Friday, March 25, 2011

Fantasy Art Focus: Wistful Mactavish

And Magic Happens


"God gives us creativity, and I don't intend to waste my share of it." ... Wistful Mactavish

Wistful definitely doesn't waste her share of creativity! She uses that God given talent to produce amazingly beautiful and unique pictures for all of us to enjoy. Her stream contains some of my all time favorites from Flickr and Second Life. She specializes in pictures full of magic and fantasy, elves and fairies, and quite a few landscapes. Although Wistful tends to produce fantasy art for the most part, every single picture is very unique and special in its own right. She doesn't have a particular style like many artists, instead she has the ability to create pictures with each and every one affording a style of its own. This is what makes Wistful's artwork so interesting! I always look forward to a new picture and when I see her name coming through the Flickr stream, it's almost always chosen as an automatic favorite.

Wistful became interested in photography within Second Life after entering a contest in game and placing Second. She remembers being so elated and realized how much she loved taking pictures in the game, so that's what she started doing on a more regular basis. Wistful is not happy with the quality of her computer graphics card, thus relies on post processing of her photos. After being highly intimidated by advanced editing software in the beginning, she has finally come to a point where she's comfortable with it and continues to learn something new every picture she takes. Wistful uses a variety of settings and backgrounds for her pictures. Most all of them use an avie from within Second Life, but sometimes she uses backdrops and textures (composites) found outside of the game. She always has an idea in mind of what she wants to accomplish with each picture and persists toward this goal until it is met. She would be able to tell someone a story about every single picture she's done, as they all have meaning and a reason behind why they were done.

With great encouragement from friends, Wistful opened her own gallery in Second Life. She sells the pictures she creates and says she receives great pleasure in the fact that she can share her love of art with others. She makes enough money to pay her rent in game, but most of all, she is grateful she can do something she is very passionate about for pure enjoyment, plus, make others happy by doing it!



The Faerie's Elf


Rainbow Fairy


A Fairy Playground


Catch a Dancing Fairy


Home


Looking for the Great Pumpkin


The Fairy Field


Drink of Magic


Loss


A Source of Magic


Autumn Wistful


Please be sure to visit Wistful's photostream:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wistfulmactavish/






Monday, March 21, 2011

Glam Affair Skin Addiction: Focus on Jadis


Jadis Natural 02A

Yes, I'll admit, I'm addicted to skins! I just love trying new ones as they come out! After trying many brands, I always seem to come back to Glam Affair skins by Aida Ewing. There are so many beautiful, high quality creations out there, and at one time I mentioned another favorite, but I've definitely decided Glam Affair has my old favorite beat now :) The latest I've tried with Glam Affair is called Jadis in Natural (comes in 14 styles) and the Yuki Edition (comes in 6 styles). I also have Eva, Sofia, and Castalia, and every one is gorgeous in its own way, unique with its own style. For a long time Sofia was my all time favorite, now I love the new Jadis skin. She also has a couple of newer ones out called Mary and Sakura (which proceeds will go toward the disaster fund in Japan and the Pacific). Below I've pictured Jadis in Natural and the Yuki Edition skin, along with many of the 25 makeups created for the Yuki Edition, by monica Outlander. I've also pictured two makeup layers by Aida Ewing herself for the regular Jadis line. Beauty, perfection, and quality...that's Glam Affair skins.

Left to right/top to bottom: Jadis Natural 02A with Makeup Layer 1, Jadis Natural 08A, Jadis Natural 02A with Makeup Layer 16, Jadis Natural with Makeup Layer 16


Left to Right: Jadis Yuki Edtion 02B and Yuki Edtion 02F


All Jadis Yuki Edition skins with Miamai_Les Makeups for Yuki/Jadis by monica Outlander

Hair: Wanda in Gold by KateForster Akin of Tukinowaguma

Head Jewel: Halfmoon by Selina Forder of Elvenbreath

elf ears: ICED elf ears with triple loops by Scarlet Chandrayaan


Monday, March 7, 2011

Delphinium and Hibiscus: Garden of Friendship

Flowers are one of Nature's most wonderful gifts. How can something so exquisite, so fragrant, so delicate, appearing in so many vibrant colors and different shapes, arise out of the dusky earth? The answer is through the work of the flower faeries... Teresa Moorey


Little Bird in Green by Sasaya Kayo of HPMD

Once upon a time there lived a little blue flower fairy called Delphinia, named after the beautiful flower called Larkspur of the Delphinium family. She lived in a lovely and magical forest called Enchanted of Elven Realm, known for its abundant flora, fauna and foliage. Delphinia had a wonderful disposition, full of sweetness and laughter. She helped keep the animals of the forest happy and healthy with her powers of wellbeing. She would make sure to visit and spend time with each and every creature of the forest every single day, especially the unicorns, with whom she was most endeared. She knew they were the most vulnerable as they were endangered. With her great agility, she could fly and romp about the forest with speed and poise, and be there when needed.

Delphinia's dress: Eden Fairies Delphinium by Evangeline Miles of Evie's Closet (comes with hat, socks and shoes)
Skin: Elf in Holly 2 Sundust Light with Freckles by Gala Phoenix of Curio
Hair: Delia in Snow White by KateForster Akina of Tukinowaguma
Elf Ears: ICED elf ears with triple loops by Scarlet Chandrayaan
Location: Enchanted of Elven Realm




Fairy in a Bubble multi pose prop by Faery Sola of Studio Sidhe





Long ago and far away there lived a little red flower fairy called Hibisca. She lived a long way from Delphinia's forest home in her own kind of forest, a jungle in the tropics! Hibisca was named after the beautiful bright red vibrance of the tropical Hibiscus which grew wild in her part of the world. Hibisca had always had a very confident, outspoken and playful personality, loving to show tricks while flitting through the air. She also had a very mischievous side which sometimes got her in trouble. Hibisca was one others went to when they wanted outright honesty when answering a question or giving an opinion. She also found the positive in everything, including other fairies or just living things in general. This wonderful trait made her instill confidence in those that were normally not so confident and gave them encouragement and motivation to "keep trying".

Hibisca's Dress: Eden Fairies Hibiscus by Evangeline Miles of Evie's Closet (includes hat, socks and shoes)
Skin: Silkgirl Yuyan in Tan by Leena Ying of DrLife
Hair: Neve in Streaked Cranberry by Truth Hawks of Truth
Location: Enchanted of Elven Realm


"Bug the Faeries" Mushie Seat by Jade Winthorpe of FFH&G (left)


"Just a Pose" Fall Fae Shroom by Glamouramama
HPMD Globe Lamp M (butterfly) by Sasaya Kayo



One day, not long ago, Delphinia and Hibisca actually met in Elven Realm....oh, they're best friends, didn't I tell you? They visit each other all the time through a portal Delphinia found by accident in Elven Realm. One day she was prancing about near the sea and accidentally jumped inside a black pool of water right at the edge of the sea surrounded by rocks. As soon as she did, she was transported to Hibisca's world in the tropics and met her friend there. After that, they've been inseparable and with both their personalities, they offset each other and benefit each other's homeland in many wonderful ways!

HeeHee! Faery Bubble by Faery Sola of Studio Sidhe


Elfin Foot Bridge with glowies and poses by Jade Winthorpe of FFH&G


The Gift pose prop by Faery Sola of Studio Sidhe

Today Delphinia had a gift she wanted to give Hibisca, to show her how much she appreciated her friendship and support. She had gathered a little magic dust from each area of the forest for quite a while and had put it together into one "package" for her best friend. She told Hibisca, "With this magic dust we have the ability to portal to our other flower fairy friends in different parts of the world, and they to us, thus using each other's strengths when needed for one another." Three of the friends Delphinia was speaking of were Lily, who can bring back distant memories and forgotten emotions, Marigold, who renews life and restores vigor through the power of the sun, and Peony who helps protect and heal. Hibisca was elated and both little fairies knew they had a wonderful, new gift in more ways than one :)


There are three other flowers the Eden dresses come in: Lily, Marigold and Peony, all just as beautiful as the next

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Lovely Versatility


An elf always has to be prepared for what may come, a fight with the enemy, or a hunt for the big Realm feast. Yes, sometimes even if that elf is a "she". Nothing is more tenacious and fierce, yet sexy and beautiful than a fight ensemble worn by an elf of the female gender. Kira Lavendel of MysticHope Designs always creates her clothes to be purely feminine, yet very versatile and rugged in order to "get the jobe done". She makes sure the outfit comes with several optional pieces so you can mix and match and wear what happens to fit the occasion. This particular outfit called Penny Steam consists of pants, a long jacket, and corset top along with shoulder caps and wrist guards. It also comes with a lovely necklace which matches the corset top that comes in several colors (this one happens to be rose). The outfit also comes with a band for each leg that holds knives needed for battle or the hunt. Not only is the outfit a great choice for whatever need arises, it's also alot of fun to wear!

Clothes: Penny Steam in Rose by Kira Lavendel and Elisha Firecloak
Skin: Jadis in Natural # 10 and Makeup Layer # 1 by Aida Ewing of Glam Affair
Elf Ears: Sad elf ears HamHam by Kioko Kumaki of Panda Express
Hair: Vivian in Platinum by Leena Ying of DrLife Healthy Hair
Boots: Elvenspirit in black by Kira Lavendel of MysticHope Designs
Location: Enchanted Fantasy Gallery on Elven Realm