How are you doing? Preparing for the weekend? It really started to snow here and I have to say, it's a pretty sight, but where was it when I wanted a white Christmas?!? Ah well.
When I was reading (skimming) through the articles on my Google Reader a few days back, I came across an article by Jenny Lawson aka The Bloggess. I always read her posts, which are hilarious, honest, inappropriate and straight to the point. It's really peeking inside her mind and I love it! The Bloggess, initiated the The Traveling Red Dress movement in 2010 and picked it up again a while ago with the The Traveling Red Dress - revisited. Her story is inspiring to say the least and her story inspired many others to share theirs as well. Just have a read please ^_^. And yes, to state the obvious, it started with a Red Dress. It's bold and daring and well...I mean how often can one wear a big red dress other than if you had a costume party or something? I do not have a big red dress...so I painted one!
Claire...I'll show the ones with flowery petals another time!
Couldn't get it right when I started painting hehe.
...this side often hides though. Responsibilities, disapproving looks and words can be a pain in the ass you know.
So in short, the Red Dress has become a metaphor for the fact that everyone should have their moment. That moment where they can fully embrace who they are without being judged. And it doesn't matter if it's silly or weird or not sensible...if it makes you happy...what more could you ask for? Simplicity at its best right? So eat that cookie if you want one, roll in the grass if you feel like it, wear those earrings if it makes you feel beautiful, wear bright eye shadow if it makes you feel colorful and happy. I could go on and on, but the point is that you don't forget who you are and share a bit of your own sunshine with the world. A lot of people hide behind their own clouds already anyway.
I visited the Facebook Page and all those little comments just made me happy. So many people are offering red dresses and/or photography skills just to make someone else happy and give them their moment of Fabulousness. I love how the World of the Web can do this and when I read another article about The Bloggess and her Red Dress Movement...I was inspired even more.
Strangers helping Strangers. Social media is a powerful tool indeed.
I hope that one day I can twirl around in a big red dress as well haha. Although me and big dresses don't always match, but this is a story for another time. Until then...this illustration has to do ^_^.
Enjoy your weekend and remember...be Fabulous (yes. The guys have to be Fabulous too)!
Ciao Everyone!
Shoot her an email, she answers those. :) She's awesome. You're not too bad either. You always brighten MY day!
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping for a red dress to get married in, but we'll see.
I did!! and she replied :D I am happy haha.
DeleteYou made me happy as well. Thank you so much! A red wedding dress...soooo awesome!!
Just when I thought a red dress was just one way to attract guys, here you are, explaining the other side of wearing such a fantabulous outfit. You ARE a creative mind!
ReplyDeleteI think I'll wear one this week :D Truly lovely!
Aww Melissa! Grazieee Mille! Jenny inspired it with her story and her philosophy behind it, so voila my post was born! GOOOO wear a red dress! You'd look lovely in it :D. I want one too!!
DeleteXoxoxox
I love this movement and Jenny is amazing on so many levels!
ReplyDeleteHi Nicole!! Thank you so much!! And I fully agree about Jenny. Amazing on many levels! Ciao!
DeleteOhhhh la la, she is so lovely and worth all the various head mutations to get her right.
ReplyDeleteAlso love the inspiration for this post and that you created a red dress just for it!
Technical question: What red did you use for the dress?
I shall await the petal ladies, whenever they decide to show up for the party :)
Hahaha head mutations! I will do a quick post with the other versions soon, like a reflection of some sorts.
DeleteThe posts came at the perfect timing! The dress was perfect to add in my Flowy Quest :D I'm glad it turned out well in the end. As for the red, I had Rose Madder, Crimson and Brilliant Red on my palette for the base colours. I added a bit of deep yellow and orange to deepen the color as I found it a tad too pink, so the yellow brought out the red I wanted. The orange did the same only slightly darker. For the shading I used a bit of Payne's Grey and black to the red mixture already on the palette. For the reddish purple detail, I added violet to the red mixture.
Yes! I will show you the petal ladies soon!!
Oh definitely would like to see a reflections of red type post.
DeleteAh the epic quest for flow! I was wondering if you have tried using the smallest brush possible, like a 1 (or smaller) and used a concentrated amount of colour, instead of using pens? Although I am a fan of pens anyways.
Ohhh I need new reds /sigh Will have to crack out the alchemy kit and see if I can recreate some similar looking reds, thanks for the info!
Oh petal ladies!! I need to some more flowery things soon.
Hmm for a few lines, the purple/red ones, I did use a stronger concentrated mix of paint. I did use a stronger mix on a different version for the skin, but I think the pencil line was too strong, so I didn't like the outcome. Maybe if I draw the lines with a watercolour pencil from the start? Or just a regular colour pencil? It should be a sharp pencil though.
DeleteThe reds, I all mixed them together, but I didn't pay attention to what red I used more though. Sometimes more Crimson then more Brilliant Red. I do think I used less Rose madder as that gave the pinkish undertone that I didn't really want.
My smallest brush is a size 0, synthetic bristles but I think some brands have an even smaller sized brush. I need a few more for detail work!
You're going to be a Colour Witch again :D
Oooh flowery things for you too! I can't wait to see it!
TJ, hard to imagine you in anything but a red dress, metaphorically speaking of course. Enjoy the snow. We've been thankfully spared of it this winter. January and so far February have felt more like early autumn or spring. I'm loving every fleeting moment of it. Miss you at BC, but I guess there's no cure for that.
ReplyDeleteNP! So sweet of you haha! I will run around in the snow later I think.
DeleteAww :( I miss you too and the fun convos with everyone else, but BC, I won't ever return there. It's a closed chapter. I'll e-mail you in a bit! It's always lovely to you see you here ^_^ *waves*
I had never heard of this movement before! What a great idea. I do not really wear dressed, but if I did, I think mine would be puffy and red! You always have to make a statement :)
ReplyDeleteCiao Ciao Jen! I don't really wear dresses either, I do have a few though haha. You would look awesome in a red dress!!Oh and pair them up with converse!! :D
DeleteSqueee! I'm so glad she saw your dress! I KNEW she'd love it. How could she not? It's so beautiful, just like the red dress movement, itself. Yay!
ReplyDelete*squeeeees along* I am SO happy too :D Such a simple note, but made my day haha. I love the movement! Remember...we are twirling in a red dress too hehe.
DeleteSounds like a fantastic movement!! Thanks for sharing this. It brightened up my day.
ReplyDeleteHi Sujana and welcome!! It's such a great cause! Ah I'm happy it brightened your day :D *waves*
Delete