If you missed the premier of "The Colorful Mind of a Surrealist" at Western Canada Fashion Week on April 1st, then now is your chance to see what you missed!
A psychedelic fashion film that features the incredible makeup of Paul Leszczynski, who also happens to be the handsome model! This original musical score, by Joe Laisi, couldn't be a more perfect soundtrack while being transported into the colorful mind of the Editor and Creative Director of this fashion film, Malorie Shmyr!
Enjoy!
OPALUS Magazine is pleased to release our anniversary issue Fashion Film, entitled Dream Travels in the Pastel Sky is now officially released to the public!
Enjoy it here
Creative Director, Malorie Shmyr, illustrated her top 4 favourite looks that strutted down the runway during the 10th year anniversary of Western Canada Fashion Week!
LUXX Ready to Wear blew us away with the Aboriginal POP collection! It was filled with wit, creativity and represented a woman who is strong, confident and elegant! We love the color palette and the unexpected combination of materials and patterns used.
Below is our favourite look by LUXX Ready to Wear interpreted through illustration!
Susanna Pearcy presented a collection that was genuine, cute and we are certain anyone would feel comfortable and unique in any of these pieces.
Below is our favourite look by Sussanna Pearcy interpreted through illustration!
We loved the collection presented by Nimmaré because it felt soft, cohesive and oh so romantic! Each piece floated down the runway with elegance and grace.
Below is our favourite look by Nimmaré interpreted through illustration!
Marie Saint Pierre presented an collection that was structured, edgy and embodied a powerful woman who is not afraid to show it! The unique silhouettes were unexpected and so inspiring! We'd like one of every look please!
Below is our favourite look by Marie Saint Pierre interpreted through illustration!
So thankful to have been interviewed on Alberta Daybreak on CBC Radio!
Find out more about OPALUS, and it's anniversary issue by listening to the interview below!
Enjoy our anniversary issue themed "Dream Travels in the Pastel Sky" with artists from Italy, Portugal, Australia, Canada and the U.S.A.
Continue to dream after you wake...
reative Director and Photographer - Malorie Shmyr
Makeup Artist - Rebecca Nantel
Sequin Top and Dress - LUXX Ready to Wear
Model - Lyra Brown
Tomorrow we turn the pages and reveal the next issue of OPALUS. But before we do, I wanted to extent a last farewell to The Colorful Mind of a Surrealist issue, as it was such a special issue for me, both creatively and personally.
Surrealism has always been my favourite "style" of art, and I felt like my mind travelled the furthest it ever has gone into the world of surrealism and it felt so good! I feel as though new pathways in my creative process and perspective have been revealed ever since, which I am so excited to explore and share with you all in the preceding issues of OPALUS.
I approached model and makeup artist, Paul Leszczynski, with the concept of this shoot after being intrigued by his energy last season at WCFW. Something meant to be, as the collaborative process between the two of us was a truly magical one. Therefore, I felt it was important to to share some of the process behind creating the last cover image and the series that it within the issue.
To accompany this interview are never before seen images from the shoot that did not make it into the issue, and the official announcement that a very special FASHION FILM "The Colorful Mind of a Surrealist" is scheduled to premiere at Western Canada Fashion Week on both April 1 and 4th!
Enjoy!
Editor and Creative Director,
Malorie Shmyr
Out of the four looks created for this shoot, was there one in particular that stood out for you?
Originally during the planning process and coming up with looks, the water droplet, pink and blue, look was the stand out for me. It felt very experimental and sort of just manifested during the application in the practice stages. After seeing the final images though, the purple beard look really stands out. I was really hoping to achieve something with this look, I wanted to have a ton of makeup on my face, but still project a very masculine energy. After seeing the photos I think I achieved exactly what I was going for.
CREATIVE DIRECTOR / PHOTOGRAPHER - MALORIE SHMYR
MODEL, HAIR AND MAKEUP ARITST - PAUL LESZCZYNSKI
CREATIVE DIRECTOR / PHOTOGRAPHER - MALORIE SHMYR
MODEL, HAIR AND MAKEUP ARITST - PAUL LESZCZYNSKI
I finds the creative process fascinating, did something happen during the shoot that was unexpected, or exceptionally inspiring for you?
The last look we shot, which ended up on the cover, really surprised me. Makeup wise I felt like the look didn’t quite fit in with the other 3 as much and I wasn’t sure how it would translate in the photos. During the actual shoot though, It was like we couldn’t stop thinking of new things to try and just kept vibing off of each other. In retrospect, standing on a ladder, precariously holding a mirror while blowing sugar crystals around and looking deeply into the camera seems rather strange. At the time, however, it felt totally natural, with all the creative juices flowing I didn’t want to stop! The photos from this look, for me, ultimately became the foundation for the series and brought everything together cohesively, not at all what I anticipated.
CREATIVE DIRECTOR / PHOTOGRAPHER - MALORIE SHMYR
MODEL, HAIR AND MAKEUP ARITST - PAUL LESZCZYNSKI
CREATIVE DIRECTOR / PHOTOGRAPHER - MALORIE SHMYR
MODEL, HAIR AND MAKEUP ARITST - PAUL LESZCZYNSKI
Tell us what it is like to be both the makeup artist and the model, was this challenging?
It definitely had its challenges. I’m more proficient with makeup application on others than on myself so, completing each look in a reasonable amount of time was tough.
I really did enjoy being the model as well as the makeup artist. I think being in both roles was a big part of the success of the collaboration. One of the challenges for me personally, as a makeup artist, is to give up control when I’m done with the makeup. It was very fulfilling to be able to see it through to the end and have a major impact on the final result of how my makeup work was shown. Plus, I’m not exactly shy so I didn’t mind being the center of attention either.
The creative energy flying through the room on this two day shoot was truly something special for me. I loved seeing you in your creative zone applying the makeup on yourself. Tell us where is your mind at when you are creating.
During the application I’m thinking about the shoot and how the final result is going to look. It’s a lot of me imagining facial expressions and probably making weird faces at the same time. For this shoot, it was a lot like getting into character and it brought me back to my theatre days in high school.
CREATIVE DIRECTOR / PHOTOGRAPHER - MALORIE SHMYR
MODEL, HAIR AND MAKEUP ARITST - PAUL LESZCZYNSKI
What does your imagination land look like?
It’s just like real life but I can fly and everything is in music-video-vision. If I imagine myself it also usually involves an ongoing slow motion entrance and lip syncing. Especially with makeup, no matter what it’s for, I always think about how it would look in a music video, or rather I take my music video vision from my head and try to bring it into the real world.
CREATIVE DIRECTOR / PHOTOGRAPHER - MALORIE SHMYR
MODEL, HAIR AND MAKEUP ARITST - PAUL LESZCZYNSKI
When creating do you have a favorite beverage you like to have?
Really, when I’m working on anything, I’m usually drinking water. I love water. But if it’s morning time (or I’ve just woken up at some aggressively late hour) I love me a London fog or even just earl grey tea.
CREATIVE DIRECTOR / PHOTOGRAPHER - MALORIE SHMYR
MODEL, HAIR AND MAKEUP ARITST - PAUL LESZCZYNSKI
What colors are inspiring you most lately?
Black is a constant inspiration in everything. Deep, royal purple and lavender are my go to, actual colour, colours but for the most part I’m all about the neutrals and grays. Makeup wise, I have been loving experimenting with bright coloured eyebrows, really unnatural colours and finishes like deep teal or liquid metallic gold.
What can we expect to see creatively from you in the future?
WIGS. I’ve recently dived into the world of wig making, not for sale, but more for fun/art. So far I’ve been pretty successful, I even made the black wig with the bangs that I’m wearing in OPALUS. I have tons of ideas for wigs I want to make and corresponding makeup looks. I’m sure there’ll be photos and maybe even a show at Western Canada Fashion Week next year if I’m lucky.
CREATIVE DIRECTOR / PHOTOGRAPHER - MALORIE SHMYR
MODEL, HAIR AND MAKEUP ARITST - PAUL LESZCZYNSKI
CHECK OUT THE FULL SERIES IN THE LAST ISSUE BELOW, AND DON'T MISS THE FASHION FILM PREMIERE OF THE COLORFUL MIND OF A SURREALIST APRIL 1 AND 4TH AT WESTERN CANADA FASHION WEEK! GET YOUR TICKETS BEFORE THEY SELL OUT!
Creative Director and Photographer - Malorie Shmyr
Makeup Artist - Rebecca Nantel
Sequin Top - LUXX Ready to Wear
Model - Lyra Brown
In anticipation for the release of our one year anniversary issue, themed DREAM TRAVELS IN THE PASTEL SKY, releasing on APRIL 1ST, 2015, we at OPALUS are pleased to reveal the cover to the world!
Dreams and the ever changing sky were our muses for this issue, and we can hardly wait to share these imagination filled pages with you from contributors all around the world, including, Italy, Portugal, The United States, Canada, and Australia.
CONTINUE TO DREAM WHILE YOU WAKE, and watch for the anniversary issue on April 1ST!
Our anniversary issue will be released April 1! Prepare to be transported away into dream land...
We are honoured to have the fine art series "This one goes out to the one I love..." by Krista published in our latest issue of OPALUS. This truly engaging series addresses her experience of "...working through frustrations and the emotions inherent in wanting to help, support and 'save' a loved one who really may not want, need, or even, at this point, be capable of being 'saved'."
We found this series so fascinating and each piece so individually strong that we felt we needed to create a special 3 part interview series with Krista to give us more insight on three of our favourite pieces from the series, and discover more about her brilliant perspective and imagination.
I'm so glad you enjoy my rat! He's been getting pretty mixed reactions. The rat means a couple of things, actually. The white lab rat is kind of an icon in terms of animal models for the purpose of drug testing and psychological experiments.
It was also one of the earlier pieces in the series and at that point I was trying to discipline myself to take a more clinical approach to the situation, instead of being so emotionally involved. It represented my desire to dissect the situation ( and the person) to make sense of the origins of the behavior. It also represented how I tried different approaches and took note of the reaction, trying to troubleshoot what was best as events unfolded.
I then made duplicates of the piece, turning it into a functional purse to be sold at the show, Edmonton stores and my etsy shop. I thought he was pretty cute and I'm so glad that you agree!
Do you listen to music when you work, if so what inspires you most when creating?
I religiously listen to music while I work! But it's always something pertaining to the piece I'm working on. If I had an event or pertinent conversation occur while there was a song on the radio or a movie, I immediately took note of it.
So I listened to music less out of enjoyment of the band or song but more based on how much it related to the piece.
I then play one song on repeat until that piece is done; consequently driving everyone in the house mad.
There are several art pieces in the show containing song lyrics. The exhibit title itself is the lyrics to an REM song.
I made mixed tapes of the songs and left them next to a ghetto blaster at the exhibit. People, if they were so inclined, could match the songs to the paintings and pop them into the player.
What do you hope we leave feeling, or pondering after we view this series?
Well, for anyone who couldn't relate to the exhibit topic, I hope that they found the show intriguing and appreciated the emotional and physical effort that went into creating the pieces.
For the ones who did relate to the topic, and there were actually quite a few, I was hoping they would feel less alone and could maybe see their own feelings and frustrations expressed in some of the pieces.
And for anyone that was actually dealing with addiction problems I had hoped that they could see that although they may feel that it is just "their problem" and no one else's business.. that their behavior does in fact deeply impact the people that care for them.
Title - Ain't Life Sweet
Size - 12" X 24"
Medium - Acrylic, Wood cutouts on wood panel
In "Ain't life sweet" we love both the symbolism and imagery you have created here. If you are open to telling us, we are so curious what the ticks of 7 on the table mean? We have thought, perhaps it is how many times she's felt she has "died inside", are we right!?
I often include multiples of things, such as lines or birds, to mark a passage of time. So in a way I guess you are actually right...7 years of observing disappointing behaviour is very much like dying a little over and over.
What can we look forward to in the future from you?
I will be participating in a group show entitled "Talking Creatures", under the alias " Gerri Harden" at the AGSA where I'll have a series of new sculpture pieces. The opening reception is March 5 from 6 – 8:30 pm and the show runs until May 2.
I am also currently applying at galleries in hopes to hold my next show entitled " Cat's in the Cradle", which will be a similar mixed media installation styled show as "This one goes out to the one I love..."
This concludes our three part artist interview with Krista Acheson an artist to be watching, as we know something brilliant will always flow her mind.
If you are interested in owning a piece from this thoughtful and enlightening collection, there are a select few still available for purchase. She even has created "Rat purses" that are beautifully handcrafted and completely functional - a true conversation starter.
(You can see our very own black Rat purse up on display (see left photo) in the OPALUS studio!)
OPALUS Magazine is so excited to be debuting their anniversary issue Fashion Film during the 10 year anniversary of Western Canada Fashion Week both April 1, and 4th!
Get your tickets!
