Girl Crying with a Startled Lassie Painting

People have mentioned this print to me when I have posted creepy children's art previously. My own gran had it too, so I decided to hunt it out online.

It's has a very kitsch backstory. The artist Charles Burton Barber, was commissioned by Queen Victoria the First to paint portraits of her grandchildren with their pets.
Kitsch thrives in the market of trying to make small, working class homes far grander than they are (huge ornaments etc), so a mass produced print by an artist for the Royals fits this category perfectly.

Personally I couldn't own this print myself, it used to spook me so much as a child at my gran's house, I wouldn't want it.

Claire

Tattoo Flash by Bob Done, Brighton

I've touched on old school tattoo, nautical kitsch before & thought I'd include this original painting by Brighton's Bob Done.

I commissioned this for my first wedding anniversary as my 'paper' gift for my husband.
We are both quite heavily tattooed with old school designs, so I knew he'd appreciate this.

I've been thinking lately about getting a tattoo dedicated to my love of kitsch, but can't decide which iconic item to have etched onto myself!

Claire

Tattoo Kitsch of Terry Bradley

Local Northern Irish artist Terry Bradley's dockers & pin-up girls have made old school tattoo images accessible for those who before might have thought tatts just meant tack.

My husband & I are both heavily tattooed with old school designs (swallows, dice, skull & crossbones, sharks, ships) so Bradley's work was an easy choice for a Christmas present for us last year from my parents-in-law.

I have very few things hanging on our walls that I wouldn't tag as 'ugly art', this is one of them. We have two, but this is my favourite. Sailortown Hero.

Claire

Jackie O, Who painted You?

One of my favourite prints from my mass produced 60's collection, I don't think you could even call this one ugly.

 I believe it's Jackie O, that's what we call her anyway. I'd come across this print on eBay last year & loved it, but it was a little out of my price range, going for around £50.

 This summer I found a large version of her at a car boot sale, along with a rare Tretchikoff floral print. The flowers didn't take my fancy & the seller was asking £25 for it anyhow (being a Tretchikoff I would've paid a tenner for it regardless of not loving it).

 I was even more happy to find the seller only wanted £15 for her. For a large version of this print in it's original frame that's a bargain, I've seen them go for £70+ on eBay.

 Here's my problem: any time I've found it on eBay it's by searching 'kitsch' in the art section, I didn't have the artist's name. I've seen it listed as a Tretchikoff piece, but I've looked at the signature & it's definitely nothing like that name.

 Do any kitsch kings or queens know who produced this print?
I'd love to know!

Claire

Dallas Simpson's Miserable Child

Anyone know why a lot of the ugly 70's art featured sad children with animals?

 This is my favourite from my Dallas Simpson collection. Love the colours & it's really nostaligic for some reason.

 I think my granny used to have that bizarre print (that I still don't 'get') of a sad girl standing in the corner of a room with a lassie dog watching her.
What was that all about?

Claire

Holographic Poodle

Large holographic poodle print. Follows you round the room.

 It's part of my ugly art wall. Can't actually recall where this came from, another charity shop find I think.

Claire

Warhol

Lovely great big Warhol print in our bedroom. Actually belongs to my husband this one.

 We used to also have the Warhol Elvis print double duvet cover, but I've retired it since we moved house & moved the Marilyn to the bedroom.
I didn't want a Warhol THEMED bedroom!

Claire

Painting by Numbers

My bible, "Kitsch Deluxe" includes painting by numbers artwork in their run down of key items.
Personally I was surprised to see them included, I find kids' velvet art to the the pinnacle of ugly DIY creativity.

 You remember? If you were an 1980s child like me, you'd have had a black velvet art of My Little Pony, or He-Man, which would come with a entirely inadequate selection of four felt tip pens to add your own colour.

 I did have two of these glorious works of art in my old flat, some kittens in a basket & a velvet reproduction of the classic dogs playing pool.

 Since getting married & moving to a 'proper home' I ditched them, now we have our own little son I'll be letting him make a masterpiece when he's old enough to!

 But back to painting by numbers. I do have a ship bought for it's nautical theme rather than it being one.

 It's quite large & hangs above the cabinet. It's really well executed by whoever the original colourer-in was.

 I bought this for £2 at a church fête.

Claire