The Art Fish : A Story of Drag To Riches

"Congratulations! You are the winner of extreme make over!"
Every drag queen has to start somewhere!

"Go full drag or nothing!"
She gets on some talent show like RuPaul's drag races - gets groomed and preened
Suddenly she's a whole other dolly!

"We are fameeleee, I got all my sistahs with me"
She is the supreme diva ; owning the stage even if she has to share it with more lipstick

"Drag on and on ...."
Finally she gets her 3 minutes on a talkshow where she might do a lipsynch to "Like a virgin" by Madonna
Or sit in a huge prop shoe on top of a bus and trek across the outback...

It's all an amalgam of dramatic things I'm fond of with a little of this thrown in ....

Technical Details : Wearing (Click to see larger image)

Technical Details : Windlight Settings (Click to see larger image)

Happy to provide any additional information you might need that may not have been mentioned as follows :

This story uses [ Curious Kitties Unreal Fuzz* ] Drag Queen Avatar (From this round of Genre) and a real steal at L$100

*This item is 50% smaller then the Second Life default mesh.A complete doll avatar perfect for roleplaying and modeling.
Curious Kitties Unreal "Kittenz" type avatars are customizable with new hair, eyes & skins from Curious Kitties!

Also worn is :
Alice Project Butterfly Headset with Mic (Gacha)
BNB Miss Mary Jane Shoes Unrigged (from Marketplace)
Tintable Waist Belt (Partial from an old Vero Modero Outfit)
Clawtooth : Bride of Frankie (This was a Hair Fair gift)
Masoom - Anu Dress Flexi Skirt (also an oldie)

Poses:
Nantra has made an AMAZING set of poses called Werk it that has been used in some of the shots here.

Other Prop Credits:
Little Llama - Kiss My... Lounger and Ode to Lipstick (From this round of Genre) < FAAHHHHBOOOOLUS
Kalopsia Hanging Stars
A.E Mesh Male Torso (MP)

The Fashion Fish : Genre is Gender Bending!

It's all about the drag for upcoming Genre this 15th Jan (2016).
I like participating in this event on occasion as a designer rather than blogger but nonetheless it is something I feel rather passionately for.
I like that Genre tries to come up with interesting themes that push ideas and boundaries and this is one of the edgier ones on " Drag Queens". In hindsight I really wish I'd taken up the challenge and come up with something (crazy eyelashes or earrings I think would have been what I'd have gone for if I'd thought about it longer), seeing all the lovely things that other people have done for it! I'm sure this round promises to be very entertaining as well as vibrant and interesting! Meanwhile, here's a sneaky peaky at what dM! have made :

Paris, Le Grande

"!dM "Paris La Grande" is deviousMind's contribution to Genre's "Drag Queens" round in January 2016, as per usual to a reduced price [the event runs until February 12th 2016].

And what else comes instantly to mind than.... FEATHERS..... GLITTER....... TICKLES....."

Each set contains 3 boa styles, front and backwards draped (as seen in the single color images) and a wrapped version that runs down the left arm (as seen in the color pack image). And of course they were created with the aspiring dance diva in mind... Each boa consists of of one size fitted mesh, and additional flexi feather add-ons to bring more liveliness to the styling.

"Paris La Grande"  also comes in 12 different colors of peacock feathers: **ONYX**, **BLACK PEACOCK**, **ORANGE**, **CANARY**, **RED**, **PINK**, **PURPLE**, **BLUE**, **ICE PEACOCK**, **KIWI**, **SNOW PEACOCK**, **NATURAL PEACOCK**, and a **COLOR PACK** if you just want to have them all.

Here's what I did with mine :

Dolly in Drag part I
"I don't want to go to heaven. None of my friends will be there"

Dolly in Drag part II
"You don't love someone for their looks, or their clothes, or for their fancy car;
 but because they sing a song only you can hear" 

Dolly in Drag part III
"This suspense is terrible... I hope it will last!"

Somehow I feel that I was rather channelling Oscar Wilde as I was styling my dolly. I got the body first much early on in my COCO dolly collecting pursuits oddly enough. I only got the face for this particular shoot. Think I might call him Derek McDreamy (Gray's Anatomy harhar)

Always happy to provide any additional information you may need that is not published here otherwise :

Props 

Petite Mort - Rich Persian Rug (Mesh)

{anc} MoonLightLounge. ashtray stand* Cig used in pose comes from this dispenser

Sway's Cookie Bear [Candy] Rainbow (rez me) RARE

Kalopsia - Regency Settee - Black

-tres blah- Hodgepodge - Paper Pile

-tb- Vanity - Platter of Treasures

-tb- Vanity - Compact RARE

dust bunny . rose table . blue

ISPACHI [EMERSON] Foot Stool

[Con.] & :CP: Dragonfly Garden Chocolates

erratic / home - triple sec

Doll

CoCO BJD Male Body + 002B (Light) Head and Eyes (Blue)

Lelutka Kornelia Lashes .03 (Adjusted to fit)

Dura Hair Boys&Girls 24 Strawberry

Drag

!dM deviousMind "Paris La Grande" Blue Peacock boa (Parts F)

Mandala Lustful Bracelet & Ring

Ricielli (Non rigged) Leather Spiked Boots & Hot Pants

ieQED chanel pearl harness in black

{anc} cigarette

~Libertine~ Kitch Fan (I think this might be one  given out by the furniture- not certain but it's a lovely detailed prop)

[Kunst] Brandy glass (empty)

Pose

!Bang - recline poses (1)M (This has been adjusted in a few ways for each of the images)

Technical Notes :

Clothes and Pose (Just click to view larger details)

Windlight Settings (Just click to view larger details)

The Fashion Fish : Danse

A favourite theme I often play around with is dance and ballet in particular. I love how graceful and ethereal the ballet can seem - expressive in movement. I try to capture this in the composition and pose.

Danse

Danse - Outfit & Prop details (Click image to view larger)

Danse - Windlight Settings (Click image to view larger)

Danse Out-take (Click image to view larger)

Dead Dollz - The Rehearsal Collection

Just coincidentally, Dead Dollz who created the Sheriak dress I have used in the image "Danse" have done a fabulous gacha that is entirely ballet related - (Still)out at Shiny Shabby (but not for much longer! New round starts 20th)

Credits:

FineSmith New Store Gift - Hat (Current)

Toiz Wood Skybox *

Dead Dollz Sheriak (Dress Part)*

Minimal Swift Necklace (Rose Gold)*

Ys &Ys Teresa Applier on Lelutka Simone with Maitreya Lara Body*

Boon Hair. 

*From Shiny Shabby

The Art Fish : Arctic and Snow Leopard

You can see a lot of the pre-amble test shots I do before creating my final images on my Second Life Profile  feed. I find it quite a useful way to keep track of and test ideas.

From Jinx and available at Fair Play

JINX part of MFGC https://medievalsl.wordpress.com

(These are in-store at 50% off until the end of Jan and will also be at Fair Play from 9th Jan - 27th Jan with 50% off at L$75 each. Bargain)

and used to create the following images :

Snow Leopard

Snow Leopard Windlight & Outfit Details

Arctic Leopard

Arctic Leopard Windlight Details

Happy to provide more information for anything you see in my images with credits as follows :

The Inspiration 

JINX - AFK Wearables (Resting With The Snow Leopard)

The Fashion

Axix Voodoo Hood - Blue Tropic Green

Zibska Keallach Pauldron (left)

Pure Poison Manna Armor (Full outfit consisting of body, arm and leg straps) 

COCO Suede Boots (Fur) - these are a group gift and available FOC from their store.

The Doll

Lelutka Simone Head with Maitreya Lara Body using Ys&Ys Teresa Applier

The Art Fish : Emergence

You can see a lot of the pre-amble test shots I do before creating my final images on my Second Life Profile  feed. I find it quite a useful way to keep track of and test ideas.

Emergence

Emergence (B)

Some costumes in SL are epic and this is probably one of them. Made by BamPu Legacies who also did the amazing Poe Hat for last year's Art In Hats. This time Bambi has made a glittering jewelled thing.

BamPu Legacies is part of MFGC https://medievalsl.wordpress.com

Fashion Details :

MORARA MAJESTIC ANGEL

For Fair Play Janaury 2016 Exclusive item and will be sold at  BamPu Legacies after the event.

Fair Play presents: "The Forgotten Game"

Each sale will contribute 10% - 50% of nett price to following

foundations:

- Relay For Life Of Second Life

relayforlifeofsecondlife.org/

 - Team Fox For Parkinson's Research

http://www2.michaeljfox.org/site/TR/TeamFox/TeamFox?px=1148354&pg=personal&fr_id=1720

BamPu Legacies Links & SURLS

BLOG:   http://bampulegacies.com/

FLICKR:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/92130367@N07/

MARKETPLACE:  https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/130576

FACEBOOK:  https://www.facebook.com/BamPuLegaciesByBambiChicque

BamPu Legacies - Morara Majestic Angel @ upcoming Fair Play

(Wings, Garments, Collar & Headdress)

with parts from Bare Rose Tokyo (B@R) Self Control

(Sleeves, Ankle Bands)

No.7 Vieja Martha Fly Away Lashes 

LODE head gear *Butterfly Rare BIG*

Doll

Lelutka Simone Head & Lara Body using

Glam Affair Lelutka Heads Gift (Artic Aria)

Makeup Ys&Ys Carol Applier for lips 

Own Shape

Manicure - Shakeup Gradient for Maitreya (Fabulous!)

Mina Roosje Hair (Materials)

Argrace Saki Hair (White)

Props

{anc} IronOrb, Forest Lantern (Magic Purple A,B,C), Nebra Beads Heavenly Blue Field, Ephemera A&B

Screen Capture of Studio Setup (Note E&W direction)

Wind light settings for this shoot 1.

Wind light settings for this shoot 2.

Outfit Details (for this model)

Outfit Details (for this model)

The Art Fish : Tempus Regina

Tempus Regina II

Tempus Regina I

Lately I've been helping someone put together a look that they liked from one of my previous shoots. Admittedly, I'm really not very good at documenting my processes for myself. It tends to be a whole session of experimentation and I very seldom save an outfit after I'm done with it. Helping this person has made me think that I should work on documenting my process more carefully perhaps in the following way...

Close crop for blog size : The detail in this crown from DM! is simply amazing.

I do suspect that the time an average person might take to look at an image on flickr or even a blog is possibly less than 5 seconds unless it really grabs them or if they enjoy looking at details. There is just so much to see and only so much time with which to see things. This idea of time has been weighing on my mind what with the new year and all and is the inspiration for the last few images I've been making.

Outfit Details

BMe or Blue Moon enterprises (Part of MFGC https://medievalsl.wordpress.com) is a designer that is new to me but what an amazing discovery! I really love the rich details in fabric that they have put into this dress. It comes in a few other colours but I have chosen to work with one called " Peace"

More info on this shop :
Store : http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Rising%20Phoenix/202/226/24
Profile : http://secondlife.com/destination/bme-bluemoon-enterprise
Blog : https://bluemoonenterprise.wordpress.com/
Flickr : https://www.flickr.com/photos/109542875@N04/
MP : https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/92817?id=92817

Other credits as follows :
Fashion :
BlueMoon Enterprises Audrey dress in Peace available at The Alchemy Event

Accesories:
Devious Minds !dM - VictorianGothic - Crystal Crosss Crown (Gacha)
(SH)/Sad Harlekin (now Xansa) - Pearls of Venus Necklace
Pixel Box Earring Steampunk Magical Treasure

Pets:
Culprit UniQrn Nightmare
{anc} long hair dog - mix

Body :
Lelutka Simone Mesh Head & Maitreya Lara body
with Glam Affair Lelutka Heads appliers gift - Leda in Petal (available in Lelutka)
D!va Hair " Giz" from Arcade Gacha
Sparkle Makeup Applier for Lelutka by Ys&Ys from Shiny Shabby (Dec)

Props :
Ruins by Raya Jonson
{anc} city. timelamp /night [little & big hands]
7. Apple Fall Oversized Horloge (From Gacha)
:Fanatik Architecture: Rocks & Cliffs WALES Gate

I've decided to try and document the varying windlight settings I make for my shoots and their variations by taking a screen capture as follows :

Windlight Settings

The Odd Fish : New year, new renewals, new adventures!

2016!
I'm hopeful for the new year and what it might bring - which is as good a place to start as any.  Meanwhile over on flickr, I've been happily regular in my picture making as follows :

Nest

Bunny Hunny

Glittering Cloud

Ink

I'm really grateful for being able to blog for shiny shabby and most of my latest images reflect this. I find that being a blogger also helps push my own creativity as I try to interpret and portray the various creations from the event in a personally fulfilling way.

Recently on flickr I joined a group called " Flickr is my blog" and I'm finding this to be quite true. I tend to use blogging as a means to elaborate on thoughts and ideas more than anythingelse. Who knows though ;-) another new year in the life of this blog :-)