Big Eye Art: Resurrected & Transformed

by Blonde Blythe, Jasmine Becket-Griffith (foreword by)

In the late 1950s, throughout the 1960s and into the 1970s, such artists as Margaret Keane, Gig and Maio created a new kind of mass-produced art known as 'big eye'. Now big-eye art has undergone a major revival, but with a twist: the wide-eyed, endearing waifs of the earlier movement have transformed into fairies, mermaids, demons and myriad otherworldly beings, including the famous 'Blythe' doll....

Genres: Art

222 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2008

Reviews

[Melki]

I'm sure you've all seen the paintings of Margaret Keane (and yes, Margaret did the paintings, hubby Walter hogged all the credit!)


Margaret Keane

Those kitschy paintings of doe-eyed, tearful waifs failed to take the art world by storm, but did apparently leave a mark on future generations as evidenced in this book of Keane-inspired works by 22 artists.


Lindsey Cormier

Each artist discusses his or her work and there is page after page of luscious color photos.


Alexandria Sandlin

Though all feature subjects - girls, animals, clowns (shudder!) with freakishly huge peepers, the styles vary wildly.


Carrie Hawks

There is plenty here to drool over, and in some cases, be frightened by...


Misty Benson

This is a lovely and occasionally disturbing book.


Elizabeth Victoria Knowles

And if nothing else, it should get you in the mood for Tim Burton's Big Eyes - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Eyes - coming in December.

[Emily]

I have always been torn between being horrified by and fascinated with the whole big eye art thing. Some of the art in here presents an interesting twist on the whole idea. I think Misty Benson's stuff might be my fave.

[Seethalakshmi]

An amazing take on art.