Blue Dragonfly Wing Scarf
Handcrafted by the artist. Fabric print chiffon scarf from Nicole's Bugs, Bugs, Bugs original oil painting collection. The artwork depicts a blue dasher adult dragonfly on a dark background. We can all learn a lesson from the Dragonfly. The dragonfly normally lives most of its life as a nymph or an immature and can live for a total of 15 years in that state.It flies for only a fraction of its life and usually not more than a few months. The adult dragonfly does it all in those few months and leaves nothing to be desired. This style of life symbolizes and exemplifies the virtue of living IN the moment and living life to the fullest. Namaste. Note: Long scarf measures 26" x 70". Short scarf measures 17"x 26"
"Père de la Musique Créole" (father of creole music)
My modern day take on a portrait of Amédé Ardoin. Amédé was an American Cajun musician, know for his high singing voice and virtuosity on the Cajun accordion. He is credited by Louisiana music scholars with laying the groundwork for Creole music in the early 20th century and wrote several songs now regarded as zydeco standards. Ardoin spoke only Cajun French so it was only appropriate that I name this piece "père de la musique créole." I took a lil' artistic license with this work. I only used his face from one of the two only know existing photos of him. The rest I made up. he was known for carrying around lemons to suck on to keep his voice sweet so I made sure his trucker reflected that. Check out his tag. This is a acrylic on canvas original that I created specifically for the Festival Acadian et Creoles festival in Lafayette 2022. I handmade the frame as well. The framed painting measures 22" x 18" x 3".
"Mais elle a était la première"" (but she was the first)
Here’s my portrait of Cléoma Breaux titled “Mais elle était la première” (but she was the first). I was first attracted to her cute face and killer national guitar and then I wanted to know more about her. Born in 1906 in Crowley, Louisiana, to an accomplished accordion player, Auguste Breaux & his wife Mathilde Breaux. Cléoma Breaux & her brothers Amedée, Orphy, and Clifford Breaux were all taught as multi-instrumentalists, & began performing for the family's entertainment. Cléoma Breaux was capable of playing a "hard" rhythm guitar style, which was closely related to the preferred technique of later bluegrass guitarists. In addition, Breaux was trained to play the fiddle and accordion. In 1917, Breaux's father abandoned the family, driving them into poverty so that the majority of their income was from performances at dance halls.
In the mid-1920s, Breaux was joined in performing by accordion player Joe Falcon. The two also began a relationship with each other & later married. In 1928 George Burrs hoped to capitalize on the group's popularity on the dance-hall circuit & negotiated a deal to record the trio which included vocalist Leon Meche. On April 27, 1928, the musical trio arrived at the recording company's satellite studio in New Orleans. Initially, record executives withdrew the offer because, as Falcon recalled, "They used to record with big orchestras. They looked at us & said that is not enough music to make a record". Nonetheless, Burrs convinced them otherwise and Breaux and Falcon, without Meche who was too nervous to perform, recorded a test of "Lafayette (Allons à Luafette)". The song was redone & released along with "The Waltz That Carried Me to My Grave". Not only did the recordings mark the first time Cajun music entered the music marketplace, but it was the first instance where a woman took part in the process.
Breaux was not credited on the recording but the novelty of a female musician in a male-dominated music scene enhanced the group's popularity on the dance-hall circuit. Luckily things have changed a bit and she is now credited. This is acrylic on canvas. I handmade the frame as well. The framed piece measures 17.5" x 18" x 3".
"Roi du Zydeco" (King of Zydeco)
Here’s my portrait of Clifton Chenier “Roi du Zydeco” (King of Zydeco). He was a native of Leonville, Louisiana, near Opelousas. He spoke Louisiana French as a first language.
Chenier began his recording career in 1954, when he signed with Elko Records and released Cliston's Blues a regional success. In 1955 he signed with Specialty Records and garnered his first national hit with his label debut "Ay-Tete Fi" (Hey, Little Girl) (a cover of Professor Longhair's song). The national success of the release led to numerous tours with popular rhythm and blues performers such as Ray Charles, Etta James, and Lowell Fulson. He also toured in the early days with Clarence Garlow, billed as the Two Crazy Frenchmen. Chenier was signed with Chess Records in Chicago, followed by the Arhoolie label.
In April 1966, Chenier appeared at the Berkeley Blues Festival on the University of California campus and was subsequently described by Ralph J. Gleason, jazz critic of the San Francisco Chronicle, as "... one of the most surprising musicians I have heard in some time, with a marvelously moving style of playing the accordion ... blues accordion, that's right, blues accordion."
Chenier was the first act to play at Antone's, a blues club on Sixth Street in Austin, Texas. Later in 1976, he reached a national audience when he appeared on the premiere season of the PBS music program Austin City Limits.Three years later in 1979 he returned to the show with his Red Hot Louisiana Band.
Chenier's popularity peaked in the 1980s, and he was recognized with a Grammy Award in 1983 for his album I'm Here. It was the first Grammy for his new label Alligator Records. Chenier followed Queen Ida as the second Louisiana Creole to win a Grammy. This original portrait is acrylic on canvas. I handmade the frame as well. The framed piece measures 18" x 18" x 3".
Huître Scarf
Handcrafted by the artist. Fabric print chiffon scarf from Nicole's Louisiana Life original oil painting collection. This piece is "Huître" the Cajun french word for oyster. I thought it would be fun to include the name of each of the critters in Cajun french when I painted these "portraits" for a seafood festival in Lafitte. I also traveled to Lafayette with some of the paintings as well. It's a great way to pick up a lil' bit of Cajun and wear it around.
Note: Long scarf measures 26" x 70". Short scarf measures 17"x 26"
Blue Dragonfly Scarf
Handcrafted by the artist. Fabric print chiffon scarf from Nicole's Bugs, Bugs, Bugs original oil painting collection. The artwork depicts a blue dasher adult dragonfly on a lavender background. We can all learn a lesson from the Dragonfly. The dragonfly normally lives most of its life as a nymph or an immature and can live for a total of 15 years in that state.It flies for only a fraction of its life and usually not more than a few months. The adult dragonfly does it all in those few months and leaves nothing to be desired. This style of life symbolizes and exemplifies the virtue of living IN the moment and living life to the fullest. Namaste. Note: Long scarf measures 26" x 70". Short scarf measures 17"x 26"
Doodle Bug Scarf
Handcrafted by the artist. Fabric print chiffon scarf from Nicole's Bugs, Bugs, Bugs original oil painting collection. This piece is "Innocence" the doodlebug symbolism is childlike play or innocence. I think as adults we are encouraged to "grow up" and loose our childlike innocence. I would encourage you to fight that tendency. Never loose your childlike wonder for the everyday beauty all around you which is celebrated in this piece.
Note: Long scarf measures 26" x 70". Short scarf measures 17"x 26"
Transformation Short Kimono
Fine artware handmade by the artist in her studio. Limited edition, no two are exactly alike. Textile printed in the USA designed & constructed by Nicole using her original oil painting "Transformation" as the artwork. One size fits most. Kimono trimmed in luxurious velvet with a hint of silver metallic and a understated harvest gold.
Prosperity Short Kimono
Fine artware handmade by the artist in her studio. Limited edition, no two are exactly alike. Textile printed in the USA designed & constructed by Nicole using her original oil painting "Prosperity" as the artwork. One size fits most. Kimono trimmed in luxurious velvet with a hint of silver metallic and a peek of teal.
Abundance Short Kimono
Fine artware handmade by the artist in her studio. Limited edition, no two are exactly alike. Textile printed in the USA designed & constructed by Nicole using her original oil painting "Abundance" as the artwork. One size fits most. Kimono trimmed in luxurious velvet with a hint of silver metallic and a peek of teal.
Transformation Short Kimono Lav
Fine artware handmade by the artist in her studio. Limited edition, no two are exactly alike. Textile printed in the USA designed & constructed by Nicole using her original oil painting "Transformation" as the artwork. One size fits most. Kimono trimmed in luxurious velvet with a hint of silver metallic and a understated harvest gold.
Growth Long Kimono
Fine artware handmade by the artist in her studio. This is a one of a kind garment. Textile printed in the USA designed & constructed by Nicole using her original oil painting "Growth" as the artwork. This is a size 10 but is a loose fit and belted so it could probably fit a size up or smaller just tie the obi & belt tighter or looser. Kimono trimmed in bright chartreuse green accents. Obi is a vibrant pink velvet with hints of silver.