Malorie Shmyr, Creative Director and Editor of OPALUS Magazine, is thrilled to be attending the 7th annual La Jolla International Fashion Film Festival in California, where the top 1% of the fashion films produced in the world will be screened and celebrated! Stay tuned on the OPALUS blog and social media (July 29-30th) to get the inside scoop and see who got OPALUS's attention!
New Issue Release!
Cover by:
Photographer- Guoman Liao
Fashion Editor & Stylist- Verity Moon
Makeup Artist- Sarah Pyka
Hair Stylist- Kathy Jan
Model- Kaitlin White of Leo Model Management
We welcome summer with a new issue, themed HYDROPHILIC!
We are proud to have artists from all around the world be a part of this issue, including Poland, Italy, Canada, U.S.A, England and Ireland!
Become immersed in this water themed issue!
Want an issue to take home? You can totally do that!
Fashion Illustrator
London based fashion illustrator, Scott W Mason, is officially our new favourite fashion illustrator. All the way from London, his use of negative space is truly unique. Check out a selection of his work on our website in the "fine art" section!
Lost But Found
Australian photographer, Ellifthearist (Anastasia Fua), brings us a new fashion photography series "Lost But Found" with the handsome Joseph Maher - modelling the designs of Noal Gurung and Danielle Lo.
Who said quirky can't be sexy too?
Pietà - A Fashion Film
A new fashion film from Brazil, Pietá, is now released!
This black and white fashion film evokes a sense of power and strength.
Photography and Film Pupin&Deleu (@pupindeleu) | www.pupindeleu.com
Film Edition and Soundtrack - Vivian Pupin
Art Direction and Styling - Jhoey Chinalder
Assistent - André Veloso
Beauty - Bruna Pezzino
Fashion Production - Vivian Kondo
Models Kleiton - Venturi (JOY Model) & Janete Friedrich (OCA Models)
I'll Be Your Light
Liz Dungate, Vancouver based photographer, intrigues us yet again with her amazing new series, "I'll Be Your Light". Enjoy this brand new series with models Sabrina and Rachel of Leo Model Management now.
SEDE - A Fashion Film
Diogo Pires and his talented team empower us with their exclusive fashion film to OPALUS, entitled SEDE.
SEDE (thirst), approaches a woman who thirsts for living in a world where gender equality is law. Draped in designs by EL CROTE INGLÊS, Lisbon, model - Laura Almeida, moves with the fluidity and strength of water, a symbol used to represent her thirst of equality and justice.
Become empowered by the elegance of SEDE.
Directed by Diogo Pires & M. Carmo Bexiga
Camera operators: M. Carmo Bexiga | Ana Monteiro | João Fernandes
Model: Laura Almeida
Styling and production: Diogo Pires
Hair & make up : Eduardo Estevam
Post-production by Miguel Brito & Marta Vales
Clothes: EL corte inglês , Lisbon
Sound: Shlohmo - Ten days of falling (Jacques Greene Remix)
OPALUS
Please tell us more about what sparked the idea to create this fashion film?
DIOGO PIRES
This film was born after several sessions of brainstorming between me and my friend Carmo. We talked about wanting to produce something abstract around the concept of gender inequality and this long-lasting fight for women to achieve said equality. The project is called ‘SEDE’ (thirst) as to represent the need that women have for justice and equal rights especially at a time when societies are still so male-controlled. The fashion world is abnormal in that way because it’s the only sector where women make more money and are more prominent than men. I feel like dance is an elegant way to portray this topic and hopefully this film will empower other women.
OPALUS
What was your most memorable moment about shooting this film?
DIOGO PIRES
The most memorable moment was probably when we started playing the soundtrack of the movie “Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain ” and our model Laura just completely embraced it and expressed herself with a sublime fluidity..
OPALUS
Please tell us about the symbolism of water in your fashion film.
DIOGO PIRES
The glass and the water on the back of the model is a metaphor. It represents the thirst for gender equality – the water is right in front of her but she can’t drink it.
OPALUS
We love the styling. Please tell us why you chose these garments.
DIOGO PIRES
The styling and the garments here are meant to showcase three different types of women – the first one is dressed with a knit blouse and a pleated skirt, a comfortable and easy going girl; the second outfit is a blue dress with a straight cut which reflects a feminine, dreamy and fragile woman; the least outfit is meant to represent a strong and secure woman who claims her place in society.
OPALUS
Is there anything else you would like us to know?
DIOGO PIRES
The shooting of this film was heavily based on teamwork, where everyone contributed with their knowledge and inspiration and I am really glad I had their cooperation.
Artist Interview - Stylist Anastasia Rasschupkina
Credits to all Imagery:
Photography / Turkina Faso
Style / Anastasia Rasschupkina
Make up / Ksenia Shostko
Hair / Adelina Umarova
Models / Ilina @ President Management Moscow & Mary Bel
Written by
PAULA BLANCO LONGA
Turkina Faso’s Naiads embodies the spirit of this OPALUS Extraterrestrial Issue. “Something as beautiful and intriguing as the mysteries of outer space”.
Anastasia Rasschupkina sensibility for textures translates these water nymphs mythical attributes into gorgeous new attires: soft knitted sweaters for their long floating manes,light reflecting fabrics for their scales. In Faso’s and Rasschupkina’s extraterrestrial imagination these water creatures are no longer bound by nets. They wear them. As scarves, sleeves and skirts; as armour.
Romantic and soft at times, poised and gold others. Fakoshima’s retro sunglasses seems to bring us out of the water and with this Vera Kulshitskaya‘s dress, we are suddenly presented with a otherworldly Audrey Hepburn held in space by lights. Queen of this alien realm, in between water and outer space.
We had the pleasure of chatting with the incredibly talented Anastasia Rasschupkina about her styling for this shoot and process as an artist:
OPALUS
Your styling is so inspiring to us. We are so proud to have your work on the cover of the "Extraterrestrial issue"! Please tell us THE inspiration behind this series, “Naiads”.
ANASTASIA
Thank you for the warm words, my pleasure working with you! Water spaces and ocean creatures always were mesmerizing to me. A lot of inspiration comes from accent mythology and fairy tales about mermaids and Naiads (The Greek word is Ναϊάς).
I always been fascinated by idea of half human half aquatic creatures. Also drawing inspiration from photographers such as Alix Malka, Elena Kalis and Phoebe Rudomino.
OPALUS
What challenges do you face, if any, when styling an underwater shoot?
ANASTASIA
The main challenge we faced was finding a space and a model who swam well, as it is very hard physically. Also it was a bit challenging to convince designers that water wouldn't ruin their pieces (which it didn't).
OPALUS
Are we correct to say you work from London and in Russia?
ANASTASIA
Correct. I was doing my BA in Fashion styling in London, but this particular shoot was produced in Moscow while I was there on holidays. But the time has passed and I moved from Greater London to the West Coast to continue my studies.
OPALUS
Do you have a favourite image from the series?
ANASTASIA
I like all the images from that series, but maybe the most mysterious image for me would be one with the floating hand-woven net.
OPALUS
Did you take any training for the arts? How long have you been stying for?
ANASTASIA
I’m trained as a painter and sculptor, but received degree in BA hons Fashion Styling. (This shoot was produced during my last semester in school)
OPALUS
What are your favorite color(s) right now? Do your favorite color(s) change or are they quite consistent?
ANASTASIA
My all time favorites are white and black. Right now i have blue and orange colours on top of my own rating. The colour preferences definitely vary during different stages of my creative journey.
OPALUS
If you could manifest the ideal place for you to create in, what would it look like?
ANASTASIA
Oh my...I can write the whole page here, but briefly: It should be bright, spacious, top floor studio with very high ceilings an lots of natural light. Somewhere close to where I live at the moment.
OPALUS
Do you listen to music while you create?
ANASTASIA
Yes. I always play music on sets. Usually I start with chill, relaxing and often classical music. Then I switch to something like nu-groove jazz, and finally turn to more rhythmic and fast music such as techno, electronic or deep house.
OPALUS
What is your beverage of choice while creating?
ANASTASIA
Caffeine in all possible forms. Usually coffee or green tea.
OPALUS
If we could get a glimpse into the land of your imagination, what would it look like?
ANASTASIA
Magical, dark-blue forest, with lots of water, mist and dim light. Where magical and bioluminescent creatures live.
OPALUS
What is your favourite type of shoot to style?
ANASTASIA
Non commercial editorial story, where i have freedom for creativity. Hate being limited.
OPALUS
What can we expect from you next?
ANASTASIA
Even I am not sure what will happen next...But right now I am receiving my MFA at SFAI and exploring myself.
Enjoy all the images from Niads by enjoying the issue below:
Angel Fox
Creativity. That lonely sensation where one catches a cosmic spark and fans his or hers internal flames into something that (hopefully) burns brightly in time. Artistic endeavours, although involving many to come to full fruition, are usually a solitary passion, focus and drive. When the final product is not about self but about others, everyone, unity; that's where the true magic happens.
That being said it is a real pleasure to bring to you in this edition of OPALUS: the stylistic precisions of ANGELA FOX. As you'll read in the following interview, using unusual figures and environments she shows us the power of togetherness and how beautiful it can work.
And I'm hungry for pizza... enjoy!
OPALUS
We love the alien like figures in your work,
Tell us your inspiration behind creating these interesting characters?
ANGELA FOX
They came about through woodcuts that I was doing, so the cartoon/graphic nature of the imagery and repetition of figures emerged from the woodcut process. Most of them began as stand-ins for myself, but as I spent more time creating their world, they became less about me and more like an army representing qualities that I admire and are attainable through a group dynamic.
OPALUS
Stacking or piling your figures on top of each other is a re-occurring theme. What is the symbolism, if any, of this?
ANGELA FOX
Physical proximity of the characters has a lot to do with creating feelings of community/collectivity. I like to group the figures as a unit, so that they read less as individuals and more as a single entity. That’s also why I obscure individual identities with layers of clothing. The pyramid formations are a literal and symbolic creation of a support system.
OPALUS
Where is you go to school?
ANGELA FOX
I got my MFA at the San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI).
OPALUS
Are the figures in message #1, and message #2 whispering or shouting? What are they saying?
ANGELA FOX
They’re whispering, they’re telling each other secrets.
OPALUS
What about Gouache paint inspires you?
ANGELA FOX
I like the opacity of gouache. It works well for a more flat and graphic style. When photographed, the paintings almost look digitally made, but up-close you see brushstrokes. I think that’s a nice surprise when seeing the work in person.
OPALUS
We chose our favourite painting of yours to be on the back cover of this issue. What was your inspiration behind “The return of pizza ghost?”
ANGELA FOX
My husband bought an old Ouija board from a bookstore and took it home. It inspired me to create a narrative where my characters are trying to conjure up a spirit.
We eat a lot of pizza because I don’t always make time to cook, so I thought it’d be funny if the spirit showed up and took all the pizza instead of interacting with the other figures. When dealing with the supernatural, people look for proof of the spirit’s presence, so I had pizza ghost show up and make the food levitate. He just came for the party…
OPALUS
What are your favorite colors right now?
Do your favorite colors change or are they quite consistent?
ANGELA FOX
I have a relatively open palette, I don’t think I have favorite colors to use, it’s more about the relationship between the colors. I want to balance out warm/cool, dark/light to increase contrast and visibility of the patterns/shapes. The work tends to be colorful as a result, which is funny because I pretty much just wear black.
OPALUS
Do you listen to music while you create? If so, what?
ANGELA FOX
Last music I listened to while I painted was Them and Lucinda Williams. If it’s TV, it has to be detective, prison, murder shows. I’ll watch Law and Order SVU marathons and paint forever!
OPALUS
What is your beverage of choice while creating?
ANGELA FOX
offee during the day, beer or wine at night. But I do have to have something that I’m eating/drinking while I paint.
OPALUS
How can someone buy your work? Do you sell prints?
ANGELA FOX
I sell originals right now, people can send an email to inquire about available works. I’ve been looking into doing a run of prints, but that’s something I’m taking my time with right now, since it’s a bit of a financial investment.
OPALUS
What can we expect from you next?
ANGELA FOX
I should be coming out with a patch and some enamel pins through Last Call Co. sometime this spring. There’s not a lot on my plate right now, I’m trying to spend 2016 focusing on making more work and taking my time with each piece
2 year anniversary issue is released!
Sometimes our world can feel too serious.
In this issue themed World of Whimsy, we focus upon the fanciful and playful side of life to help refresh our busy minds.
Whimsy can be found in the conspicuous places but also remember that humor and delights can be found anywhere if only we open our minds. Take notice to the whimsy that surrounds us every day, waiting to be discovered.
Be Playful,
Malorie Shmyr
Creative director, Editor
Read the issue now!!
Photographer - Malorie Shmyr
Makeup Artist - Rebecca Nantel
Hair Stylist - Kelli Bland
Stylists - Sandra and Malorie Shmyr
Model - Sarah Huffman of Numa Models
Purse by Simons, Blouse by Twik, Vest by Contemporaine Exlusiveté Simons