luxury, opulence 

To his prints and jewelry.

Gianni Versace had the unique talent of reflecting the popular culture of his time, 

Combining it with art history, 

Creating fashion unlike any other designer. 

You may think, ‘I wouldn’t be caught dead in these clothes’. Never mind. This is a chance to experience a genius talent who expressed the time he lived in. 

Versace exhibit is on till 5 September.

If you’re going to paint 🎨 green 🥬 you must eat green (matcha) food 🍦 

Heart ❤️ watercolors are on Etsy under Original art.