A Fairy Christmas

Posted on December 10, 2022 by WCL

Kristina Gaughran – Lily Fairy (2008)

The presence of mythical fairies has been a part of human lore since the time of the ancient Greeks. Tiny human-like mischievous sprites were said to populate the forests of Great Britain and were even claimed to have been photographed in the early 1900s, which eventually—especially in the case of the Cottingley Fairies—was proved to be a hoax. The existence of an innocent and unspoiled community of fairies lets people dream of an idyllic realm where there is a carefree attitude and an escape from the daily troubles of life. The yuletide season is an ideal time to dream of such a world and the greeting card company Hallmark brings these nimble fairies to life with their trademark ‘Keepsake Ornament Fairy Messenger Series’.

Kristina Gaughran – Freesia Fairy (2021)

Kristina Gaughran – Bluebell Fairy (2014)

First released in 2005, the Fairy Messenger series has been continuously sculpted by Hallmark senior artist Kristina Gaughran (née Kline) who also designs many other characters in their ornament line. Each year’s fairy represents a different flower which is featured in the outfit that is designed for the fairy to wear. Since they are fairies, all of the fairies are winged which gives them the illusion of flight when hung upon a Christmas tree. When designing the fairies there is great care in the details that project the image of their girlhood as they posses the innocence of a naive forest dweller. The fairies will typically sport hairstyles such as pigtails, bobs, and other styles popular for a girl. With their lithe and delicate body sculpture and the spotting of freckles, these barefooted fairies seem to lightly dance around the Christmas tree curious to what surprises lie within.

Kristina Gaughran – Sunflower Fairy (2020)

In 2018 Hallmark released an offshoot series of Fairies titled ‘Friendly Fairies Series’ in which the fairies represented characteristics of specific seasons of the year. There is a Love Fairy for February who helps those seeking out their Valentines, a beach fairy for Summer who lightly tests the water with her delicate toes, and a red-haired St. Patrick’s Day good luck fairy who smiles while sitting amidst a spray of clover. The previous years fairies can easily be purchased from ebay or Amazon at a reasonable price but there are special editions and repainted fairies that command a premium on the secondary market.

Kristina Gaughran – Poinsettia Fairy (2005)

Kristina Gaughran – Daisy Fairy (2013)

French Dolls: Kiki and Coco in Paris

Posted on November 5, 2022 by WCL

Rausser, Gruener, Brown – Kiki & Coco in Paris (2011)

The bond between a girl and her doll can sometimes become unbreakable and may last throughout adolescence and into adulthood. The attachment and sentimentality can be so great that a girl will bring her doll wherever she goes, as together they embark on the many adventures of girlhood. This relationship is the centerpiece of the delightful book Kiki and Coco in Paris written by Nina Gruener with photographs by Stephanie Rausser and featuring a doll handmade by Jess Brown. The book is a photography picture book and features a seven-year-old girl, Kiki, and her trip to Paris with her doll Coco. The two enjoy many sites of the city such as the Eiffel Tower, dining in a café, museum trips, and relaxation time in the flat where they were staying. The text is written from the perspective of Coco the doll as the doll is given feelings and emotions so as to relate to its young readers. The text was written by Nina Gruener who owns Cameron + Co. Publishing who published their book under their Cameron Kids imprint. The photographs for the book were created by lifestyle and advertising photographer Stephanie Rausser and features her daughter Kiki as the inspiration and model for the story.

The journey of Kiki and Coco began as a personal blog and a video slideshow of their travels in Paris together. Since receiving an incredible amount of positive feedback after posting the images to her blog, she decided to create 3000 calendars based on the photos for art buyers, art directors, friends, and family. With a high demand for the calendar, the following year another calendar was created featuring Kiki on a trip to Italy titled “Sweet Italia”. Being less interested in being photographed for the new calendar, sweet treats such as ice cream, lollipops, and chocolate replaced the doll so as to tempt Kiki into posing for the photos. After the second calendar was produced, her daughter begged her not to photograph her anymore and to find another model. Rausser’s last calendar, “I Left My Heart In…”, was produced in 2011 and this time it featured her niece Zeli in various attire and posing in different locations throughout San Francisco.

Rausser – 2009 Calendar (2009)

Rausser – I Left My Heart in… 2011 Calendar (2011)

After becoming interested in the Kiki and Coco calendar, Cameron + Co. approached Rausser to inquire about turning her photos into a book. Sending 5000 photos to the publisher, Cameron + Co. pulled their favorites and came up with a story that could appeal to children. Though the photos were shot from the perspective of Kiki, the publisher wanted the story to reflect the doll’s perspective so the photos were then re-edited to focus mainly on the doll and what it was experiencing. After publishing the book on November 1, 2011, the book found sentiment with mothers so they could share with their daughters the story and enjoy the touching photographs together.

Rausser, Gruener, Brown – Kiki & Coco in Paris (2011)

Since readers found the Kiki & Coco book endearing, a second story was released in May of 2014 titled ‘‘Lulu and Pip” which featured the same team of collaborators. In this story, a new girl named Lulu is leaving the big city with her doll, Pip, to have a camping adventure. Along with her doll in tow, Lulu plays with her in a stream, builds a tent, and makes friends with a donkey. The pages of the book are also filled with the full bleed photography of Rausser and captures Lulu’s romp with her doll in the forest.

At the time of writing, Cameron + Co. is still producing books for all ages. Stephanie Rausser is active with advertising, commercial, and lifestyle photography and has a vast collection of beautifully shot photographs on her website. Jess Brown sells her handmade dolls online in multiple styles as well as women’s clothing and quilts on her website.

Rausser, Gruener, Brown – Lulu & Pip (2014)

Random Images: The Girl of Steel

Posted on March 25, 2016 by WCL

Keith Ward – US Steel Advertisement (undated)

Like most companies in the mid-Twentieth Century, U.S. Steel relied on full page advertising to promote the value of their products. To display their uses in the home, U.S. Steel employed the talent of artist Keith Ward to create a happy home scene. Keith Ward (1906–2000) provided many illustrations for magazines such as Child’s Life, Boy’s Life and other magazines of the day. Ward was the illustrator for the ‘Dick and Jane’ series of books and his illustrations were used in advertising for companies such as Elmer’s Glue, Phillips 66 and of course U.S. Steel. The first U.S. Steel ad pictured above was printed in the Ladies’ Home Journal and featured a young girl, freshly bathed, being dried off by her mother in a bathroom filled with useful steel products. Interesting to note is the strategically held puppy in the girl’s hands. Much like the Avon ad in an earlier post, this image would never find a home in a magazine in today’s society.

Random Images: Avon’s Calling

Posted on March 19, 2016 by WCL

(Artist Unknown) – Avon Ad (1963)

Before the age of digital advertising, magazines were the primary medium for companies to promote their products. Large and colorful full-page spreads featuring artwork and photographs primarily targeted the stay-at-home housewife. Everything from cleaning products to laundry detergent to children’s goods were peddled in numerous family magazines. Founded in 1886, Avon is a globally known direct sales company of beauty and personal care products. This full page ad from Avon is dated 1963 and was used to promote their line of children’s toys. Fresh from her bath, this bare girl sits upon a towel while she examines a Humpty Dumpty toy. The embodiment of Avon’s purity and cleanliness image, the girl’s hair is held up with a daisy chain of stars while an array of Avon’s other toys sits around her. In today’s culture this ad would have never made it to print. Much like the Coppertone girl, she would have been covered up because of some unfounded fear to controversy. Ads such as this one only showcased the innocence, purity and unspoiled beauty of childhood.

Process of Inspiration: Alain Laboile

Posted on March 14, 2016 by WCL

Alain Laboile- The Process of Inspiration (2016)

On a rural countryside in southern France, Alain Laboile shares the often under appreciated events of daily life. Born on May 1st 1968 in Bordeaux, France, Laboile never set out on a path for artistic photography. Laboile attended a rural French school between the ages of 6 and 10 that focused on the Célestin Freinet method of learning which focuses on creativity and exchange of ideas rather than learning by rote. At the age of 11, Laboile moved to the Ivory Coast after his father took a job in a dam building project. Spending his time in the bush playing with exotic animals, despite the dangers, he looks back on this time fondly and realizes there are no photos of his early years.

Alain Laboile – Untitled (1) (2010)

After meeting his wife Anne in 1990 and accompanying her to an art lecture, the inner artist in Laboile was awakened as he took up an interest in clay sculpting. What brought him into the world of photography was the fact that he needed additional material for his art portfolio. After picking up a compact camera, Laboile’s initial focus was entomology but his new passion was soon to emerge. Being the father of six, he was never short of subjects around his rural home. Capturing the everyday life of his children soon became his passion as he documents it in stunning monochrome.

Alain Laboile- Untitled (2) (2013)

From frolicking in the mud to attending to their daily lessons, the camera captures the innocence and sense of wonder of a free childhood. The children romp and play free of clothing and without the forced shame of the outside world. From sadness to pure glee, the camera seems to be completely unnoticed by the children as they are free to express their true inner selves.

Alain Laboile- Untitled (3) (2016)

The work of Laboile has been exhibited throughout the world in such countries as Japan, India, Austria and the United States. Most recently, he published a collection of family photographs titled At The Edge of the World in October 2015. Two other published works included En Attendant le Facteur (Waiting for the Postman) and Under the Monochrome Rainbow. Laboile has created a Patreon funding page which enables artists to give access to new and unpublished work to users with as little as a $1 contribution per month. One last item to note is the lack of controversy that is usually associated with an artist of this nature. Sally Mann and Jock Sturges both faced intense criticism for their work in a similar field. It seems that living in a less repressed society such as France affords an artist to focus more on their work rather than defend it.

Alain Laboile – Untitled (4) (2013)

Alain Laboile – Untitled (5) (2014)

Alain Laboile- Untitled (6) (2013)

Alain Laboile -Untitled (7) (2016)

Alain Laboile – Untitled (8) (2014)

Alain Laboile-Untitled (9) (2014)

More information can be found on Alain Laboile’s official website.

Joshua Hoffine

Posted on April 5, 2015 by WCL

Horror isn’t a common theme featured here on Pigtails, but when a talented photographer blends common childhood fears with the presence of young girls it deserves to be brought to the readers. Joshua Hoffine, born in Emporia, KS in 1973 and graduated from KSU with a degree in English Literature, is currently a freelance photographer who started his career with Hallmark Greeting Cards as a photo assistant. Hoffine then branched out from wedding photography to explore the darker side of humanity by creating a series of horror photographs featuring two of his young daughters in various nightmare type scenarios. Hoffine’s elaborate sets have the look of a mini movie studio as he and his crew captured the essence of a frightening childhood world. When asked why he used young girls in his photographs, he states “The little girl as an archetype represents innocence and vulnerability.” Another reason he mentioned is practical because he has four daughters and no sons. Using family and friends to portray the evil entity in the photographs, Hoffine reassures everyone that in no way were his daughters afraid of the sessions and that they compared it to playing “dress up.” Featured below are several examples of Hoffine’s work from the series After Dark My Sweet; more can be found on his website with prints available for purchase in his store.

Joshua Hoffine – Closet (date unknown)

Joshua Hoffine – Wolf (date unknown)

Joshua Hoffine – Couch (date unknown)

Joshua Hoffine – Bed (date unknown)

Joshua Hoffine – Candy (date unknown)

Hoffine has recently taken a hand in filmmaking. His first effort, Black Lullaby, stars his daughter Chloe and Bob Barber (as the monster) and can be viewed on Vimeo [the video has since been removed].

Joshua Hoffine Fan Page

Magnolia Cemetery

Posted on October 20, 2014 by WCL

There are many places one can find beautiful representations of the youthful girl. One such unlikely place spotlighted here in Pigtails in Paint is the cemetery. Nestled along the banks of the Cooper River in Charleston, South Carolina, Magnolia Cemetery originally opened in 1850 to serve the needs of the growing population of a bustling port city. This sprawling Victorian-style cemetery is home to Civil War generals, judges, mayors and other prominent members of society. As with most Victorian Era cemeteries of its time, Magnolia features numerous monuments, obelisks and large statues to comemorate the deceased. Unfortunately during that period, many young lives were lost to now treatable diseases. To memorialize their lost children, well-to-do families would commission a sculpture to place on the grave as a token of their sorrow. Such statues were not meant to resemble their lost child, but to represent virtues like purity and innocence. The craftsmanship and detail of theses statues have withstood hurricanes, earthquakes and war and have survived for generations. Below are some examples of the statues found within the walls of the cemetery and a brief description of those they watch over.

(Artist Unknown) - Tomb of Eliza Burnwell Heyward (1871) (2)

(Artist Unknown) – Tomb of Eliza Barnwell Heyward (1871) (2)

(Artist Unknown) - Tomb of Eliza Burnwell Heyward (1871) (3)

(Artist Unknown) – Tomb of Eliza Barnwell Heyward (1871) (3)

(Artist Unknown) - Tomb of Eliza Burnwell Heyward (1871) (4)

(Artist Unknown) – Tomb of Eliza Barnwell Heyward (1871) (4)

(Artist Unknown) – Tomb of Eliza Barnwell Heyward (1871) (5)

(Artist Unknown) - Tomb of Eliza Burnwell Heyward (1871) (6)

(Artist Unknown) – Tomb of Eliza Barnwell Heyward (1871) (6)

Eliza Barnwell Heyward (1871) died at a very young age. As mentioned before, the statue was not meant to be a realistic likeness but represent her innocence as the girl casts her sorrowful gaze skyward.

(Artist Unknown) – Tomb of Annie Aiken (1856) (1)

(Artist Unknown) – Tomb of Annie Aiken (1856) (2)

(Artist Unknown) – Tomb of Annie Aiken (1856) (3)

Annie Kerr Aiken (1853-1856), or “Little Annie” as her vault reads, is resting in a large family plot at the south end beside a quiet lagoon. She is immortalized by the likeness of a sleeping child clutching a wreath to convey her eternal, peaceful sleep.

(Artist Unknown) - Tomb of Lizzie Patrick (1856) (1)

(Artist Unknown) – Tomb of Lizzie Patrick (1885) (1)

(Artist Unknown) - Tomb of Lizzie Patrick (1856) (2)

(Artist Unknown) – Tomb of Lizzie Patrick (1885) (2)

Lizzie Patrick (1885) is eternally protected by this draped girl in the form of an angel.

If you do have an opportunity to visit Magnolia Cemetery, it is open to the public daily and has much to offer. Many other cemeteries dot the south and I do hope to bring more hidden treasures of the past for you to enjoy.

"A girl is Innocence playing in the mud, Beauty standing on its head, and Motherhood dragging a doll by the foot." – Alan Marshall Beck

Author Archives: WCL