You Oughta Know #2: Andrea Kett, Artist

As we all know, inspiration for fashion can come in many different shapes and forms, and for me, personally, that can be no truer than it is with art. I gather a lot of inspiration, fashion-wise, from visual imagery like hand-drawings, cartoons, pictorials, classic renderings, etc... From royalty in 18th century paintings to Art Deco pinups of the 1930s, art provides many a muse for this muffin top! And thanks to one artist in particular, I find myself feeling ever the femme fatale of fashion!

(Right: "OOh Fancy" by Andrea Kett)

Meet Andrea Kett. Currently based in the UK, she is an Irish artist who specializes in "Superior Smut" that is sure to knock your seam-line stockings off! Her artwork is girl power epitomized, inspired by 18th century dauphins and 30s and 40s pinup girls, and is a whimsical mixture of vintage glamor and witty pop art that transports you back to a time when men were men and women were women; and all that separated them was a bullet bra and fishnets!

(Left: "Newly Webs" by Andrea Kett, Right: "Viva Las Vegas" by Andrea Kett)

("Johnny Cake & Pavlova" by Andrea Kett)

(Left: "Arctic Fox" by Andrea Kett, Right: "Portia Pine" by Andrea Kett)

(Left: "Jelly Skelly" by Andrea Kett, Right: "Agatha Crispie" by Andrea Kett)

Andrea has been creating her whimsical greeting cards, prints, and even paper dolls for a number of years, depicting all manner of fabulously outrageous characters such as pretty pinups, posh pirates, zombie burlesqueteers, mischevious mermaids and devilish brutes. Each one of her characters has its own signature personality, which makes her work all the more charming as she infuses classic metaphors and analogies in the most playful of ways, breathing new life into the buxom beauties throughout history.

(Left: "Jelly Curls" by Andrea Kett, Right: "Shrimp Cocktail" by Andrea Kett)

(Left: "Polly Grip the Sweet Tooth Fairy" by Andrea Kett, Right: "Scentaur" by Andrea Kett)

(Left: "Under-werewolf" by Andrea Kett, Right: "Tarzipan" by Andrea Kett)

(Left: "Seasons Bleatings" by Andrea Kett, Right: "Diamonds Are a Ghoul's Best Friend" by Andrea Kett)

Andrea's inspiration comes from many different sources: the 1920s-1950s, glam rock, the music of The Cramps and The Tigerlillies, vintage pinup girls, Burlesque, John Waters films, Kenny Everett, The Moomins, Cake Decorating books, horror films, fairy tales, afternoon tea, Fellini films, Jan Svankmajer, Beatrix Potter, P.G. Wodehouse, Mapp and Lucia, Seaside tat, Woody Allen, Naughty Victoriana, Agatha Christie and Lashings of Enid Blyon.

(Left: "Fish & Chips" by Andrea Kett, Right: "Dirty Beach" by Andrea Kett)

(Left: "A Jolly Good Roger" by Andrea Kett, Right: "Saucy By Sea" by Andrea Kett)

(Left: "Hot Hair Balloon" by Andrea Kett, Right: "Trifle Towers" by Andrea Kett)

(Left: "Romeo & Ghouliet" by Andrea Kett, Right: "Blue Rinse" by Andrea Kett)

Miss Kett studied animation at Dun Laoighaire College of Art & Design in Dublin before finishing her studies at Bristol University and since then she has designed for a number of amazing clients! Her commissioned credits include UK shoe retailer, Kurt Geiger, leading British accessories designer, Lulu Guinness, and exotique interior designer and boutique, Sera of London and there is no doubt in my mind that we'll be seeing much more from her in the future!

Andrea's confections are tasty to say the least, and they make me want to throw on some red lipstick and lounge around in nothing but a silk dressing robe as I daintily snack on tea and petit-fours on an early Summer afternoon! There is something distinctly delicious about each and every piece that Andrea dreams up and I can't wait to order some prints of my own to decorate my girlish art gallery (a.k.a. my bedroom wall) - I just wish I had the money enough to order them all! There's a good chance that one of these may end up tattooed on my person, eventually anyway, but only when I've overcome my fear of needles of course! (Which one of these delightful dishes is your favorite?)

To view more of Andrea's work, be sure to check out her Official Website. Her prints are available in several outlets throughout the UK, Ireland and the US, and online at her Etsy shop, which is currently closed, but never fear! It will re-open on January 26th, 2011! Until then, feel free to message her on Etsy (she will be checking her inbox regularly) or contact her through her website for custom commissions...

Hope you feel as inspired as I do!

xoxo coco


Editor's Note: Information and photos taken from Andrea Kett's Official Website and Etsy.
All photos are copyright Andrea Kett. I do not claim ownership. A BIG thanks to Andrea for her permission to use them!