# Paintings of big-eyed girls **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 6, 2005, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paintings-of-big-eyed-girls/307109 "2005-06-06T11:15:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DarRRva](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/53a042/32.png) [@DarRRva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarRRva)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paintings-of-big-eyed-girls/307109/1 "2005-06-06T11:15:55Z")
I was in markets in Melbourne a while ago and some guy was selling prints of these paintings of girls with **huge** blue eyes. I remember seeing them before, I believe they’re fairly well known. And I can’t remember if they all have blue eyes, but they all have massive eyes. And I can’t for the life of me remember the name of the artist. Does anyone know? I know this isn’t being very descriptive at all, but I can’t really remember anything else about them. Can anyone help, it would be hugely appreciated. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Sinek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Sinek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinek)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paintings-of-big-eyed-girls/307109/2 "2005-06-06T12:12:31Z")
What you describe sounds a lot like [Margaret Keane’s](http://margaretkeane.com/) work. It’s a trademark of hers. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paintings-of-big-eyed-girls/307109/3 "2005-06-06T12:16:21Z")
Good description of the Keanes’ (Walter and Margaret) work in the fantastic book The Encyclopedia of Bad Taste, by Jane and Michael Stern. ---
**Author:** ![MidnightRadio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@MidnightRadio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MidnightRadio)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paintings-of-big-eyed-girls/307109/4 "2005-06-06T12:44:13Z")
> [@Maladopteryx](#): > > What you describe sounds a lot like [Margaret Keane’s](http://margaretkeane.com/) work. It’s a trademark of hers. Gaa! Those are _hideous_! ---
**Author:** ![Ichbin\_Dubist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ichbin\_Dubist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichbin_Dubist)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paintings-of-big-eyed-girls/307109/5 "2005-06-06T13:08:17Z")
“It’s Keane – it’s pure Keane! No – it’s better than Keane – it’s Cugat!” –_Sleeper_ ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paintings-of-big-eyed-girls/307109/6 "2005-06-06T17:28:00Z")
I’m truly saddened to say that she has a [gallery](http://www.keane-eyes.com/) in San Francisco. I thought San Francsisco had better taste… ---
**Author:** ![Corii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Corii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corii)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paintings-of-big-eyed-girls/307109/7 "2005-06-06T17:37:58Z")
Aiiieeee THE EYES… they’re staring at me… they’re everywhere! ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paintings-of-big-eyed-girls/307109/8 "2005-06-06T17:52:28Z")
Tentacle hentai? ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paintings-of-big-eyed-girls/307109/9 "2005-06-06T18:00:02Z")
I vaguely remember a cartoon in _Playboy_ where an artist is painting a nude. The model has huge brown eyes, and the aureoles on her breasts look exactly like her eyes. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Marlitharn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@Marlitharn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlitharn)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paintings-of-big-eyed-girls/307109/10 "2005-06-06T18:27:47Z")
> [@Maladopteryx](#): > > What you describe sounds a lot like [Margaret Keane’s](http://margaretkeane.com/) work. It’s a trademark of hers. Aaagh! [The eyes](http://keenlook.safeshopper.com/7/176.htm?495) are eating my soul! ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paintings-of-big-eyed-girls/307109/11 "2005-06-06T18:40:16Z")
> [@Marlitharn](#): > > Aaagh! [The eyes](http://keenlook.safeshopper.com/7/176.htm?495) are eating my soul! Ze Goggles! Ze would be verrry helpful right now! 😉😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paintings-of-big-eyed-girls/307109/12 "2005-06-06T20:58:22Z")
“Mulder! I’ve found the hybrid alien babies!” ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paintings-of-big-eyed-girls/307109/13 "2005-06-06T21:07:39Z")
Cervaise! Glad to see you’re around. I just quoted you here: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6234191&postcount=69](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6234191&postcount=69) ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paintings-of-big-eyed-girls/307109/14 "2005-06-06T21:10:47Z")
> [@Marlitharn](#): > > Aaagh! [The eyes](http://keenlook.safeshopper.com/7/176.htm?495) are eating my soul! Good Lord! Its’ the flaming baby’s head! Anybody get that? Anyone? ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paintings-of-big-eyed-girls/307109/15 "2005-06-06T21:45:07Z")
I’ve never seen those before. Holy moley, they’re horrifying. ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paintings-of-big-eyed-girls/307109/16 "2005-06-06T22:33:57Z")
A painter with a similar eye style with much more substance and much creepier is [Mark Ryden](http://www.markryden.com/) ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paintings-of-big-eyed-girls/307109/17 "2005-06-06T22:38:43Z")
Perhaps Ms. Keane’s thinks that those eyes are the window (Portkey?) to the soul? Scarey. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paintings-of-big-eyed-girls/307109/18 "2005-06-06T22:43:14Z")
These pieces are known collectively as “googly-eyed” art. (Kitsch, really.) The thing is, they’re immensely collectible and can make great investments. I remember reading a few years ago that the guy who records under the band name “Eels” is an obsessive collector (and that some of his fans have sent him googly-eyed stuff out of sheer fan-love). I’ve got a good-quality reproduction of one. Not a Keane, just a knockoff, but it’s a technically competent work of a googly-eyed cat caught in the rain. Scrawny little body soaked through, and a huge, distended head, upturned in a pleading expression with googly eyes like saucers, and absolutely miserable. It never fails to cheer me up. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paintings-of-big-eyed-girls/307109/19 "2005-06-06T22:47:17Z")
> [@BurnMeUp](#): > > A painter with a similar eye style with much more substance and much creepier is [Mark Ryden](http://www.markryden.com/) Creepy as hell! And perhaps not work-safe, because Personnel is not staffed with Art Lovers. ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2005, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paintings-of-big-eyed-girls/307109/20 "2005-06-06T22:50:26Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > Creepy as hell! > > And perhaps not work-safe, because Personnel is not staffed with Art Lovers. OOOOPS I forgot some of his painting aren’t work safe. The painting on the first click is fine, but a few in the galleries are not work safe. Maybe a mod could change that link to just his name for me? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paintings-of-big-eyed-girls/307109.md?page=2)