Let's set the world on fire we can burn brighter than the sun

Let's set the world on fire we can burn brighter than the sun - Fun

Each year i like to re-visit using paint instead of makeup to create a look.  The logic behind this look relates to the lyrics taken from We Are Young by Fun:
Tonight we are young so let's set the world on fire we can burn brighter than the sun
    
There are a few ways this lyric could be interpreted and the way I see it, is much like when people refer to younger generations shaping and leading the future.  Each generation have their own way of thinking, and although they may not share the same views, the majority share common similarities in their actual thinking.  In a way, it's similar to the saying you can't teach a dog new tricks.  I never really understood why this might be true until this week.
If you gave a laptop to an older man or woman, they may have some problems using it, even turning it on.  If you then gave that laptop to a younger generation, their way of thinking will work out how to use it much faster due to their way of thinking.

Younger generations bring new talent and fresh ideas, while older generations help discover new talents in other generations and their own.

So if you belong to a younger, or older generation, find out how you can make your mark on the world, and set the world on fire.

Illamasqua Freak Competition

To be given an excuse to create a gold inspired makeup look is like giving candy to a baby.  It's desired, wanted and a joyful opportunity to grab!  This look was created as my entry to the current Illamasqua competition regarding their new limited edition Freak perfume.  Not only is the perfume 67% stronger than the original Freak, it also comes in a fabulous gold bottle!  The downside is of course it's only limited edition, so I'm hoping this 'limited edition' means there's only enough bottles to last 100 years because this really is a keeper!

The competition closes on Sunday 29th July so if you would also like to enter, follow this link

In the words of RuPaul - Good luck and don't f**k it up!

I just wanna be myself and I want you to love Me for who I am

I just wanna be myself and I want you to love me for who I am - Lady Gaga

It suddenly dawned on me last week that it's been over a year since Vanity Nightmare launched, and I never celebrated or acknowledged it.  I decided to create an image that echoed what I initially set out to create in the initial development of the zine which then turned into a blog.  Everyone has a Vanity Nightmare within them, an alter ego that they can either keep to one side and unleash when their want or one that slowly becomes them.

I like many others gets judged and questioned on a daily basis and they are mainly regarding things that have nothing to do with them, and have no impact to their life.  Yet people carry on, and judge, criticise and look down at people with their views that sometimes they don't even agree with, they think that's the way society deems them to be think and be like.  A lot has changed within recent years regarding acceptance and it's not a group of people that start this change, it's one person.

The best advice you can get about the way you live your life can be found in RuPauls Workin' It.

The key pieces to remember are:

Don't take life too seriously

Love yourself

What others think of me is none of my business

And to end of a positive, or a negative depending on the way you look at it.  Today I received feedback that my blog should be less personal and although I welcome any constructive criticism I don't agree with doing such thing.  The images I create come from my heart, my whole zine was based on my own life from the dark times to the best times of my life.  My blog receives views from all over the globe.  My recent Elle intern application received over 100 views and my blog is also linked to on my business card which is given out to people within the industry.  But then there's the people who are not industry professionals who access my site.  My blog allows me to see where people have accessed Vanity Nightmare, on what device and what terms they googled before accessing it.  It's here where I find out that the bulk of my views come from similar minded people, similar minded people who share similar experiences to myself.

Vanity Nightmare may change and alter in format or design, but the principles and method to which I create it will remain the same:
If you have revolutionary potential you have a moral obligation to make the world a better place' - Lady Gaga

We come together cuz opposites attract

We come together cuz opposites attract - Paula Abdul

Let me start by saying please don't judge me on how bad the shading is throughout these looks.  I was only just going to shade the cheeks pink/red, hence why they are the best and the rest just slowly gets worse.  This look was actually done in less than an hour with in between shoots, but I actually think the messy shading works on the last photo, the middle not so much.  The reason why I've kept all these stages is just the show the evolution in a look and I guess it gives you some insight into how I work.
The idea of this look is to split facial features into two, using a black to contour on one half, and as a highlight on the other.  This idea was then brought into the lips, brows and eyes.  So although the shading is incredibly messy, it gets across what I wanted to convey and create.  This will definitely be something I'm going to carry on with, spend more time on, and use more than just one brush and two colors.

When all waters still

When all waters still - Perfume Genius

I'm trying to write a word out and for the life of me I can't actually spell it, and spell check isn't helping either.  Basically it gets on my nerves when I post 3 photos and they take up so much room.  Ok, moving on.  This look was actually posted a couple of posts ago and I actually really like this image so I thought rather that it hanging around on my external memory thing somewhere, I thought it could hang around here in cyber space!
I guess i feel a little bit like that right now, ever since finishing university life seems to be going nowhere, and nowhere soon.   I'm just endlessly wandering with nowhere to go.  Normally when things like this happen in my life the tables turn the next week and something amazing happens.  The only trouble is, my university results come out soon, so it's either going to be amazing news, or just another disappointment.

My life seems over before it's even begun.

This is one over dramatic vanity nightmare signing out x

If I only had a heart

If I only had a heart - The Wizard of OZ

This look was created using Illamasqua Precision Ink in Abyss, Liquid Metal in Phenomena and an Eye Shadow from MAC in Carbon.  This is actually the first time I've used a Liquid Metal product from Illamasqua and I was surprised to find the texture wasn't something I had expected.  The look and texture of Liquid Metal is similair to that of any cream eye shadow such as Big Bounce Shadow by MAC.  What isn't the same is the consistancy, and while other cream shadows are more liquified, Liquid Metal is more of a soild, but upon touching the product with your finger or brush, your find it's actually very creamy and in my opinion one of the best products I've seen, Illusion d'Ombre by Chanel being another top product.
The great quality about Liquid Metal, and in fact any product from Illamasqua, is that you can use it as little or as much as you want.  It really makes Liquid Metal a versatile product and a must have for any makeup lover, artist and anyone who wants an eye shadow that will just pop and shine.

The look I created here really showcases how Liquid Metal can highlight the face and it enables you to create the illusion of depth with makeup.  I wanted to use both images here as the bottom image is something I used to do all the time after shooting a look or a project.  The effect is called Dark Strokes and without fail, I would always use this after shooting.  The reason why I used it so much as it would automatically transform an image into something much darker, and it would always convey the emotions I put into that image to a cue.  Post production in Photoshop is something I want to develop further so expect to see a lot more posts in the future with multiple outcomes.

And in response to my previous post, this look hasn't been retouched, as you can most likely tell!