PAPAYA! BLOG

Collecting Inspiration, Illustraions by: Caitlin McGauley

You never know when the "muse" will call you, for Illustrator Caitlin McGauly "taking walks in New York  lead to finding quirky furniture shops and hole-in-the-wall bakeries provide endless inspiration. Caitlin loves browsing the aisles at Pearl Paint, and revels in purchasing a new paint color as much as new shoes. She carries her little red notebook at all times so she can jot down what she sees, from bolts of bright block printed fabrics to rows of brilliantly colored rain boots."

You may recognize her work, featured in a Kate Spade products, and in the pages of Lony Magazine.

I love the way she makes everyday subjects feel whimsical through color and her loose line work.

 To see more of Caitlin's work, visit her website: caitlinmcgauley.com

Playing Dress Up

Edie-Source: Top, Bottom

This weekend we get to ditch our own personal style and persona and step into someone else's clothes for the night. While scanning my favorite blogs for inspiration for my Halloween costume, I got lost in the imagery and glamour of it all.

Edie and Twiggy-Source: Top, Bottom Left, Bottom Right

Diana  Source

Bowie Source

Stones Source

 

Cher Source

Twiggy- Source: Left, Right

Jimi- Source: Top, Bottom

Janis- Source: Left, Right

Stevie- Source

Have a safe and happy weekend!

Inspired by Michael Cutlip

I have long appreciated artist Michael Cutlip. He has that elusive skill--making the abstract, almost childlike and ephemeral "work". Not an easy task!!! 

You can see his influence from Rauschenberg and other mid-century modern collage artists.

To see his work in person check out his website for showings or if you are in the Bay Area, he is featured at the Donna Seager Gallery for the next month.

100 paintings

(A little update on our 100 (bad/good) painting challenge.) Armed with supplies, we've been slowly hammering out paintings after work and on weekends. Above is a design in progress I've been working on this week, inspired by patterns I found from the 1920's.

I recently came upon this watercolor multiplication table, and thought this would help out my color quandries. All you really need is 12 colored tubes of fine watercolors to start, to get the vast array of color variations available. You can buy these charts pre-made from art supply stores.

We're excited to keep up on our creative project armed with some fresh paints from our local art supply store and oversized watercolor notebooks, we hope some of you will join us and share what you've been up to.

 Some great watercolor resource links to check out: Genine's secret weapons, and watercolor multiplication table

Creative Vintage @ SHABON

Clothing has become a quick wildfire of creativity since we opened PAPAYA! LIVING boutique in April.  There's a fresh sense of self expression on all fronts and dressing has never felt better.  Having our own boutique closet has set a new pursuit in motion and we're all playing with our style the way we do our designs.   So while on a quick trip to LA last week Sarah and I slammed on the breaks when we saw a cluttered window full of patterns and authentic vintage goods on Beverly. SHABON is one of the best vintage boutiques I've seen.  Every item was carefully chosen and cared for.It was a sentimental trip down memory lane. Pieces that looked like my mothers hand-spun, potluck 70's wedding dress, 80's glam hawaii dresses I saw while on Maui or (just Magnum PI), pieces that inspired us to dream up the women who lived in them.  Poly-disco jumpsuits (that we actually would wear!), mexico gowns, and lace for days.  Snake collars (remember the arm bands that matched?)  I wanted to squish into every awkward piece of clothing and create events for each persona.  I left with a polyester, 70's paisley dress that needs a serious hemming.  And sarah found an amazing pink floral, silk top that we later discovered was Christian Dior "sleeping top".  (who sleeps in blouses?!)  So if you get down there pop in for a serious game of dress up!

Prague

My parents were in Prague last week and sent me these very inspirational snippets of creativity happening around the world.  

They said there was an afternoon in the historic town plaza where suddenly hundreds of easels came out, drop cloths laid down, paints were poured onto pallets from local sponsors and people from every walk of life began to paint on large canvases.

From what they gathered, the participants were given no subject matter, just a black and white palette, specific canvas size and a time limit. 

The pieces lay to dry and were then submitted, juried and...available for purchase? I love this community art project! Who has 100 easels they want to drive to downtown Ashland? 

‘I want to be a living work of art’: The Story of the Marchesa Luisa Casati

Lately I've been intrigued by the story of heiress, muse and fashion legend Marchesa Luisa Casati. I'm reading her biography Infinite Variety. Although her history isn't well known to most, she's inspired many a modern fashion line and photo shoot. To read about her life is to enter a world of the strange and marvelous...

She dazzled everyone she met and shocked turn-of-the-century Europe.  She wore live snakes as jewellery and was infamous for her evening strolls; naked beneath her furs whilst parading cheetahs on diamond-studded leads.  Nude servants gilded in gold leaf attended her. Bizarre wax mannequins sat as guests at her dining table, some of them rumoured to contain the ashes of past lovers.

Everywhere she went, she set trends, inspired genius and astounded even the most jaded members of the international aristocracy.  Without question, the Marchesa Casati was the most scandalous woman of her day.

According to her biography, the marchesa’s personality was captured in one form or another by nearly every important artist of her day: Guiglio de Blaas, Gabriel D’Anunnzio, Giovanni Boldini, Catherine Barjansky, Kees Van Dongen, Augustus John, F.T. Marinetti, Erté Alberto Martini, Baron Adolph de Meyer, Roberto Montenegro, Joseph Paget-Fredericks, Man Ray, Hans Henning von Voigt (the famed Alastair), Cecil Beaton and Dali. Whew!

 

 

Pumpkin Patch

It''s that time of year!!! Pumpkins, gourds corn husks, all things autumnal and Halloween are making there way to our homes and, in this case, Papaya Living. 

I love this time of year--the change of seasons and the crisp scent in the air, the renewed desire to make soup and slow-cooked food, the ease and fun in simple decorating with white candles, sugar pumpkins and twinkly lights in lanterns. 

Ashland is prepping for their annual Halloween parade and the parties and festivities that go along with it. Above is the storefront window at Papaya Living this week. 

Hope you are all enjoying the season...!

Cate Parr

For Cate Parr, inspiration comes from many places ~ Ealing Studios, French and Italian Cinema, couture design, along with music, photography, theatre and dance.

Check out her coloful fashion inspired watercolors in her etsy shop and on her website. C'est Magique!

Hugo Guinness

 
Several years ago my friend Ted Watson introduced me to the wonderful drawings and lino prints of UK artist,  Hugo Guinness. I've watched his line expand from his iconic eyeglasses and typewriter images to less likely, but equally striking everyday objects...household wares, animals and botanical studies.

Not surprisingly, he is a darling of design blog and interior decorating magazines. I adore his prints in vintage frames.