Avatars with Style: Jewel MacMoragh

by Claudie Benoir on September 1, 2010

Jewel

I’m incredibly excited to kick off this new season of AvatarStyle by bringing you a profile of an avatar that I absolutely adore. Meet artist, conceptual photographer and funny, gifted, and charming gal-about-SL, Jewel MacMoragh.

I first met Jewel at Artis Gallery last spring where her partner Sledge Roffo was installing his “Dots” series. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of getting to know her and working with her too — she most recently created for me a series of photographs, a rez-day gift for the (very lucky!) Patrick Cournoyer. The vision for these works was hers entirely, and the final result captured all that I wanted and more than I could have ever articulated.

In her work she is fun, flexible and light-hearted … yet passionate, deeply creative and joyfully meticulous. So infectious, she is single-handedly responsible for my newfound passion for Second Life photography. An obvious respect and admiration for her work aside, I’m just damn happy to know her as a person and proud to call her friend. I know you’ll enjoy getting to know her too!

xo~Claudie

This very short video showcases some of Jewel’s SL photography works:

Jewel’s Style

Q: The Basics—Shape, Skin, Hair:

Shape: .::MADesigns::.
Skin:     Free Speerit
Hair:     *Cross*

Q: How would you describe your Skin, Shape and Hair? For example – is it a reflection of who you are in RL? Does it portray an image of who you want to be? Is it fantasy?

I have been told more than once that my avi looks like my RL self but I don’t see it so much.  Okay maybe the eyes, I do have ice blue eyes *bats lashes*  And maybe the hair.  My hair is wild and unruly.  Okay and maybe the skin, I am fair in RL.  And well, the curves are kinda RL, too.  To be honest, this is, like, version 5 or 6 of Jewel.  I just put together what makes me feel pretty.

Q: What are some of your favorite vendors for skin, shape, clothe and/or hair?

I don’t really have a favorite, per se.

Q:  Any tips or experiences you can share with other avatars that wish to upgrade their look?

HA!  No.  You got any tips for me?

Q:  We all started as newbies, we didn’t all start out this glamorous! Any stories relating to previous avatar versions you care to share?

Oh, well it took me forever to figure out the whole AO thing.  A friend took pity on me and gave me a copy of an old, kinda jerky AO she had and the lightbulb switched on.  I soon coughed up the cash and bought my own.  I still have it now (+ a few add-ons)  cuz I still like it.

Q:  How much time  have you/do you spend on your avatar?  And money — would you say that you spend a) nothing, b) a little, c) moderate, or d) “OMG I am afraid to check my bank balance!”

I am lucky to have a rich, generous partner who showers me with gifts.  No, I’m kidding.  Not about the rich generous gift part, of course.  I kinda go through phases.  I tend to spend all my time with Sledge at home or creating or dancing or exploring.  Anything but shopping.  Then, after a few weeks, as if called by a greater force, I shop my ass off.  I do give myself an allowance each month and I stick to it.

Q:  Do you change your avatar or have you created a look and stick with it? Do you change hair, makeup or skins? How often? How many do you use?

ANSWER:  I love to try on demos but I rarely change what I look like except for photos.  I am comfortable in this av, anything else feels a bit like an imposter.

Jewel’s SL experience

Q:  Tell us a little something about the person behind the avatar, your RL self, answer what you feel comfortable with or skip it if you prefer.

I’m afraid there is not all that much to discover that you don’t already know.  I am in RL what I am in SL.  I don’t know how to be anything else.  In fact, I suck at rp sims because I always fall back into ‘me’.  In RL I work in healthcare and am an amateur photographer, whatever that means.  I am an advocate for a few health related issues that are very near and dear to my heart.  I have some kids and a fat, spoiled dog.  I love music and art, anything sparkly, the occasional glass of fine wine and ohhhh SHOES!!!

Q:  How do you feel your av expresses the RL you, or does he/she?  What is he/she expressing?

Jewel is me.  I am Jewel.  There is no difference.

Q:  Do you have a philosophy about how style relates to your experience in SL?

Philosophy?  Nah.   I just do and buy and create and arrange and enjoy things in a way that makes me smile.  In my opinion, SL is meant to be a place of joy and beauty and creation.  A place to relax and enjoy each other and all the incredible-ness (pffft, that a word?) that surrounds us.  I have no time for anything else.

Q:  What do you spend your time doing while in SL?

Ahhh, my time in SL is incredibly valuable to me because I feel I have so little of it.  For the last several months I have been collaborating with Sledge on various projects.  Mostly I make the textures and he creates the magic.  We have worked together on Burning Life, SL7B, some of his latest series including Dots and a new one he is about to unveil and now a new project at Pop Art Lab.  Most recently, however, I have gone back to exploring SL photography and I am loving it!

Q:  What is your primary reason to be in SL?

To create, to enjoy, and to be madly, deeply in love

Q:  What inspires you in SL?

My inspiration in SL is the same as in RL.  To capture the unexpected, the spontaneous, the magical, the exquisite.  To live eyes wide open, and to never ever miss a thing.

Q:  What keeps you in SL?

Sledge

Q:  What do you enjoy most about SL?

Sledge

Q:  Anything you would like us to promote, any messages to friends, etc. … this space is for that. ;)

I have a few RL and SL photo exhibits around the grid:  My gallery “The Brothel” at Sanremo, a collection of SL pictures,  I’m part of a group exhibit at Gable Gallery called “Flickrs of Second Life”.  I also have RL photo exhibits at Streamlife and ROF Coallition. (All LMs in my profile).

Q. Does anything in SL relate to your RL? Do you keep them separate, and if so, how does it work for you?

Everything in my SL relates to my RL.  I understand that many people prefer not to share one life with the other for various very valid reasons.  I accept and respect that.  Sorry to be blunt but I think it’s bullshit that they don’t intertwine.  Can you honestly tell me that you never think of SL when you are going about your RL?  Do you not see things everyday in RL that remind you of SL and vice versa?  Are your feelings not just as potent and tangible in SL as in RL?  Having said that, I do believe it is prudent to be very careful what you share with whom.  I have been extremely fortunate to have met some amazing, beautiful, fabulously hysterical people that I straight up adore.  I believe these people would be my friends regardless of which life we were introduced in and I am honored to have them however they come.  On a less intense level, I have grown my love of music and art here.  We spend a lot of time exploring galleries and clubs in SL which has rekindled my desire to do the same in RL.

Jewel’s Artist Statement

“Through my camera I seek to document my own personal experiences, to capture scenes and events as I see them and to share with others the beauty and diversity of the world I’ve seen.”

My father aimed his old Nikon at me when I was only minutes old, he put his camera in my hands as soon as I was strong enough to hold it and gave me my own camera on my first day of kindergarten. It was the beginning of a beautiful, life-long love affair.   At 19, I experienced a renewed enthusiasm and appreciation for photography while living in New Zealand where I spent untold hours on the side of a rugby field shooting the often bloody battles that ensued.  I’d build a collection that I’d throw down on the bar every week and was more than a little surprised  by my first offer of compensation from a very large, very scary Kiwi.  I began receiving inquiries for portraits and weddings soon after and thus was dragged kicking and screaming into the business of photography.  But business is not where my heart lies.  My passion and joy are in capturing the unexpected, the spontaneous, the magical.  There is simply nothing better than going into a situation unscripted, eyes wide open, camera in hand, and discovering something glorious. The best things happen when you least expect them.   It is these images I bring to SL.   -JM
Streamlife August Expo 2009:  I am so proud&happy to present you the outstanding B/W’s of Jewel MacMoragh! You will love them all…*eyes wide open*…they will catch you and transport you directly to another dimension…I would say…”they are like an unforgettable melody of this world…you won’t forget” – Life Charron,  ? B/W Art Gallery Streamlife??

Visit The Brothel – The Jewel M Gallery and follow her on Flickr.


http://avatarstyle.net/2010/05/16/chat-with-cleo-sledge-roffo-an-sl-virtual-artist-profile/

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Hiatus Schmiatus!

by Claudie Benoir on August 19, 2010

Well hello stylish avatars! It’s been so long and I’ve missed you so! I must apologize for going in to a hiatus mode without warning, but Avatar Style is winding down its busy summer and looking forward to a new season of stylish Second Life™ living!

I’ll be honest. For a moment there, I contemplated shutting down the magazine altogether. It was getting pretty expensive to operate, and I have taken on additional projects in SL that cut into my budget and time tremendously.

While the editorial staff was working hard and busy creating what I feel is some of the best content in SL, and our loyal audience was growing and traffic was rising … I found myself in a position where I was constantly worried about making all of that sustainable (read: to not have to fund this out of my own pocket). The time I was able to devote to Avatar Style became more business focused, when all I really wanted to do was write stories again. I started to procrastinate, avoid, do a lousy job in general. So I put Avatar Style in pause mode for a few weeks while I sorted all of that out.

I believe wholeheartedly that the content we produce here has great potential to be financially viable, but dudes, I really don’t want to spend my Second Life chasing down advertisers, or paying out of my own pocket to have the privilege to have content developed, in many cases, for the benefit of people who are already receiving a great deal of coverage in the SL blogosphere. No, no, no, that’s all wrong.

I never wanted Avatar Style to be an advertising vehicle, I always wanted to use this as a means to promote those that could really benefit from the exposure — the artists, the smaller shops, the special events, the fundraisers and so forth. I started it so I could write again, to tell compelling stories about how people are living their second lives with a certain panache and style, and to give back to the creative community in SL.

With the change of season, there will be changes to the format of Avatar Style. I will be removing the advertising program and making this magazine a volunteer-run, donation-based operation. While I can’t ask or expect the Avatar Style staff to continue on this journey with me, they know that I am filled with admiration and gratitude, and that the door is always open, and that they are family.

The editorial direction for the coming season will be less commercial in general. I am bringing Avatar Style back to its roots and re-invigorating the “Avatars with Style” series — I’ve got several in the  hopper that are going to be really fun to read! Even more than before, Avatar Style will be used as a platform to discover virtual art and photography and RL artists using SL to promote their work — there will even be inworld events and openings. You know how I love to throw a party! And of course, you asked for it and you’ll get it — we’ll be bringing you more adventure, culture and immersive lifestyle experiences.

If you are a writer, photographer or artist with WordPress experience interested in contributing to Avatar Style on a volunteer basis, please send me a note card inworld.

See you soon!

xoclaudie

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Mandala: A Bangles Heaven

by Leda Carter on July 24, 2010

Takara Bangle fur leather

Takara Bangle in Red Leather, all pictures courtesy of Beck Azalee from Picture Perfect studio

If you have ever searched for something more than a tennis bracelet on SL, you know that hand accessories abound. The difficulty is only introduced when you want something that does not require hours of adjusting, looks good in various lights, and comes in a beautiful range of colors and designs. Today, I am going to take you to a Bangles Heaven called Mandala.

Pearl Rain Jewelry Set

Pearl Rain in Rose PinkYou might remember my column from a couple of weeks ago where I talked about Mandala pearls. I just want to remind you that they come in different colors (Rose Pink featured here), and that the bracelet is a must have: two rows of large pearls hug the row of small, yet fully detailed, pearls. It is unassuming, yet elegant. The woman who wears this bracelet knows she does not need to try too hard.

TAKARA Bangle, Fur/Leather

The texture on this set is error proof: no matter what color you choose you are not going to go wrong. It comes in black, brown, red, purple, gold, silver, and teal.  The leather version, featured above in red, is the one you can wear with a variety of different looks, from casual to formal, and everything in between. The fur version has a more casual feel to it. Nevertheless, with one purchase you will get both versions, as well as bright/lessbright versions, in one folder. The woman who wears this appreciates her own femininity.

TAKARA Bangle, Inca

Takara Bangle in Inca GoldI think one reason I like this gold set (it comes in an assortment of colors, as you might imagine) is that it is something I would wear in RL (except with short trimmed nails). I know this is not necessarily an attractive feature to some of you avatars out there. Regardless, the colors on this set are rich. Within each set, the color variation allows for matching the accessory to lots of different shades of the same color. And if you have ever tried to match colors between two pieces of your wardrobe, you know this kind of variation makes an avatar’s SLife easy. Finally, like most bangles in Mandala, Inca Gold also comes with rings and nails. The nails come not only in different sizes, but they are also unaffected by your Animation Override; and if you have ever tried to wear SLong nails, you know that is a great feature.

TAKARA Bangle, Rock

Takara Bangle RockThis set of bangles is an expression of how contradiction in design works. The spokes, which are wonderfully realistic, are bolder and starker than the wide checkered bangle in the middle, which looks so warm and padded. The woman who wears this is one who is willing to take risks, who is not inert; she is dynamic. In this set, you get two different style bangles; one style is slightly shorter and reaches only half-way up the avatar’s forearm. Each style comes in two version of “bright” and not bright, which means your purchase includes 8 bangles.

TAKARA Bangle, Buddha

Takara Bangle BuddhaWhat I like about these bangles is the great design on them, which reflects strength and self- assurance. The woman (or man) who wears this is not a wallflower and does not need to be taken care of. As with most of Mandala’s bangles, this set also comes in two different styles, both of which are featured here. When you go to the store to take a look at this set, make sure you look at all the rich colors it comes in (deep blue, goldish brown, and bright purple, to name a few). My next purchase will be the cream color which I plan to wear with an evening gown.

TAKARA Bangle, Oriental Forest Green

This is probably my favorite set of bangles. Once again, the purchase will include two different sets that are featured here. The delicate patterns remind me of East Asian arts, and the color choices are fabulous enough to make you stand there thinking you would be better off just getting the Fat Pack. Another aspect of this Takara Bangle that draws me to itself is the various shades of color that are available within each set. For example, wear the Oriental Forest with gold and the pattern pops out, or wear it with white and the green takes over. The woman who wears this knows about sensuality.Takara Bangle Oriental Forest in Green

Tagged as: bangles, bracelet, Jewelry, Mandala

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Avatars with Style: Renault Cluny

by Claudie Benoir on July 22, 2010

ren2

AvatarStyle adores painter Renault Cluny. Cleo first interviewed him in March of this year and we learned about his amazing work; now, we get to have a bit of fun and discover a bit more about his personal style and experience in Second Life.

Be sure to catch his exhibit at Yeuxbleux’s Greenhouse at Artis Gallery now until September, 2010. Click here for teleport.

How would you describe your Skin, Shape and Hair? For example – is it a reflection of who you are in RL? Does it portray an image of who you want to be? Is it fantasy?

While my hair is now a bit more “distinguished” in color, shorter and thinner, my build and skin are very similar to Ren’s. Ren is really based on my appearance about 20 years ago and some of that can be seen in my first life photo on my profile…although slightly disguised. Ren really is simply a reflection of the real me.

How did you choose your skin and shape? It can be tricky to coordinate a skin with a shape. How did you get them to work together so well?

I tried to make my shape realistic in size. I find it a bit irritating, the ultra large size of some of the avatars in SL…….ridiculously broad shoulders, outrageously tall…….I kind of like the notion of SL being an extension of RL and if that’s the case, the majority of people must play in both the NBA and the NFL. My guess is most of the men who make themselves that large probably drive really large, gas-guzzling pickup trucks too…….giggles. As real as possible works for me…….

What are some of your favorite vendors for skin, shape or hair?

I like Argrace for a lot of things…..don’t think they do skins or shapes though. For skins, I like SILK. My hair is Argrace……hell, the shape, I have no idea…..Body by Jake? Arnold Schwarzenegger?

Any tips or experiences you can share with other avatars that wish to upgrade their look that you care to share?

Remember to make copies……I’ve lost so many things…….it’s my opinion that the tattoos are kind of lame, but that’s a personal thing.

We all started as newbies, we didn’t all start out this glamorous! Any stories relating to previous avatar versions you care to share?

Why do you ask, you didn’t see me, did you?

How much time have you/do you spend on your avatar?

Not a lot, should probably change my clothes more often, particularly since laundry is so easy to do here.

Do you change your avatar or have you created a look and stick with it?

I pretty much like the way I am…..reminds me of me 20 years ago………hell, I will take 20 years anyway I can get them.

Tell us a little something about the person behind the avatar, answer what you feel comfortable with.

For me, SL is really an extension of my RL. I am pretty much the same in both and my AV probably reflects that. I probaly bathe and change my clothes more often in RL…….oh, that, and I have to eat more often and it takes more wine to get me drunk.

My paintings are my RL paintings and that is good……it’s so much easier to install exhibits here.

Been thinking of dying my skin Blue and getting a tail in the hope that I will win an Oscar, but figured I would have to consume more wine than it’s possible to hit that mark. Well that, or maybe become a “furry”.

I have been considering carrying a trombone everywhere I go just to keep weird people away.

Want more Cluny? Read Cleo’s original interview and learn more about his work.

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Summer Of Love: An Affair of Fashion and Health

Did you know that 1 out of 4 women experience domestic violence over their lifetimes? Did you know that Generalized Anxiety Disorder develops in about 1 in 50 people at some stage in life? Did you know that Body Dysmorphic Disorder is a mental health problem and not related to vanity? Did you know that [...]

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Chat with Cleo: Cooking and Art with Fiona Leitner

- I make images like i cook
- I cook like i make images
- I am fishing for eyecandy
Fiona Leitner
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Fiona: [9:21]  Fiona Leitner?: welllll
I really love cooking and i hardly ever cook from a [...]

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Unexpected Collaborations
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SL Fashion Brand Review: Kunglers (Nature, sensuality, and boldness come together)

Dress: Amanda Nature by Kunglers; photo credit: Beck Azalee, Picture Perfect studio
I might wear a full gown occasionally, but what I live in are dresses—be it a cocktail dress, a business casual dress, or a dress to play at the beach. Dresses are easy to wear, feminine, and great fun to accessorize. Oddly enough, dresses [...]

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