Charles’ 
Slide of the Week: October 5th, 2007
Woman with Self-Portrait, Miami Beach, Florida, 1959
A curly coiffed bleached blond with pouty pink, lips poses with her freshly painted portrait. Judging by the sensible settee she is sitting on and the charming chest of drawers beside her the interior décor of her Miami motel room is French provincial as is the frame of the haunting Mona Lisa-esque picture. Although it appears she is wearing nothing she is. If you look closely she’s scantily clad in a baby blue short-short set, which could well be the glamorous off the shoulder v-neck number she is wearing in the portrait.
She teaches us a lesson. Don’t let you life pass you by without having your portrait done.
And oh yeah…SMILE Mona Lisa!
Do you now of any portrait artists?
Here’s to French provincial furniture and having your portrait painted!
Charles Phoenix
Los Angeles
October 2007
8 Comments on “Woman with Self-Portrait, Miami Beach, Florida, 1959”
Privacy Policy: Oh yeah...one more thing...I promise I will not share your email address with anyoneÉIÕm not that organized! You'll receive my Slide of the Week email and that's it!
file: single-slide-inc.php
October 6th, 2007 at 12:16 am
I love this Charles. I have a portrait actually. It was done of me when I was 25. A long time ago!
It’s a bit Dorian Gray of me now.
Sherri
October 6th, 2007 at 5:15 pm
What’s with the spooky “artistic” lighting? BTW, loved your appearance on Martha Stewart’s show. She is my age so I happen to know that she was a freshman in college (Barnard) in the fall of 1959, the date of this picture.
October 7th, 2007 at 4:36 pm
I have a feeling there’s quite a story here. She looks familiar in an actressy sort of way, and is quite beautiful. The portrait, not so much…she looks 60 in it. Unfortunately, French Provincial furniture always makes me gag a little ;-P
Love this mystery, Charles. Have a great week!
October 8th, 2007 at 11:22 am
this pic cracked me up and reminded me so much of the smoldering smoky actress ” kim novak “………..i wonder if she took herself so serious all the time!!!!!!!!!! charles i have no idea how you can spot so many things in these pics,you have such a gift of gab and spotting treasures!!!!!!!!!!! have a fun week,here’s to many more slides to come!!!!!!!! linda felis
October 9th, 2007 at 2:03 pm
Kim Novak! I thought the same thing! My first impression was that this slide could be from some unfilmed scene from “Vertigo” in which James Stewart forces Kim to pose for a painting to replace that one in the museum of Carlotta Valdez. Thank you for another winner!
October 9th, 2007 at 6:54 pm
saw you in the middle of the night on martha stewart…LOVED your new business. I own a vintage chic shop and want to have old photos all over the place in it, especially holiday, so I will be a regular. I belong to makeminepink.com and told them all about it. They love you too, thanks for your entertainment!
October 12th, 2007 at 12:13 am
Hi Charles - do I know of any portrait artists? Only the best. The portrait of me on my website was done by renowned artist, Yve Close, student and painting partner of Australia’s very famous son, Joshua Smith (1905-1995). Smith won the coveted Archibald prize here in 1943 - I love the link with this history. I played the organ at his funeral in 1995.
As always, love your pictures and comments!
February 16th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
I loved the picture only because I collect unwanted portraits of what I believe to be dead people.Why else would they be sold at flea markets for as little as a dollar?I hang them on the wall and PRESTO,instant family.Istudy their faces and wonder about their lives and why nobody in the family thought enough of them to save the portrait.I guess it’s like your slides. We have that in common,saving the past. Keep up the good work I’ll be keeping my eyes open for slides.LOVE your site!! Peggy Lynn a very 50’s name