Big Eyes - The Art of Margaret Keane

The world famous "Big Eye" paintings had their beginning in San Francisco over 50 years ago, by the artist Margaret Keane. In time they also became known and referred to as "Waifs," "Keane," "Sad Eyes," and many other titles, all depicting the unique styles of this very creative woman. You may be surprised to hear the artist is a woman.

You see, for many years she was married to a man who claimed credit for what she painted. To prove she was in fact the artist and not her former husband, she painted in court before a Federal Judge and jury, an original oil on canvas painting. When her ex-husband was asked to paint by the judge, his reply was: "I can't today, because I have a sore shoulder." Needless to say Margaret won the case. Living in the San Francisco Bay area; she continues to paint those Big Eyes we have come to love so dearly.

Kate Budson is set to play Keane in the film Big Eyes. It's an indie film, in preproduction due 2009 a period piece based on the above scandal and trial. Go to http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1126590/ to see more information about this film.

Ms Keane is credited with influencing designer Allison Katzman, with the now-defunct U.S. toy company Kenner, for creating the Blythe doll. As a child I had object lust for Blythe - maybe it was the eyes... the really big head or that she's just a little creepy. Regardless, my mother said, "No way!" She gifted me with Madame Alexander dolls for holidays and I guess Blythe was just too freaky for her.

Blythe was created in 1972 by designer Allison Katzman and marketed for one year in the by toy company Kenner, located in my backyard, Cincinnati Ohio.
In 1997, New York TV and video producer Gina Garan was given a 1972 Kenner Blythe by a friend and began using it to practice her photographic skills. She began taking her Blythe everywhere with her and took hundreds of photos. In 2002, Gina published her first book of Blythe photography with Chronicle Books, This is Blythe. You may also visit www.blythedoll.com and This Is Blythe, a couple of fantastic sites with loads of info and photos.

Later that year, Hasbro (the Trademark and License owner) gave Takara of Japan a license to produce the New Edition of Blythe (NEO Blythe). Blythe was used in a television advertising campaign by the Parco department store in Japan and was an instant hit.

Success in Japan led Hasbro to issue a license to Ashton Drake to produce Blythe exclusively in the States, where the doll has become a niche product in a marginal market, selling largely to adults who, like me, get joy from things that are awful cute.