WWII, REGENCY, ART SHOW

[aimeekitty]

IT'S FRIDAY. HUZZAH!

RANDOM IMPORTANT QUESTION TIME:

WORLD WAR II QUESTIONS ::::
I'd really like to find out more about what a dance, near the fronts, during WWII would have been like.
My grandfather apparently held one in a French club. But what would that have looked like...? I have no idea and I don't know how to find out.
Are there some good movies or books that show this sort of thing? I've tried emailing my local veterans,... but I got no response. I know most people who actually experienced this are very very old now... so I guess I can't really talk to those veterans anymore.
Points for AIRFORCE or NURSE info, or info about what the setups and clubs would have looked like in ITALY and Tunisia (or something similar). <3 I'm really interested in what they wore... like... would nurses have worn their uniforms to a club...? Would they even have had other dresses since they were at war and near the front?
I wanna know what the outside and especially the inside of the planes looked like. Apparently his friends took out the radio or something so that he could squeeze in and go to Italy to see his girlfriend. I want to now how that would have worked/looked.

REGENCY GOWN QUESTIONS ::::
- EVENING: if I want to make a regency evening gown, is there anything I should know about using Indian saree fabric for it? I've heard some people have done this...? Basically I was hoping to get that sort of white gown with embroidery or ikat look. I'd prefer to be as close to period accurate as is reasonable and still pretty. Any recommendations on where I can buy fabric (doesn't have to be saree,... but something nice for regency) or where I can get appropriate regency-esque Indian fabric and/or saree for not a fortune??

- DAY: if I go with a regency day gown, does anyone have any recs for where I can get some decent fabric for that? I wanted to make a pale green spencer jacket, I think,... for it... so then the gown fabric would need to be pale pink or white. I wanted something soft that has that gauzy weave look of regency gowns.
(SIDENOTE: Am making a Victorian and probably an Robe a l'anglaise before I do regency)

ART SHOW QUESTIONS :::::
- I usually work on 8 1/2 by 11 paper with markers and pencil.,... typically with no true original since I'm compositing in photoshop. If I do some art shows... will it matter if it's just a print?
If I did a slightly larger format image with COPIC markers and pencil, is that fine for an art show....?
Or should I look into other mediums to do my work? If so, what do you recommend?
I was considering doing pretty much mostly prints because then I can make the marker image larger, and play with it in Photoshop.

- any other suggestions or sites you can hook me up with that would give me better ideas on how to choose, create and display my art for shows?

Comments

WWII responses, but not answers....

[lilusako.livejournal.com]

Huzzah! Happy friday. 10 more minutes of work for me.

Have you tried finding out from WWII Reenactment groups? There's a whole crazy society of those people... maybe a little too crazy for my liking but they might be able to direct you somewhere?

I'll also ask Brian to see if knows anything or have any references - he's really into WWII history and maybe he might know where to start looking.

[chevy49girl.livejournal.com]

Good blog to start with :http://www.diaryofavintagegirl.com/

WW2 plane interiors

[(Anonymous)]

Look for a book Cockpit. In the past I have looked through it and it was pretty good.

[taperkat.livejournal.com]

Swing Kids provides a great picture of German Swing Dances during the war. The costumes are superb and the guys are really fine :3

The book "The Spy Who Wore Red" i believe by Aline, Countess of Romanones, was all about upper echelon WWII spying in Spain and the like. You might be able to glean some things out of it too.

The US Holocaust Memorial Museum might have some information too - strictly historically speaking. Their archive is breathtaking.

Also check out local VFWs and American Legions!

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I just watched Swing Kids tonight and not only did it have some really great, exhuberant swing club segments,... it also gave me more information and perspective on what I'm doing.

[taperkat.livejournal.com]

Oh, lovely :) It really is a jewel of a movie, one of my favorites despite the overall subject matter. I've always been into swing music and it serves as a good reminder that no matter what is going on there is always something to remind you of good in the world.

.. at least, i think so!

[taeha.livejournal.com]

For WWII dance parties, have you ever seen this music video?
http://www.spike.com/video/my-chemical-romance/2793043

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

very cool, thanks! of course, I dont know enough to know how accurate it is, but it certainly looks like they tried to make it accurate.

[twjudy.livejournal.com]

probably depends if you are thinking generic nightclub, or a USO type thing...

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

there's not much of a way to know what exactly it was...

but it was my understanding that it was a French (nonUSO owned) nightclub that they rented out for the event.

[vanessa-lynne.livejournal.com]

WWII:

Army Nurse Corp (ANC) ladies were all issued 'off duty' dresses and would have worn these to unofficial dances, shopping expeditions, etc. Check out this page for pictures of uniforms for every branch.

Regency:

I've had luck with ordering from puresilks.biz - I believe they are "exclusivesilks" on ebay. I've ordered taffeta, voile, organdy & striped voile (which I'm currently making into a regency).

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure she was ANC, I'll have to ask my mom, but wow, that site is AMAZING. I'd searched for something like it but couldnt find anything. Thanks a ton. Hugely helpful.

the silk site is great, too! Thankyou!

[bluejeans07.livejournal.com]

Hahaha, I can't help with WW2 or Regency but maybe I can help with art show stuff.

I think that it depends on the gallery/patrons if it's a print or not. A lot of artists just sell prints, they just make sure that it's a really good quality print on nice paper with a good frame. It may be sacrilege to people who are more old fashioned to do it this way but I think more the modern art show patron are becoming more accepting of it. Computers have changed art and everyone has to adjust to it.

If you are going to do originals, maybe do them larger and on better quality paper since it makes for better presentation? Also, it means you can charge more for your piece. :D

Personally, I love working in a lot of different mediums but that's just me and I definitely have my favorites (photoshop, flash, pencils, markers+colored pencil, inks, acrylic paints, watercolors). If you ever want any help or suggestions with any of these, I'll be glad to help :)

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

at the few anime or fandom cons I've been to, people seem to just not give a crap whether it's an original or a print, which just really... boggles my mind. I'd much rather have an original than a print! But hey, if people don't mind if they're prints, then I'd prefer to do prints,... they're easier for me to create the art (because I'm not tied to inks or one sheet of paper) and I can sell more than one of them.

the trick is,... COPICS for the way I work on them, work best with a thin paper that bleeds well. not some fancy thick paper.

[bluejeans07.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I noticed that at cons as well, they're not fussed about getting a print, probably because it's more affordable. I tend to think that it's different with galleries but it depends on the gallery. Some galleries might have a no-prints policy and demand only originals.

I personally love your art and hey, you're happy with the way you work so you could definitely continue doing with what you're doing. People who are familiar with the way you work won't mind paying for a large, good quality print in a nice frame, as long as it's your work and they get to take it home.

[fatwetdog.livejournal.com]

I know a guy who might be able to help with that dance stuff. Should I give him your email and ask him to let you know? He's good people, and he really knows his stuff.

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

of course, that would be faboo!

[batchix.livejournal.com]

Did you know fort macarthur down here holds dances every now and again? They ask that people dress in period costume(and there's a really nice vintage army surplus store in downtown torrance. they've got american, german and japanese stuff). http://www.theairraid.com/ just missed the air raid!

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

wow, I need to go. I cant dance at all, but I'd love to see!

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

OH MAN.
http://www.clubcicada.com/

AWESOME SHIT IS AWESOME.

wwII

[(Anonymous)]

Your best bet to see the various aircraft from that period is to look up the B-17 Flying Fortress, the B-25 Michell, and these fighters--
P-51 Mustang, P-40 Warhawk, and the P-47 Thunderbolt. Also, check these movies=== "12 O'clock High", and "Memphis Bell" for interiors and exteriors. Good Luck!

[ruggels.livejournal.com]

WORLD WAR II QUESTIONS ::::

WORLD WAR II ANSWERS (PARTIAL)::::

Generally the "Dances" were affairs that were put onby outside organizations such as the USO. Often they were held in areas large enough to a group to assemble, so often it was Hangars for aircraft (Hence Hangar Dance).

Everyone would be in their "Class "A" Uniform which was straight pants (no leggings, tunics, and ties, with all the brass insignia shined up to a high gloss. In Air Corps Dances, there would be a larger assortment of Officers. Othe venues, in England would have been Church , or Community Halls near the base. My Uncle, was in the Infantry and he just went to Pubs and danced with the locals.

The Music was usually some form of Swing. either Classic Like Tommy Dorsey, and Benny Goodman, Texas Swing such as Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys.

About 5 years ago there was a flourishing Swing movement, but it seems to have faded soemwhat, but they still have Weekly events at the Oviatt building in Downtown Los Angeles Sundays at 8pm. They cycle between the 20's 30's and 40's, and the 40's , you see a lot of the old Swing scene and the WW2 re-enactment groups come out.

A good movie to watch to get some of the (not quite authentic flavor) is "The Glen Miller Story" starring Jimmy Stewart http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047030/ Glen Miller formed a band within the U.S. Army Air Corps, to tour and entertain the troops to keep morale up. there are scenes int he film showing various events, but the women's fashion and make up is 50's not 40's and it's a little "jazzed up" for Hollywood.

Another a bit more authentic in clothes, would have been the remake of "Memphis Belle", but teh scene is a little "large."

You should look around online for Swing Clubs and the "Cicada Club" events at the Oviatt Building and seeif you can get more info, At he least of you and Mitch go, you can see a lot of good dancing.

Scott

[uminomamori.livejournal.com]

I don't think most people look for originals in Artist Alley. Some of the cons that also have art auctions you might be able to sell originals at. They don't have to be large either. I've found small nicely presented or framed originals will sell easier than large pieces. I don't know if the CA anime cons have good art shows. Akon is one of the better ones one selling originals.

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

I appreciate that, too, because I'd like to do some more anime cons. I'm curious also about doing non-con art shows, too.

I wonder, too, whether it's even reasonable (ie profitable) to send art to cons you don't go to. I feel like I've asked you t hat before. lol.

[uminomamori.livejournal.com]

I've been mailing art since 2003. Shipping has gotten more expensive, plus the economy sucking most of last year has made it harder. I usually just send matted prints. I got advice from another artist a couple months ago that I should be sending a couple small framed originals as well, so I am trying that this year. Something about people not noticing art is an original unless it's framed. Which is why I have like 30 tiny frames now :)

I don't make a lot at most of the cons. There are few here and there will I will sell twice as much as others. I've made a database of all of them and I can't particularly tell any trend between sales and attendance (if I can even find info for that). I think sometimes when a con gets too big people don't even notice the art show. So sometimes smaller is better. Most of them have similar rules for only originals and limited edition prints. Usually you pay for 4x4 panel and then the con takes 10%. Sometimes they charge by number of pieces instead. I think $10-15 is reasonable for a panel. Haven't noticed the shows that charge $30 having better sales.

Comic con, Dragon Con, Akon, Convergence seem to be good.

OT; so terribly OT

[pariah164.livejournal.com]

Hi, Aimee! I really wish I could answer those questions for you. Alas/alack, I instead have a question of my own: what happened to Cosplay Ai? I can't seem to find it for sale anywhere. I know it came out in October, but I thought I'd still be able to find it now. Can you provide me with some insight? Thank you in advance!

Re: OT; so terribly OT

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

Hi! I'm so sorry,.. due to no fault of my own, it actually hasn't come out yet. I can't really get into it right now, but I'm still hoping that it will come out, but I can't give you a date right now. I appreciate you trying to buy it and trying to support me though! Please keep your fingers crossed!

[roxyk630.livejournal.com]

If it helps? With original art and prints? People usually do a number of print sizes for different prices. If you want to charge more? Do a limited run. I've seen plenty of fine art go for high prices as prints as well.

Originals almost always well for more, and that's something you could offer. Prints and originals if you so choose? I have more on this... but my mind is a bit :P at the mo.

[(Anonymous)]

Hi. Its me A. Noni Mous.
If you Google "Dogfights," there are a number of Youtube segments from the History Channel. It shows several types of fighter and bomber types from the out side and the inside. Hope you get time to look. I'll stay in contact. I was in the Air Force for 24 years and am somewhat of an aircraft historian. By the way, your recent outfits
look great. Keep up the good work,