003 INSPADES

NICOLAY LEVCHENKO Winner of the Worldwide Cover Contest

Master in the Making

Amber Joy

The Artistic Resurrection of

Marguerite Khoury Behind the Glass with

Sergio D. Spadavecchia

NUMERO TRE $6.99 F E BR UA R Y

2 0 1 7

Nicolay Levchenko

W INNER

OF THE WORLD WIDE

COVER CONTEST SPECIAL THANKS TO

DARREN SINGER

for contributing a one of a kind graphic tee to get one of your own visit

www.darrensinger.net

@Derwood26

@Oxide_od

Our new and upcoming video community showcases the best artists and creative talents the world has to offer!

Tune into the INSPADES YouTube Channel for exclusive interviews, behind-the-scene looks and stories about fascinating people and their spectacular creative genius!

SUB S CR IB E www.youtube.com/c/Inspadesmagazine

NUMERO TRE 010

Albany McCabe “Saw your smile...”

012

Jaclyn Truss Letter From The Editor

028

Aziz Ozgur Dogan From restaurant owner to digital artist

054

Ben Hughes An obsessed 3D digital artist shares his story

066

Daria Amaranth Russian portrait photographer brings finesse to the beautiful and the grotesque

078

Marguerite Khoury The unstoppable artist

084

142

092

146

Stuart Holroyd Homage to old apocalyptic films

Heidi Wong Teenage knife painter exhibits sharp skill

100

Christoph Villgrattner Adjusting your focus to what matters

108

Amber Joy An actress’ humanist approach to performance

120

Gabriele Crippa A techno music lover’s dreamscape

134

Ngo Meng A contemplative walker captures the beauty of Paris

Araafi Muharram A look at a burgeoning digital manipulator

Anna Żebrowska Catching that ‘something’

152

Blake Bonillas Self-taught fashion photographer on the rise

158

Rachael Montemayor Sun tea sweaters & other colourful yarns

168 Winner of the Toronto Fashion Academy Fashion Stylist Contest Yasmim Ferreira A melting pot of style

018

Winner of Worldwide Cover Contest Nicolay Levchenko

038

Sergio D. Spadavecchia See Rome through the lens of our creative director

@inspadesmag

InSpadesMag

SERGIO DAVID SPADAVECCHIA Publisher/Creative Director info@creativespades.com creativespades.com - @creativespades JACLYN TRUSS - Editor in Chief info@inspadesmag.com ANISSA STAMBOULI - Head Writer astamdesigns.org - @astamdesigns REBECCA BOWSLAUGH - Writer REBECCA WEAVER - Fashion Editor - @_legsweaver_ ALBANY MCCABE - Opening Poet DARIO SPADAVECCHIA - Media Research CHRISTINA DEVEAU - PR & Social Media - @christinadeveau

@pr0ject_uno

Pr0ject_uno

CAROL GONG CHIEF CONTENT AGGREGATOR KRISTINA REESES COMMUNITY MANAGER @pr0ject_uno @thedarkpr0ject @themysterypr0ject @thegraphicspr0ject @pr0ject_soul @pr0ject_bnw @sombresociety

@sombrescapes @sombrebeings @sombrexplore @s0mbrebw @human.edge @m3xtures @ thefashionpr0ject

COVER: Nicolay Levchenko INSTAGRAM: @nikolaylev4enko @lev4__ links to my pages https://www.flickr.com/photos/nlev4 https://500px.com/lev4 https://fstoppers.com/profile/lev4 InSpades Magazine is designed & distributed by

© All images, text, logo and content of InSpades Magazine or Creative Spades properties is under the Copyright Laws of Canada.

Any reproduction strictly prohibited. All rights reserved.

I am a hoarder of stories Keeper of the memory My mind is a prison and nothing goes free.

I know we have forever our own peace of infinity but I’ll fight to remember, it’s life or death don’t you see?

I’ve got the taste of time on my tongue weighing heavy hanging hung To all these moments of my soul I keep tight hold For you need all your pieces to be whole (or so I’ve been told)

@ albany.new.york - @ the.aimless.muse

“The Pietà” Michelangelo Buonarroti St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City Photo by Sergio D. Spadavecchia @creativespades

11

inspadesmag.com

Letter From the Editor BY JACLYN TRUSS

Escape Hatch I don’t write to escape.

I love writing. It’s always there for me. Like that good friend that you might not see or speak to in forever, but that you pick up right where you left off the moment you meet again, bond unloosened, love unchanged.

There is the warm, tight hug hello, the head in the shoulder kind, before slipping into the old routine, conversation natural, normal, easy.

You know, that good old friend. The always there for you friend.

But that is just the slightest sip of a very full bottle.

It’s not long before old friends reunite into old lovers and I lose myself in the fray of it completely. A merged mind that is and isn’t mine takes over, spinning visions into words faster than I can thread them together. I’ll often read things back completely anew, devoid of any awareness of having created them at all, as though the victim of a scripted fever dream, so hot it burned the memory, but that the word soaked pages bear unassailable witness to its happening.

When I write, I cannot be spoken to. I do not watch things or listen to music. If interrupted, I will snarl and snap at you viciously, like a wild dog whose kill you just reached for while he was devouring it. I cannot really hear you

anyway, and truly, I don’t care what you have to say...it can wait. It is simply not as important as bringing these words into being in the order of my choosing. You need not like my words nor have cause to be impressed by them, but do understand that regardless of perception or opinion, there is great power in the forging of them.

Do not come between me and my craft, we surge with energy from unknown places; we are not a process to be trifled with. And that’s what we are, my craft and I, a process. Not a culmination. There is no end game. The end result is merely a byproduct of the making.

I am in it for the action, climatic and febrile, plagued by cramped hands, burning eyes, exhausted brain and the pyretic, piling need.

But I only have to get it right, so that I can relinquish it entirely. It can only be let go if it is satisfying, if not, I can’t give it up, it is then not finished - for it must be satiating to be final.

I am a creator, I must create, I must move on, I must keep going. Making is the breath in. Finishing is the breath out. I always need to breathe and breathe and breathe. There has come a point in my life where I realize the depth of that truth and have allowed it to engulf me whole.

When I was a teenager, this was not as admittedly so, as the early form of my craft

photo by

Stuart Holroyd

Read the exclusive FEATURE

were but transcripts of escapism. I was Houdini with magic ink and there was no shackle too tight that my pen could not pick it. Sleight of hand stories and poems to bewilder the audience, classic palm catharsis, invisible deck ideologies, a blind shuffle of the grand injustices of the world, the smoke and mirrors of shock value and the bicycle deck of pain...oh the gimmicky, ghost count of sheer suffering.

Pencil by pencil, page by page, by sheer sucker effect, I purged them all.

Then, the opposite. The wild dog inside struck down by the encroaching oncoming traffic of “real life”. I laid there, lifeless, by the side of the road, and with no one to remember me, I no longer wrote at all. A decade of grocery lists and postcards but none fancier, the bottle shattered, the liquid drained. I let go my craft and therefore, myself. And for the longest time, I didn’t even realize I was gone.

But much I have seen and been since then and much I have learned, and fortunately, my craft did not lose me, however far I got.

Because he is a good friend, an old friend, and he has all the time in the world for me...and oh so many shelves of very full bottles.

Now, I write, because I understand that that is my thing. You have your thing and I have mine. I share it with many others, but I don’t do it like them and they don’t do it like me.

We are the same and unique. That is part of the grand gloriousness of art and creation everything the same and nothing the same.

When I write, I am connected and that is the only thing I need to know, the only thing that

14

inspadesmag.com

matters. I am not anguished by the years lost.

It is like eating cake today while choosing to suffer longing for the cake you didn’t eat yesterday. What difference does yesterday make if today is particularly delicious?

Now, I write, but at first, it confused me, I didn’t know how, because I could no longer write for the release of pain, for the great escape. Because I no longer wanted to escape. And the reason was because I finally understood that there is nothing to escape from. Only things to return to. I had to learn not to run away, but instead, to run to.

Now, I write because it is beautiful to write.

I write because it is my joy. I love that pen to paper, that thought to thing. I like the way the words drip heavy, like molasses, from my lips as I read them back to myself. I love it for its own sake and all that it brings. I love it because it’s one of my most favourite ways to create. Not of the words themselves, but their order, their flow, their interconnected meaning, both overt and hidden. The feeling of which is both uniquely unduplicatable and especially exquisite. I write because I am a writer. It is part of who I am, it is how I like to be.

I read all of your submissions. You send them to be read and so they are. They contain information about you - your stories, your histories, your lives, the things that haunt you, the things that inspire you, your losses, your successes, your fears, your dreams.

photo by

aziz ozgur dogan Read the exclusive FEATURE

And I noticed so many of you claim the same one thing: “My art is my escape.”

And, as you have read, I clearly understand that, but now understand it to be more akin to dancing around the truth than with it.

You do not create to escape. You only think you do. Because that’s what it feels like to get the slightest sip of a very full bottle...and then put it back on the shelf.

You love the creation of your selfexpressions, because you are a born creator, and creating is what you do best - it is all you were meant to do. Everything you do is creation, and you could enjoy all things as much as your art, but art is very palpable isn’t it? Bends so smoothly in your hands that you don’t even notice that it actually bends to your will? It’s easy to roll it over your tongue and coax out the flavour you chose for it. Art is special and favoured because of its sheer tangibility, its immediate cause and effect, the instant gratification of it.

However, creating, in all its forms, is your only true joy, and you have been cut so deep

by your need for it that you will bleed with that need forever.

That is why you find your redemption, your hope, your release, your inspiration, your strength and your peace in it.

That is why you run to it. Why you feel free in it. Why you feel trapped without it. Why you want to “escape” anything that does not seem to resemble the feel of it.

Your art, the type of creation you can pick from the garden of life with your fingers and inhale the sweetest of smells, allows you to get a glimpse of who you really are, and that is different from the other moments of your life. In the other moments, you pretend that you are something else, a non-creator, and that is feeling you wish to escape, not the life that allows you the sweetness of that creation in the first place.

The truth you can dance with is that you cannot escape yourself at all.

Your art is not an escape hatch.

It is the doorway to yourself.

Bottoms up.

Queen of Spades

16

inspadesmag.com

Thank you and, as always, I hope you enjoy this issue! But if you will now please excuse me, there is a magazine full of amazing artists (such as yourself) that need their features written. My bottle is very full and this was only my first sip.

photo by

Heidi Wong Read the exclusive FEATURE

BY JACLYN TRUSS

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nlev4 https://500px.com/lev4

https://fstoppers.com/profile/lev4

?

Who is Nicolay Levchenko

20

inspadesmag.com

Once there was a reporter who asked a Buddhist Zen Master:

“What do you think is the most disgusting thing in the world?”.

https://www.instagram.com/shurhanova_makeup Sasha - https://www.instagram.com/say_aleksa Anna - https://www.instagram.com/snova_nova http://www.modelmayhem.com/3736309 Julia - https://www.instagram.com/julia_filina http://www.modelmayhem.com/3914753

In response, the Zen Master asked: “Who are you?”.

“John Smith.”

“This is your name, but who are you?”

“I am a television reporter.”

“That your job, but who are you?”

“I am a human.”

“That is your biological species, but who are you?”

Then the reporter finally reached the essence of what he was being asked. He opened his mouth to speak but could not find the answer.

“Here it is, the most disgusting thing in the world - not to know who you are,” said the Zen Master.

“It’s quite difficult to answer ‘who you are’ because who I am is not about my name, not about my profession, or my species. I mean if I say: ‘I’m human, I work as a photographer/retoucher/ videographer, my name is Nicolay Levchenko’, it says nothing about me at all - it’s just a vibration in the air,” Levchenko told INSPADES. We may not know for sure who Nicolay Levchenko is, but we do know that he has chosen to be a dreamer, an admirer of beauty and a perfectionist.

Nicolay Levchenko of Gomel, Belarus, studied to be a programmer and Russian to

21

inspadesmag.com

English translator but then chose to never work a single day in that arena. His true love was graphics, and when he found a vacancy as a retoucher in a local photography studio in 2000, he jumped at the opportunity.

Photoshop 5.0 became his arsenal, his main weapons were his mouse and clone stamp. His salary was quite poor, not just in comparison to other European countries, but also his own.

“I just loved my work and wanted to improve my skills - that’s all I wanted, even if it meant that sometimes I hadn’t any money for food,” revealed Levchenko.

It was 2004 before he even considered creating photos in addition to retouching them. Finding an old rangefinder film camera in the attic, Levchenko started to shoot, but at the time, only landscapes. Eventually, he discovered some photographers that provided him his main course in photography, shaping the progression of his art.

“There are three names that affected my mind, they are: Henri Cartier-Bresson - the poetry of his mind through black and white street photography amuses me then and now; Ansel Adams - who displays the most atmospheric natural beauty in landscapes on format cameras with unique techniques of post-processing; and Helmut Newton - his ironic humor, beautiful nude scenes and symbolic fashion photography,” mused Levchenko of the paragons of his craft.

22

inspadesmag.com

“Artist’s need pure, flawless energy to create something, for me, this energy is music.” To listen to the music that inspires Nicolay Levchenko, he has shared his SoundCloud playlist https://soundcloud.com/absgmv7oakpg

23

inspadesmag.com

A year later, Levchenko’s hobby of photography morphed into his work, though he never left his retouching job at the photo studio. Originally working with film, he struggled with the switch to the processes of digital photography, and it took him about 5 years before learning how to properly convert raw files.

“I had very poor skills in studio photography in those days” laughed Levchenko, “I’ve continued to experiment with film - different developers, different brands of films and use of grain. During the last ten years, photography was both my main hobby and work, I had no relationships, no vacations, only work, work, work.”

Levchenko’s stunning images in portraiture can be divided into a few main directions: Portrait, which he uses to “express the atmosphere and person’s character”; Beauty Portraits, in which he “creates fantasy images” of people - stylizing the beauty of humans through makeup, light and image manipulation; Nude Portraits, in which he highlights the “beauty of the body through light and shapes”; and Fitness Portraits, where he captures “muscles and proportion with special light setups and use of low-key”. Sometimes Levchenko is even the subject of his own portraiture, which he confesses takes months of preparation, dieting and beard growing.

“Funny thing, I recently opened my profile on 500px (https://500px.com/lev4) to see how many views I had, and to select images for this interview, and the highest number of views was on a picture of myself!” chuckled Levchenko.

24

inspadesmag.com

“Every artist needs to choose their role because you can use your work to inspire, accuse, insult or anything you choose. It is a form of communication with society and only the artist can decide what language they will use to speak to the world.�

25

inspadesmag.com

When it comes to “likes” and “followers”, however, Levchenko makes no real effort to promote himself. The main reason being?

“I don’t create for other people, I create for myself. Yes, I do work for money, but I do it for my pleasure too. If someone enjoys my work and hits “like” then that’s great, but if not, that’s okay too,” said Levchenko.

Over time, Levchenko’s practice has greatly changed, his filter of perception has widened and he now sees much more deeply into the details of an image - which begs him to pay close attention to every detail in his own work.

He finds that this need for perfectionism is not always helpful in life and can be irritating to those around him, as well as himself. Of it, he said, “Sometimes, I have an image in my mind, and I’ll try to duplicate it in real world with the skills and tools I have, and in the end, the result may not be as good as it was in my head.”

Regardless of what he may think of his own work, whatever was in Levchenko’s head in creating his images, we found him to be more than capable of producing them in exquisite form - he did win our Worldwide Cover Contest after all!

Levchenko parted with some words of wisdom: “Follow your dreams, it may not be easy, it may even be a path of much pain. But, if you give up, you’ll end up living the life of someone else, and you will never know who you truly are. The decision is yours!”

26

inspadesmag.com

“For me, everything can be beautiful. I can watch a snow-covered branch swaying in the wind in hours. I can see beauty in a part of a human model, not only their face. I can see beauty in the atmosphere of a room. The beauty in everything is in the eye of the beholder.�

27

inspadesmag.com

BY ANISSA STAMBOULI

AZIZ

28

inspadesmag.com

OZGUR

DOGAN

@aziz.ozgur

PAINTING

D I G I TA L

ART

WITH

A

CLICK

29

inspadesmag.com

30

inspadesmag.com

“Art is an idea that becomes an object, noise, smell or even a taste using any and all forms.”

Such is the wholesome belief of Aziz Ozgur Dogan, a digital artist from Queens, New York, who takes a holistic approach to creative selfexpression.

From his education in Computer Science, his stint as a web developer, his culinary profession and his pursuit of digital art, Dogan is a versatile creative with the urge to express in multiple ways.

“Cooking and food is the ultimate form of art; it stimulates all of the senses,” Dogan explained. For the most part, Dogan works in the restaurant he co-owns with his wife and sister, taking advantage of slower periods during the day to hone his digital editing skills.

Using his iPhone 6 and a long list of iOS apps like Mextures, LensLight, Trimaginator and iColorama, Dogan spends an average of one to two hours re-working an image.

31

inspadesmag.com

32

inspadesmag.com

“I usually use images found through Google Images and use them as an outline for my work, of course giving credit to the original owner on Instagram,” shared Dogan. Layering filters and effects over each photograph, there is barely any resemblance to the original Google image once Dogan is done. Using the effect of broad brushstrokes and bleeding colours, Dogan transforms each photograph to the digital version of an abstract painting.

“I always liked art and read about different artists such as Vincent van Gogh, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Salvador Dali and many others,” said Dogan, who maintained a connection to the arts despite lacking the “gift of drawing or painting.” Feeling a creative pull toward drawing and painting but lacking the manual skill, Dogan found a side avenue approach to his artistic aspirations.

33

inspadesmag.com

34

inspadesmag.com

“I always looked at paintings in books and at museums, and stood silently in awe of the beauty and the talent contained in every piece. Using technology to give life to your imagination is an amazing thing.”

The influence of his favourite painters are clearly seen in images like “Burst of Desperation” and “Absence of Emotion”, where the female form contorts into a splendid conglomerate of shapes and texture. When asked about the disrupted female forms in his work, Dogan explained them as visual representations of beauty radiating from within a woman, rather than emanating from her exterior.

“I love the essence of women, no matter how they look. I have an amazing mother, three beautiful sisters and an incredible wife.

My deep affection for women comes from a combination of all the women in my life.”

Dogan began his digital artistry on Instagram two years ago, after his wife encouraged him to re-engage with his creative expression. At first, Dogan’s interactions with the social aspect

35

inspadesmag.com

36

inspadesmag.com

of Instagram were minimal, “I just wanted to express myself and was not really into the notion of community.” However, as he warmed to the creative network that Instagram has to offer, Dogan found “amazing artists” to further motivate and “push” his drive to design.

Dabbling in surrealist portraiture and abstract imagery, graphic artists like Januz Miralles (@ januzmiralles), Ade Santora (@adesantora) and Guardians of Trance (@guardiansoftrance) made an impression on his style.

Each piece of Dogan’s work begins with a “mood or idea”. From there he scours the Internet for photographs that embody his sentiment. For example, when he began working on “Comfort”, Dogan sought to convey the collaborative experiences that contribute to a person’s personality and the concept of self-acceptance as a necessity for one to “feel comfortable within their own skin.” From there he found an image of a woman embracing herself and used Mextures to adjust the color palette for an enhanced emotional landscape. Next Dogan used Glitché to warp the image, followed by a series of editing alterations through Mextures.

As photography is another of Dogan’s many passions, he hopes to return to digital photography at some point. “I have a Nikon D7000 but have not used it in a long time,” Dogan admitted. After seeing what he can do with an iPhone 6 and a few apps, we’ve no doubt that Dogan will work wonders through his photography when the time comes.

37

inspadesmag.com

Nikon D810 To capture all the details while eliminating all the noise, keep your ISO at the lowest setting, get a tripod and take your sweet time. This shot was taken with ISO 100 with a 20 second exposure. As much as you will be tempted to open your lens, keep it at it’s sharpest, this means researching or getting to know your equipment. In the case of my Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 I closed it to f/14.

When opening the photo in Camera Raw just add a warmer tone to compensate for the different lights that are illuminating the Colosseum.

It was believed by the ancient Romans, that no matter what happened to the world, no matter how many empires would rise to power or collapse under the strain of war or disaster, Rome would live on forever...

And so it was.

Rome remains a vital city and a leading tourist destination, and why not? Host to some of the best sightseeing in the world, bursting with immortal ancient attractions, priceless art and artifacts and home to the largest basilica in the world.

The INSPADES team recently found themselves soaking in the gloriousness of this ancient empire, partaking in its sensational gelato and of course, shooting it all, in the hopes of capturing the timeless beauty of Rome, for all of eternity.

Nikon D800E Extreme low light situations are tough to capture when a tripod and external flash are not an option. In this case, the ceiling is too high and the whole image is too large to illuminate evenly. If bringing a full set of lights like the ones used on a Hollywood movie is also not an option, then you can opt to practice your steady hand, breathe deeply, hold your breath and take a shot. The image captured will be darker than seemingly desirable but that’s okay because the highlights will be saved and you will simply need to lighten the blacks and shadows in post production.

This shot was taken with ISO 400 with an exposure of 1/50 seconds at f/4. Had I opened the aperture of my lens to its maximum at f/2.8, I would lost sharpness, and I had sacrificed quite a bit already by moving the ISO from 100 to 400.

Nikon D800E Statues, The Vatican In portraits, your focal point is your subject only, to achieve this, open the aperture to its limit (in my case f/2.8) to get the shallowest depth of field. It creates targeted sharpness and blurs out the rest of image. This works miracles in capturing a soft bokeh effect in portraits and wedding photography without having to rely on post production techniques. If planning to buy a new lens specifically for portraits aim for f/1.4 or f/1.8 as they will enhance the shallow depth of field effect. Also, choose lenses that go over 50mm because this effect is better achieved with long lenses and close subjects.

This shot was taken with ISO 1000 with an exposure of 1/50 at f/2.8 with a 14-24mm.

This shot was taken with ISO 500 with an exposure of 1/30 at f/2.8 with a 14-24mm.

Nikon D800E Santa Maria Maddalena 1699 In this church, there was basically no light at all and the use of the tripod obviously was prohibited, so there was not much that I could’ve done except use this little trick. I put the ISO high enough to get a decent exposure—which I generally really hate to do—and set the camera on fast continuous shooting mode with a slow shutter speed. Why? Because if you hold your breath and hold the camera really really still the first shot will be blurry and the second will be less blurry, but if you keep it from 5 to 10 shots you’ll find a sharp one in the bunch. Shoot it all and let God sort it out, as it were. Anytime you have a situation that impedes tripod and fast shutter speed, put your faith in riffling along and trust me, you’ll get it if you try!

This shot was taken with ISO 3200 with an exposure of 1/20 at f/2.8 with a 14-24mm

44

inspadesmag.com

45

inspadesmag.com

This shot was taken with ISO 100 with an exposure of 5 seconds at f/14 with a 14-24mm

46

inspadesmag.com

Nikon D800E Altare della Patria On the other hand, when taking a photo of anything stationary and having a tripod at your disposal gives you the power to ignore the amount of light around you.

Leaving the shutter open for a longer period of time allows the sensor to capture even the slightest amount of light. The big mistake here would be increasing the ISO which would create noise in the image - not optimal if you are aiming for sharpness and high level of detail.

47

inspadesmag.com

Nikon D800E Fontana di Trevi This shot was taken with ISO 100 with an exposure of 13 seconds at f/22 with a 14-24mm

48

inspadesmag.com

49

inspadesmag.com

50

inspadesmag.com

Nikon D800E - Saint Peter’s Basilica, The Vatican - Take 2 The view from the top of Saint Peter’s in full daylight is a fantastic shooting opportunity. Your only concern is finding a base with which to steady the camera and mute any shakiness while pressing the shutter. When there is a lot of light to play with, my advice is to keep the ISO at its lowest (100 for D800E and 64 for D810) without going into low settings because that means losing a certain quality of the image. Instead, play with the aperture of your lens. Most lenses capture sharper images when they are not working at the limit of their scale. Get to know your lenses and always always experiment to understand the limits of your equipment.

This shot was taken with ISO 100 with an exposure of 1/125 at f/13 with a 14-24mm

51

inspadesmag.com

52

inspadesmag.com

Nikon D810 This shot was taken with ISO 100 with an exposure of 1/100 at f/4 with a 14-24mm

BY JACLYN TRUSS

STORIES IN 3D “Every piece must have a story, even if it's one that's never told.”

The miracle of 3D is simple, it’s about controlling everything. Every single aspect of the image can be manipulated to an infinitesimal degree. Simply imagine the power to control the environment completely - light, aperture, speed, depth of field, blurriness and even time. The object or model can be floating in the air, in any position while the world around it can be turned, flipped or altered at will, with

54

inspadesmag.com

lights at the disposal of your mouse, dimming or brightening without any external influence.

Imagine that you can create literally anything and render it at any size. You can create virtually any resolution your mind desires and you can view the shot from any angle that you wish - without having to learn how to fly. You basically have all the superpowers and your only limitation? Your imagination.

@rek0de

55

inspadesmag.com

An obsessed 3D digital artist by night, Ben Hughes is a proud member of Instagram’s art community and his talents have been featured by esteemed digital galleries such as @thegraphicspr0ject.

In addition to the sheer pleasure of his art as a creative outlet, Hughes also revels in the unending learning experience that comes from trying to keep up with the “bombardment of stunning art from the community.”

“Every day is a school day!” he muses.

INSPADES connected with this exceptionally imaginative and skilled 3D artist to discuss art, inspiration, the creative process behind these intriguing pieces of larger than life art, and the unique stories they tell.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I moved to central London almost 20 years ago and have worked and lived there until very recently – I’m now in Hertfordshire with my family enjoying a less frantic pace. London has a vast culture of art and music, and my experiences there have played an enormous role in the shape of my work. My expertise is in marketing technology and data, which I do by day, along with running a dronetech startup focused on video content and industrial applications. Being a digital artist as a career is a dream that I’m only recently starting to explore.

56

inspadesmag.com

DEPTH OF FIELD Story: This piece tries to demonstrate the hidden, and often crippling, complexities behind ‘simple decisions’. What appears to be a simple choice from the outside, so often comes with baggage and difficulty that can’t be communicated, only imagined.

Process: Fully CG environment lit with an HDRI from a newly painted kids’ playroom. The guy is a photo scanned 3D model of a real guy, and the ‘thought spheres’ are simple spheres subjected to a few destruction processes.

57

inspadesmag.com

What does your art mean to you?

My art’s meaning and my investment in it is probably unconventional. I’m more of an aspiring illusionist, focused on the technical aspects of photoreal 3D, whilst putting enormous emphasis on the ‘backstory’. I try and create images that look like they could be a still from a film, and so are suggestive of a narrative that’s intriguing and open to interpretation.

How did you get your start in digital artistry?

PERCEPTION

Oddly, from tracking graphics and objects into drone footage as part of my business’s product offering. I built an editing studio that was overkill for the task in terms of power and I’d always wanted to play with 3D and CG, so I started exploring different software and techniques. I like to learn things with goals in mind and the experiments turned into art.

Story: Every element in this image is ambiguous in the context of the scene, so it’s about perception and how it easy it is to be wrong about people and things.

What was it about the art that drew you to continue with it?

Process: Real sky and birds, a CG humanoid and mirror/window.

In the beginning, it was just about progression and my obsession with learning, but it feels more natural than the creative outlets I’ve pursued in the past, and the wonderful feedback I’ve received lets me know I’m on the right track with this one.

58

inspadesmag.com

59

inspadesmag.com

From what do you draw your inspiration?

I’m inspired, for the most part, by stories. I think of my work as capturing a spin-off story from an idea that I’ve consumed elsewhere, whether it be a character from a film or an interaction I had in the grocery store. I take a lot from the visual imagery around me, too, and think of it akin to the way I would remix a piece of music: there’s a nod in there to the original (that may only make sense to me), but it’s a standalone idea with a different life.

My work is the byproduct of the intention to unsettle the observer’s understanding of the physical world... to combine things that can be understood with things that make little sense and do it in a way that’s visually convincing.

Can you tell us a bit about your creative process?

My process invariably begins with an idea or an observation from popular (and unpopular) culture, or the simple oddities of everyday life.

I then develop this into the skeleton of a visual concept and start to build. I can naturally iterate from there as I take so much inspiration from watching the bare-bones of the idea start to evolve into something compelling. After the concept’s structure comes together and I’ve found the right perspective. This might still be very early in the overall process, but if I get a glimpse of the final look, it’s relatively plain sailing from there.

60

inspadesmag.com

QUANTUM FRAME Story: I have two close friends that I’ve known since childhood and continue to see on a weekly basis to chew the fat with. It’s a wonderful thing. Invariably, one of us has some stuff going on that’s overwhelming, and the other two are there to support. Just like in this alien abduction scene.

Process: Full CG environment with some leaf scans and a photograph of some carpet to use as a displacement map for the floor.

The alien ship is a scaled-up CG camera lens. There’s also some CG fog in there that saw this render take about 6 hours to finish.

61

inspadesmag.com

What do you find to be the most challenging aspects?

The only consistent challenge is getting started and choosing what idea to run with.

It’s not an enormous hurdle, but that’s where I can lose the most time. It’s important for me to work quickly to maintain the energy. Oh, and I’m (allegedly) colour blind so I must be careful with certain colours. I used to work with a lot of golf course footage and have been guilty of grading trees slightly purple without knowing.

What happens if you are unable to maintain the “energy” of a piece?

If I’m not seeing a path to something cool within 30 minutes, I kill the idea and move on completely. I can get to the point of visualizing an idea quite quickly, so if it looks wrong, I lose interest. With digital art, much of what helps me succeed in completing something that I’m proud of is learned from my long-term struggle with music. I can be easily drawn into obsessing about detail, early on, and this is the quicksand that stops me progressing.

If I develop a concept at pace, and not be beholden to failed ideas, I’m much more likely to create something cool, even when it feels like I’m losing control a little.

What kinds of stories do your pieces tell?

Actually, they are a personal commentary on social experiences and my view of the world.

62

inspadesmag.com

TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE Story: A fallen angel, heart heavy with remorse, returns to the house of his father to find there is nobody left to listen. It’s about wasting chances and the feeling of emptiness that follows.

Process: A photograph backdrop of St Albans Abbey and an HDRI that I took in there to match the lighting.

63

inspadesmag.com

Love, hate, paranoia, guilt, consumption, the underdog, hidden powers and the vastness of space and time. All that good stuff.

You said that you are trying to “unsettle” the observer’s understanding of the physical world, is there a specific message or meaning for each piece that you hope the viewer will understand?

Nothing makes me happier than seeing or hearing someone struggle with what’s in front of them: “Is this real? It looks real, but it can’t be…” Not that long ago, I created a piece that depicted a couple swimming in the sea with a shark that is visible to the observer but not to them. I had messages of genuine concern from my younger audience. This means that, from a technical standpoint, I’ve removed some doubt, and the observer believes they’re looking at a moment of captured reality. I’ve been praised for the lengths I go to in setting up installations to photograph. Given that I never left the studio, I’m happy with that idea.

What are your aspirations for the future?

My daughter’s future is the most important driving force for me and really helps me think efficiently about my own plans. I know from experience that extraordinary effort creates opportunity. I want to continue down that path in everything I do, and impart that lesson to my daughter…which she’ll probably hate me for, but I believe she will one day come to understand and appreciate the value of it.

64

inspadesmag.com

TRY ME Story: It’s an often neglected consideration, but the whole is often greater than the sum of its parts. This can be seen in both love and war and measured as a positive or negative thing.

This piece tries to capture that idea to show the coming together of many parts to create something powerful.

Process: Photo background and HDRI lighting, and a 3D model, called ‘X Bot’, duplicated 5 times, destroyed, and progressively rebuilt towards the camera.

65

inspadesmag.com

66

inspadesmag.com

BY ANISSA STAMBOULI

DARIA AMARANTH INSECTS, ANIMALS AND MELANCHOLIC PORTRAITURE

For me photography is an incredibly magical way to create a new world, an imaginary reality in which the symbols, mystery and some abstraction are synchronized.

@daria_amaranth

67

inspadesmag.com

To view the work of Russian photographer Daria Amaranth is to taste a chocolate so dark, that it brings your palate to the brink of a bitter aftertaste. Engaging the senses in contradiction, the unconventional appeal of Amaranth’s creative flare will leave you moved.

“For me, photography is an incredibly magical way to create a new world,” Amaranth disclosed to INSPADES, “An imaginary reality in which the symbols, mystery and some abstraction are synchronized.”

In pairing soft beauties with snails slugging across the skin, or insects resting on the eyes and lips of resigned girls, Amaranth’s portraiture allows a sense of calm to reign after the initial shudder dissolves.

68

inspadesmag.com

69

inspadesmag.com

“When an animal or insect is a part of a picture alongside a model, a photograph breathes and becomes more deep to me,” Amaranth explained. Her use of live insects and animals, such as owls and iguanas, certainly brings shock value and an air of the untamed to otherwise traditional visual narratives.

The signature of Amaranth’s style is notable in her gentle use of lighting, and morose shades of grey or faded teal as the backdrop. The subjects of her portraiture tend to be adolescent girls or young women, pale with dark hair and clothing, posed limply in postures that convey a sense of insouciance or calm acceptance.

“The best shots ever are always full of mysteries,” asser ted Amaranth, whose visual narratives make curious the viewer;

70

inspadesmag.com

71

inspadesmag.com

72

inspadesmag.com

the ambiguous, expressionless subjects, their gaze vacant, revealing nothing of their true nature. While they emit no signal of scorn or approval, each subject seems to absorb and observe all that is within the viewer.

Residing in Saint Petersburg, Amaranth specialized in foreign languages for her studies and currently spends her days as an English and Swedish translator. To discover that her photographic ambitions began only two years ago is indeed a surprise. With over a hundred photographs published by Vogue Italia’s “PhotoVogue” site and countless shots of profound imagery, Amaranth engages the viewer through her photography like a veteran of the craft.

73

inspadesmag.com

74

inspadesmag.com

Despite having taken a few photography courses in the past, Amaranth is otherwise mostly self-taught. Armed to shoot with her Canon 1000D—of which she says the photographer’s skill is more important than the make of the tool—Amaranth aims to outline a puzzle in each of her images. Initially, her interest in photography sprang from her need to “create something meaningful and different.”

On that point, she has definitely hit her mark.

N e x t , A m a r a nt h p l a ns to e x p l o r e cinematography. “This sphere seems to me to be so magical and special,” she added. In fact, much of her inspiration comes from the world of cinema.

75

inspadesmag.com

Drawing on the melancholic tones of filmmakers like Sophie Coppola and Lars von Trier, colour palettes from Renaissance painters, and literature with psychoanalytic themes, Amaranth achieves a fragile elegance in her work. Coaxing the grotesque and the beautiful into unconventional harmony, her visual artistry will haunt the eye and mind long after the page is turned.

76

inspadesmag.com

www.daria-amaranth.info www.facebook.com/daria.amaranth.photography https://vk.com/danio_art_visions

77

inspadesmag.com

BY JACLYN TRUSS

T

he digital art creations of Marguerite Khoury are the sensuous and sombre apparitions of her self-expression. Her series of self-portraiture are a fantastical film noir dark dramatic temptation mired in a flair for the otherworldly. Each image is an intensely emotional tale, tearing at you to feel with her, tell her story, bear her witness. Deeply artistic, and inarguably passion-filled, Khoury’s fierce art will strike at you sharply, deftly and unapologetically.

This native of Nova Scotia, Canada, had promising potential as an artist from her early days. Khoury began drawing at the age of 13, and a year later, her charcoal pieces became in demand for sale. By the time she was 17, Khoury’s teacher asked her to donate her artwork to the school, in the hopes of inspiring the students of the future. As her passion for art grew, so did her hopes of continuing her artistic education at the local university of art and design. But it was not to be so.

Unfortunately for Khoury, her family was not supportive of the idea, instead, wishing for her

to follow in their entrepreneurial footsteps.

And so she did, leaving her dreams behind.

Now, a single mother of two beautiful daughters, Khoury has gone on to open numerous cafés throughout the years. But even though she had given up her art, she found that her continual interest in it coloured the way she ran her businesses. Initially walking in blind, with no knowledge of food or food preparation, it wasn’t until she began looking at each plate as an empty canvas that she found a foothold of success. With food and seasoning now as her paint palette, Khoury was able to blend flavours to create delicious designs. But even with her newfound passion for food, her appetite for art would remain unsatiated. With her main focus being only her children and her work, Khoury had little time for herself. But all that was about to change.

In an interview with INSPADES, Khoury tells us all about her journey away from her passion, her resurrected return and how she now keeps the beautiful balance between art and life.

@marguerite.khoury

@margu3ritek

79

inspadesmag.com

What do you believe is the role of an artist in society?

I would say the role of an artist is to provoke.

It’s to provoke conversation, emotions and imagination. We leave a footprint for future generations of artists to create change and develop new trends. Without art, we lack luster in our everyday dull life.

Why do you think your family was unsupportive of you pursuing professional artistic endeavours?

I believe artistry was frowned upon by my family because of cultural difference. Originally from Lebanon, they grew up believing that hard work is the only path to prosperity and they conformed to this way of life and the ideals that came with it. They were not given the chance to think freely and be creative, so confronting them with a new way of life that involves passion and enjoyment caused confusion. To them, a hobby is used simply to escape the mundane, not to provide the path to a potentially successful career. Over the years, my passion, and any idea of a career in the arts was pushed farther and farther aside.

Did being exposed to that mentality affect the way you now support the dreams of your daughters?

It most definitely affected the way I support my children’s dreams. I’m very supportive of their choices, no matter what path they choose to take. I’d say raising my daughters alone is probably the biggest challenge and hardest job I’ve ever had. As a parent, I believe that it’s important to help them weigh out the pros

80

inspadesmag.com

and cons of their decisions and then support them once they’re made.

What advice would you give an artist who is experiencing a lack of support?

My advice is to create balance. Never give up on your dreams but also don’t disregard what your family’s concerns are. You have a right to live your life. So make a plan, believe in yourself, and turn your dreams into reality.

When did you first get back into artistic works?

It all started when I joined Instagram. It became my escape. I had a regular account, posting food and the occasional selfie. One day, an artist approached me and asked if he could edit me. I was extremely flattered and accepted.

Later on, another artist asked the same. I started taking my poses more seriously and the results were mind blowing. A spark was ignited and I felt inspired! Soon after, I purchased an online magazine that awakened me to a whole new world and medium of art. I shut down my Instagram account, took a six-week break, and began to study mobile artistry. I opened a new account and started posting my work. I am now the subject of all my photographs.

How do you feel now that you have returned to your art?

I feel liberated. I am now free to be myself, free to create and free to share. I discovered it wasn’t as complicated as it was when I was a teenager. The tools I needed were literally in my hands. I feel it is an escape from my real life and I am delighted to find something that I can do creatively on my own time, as well as express myself freely. Now, I am unstoppable!

How has your account been progressing since then?

It’s been two and a half years since I opened my account. I have been featured many times

by Instagram hubs, as well as having my work published on TheAppWhisperer. In that time, I’ve transitioned to using a DSLR for better resolution in some shots, and continue using my mobile device for instant captures. My dream is to continue to grow as a photo artist, network with people in the industry and learn from them.

You mentioned that you used to draw, do you still partake in other artistic mediums or are you strictly a digital artist now?

I would describe myself as strictly a digital artist. However, I do draw directly onto my photographs. I use the Art Set app for editing.

It supplies me with pencils, markers, paint and blending tools in an array of colours. I enhance almost all my photos by freehand drawing directly onto the images. I am grateful that even in the realm of digital art, I am able to maintain my skills in drawing.

How would you say the art world has changed since you re-entered the scene?

Art has evolved so much in the past 30 years! I would say that technology plays a big role in that change. Art used to be recognized as drawings and paintings that follow a certain formula. Now there are no rules! You can mix different mediums and create new art.

Everything in the art world has become less conventional and more controversial. I could never have envisioned myself doing this type

of art. It’s become so accessible so quickly, it was easy to create it. It would be hard to conceive of this thirty years ago.

Q) Do you now find yourself more supported as an artist in your second coming?

A) Yes! I’m overwhelmed by the support I’ve received since I started doing digital art and mobile artistry. I feel like I not only found a community but a family that is kind and inspirational. Their support encourages me to give more of myself. It’s important to support all new artists and I hope to pay it forward and help inspire new and upcoming artists.

You mentioned that your images are all inspired by your emotions. Do you feel as though that offers you an endless well of creativity to draw from?

There are days where I struggle with expressing my emotions but I don’t believe it’s because of a lack of creativity. As a mother, I sometimes find it hard to wind down and tap into my emotions. But once I’m there, the creative juices flow. I’m constantly reinventing a new process to represent how I’m feeling.

This allows me to flourish as an artist and offer something variant to my viewers.

How do you prioritize your dreams and ambitions now?

My dreams and ambitions are fairly high on my list of priorities. There comes a time in your life when you realize that you’ve given so much of yourself to others that now it’s time to reclaim yourself. This is my time. I plan to seize every opportunity to achieve my dreams!

83

inspadesmag.com

84

inspadesmag.com

BY ANISSA STAMBOULI

Dear action film buffs, prepare to be blown away by the explosive digital manipulation of Stuart Holroyd’s photography. You have been warned.

If you thought The Terminator was a classic, you’ll appreciate Holroyd’s reinterpretation of a similar post-apocalyptic setting in “Arya Apocalypse”, featuring his girlfriend as a fearsome lead comparable to the famously fierce Sarah Connor. In “Alfie”, a small boy— modeled by Holroyd’s nephew, Alfie— champions a deserted car with guns in hand, the Eiffel Tower split by jets in the backdrop.

@stuart_holroyd

85

inspadesmag.com

86

inspadesmag.com

“I love old apocalyptic films,” Holroyd admitted, a citizen of the United Kingdom currently residing in Spain. Working with family, friends or co-workers as the models in his work, Holroyd likes to “build a piece” around each person. “It’s a massively fun experience.”

Holroyd’s pursuits in photography began five years ago when he was first “intrigued” by his grandfather’s photography, which prompted him to purchase his first DSLR camera—later upgraded to a Fuji X-T2. After coming across Dave Hill and Tim Tadder, two established photographers who feature adventurous and active subjects with tastefully intense editing, Holroyd became “obsessed” with discovering and practising new techniques on Photoshop. “Still to this day you’ll find me up at four in the morning on YouTube looking for the newest techniques… drives my girlfriend crazy!”

When recalling his first photo shoot, Holroyd whimsically described it as quite surreal.

“I asked a friend to dress up with a gas mask and put his girlfriend in the boot of his car. There was makeup and fake blood everywhere... it was an exciting time.”

87

inspadesmag.com

88

inspadesmag.com

From stuffing his friend’s girlfriend into a car, to fan art—like fusing his niece into the Star Wars universe, lightsaber in hand— Holroyd’s work has come a long way. Starting with a few sketches and sourcing stock photos for “basic compositing”, Holroyd begins each piece with a visual outline. After establishing a plan, Holroyd will use a speedlight and natural light for shooting, after which he will spend up to two days editing, lost in his “own little world!” While some of his digital edits tweak original photography, Holroyd also includes redrawn images, “mainly using tracing and matte painting.”

Running a financial services company from home, Holroyd has the flexibility to “put lots of time” into his artistry. While he has received requests for payable commissioned work, Holroyd prefers to keep his love for photography as a hobby.

“As soon as I start to take money for what I do, it kind of takes the fun out of it for me,” he explained. Also unwilling to relinquish creative freedom, Holroyd doesn’t want to compromise the “weird and wonderful” liberties of his expression, which run the risk of being muted or dulled by the limitations of a client’s request.

89

inspadesmag.com

90

inspadesmag.com

Occasionally Holroyd will dabble in fashion photography for his girlfriend who models for numerous brands, though he never strays far from action-inspired digital artistry in his own work. “My conceptual work is what I genuinely love,” he asserted.

Considering his attraction to adventure and action shots, with edits so fine-tuned that the image takes on an illustrative sheen, it’s no surprise that Holroyd has his eye on marketing and promotional artwork within the video game and film industries. “I think this could really stretch my skills,” shared Holroyd.

In the meantime, Holroyd is labouring over a “very complicated barbarian piece”, featuring twenty different people engaging in an action scene. “It’s going to be a huge challenge,” he divulged, but we have no doubt it will be worth the wait.

92

inspadesmag.com

BY ANISSA STAMBOULI

The Cutting Edge of A Young Expressionist Artist

Heidi Wong “Some ‘unrealistic’ styles of art can display the kind of truth reality could never show.”

“I am a poet, artist and philanthropist,” declares teenage artistic sensation Heidi Wong, an overachiever from Hong Kong Island with a knack for palette knife painting, monochromatic drawings and relatable verse.

Attending art school from ages six to fifteen, Wong’s life was saturated with “realistic drawing” instruction. When she realized “the ability to transform knowledge and technical skill into art could not be learned in a classroom,” Wong decided to leave the

@heidiwongofficial

93

inspadesmag.com

structure of her environment in pursuit of the road less travelled.

“I do think my training in art school helped solidify my technical skills, though I discovered my ‘style’ in knife painting purely through practice and self-teaching.”

Each of the paintings exhibited here involve Wong’s knife work, as the “exaggerated strokes and textures help accentuate an emotional aspect within each painting.” The vibrancy in Wong’s use of colour is nothing less than explosive, with fiery reds bursting through texturized paint and blues so deep, that the eye is lured into the crevice of Wong’s experiential hub.

“I’ve always admired the works of Monet and Van Gogh, as they embody what it means to evoke emotion through painting,” Wong reflects, “Through their work, I’ve begun to understand how some ‘unrealistic’ styles of art can display the kind of truth that reality could never show.”

As a person with synesthesia, a condition whereby a perceived sense-impression is experienced in a different location from where the sense is actually being stimulated on the body, Wong has a unique painting experience: “I feel like the person painting is separate from who I am. The choices I make seem almost involuntary, as if there’s an external force controlling my actions and I’m merely experiencing them.”

Similar to the contrasting forces of order and abstract in her tumultuously rich oil paintings, Wong feels “both in control and

94

inspadesmag.com

95

inspadesmag.com

completely free” when working. While some artists create to appease a longing, Wong’s drive is “innate, instinctive, addictive; I’ve never seen painting as a ‘passion’ of mine, but rather something that just happens with or without my consent,” she elaborates. It is this nagging need to create that accounts for Wong’s bold and expressionist style; she will continue to attack the canvas with colourful energy and expression regardless of feedback or criticism.

“Sometimes I don’t paint for weeks, and sometimes I paint every day of the week,” says Wong, who creates when she feels the need, rather than according to external demand.

“I find myself in the studio for longer when there are higher levels of stress in my personal life. Sometimes I’m in the studio for the entire day and don’t even notice time flying by,” she continues. Like many artists, Wong looks to her work for a sense of escape, a chance to “become detached from the outside world and in turn, become more in touch with myself.”

Though she’s now a cross-continental traveller, dividing her living space between Upstate New York, Manhattan, Beijing, and Hong Kong, Wong initially made a name for herself in China and through the Instagram community.

At the age of seventeen, Wong collaborated with the Chinese entertainment publication, Phoenix New Media, in October of 2015 for their annual live charity art auction. “I singlehandedly raised over $43,000 USD towards leukemia treatment for children in rural China,” Wong tells INSPADES of her set. Gaining

96

inspadesmag.com

97

inspadesmag.com

further exposure in China for her artistic flare, Heidi won the National Art and Calligraphy Competition of China for six consecutive years.

In addition to her philanthropic efforts, Wong amassed a near 100,000 following on Instagram, where she “first started receiving recognition” for posts of her artwork and poetry.

If you can remember what you were doing during sophomore year, it probably wasn’t nearly as productive as Wong’s high school career. At the age of fifteen, Wong began writing poetry and published Sixteen within a year, a collection of ninety-eight poems recording her teenage experience.

Through self-publishing, Wong released Sixteen in May 2015; by June of the same year, Sixteen had already accumulated $15,000 USD, all of which was donated to the John Hopkins Center for Talented Youth Alumni Scholarship Fund, including future proceeds, as this was an institution where Wong studied.

Currently completing a creative writing and fine arts degree at Hamilton College in Upstate New York, Wong continues to grow her viewership through social media, magazine features and exhibitions in the New York City area. A force to be admired, Heidi has already accomplished at such a young age what some people never hope to an entire lifetime. She is truly a source of inspiration to people everywhere and we wish her all the best for what will no doubt be an incredible journey to come!

98

inspadesmag.com

99

inspadesmag.com

Christoph

Villgrattner

BY JACLYN TRUSS

Architect of His Own Reality B

orn in Innsbruck, the capital of Austria’s western state of Tyrol, Christoph Villgrattner was originally a student of architecture and used to make his living building stores, malls and universities.

Maintaining a classical leadership position for 15 years, Villgrattner eventually realized that his highly mental career offered his artistic nature no foundation or room to grow.

www.we-see.at

@christoph_villgrattner

101

inspadesmag.com

A self-taught photographer, Villgrattner altered his contract with the company he worked for to allow him to work simultaneously as a photographer. Three years later, Villgrattner quit his job and took on photography full-time.

Now, his company, WESEE, offers professional photography services to clients for both personal and business needs, while fulfilling Villgrattner’s own need for artistic expression.

Already garnering international recognition, Villgrattner has been featured in both European and Japanese media. Focusing mainly on people and products captured in natural environments, Villgrattner’s imagery often ranges from dynamic to sensual, to even distorted.

Since the moment where Villgrattner switched his focus in life, aiming his attention and intention towards photography, and trusting his feelings to carry him forward, he can now say with great certainty that it was the best decision of his life.

“It is integral, in my eyes, is to give people a new perspective of looking at someone or something.

Changing the point of view or experimenting with light, shadow and form to surprise people is one of the key points in my technique.

102

inspadesmag.com

“Inspiration is sometimes just a second of a thought - a moment of an idea, a shape, a light setting, a smile, a picture, a feeling or a sound.

You are able to create something out of these moments, including the possibility to create stunning pictures.�

104

inspadesmag.com

“The models are mostly just the eye-catcher within the symbiotic relationship they are experiencing with the environment.�

“I use a combination of ProPhoto flashes with my equipment to create the best results for my clients, as well, I use it to enhance body paintings, underwater and low-key pictures.�

105

inspadesmag.com

“Artists bring people into a place of dreaming and release the socialized mind.�

106

inspadesmag.com

What I love best is creating and developing new pictures, to bring people closer to my point of view. There are no limits within the art, there are only limits within thinking.�

107

inspadesmag.com

BY ANISSA STAMBOULI

Master MAKING in the

108

inspadesmag.com

Amber Joy Photographer: Jenny Rae www.jennyraephotography.com instagram: @jennyraephotography Makeup: Kim Dung Tran instagram: @kimdtran Hair: Renci Vana instagram: @vanrenci Designer: Pretty Bastard www.prettybastard.ca instagram: @prettybstard Location: Vancouver @amberjoyactor

110

inspadesmag.com

W

hoever thought of the term “work horse” clearly never met Montréal native Amber Joy, née Genevieve Joyal. More of a “work ox”, this multi-disciplinary performer worked four jobs at once to support her training in the arts, which included accent, voice, singing, acting and dance.

“I started to be passionate about art when I was eleven-years-old, which was my first time on stage,” remembers Joy. She immediately became smitten with the ability to connect with an audience, “to have the power to make people feel what I feel;” to open channels for traversing mutual sentiment.

For Joy, performance has always been a dynamic give and take, synchronizing the emotional experience of all parties involved.

Carrying a humanist element with her interpretation and expression of the arts, Joy believes that artists of all forms have a responsibility: “Real artists are artists in their soul, and our job is to make sure that people never forget that we are one, that we are all humans.” By using her performance to summon the humanity that weaves us, Joy has developed a “craft of empathy”.

While her main pursuit is acting, Joy has opened herself to the arts of modeling, dance and singing. “I shoot for new fashion lines or for ambitious new photographers. I try to meet as many people as I can; as artists we’re all in this together.”

Photographer: Jimmy Hamelin www.jimmyhamelin.com instagram: @jimmyhamelin Hair: Denis Binet www.denisbinet.com instagram: @denisbinet Makeup: Eddie Maleterre www.eddiemalter.com Instagram: @eddiemaleterre Stylist: Melanie Brisson www.melaniebrisson.blogspot.com instagram: @melaniebrisson_styliste Location: Montreal

Photographer: Dominick Estarella Instagram: @dpdom Makeup & Hair: lili coco adler Location: Los Angeles

112

inspadesmag.com

Whether she’s posing for fashion and beauty shoots or dancing in music videos, Joy has mastered the art of humility and positivity.

“Modeling isn’t only about being beautiful, It’s about someone having something to say. Performers have the chance to have a voice, they should use it for good.”

When Joy talks about having a “voice” as a performer, she doesn’t just mean it in the literal sense; “An image shows a thought, and a movie shows a story. I get to speak through my art.” Whether she is in an image or on screen, Joy’s voice speaks volumes, her expressive nature bursting through like a river dam let loose. Her eyes alone are deftly articulate—powerful, vulnerable, alluring, repelling—full of questions, answers, mysteries and truths. Her performances shine vividly with her own humanness, daring the viewer to seek their own.

Despite monumental training experience and a natural flair for the dramatic, Joy still faces a typical flaw within the film and television industries each time she auditions. “I think I’ve had more than ten dialect coaches over three years,” she estimated. With French as her first language, Joy has struggled to meet the accent demands of an Anglo-dominated field.

“French girls are considered ‘sexier’ because of their melodic accent. However, if the movie took place in a French country, we wouldn’t

Photographer: Jimmy Hamelin (info page 111)

Photographer: Sergio D. Spadavecchia Instagram: @CreativeSpades Designer: NimmarĂŠ Location: Toronto

114

inspadesmag.com

notice that ‘sexiness’ anymore, we’d actually notice the person,” Joy explained, believing that the problem lies with generally “closedminded” viewers. “Casting directors typecast for what the public wants,” she added.

“At first I could only get about two percent of the auditions,” said Joy, whose casting options were limited to “open to different dialects” roles—often only small or supporting characters. “As a French woman, I would have to go for the roles of ‘girlfriend’ or ‘date’. I studied acting to tell amazing stories, so this was really upsetting to me.”

Joy was frustrated by the misrepresentation of the industry, which ignores the reality that “different accents are everywhere around us”, but she didn’t slow her driving force. She continued to work with accent and voice coaches, though she hit speed bumps along the way.

“Speaking a language doesn’t mean that you can teach it. I have wasted a lot of money with some dialect coaches,” she revealed.

Now residing in the Canadian city of Vancouver, Joy found an effective voice and dialect coach in Trish Allen. “She did more for me in two weeks then other coaches did in a year,” divulged Joy of Allen, “She understood my situation upfront.”

Photographer: Roger Mahler www.rogermahler.com instagram: @roger_mahler Makeup: Vanessa Westerager info@nadiaalbano.com instagram: @vanessastyleinc Hair: Rhianna Reddekopp www.terracasa.ca Instagram: @terracasa Asssistant: Holly Truchan www.unionphotographers.com instagram: @hollykins19 Location: Vancouver

115

inspadesmag.com

An actress and director as well, Allen understood that the true challenge for an actor isn’t just to learn a language, but to apply the learned language in a natural way.

“I am proud to say I’ve had my first couple of American auditions recently without them realizing I was French,” Joy shared excitedly, “It is such a relief to know I’ll be able to get more auditions.”

Beyond the accent barrier that Joy has faced in her career, she has also struggled with the age-old appearance standards of the performance world. “I didn’t know I had that many things wrong with me.” mocked Joy. Not only did her accent keep her from some auditions, but with her 5’3 stature, her height has also kept her from potential roles.

“There was always something.

No one tells you how much you’ll get rejected and how small the circles are in the industry.”

But if there’s anything you’ve learned of Joy so far, it’s that she doesn’t match the description of a quitter. “I simply ignore these social hierarchies,” Joy shrugged, “I don’t do it for them, I do it for the craft. And besides, there’s nothing really wrong with you; if you’re a well-known actor then suddenly everything’s right with you. So I don’t listen to those kinds of judgments.”

Instead of bringing herself down about qualities she can’t change, Joy focuses her attention on mastering the techniques she

116

inspadesmag.com

Photographer: Roger Mahler (info page 115)

Photographer: Jenny Rae www.jennyraephotography.com instagram: @jennyraephotography Hair and stylist: Renci Vana instagram: @vanrenci Makeup : Luna Lin Instagram: @lunalinmakeup

117

inspadesmag.com

has gleaned from coaches around the world.

To name a few, she has studied acting under veteran producer and director Daniele J. Suissa in Morocco, and also underwent private tutelage with Hollywood casting director Matthew Barry. For Joy, a large part of performance is “trying to understand how our world works,” and exposing oneself to that through travel.

Although she has yet to “book any movie big enough to put money in the bank,” Joy’s self-determination and commitment are an ongoing streak of energy. “Every day I work on my body, voice, and I learn new things. I sing, I dance, go to the gym and rehearse scenes on my own. Yes, my neighbours think I’m crazy,” she joked. While maintaining her appearance and healthy eating are part of her lifestyle, Joy also maintains versatility. “I want to open as many doors as I can,” she explained, “I would love to work in lots different countries.” As such, she is currently learning Russian, Spanish, German and Mandarin script writing, and writes three to four times a week. As if it were Photographer: Sergio D. Spadavecchia (info 114)

118

inspadesmag.com

Photographer: Dominick Estarella Instagram: @dpdom Makeup & Hair: lili coco adler Location: Los Angeles

Photographer: Andrew Gerard www.andrewgerardofficial.com Instagram: @andrewgerardphotography Location : Vancouver

Photographer: L’estelle photography www.lestellephotography.com instagram: @lestellephotography Makeup: Annie Chang www.acmakeup.ca Instagram: @acmakeup.ca Hair: Angela Liu instagram: @angelalaliu Location: Vancouver

merely a casual accomplishment instead of an impressive feat, Joy said simply of the movie scripts she has completed, “Who knows, maybe one day it’ll help me.”

Next, Joy is looking toward the world of television to make her mark. “I think nothing can replace the feeling of being live in a theatre, but television is more accessible to people.” With such a receptive outlook on life, it’s no surprise that, though Joy’s head is “in the sky”, her feet are “very much on earth.”

It is now pilot season in Vancouver and everyday is a new and unique adventure. “I have a great acting coach for my upcoming auditions,” said Joy, “I have tried every popular technique from Stanislavski to Meisner to Hagen to Adler to Katselas. What I need now, I can only get from being on sets. I’m mostly working on myself and creating my own technique. No one can teach you that. No one can teach passion and strength.”

For more on this dedicated actor, her performances and to see her in action, please visit www.amberjoy.info

119

inspadesmag.com

BY JACLYN TRUSS

Gabriele Crippa 120

inspadesmag.com

@gabrilong

a

Aspirations of Inspiration “I think that, for an artist, it is integral to make a continuous, careful and thorough research of methods, techniques and tools that can advance their knowledge, with the intention of always creating something new and exciting.�

121

inspadesmag.com

I

n a small heritage city in Tuscany, between the Alps and the sea, a mammoth tidal wave closes in on a large cityscape, with a single surfer paddling down its amplitude, seemingly unconcerned that his pop-up will coincide with his impact of an oncoming building. At least, that is what is happening in Tuscany on the smartphone screen of digital artist Gabriele Crippa.

At 24, Crippa is a student of agriculture, food and environment at the university of Pisa, and works interchangeably as both a server and a cook. A lover of music, Crippa was a fan of rap and hip-hop early on but credits his father for expanding his musical horizons to include other genres of music. He now devotes most of his time to electronic music, which he feels represents him the most clearly, and he not only listens to it but mixes it as well. It was while working at a club that followed the underground movement of electronic music that Crippa grew attracted to the digitally manipulated designs on the covers of the vinyl, CDs and flyers.

“I began to discover and inquire about the world of photo editing. My first approach was with Photoshop, but it was such a commitment.

Between working and studying, the time I could dedicate was very little, and the best ideas always came to me while I was away from my computer. I began looking for something that was always available, something I could have in my pocket no matter where I was, and that’s when I discovered Mextures and Union,” explained Crippa.

122

inspadesmag.com

Nightmare photo by Bart Teulings

Lift up photo by Luca Zanon

123

inspadesmag.com

Simultaneously discovering the galleries of some of the top artists in the field, Crippa was inspired to create his own path for his works.

He experimented constantly, and by practicing new applications and new techniques, he was able to aspire to more than he had ever thought possible.

124

inspadesmag.com

Photo by Jens Lelie

His first feature came from @mexturescollective and was a collaboration with fellow digital artist, @lizardneedsfood_badly. Crippa had created a blend of photos, while his collaborator had applied the editing formula.

Much to the excitement of Crippa, this project received several features in addition to that of @mexturescollective.

The Summit photo by Kevyn Kurpiers

125

inspadesmag.com

126

inspadesmag.com

Photo by @carlinhosfvb @leor.a

Crippa’s art has no set style but in every piece, he projects himself - an outpouring of pure and simple imagination that leaves nothing behind. Enamoured with epic Tolkienesque landscapes, monuments, mountains, horror and sci-fi, Crippa even began including sculptures in his projects after being “brutally inspired” by the gallery of his dear friend and talented artist, @bryandelae.

Photo by Jeffrey Swanson

127

inspadesmag.com

“I try to describe even just simple moods, as in my work “Devil’s teeth”, that seeks to describe loneliness, a momentary spiritual chaos from which there is no return,” revealed Crippa.

When Crippa first began photo editing, his objectives were rudimentary - he simply wanted to create a picture that he liked, that made sense to him and that contained beautiful colours.

However, after becoming proficient with photo editing applications, his priorities and work shifted to reflect his feelings, moods, emotions and the human experience. Some of his edits are actually perfect copies his

128

inspadesmag.com

Shark Bay photo by Tim Marshal

dreams, while others are simply landscapes he wishes to see. At first, he was merely trying to compose a picture, but now he tries to express what he has inside. “My editing process is pretty simple: I start with a photo that I take from Unsplash or Pixabay, then modify it with Union; then I move to Mextures, which I use not only as a finishing touch but also layer by layer. As long as the image is unable to produce any kind of emotion, I continue to edit it until the emotion develops and becomes as I want it to be. There is no limit to the things you can do with these applications. I am also a big fan of LensLight, Alien Sky, and FX,� said Crippa.

Photo by Adrian

129

inspadesmag.com

His aspiration is to become a well-known artist in this field and to work in the music industry within the realm of graphics. Crippa believes that the music industry is at the forefront when it comes to graphic innovation, and that to be successful, artists need to be able to express the same messages that the musicians want to convey with their own songs. “I am a big fan of techno music, especially the strong, decisive, dark sound of the European-style techno. Usually, artists affix dark images on the covers of their albums and, in my opinion, the graphics are very cutting edge. Sometimes they will contain horror

130

inspadesmag.com

Come with me photo by Lalesh Aldarwish

or futuristic themes, which perfectly reflect the mood that is elicited from this kind of music,” reflects Crippa.

And it is not just album covers that pique Crippa’s interest. “There is also the type of graphics that are linked to concert stage effects, and with new technologies, there are plenty of choices - I don’t even know where to start! But, I can assure you that the best festivals in the world would not be the same without a great show of graphic effects. Following the artist track after track, they are able to completely change the atmosphere of an event,” asserts Crippa.

With so many opportunities and modalities with which to exert his passion for graphics and music, we do not doubt that Crippa has the full potential to take both industries by storm. Coupled with his dedication to learning and his commitment to the art community that has raised him, Crippa insists that, in art, the aspirant must one day become the inspiration.

Crippa imparts, “The role of an artist is to inspire, motivate and instruct others. My path is dotted with the other artists that have inspired all of my works - I hope in the future that I too can become an inspiration for some other young artist, just as others have done for me.”

Photo by Vero photoart

131

inspadesmag.com

132

inspadesmag.com

I can say that my greatest sources of inspiration were the galleries of the following superstars, some of which have already been featured here on INSPADES Magazine! @521gemini; @hakemo (was perhaps the first artist ever that I found!); @nak_bali; @Lvnatikk; @eleathar; @emmasancez (my countryman); @ezekiel2112; @ionsounds; (showed me new applications!); @beeple_crap; @ stockandrender; @gosleep_ ; @casualtyofcool; @ guardiansoftrance; @bryandelae & @lizardneedsfood_badly

Black /3 photo by Janko Ferlic

133

inspadesmag.com

134

inspadesmag.com

BY JACLYN TRUSS

Ngo

Meng Avenues of Contemplation “To take pictures is to see things differently, deeper perhaps, and that’s the beauty of it, and the part that I enjoy.”

@kastel_

135

inspadesmag.com

136

inspadesmag.com

Ngo Meng is a great contemplator. He often walks, deep in thought, through the streets of Paris, black shoes drawn firm by orange laces, the soft slapping of his soles on wet pavement. The sky gives way to the city, the silence gives way to sound, and the cool smell of rain drips over the warm scent of baking bread. People mill about, lost in their own lives, contemplating their own things. One cannot begin to wonder what Meng may be thinking as he breathes this all in, the study of his mind

not something one can simply know.

But in the fray of voices and car engines, the burst of pigeons taking flight and people pushing by, collars high against the wind, there is one sound that only Meng will hear‌a short, momentary, click. And there, in that moment, his vision if fragmented, frozen for all of time. A singular piece of his observation, a shrewd examination of his surroundings, now in his keeping, something to share, humbly, unobtrusively and beautifully.

137

inspadesmag.com

Click. A leaf, fallen and dry, lying crisp and delicate in the puddled reflection of the Tour d’Eiffel. Click. A Hitchcockian black and white scene of a man bent over in a whirl of desperate flocking birds. Click. A building, sinking into the ground, a dry Titanic torn asunder upon the grass, the sky and landscape threatened by the same unseen drain.

We may not know what he thinks, but one click and we can see the world as he sees it.

“To take pictures is to see things differently, deeper perhaps, and that’s the beauty of it,

138

inspadesmag.com

and the part that I enjoy,” says Meng.

Meng goes on his walks, drawing inspiration from the grand monuments, architecture, people and the intricate avenues that labyrinth the city of love. His first passion is painting and has been from his youth. The discipline of photography, however, he found himself more reluctant to endeavor until recently. Not for any distasteful purpose, quite the opposite, in fact, it actually stemmed from his deep admiration for the craft and the skill it takes to properly wield a camera.

139

inspadesmag.com

“I am impressed by photography and admire it just as much. The sense of framing, composition, light, opening...all these techniques frightened me. I did not feel I had the necessary skill to produce truly beautiful images,” admits Meng.

It was a friend that first introduced Meng to Instagram, where he began, like many, to upload pictures he took with his smartphone. But with time, and like many, he began to feel too limited, and after a couple of years moved on to the Lumix G7, a hybrid camera.

“It is a small and light camera with very good definition, it is perfect for an amateur photographer such as myself,” remarks Meng.

With his crystal clear captures, soulful

subjects, thoughtful composition and sharp editing skills, we have little reason to believe he will stay an amateur for long.

As a street photographer, Meng is at the mercy of his surroundings. He relies on the world to provide his subjects, his scene, his light. Sometimes he will find that he has walked for hours and hours, without a single shot to exploit. But for Meng, it is all a part of his journey, time to be at peace, contemplate and to remain ever hopeful.

“Street photography is a bit like going fishing, you never know in advance what the nets will bring in,” muses Meng, “But I’m just glad to know that of the images I do get, that there is someone out there in the world that enjoys them.”

141

inspadesmag.com

BY JACLYN TRUSS

@araafim

Dreams of Manipulation

ARAAFI MUHARRAM “For me, the message of my images is very important. Because it is only through this medium that I feel I can express the experiences of my life.”

142

inspadesmag.com

143

inspadesmag.com

A

long the edge of the Madura Strait sits Surabaya, the second-largest city in Indonesia and home to 17-year-old digital creationist, Bintang Araafi Muharram. Here, he lives a colourful life mired in the imaginative manipulations of Photoshop.

Like many artists, Muharram’s artistic pursuits were established early on through drawing and painting and, like many artists of his generation, it was only a matter of time before things took a technological turn. He began photo editing with the Android application Meld, learning multi-layer blending, mask brushing and general image manipulation techniques.

“I always say, if you can’t make it good, at least make it look good!” laughed Muharram.

He then began watching YouTube tutorials on Photoshop and also found himself greatly inspired by the vast artwork galleries of DeviantArt, a major online community for artists and art enthusiasts. Muharram’s skills have since evolved, and now he manipulates images freely, inspired by his own life’s stories. His images tackle many of life’s themes: hope, loneliness, health, addiction, love, loss and dreams.

“I hope when people view my pictures that, aside from enjoying them, they are also able to see the messages contained in my art,” said Muharram, “For me, the messages in my images are very important. Because it is only through this medium that I feel I can express the experiences of my life.”

144

inspadesmag.com

A student, Muharram hopes to continue his education in design and, in the meantime, he enjoys participating in the design competitions run by local universities and taking advantage of opportunities to create artwork designs within the music industry.

Muharram admits that at his point in time, he does not believe himself to be a successful artist. “I hope my art can one day be accepted and recognized by everyone in the world.

This is my passion and it is my dream that one day I will produce incredibly realistic creations,� he revealed.

However, as a young artist with burgeoning skills, incredible imagination and obvious passion and dedication, we have no doubt that it is only a matter of time before Muharram will accomplish every one of his dreams.

145

inspadesmag.com

The Unfolding

of Co-creation

Model Ludmiła @mila_shok Make-up artist - Ania @ania.wisniowska.makeup Hair and styling @inner.glow

BY JACLYN TRUSS

Anna Żebrowska @inner.glow

147

inspadesmag.com

A

nna Żebrowska is a 29-year-old photographer from Poland and a lover of portraits. With a special interest in female portraiture, Żebrowska is enamoured with catching that “something” in a woman’s eye. “I think that pure beauty is something that is hard to describe, but it is something I am constantly looking for,” she says, “My goal is to try and capture just a piece of it in my photographs.” Żebrowska prefers to work with women who are not models by trade, enjoying the sensation of “discovering” them as they unfold before her lens. “I adore showing them how incredibly beautiful and interesting they are because they often don’t know that about themselves. It is what I love most about my work,” she explains.

However, it is also a challenging process.

Lacking the knowledge of positioning, angles and expression, Żebrowska’s subjects require much more direction, patience and care. “It takes time for them to open up, but I think it’s worth it,” she admits, “I am very focused and pay attention to my subject - to their looks, assets, insecurities - but mostly I listen to what they say. It’s crucial, in my opinion, to try and understand their needs. Besides that, I also want to be sure that they feel good in my company. I love to compliment and joke with them - photo shoots should be fun!”

Working with professional models, on the other hand, she finds to be a completely different experience. They are well-versed in the process, mostly confident and know

148

inspadesmag.com

what to do. While Żebrowska feels that it is sometimes easier to work with professional models, her enjoyment of them comes from another source. “If you’re lucky enough to find a truly talented model, she becomes a partner, not a subject, and that connection can create something special,” Żebrowska shares.

In the beginning, Żebrowska did everything herself, a frustrating process that marred any hope of progressing as quickly as she wanted.

“I was literally doing everything for the shoot, modeling included, and it was terrible!” she exclaims. Between learning styling, modelling, design, makeup, hair, photography and the complicated universe of Photoshop, Żebrowska found herself completely overwhelmed and outnumbered by her endeavours.

She has since learned how important it is to collaborate with others and that the benefits of doing so reach beyond merely simplifying the process. Żebrowska has also discovered that not only can she manifest her ideas more readily as part of a team, but that an inspiring creative team comes equipped with their own ideas and skills to contribute to the overall vision. Now, Żebrowska spends less time being a one-woman show and more time searching out artistic people for the purpose of co-creation.

“I like to think that I’m just at the beginning of my journey. I’m at the point where I’m quite obsessed with all the things I have to learn, and the more I learn, the more I discover, and the more I want to learn!” laughs Żebrowska, “So I guess it never ends.”

150

inspadesmag.com

152

inspadesmag.com

Blake Bonillas Young Fashion

BY ANISSA STAMBOULI

Photographer Spreads His Wings in Phoenix They’re fierce and edgy in their femininity—a presence pushing against the frame of each image. Coated in fur or dipped in thighhigh boots, models flourish under the visionary direction of up and coming fashion photographer, Blake Bonillas.

“I am drawn toward many contradictions in my photography,” Bonillas shared with INSPADES Magazine, “Clean and grungy, colors

@blakebonillas

and muted tones, soft and strong.”

Bonillas frames his scenes according to the words of renowned couturier, Alexander McQueen, “I want to empower women. I want people to be afraid of the women I dress,” or in Bonillas’ case, shoot.

Without formal education or instruction in photography, Bonillas has managed to establish himself in the Phoenix, Arizona art scene

153

inspadesmag.com

as a rising talent. With an unconventional eye for contrast and gritty aesthetics, as well as a dedicated work ethic, Bonillas has already worked with clientele such as CURIIOS and Phoenix Magazine.

It was only three years ago when Bonillas’ interest in photography first piqued. “Watching behind-the-scene videos and fashion videos on YouTube is what truly sparked my interest,” he recalled, “Watching someone completely transform into a new character for an editorial made me completely obsessed with the process of creating images.”

Shortly thereafter, Bonillas began to teach himself the ins and outs of photography.

Scavenging YouTube and the web for helpful videos and articles on his newfound passion, Bonillas was able to “fill holes and answer questions,” about technique. “Mostly there was a lot of messing around with my camera and Photoshop.”

With seasoned A-list photographers like Mario Testino and Steven Klein inspiring the tone of his creative style, Bonillas experimented on RAW fashion and beauty files from the community-based casting site, Model Mayhem; his style of editing technique developed thereafter.

“Jessica Kobeissi and Lindsay Adler’s YouTube channels were also resources for me to learn to edit, set up lights and basic fashion photography ‘must-knows’.”

Today Bonillas has a reliable network of artists that he can join forces with for personal or professional projects; however,

154

inspadesmag.com

when he began his photography pursuit Bonillas relied on social media to connect with the Phoenix community.

“My first fashion shoot was set up by connecting with people on Instagram,” Bonillas explained, “At that point, I had nothing in my portfolio that showed I could shoot fashion, other than some photos my sister had modeled for.”

What began as an amateur pursuit quickly morphed into a potential profession, and Bonillas’ first fashion shoot—a collaboration that included a stylist, model, and hair and makeup artists—was published.

“The opportunity that the stylist gave me was the opening of Pandora’s box,” recounts Bonillas, “It gave me the confidence and actual photos to begin approaching agencies and models. It all grew from there.”

Since entering the world of photography, Bonillas spent two years in lifestyle photography. Last year he began intensifying his endeavours to capture portraiture and fashion; “I work with a local agency pretty frequently so I can easily approach them with ideas and they always appreciate the images for the models’ books.”

Managing his parents’ Mexican restaurant a few days a week, Bonillas is able to devote the rest of his time to forming teams for personal and professional fashion and portrait projects. “The restaurant keeps me connected to people,” said Bonillas, who applies experience from the service and management industries to his photography

155

inspadesmag.com

career, “It is important for a photographer to be able to talk to everyone, make human connections and handle situations in a calm and professional manner.”

When approaching a shoot, Bonillas first looks to music to sonically “mimic the vibe” of his visual aspiration. Next, he peruses his preferred fashion magazines to solidify his creative direction. From there he will assemble a team, sharing Pinterest mood boards to navigate the visual execution of his idea. “My process is simple,” he divulged, “I obsess over a concept, assemble a team, and then have fun and get lost in the experience.”

“I am lucky enough to have a few stylists, makeup and hair artists that I can work with depending on what style I want for a shoot.

Sometimes stylists will approach me with a creative team,” Bonillas elaborated.

While New York City and Los Angeles are often viewed as ‘cream of the crop’ cities for artists to aspire toward, Bonillas feels that Phoenix offers “great opportunity”. “I’ve been talking to people, and the overflow from L.A. is, they think, starting to leak into the evergrowing city of Phoenix,” he explained.

Since ringing in the New Year, Bonillas has already shot three editorials that have been selected for publication. “I feel a shift in my style which is exciting,” he shared, “Like a musician, it is still my voice but a whole new album and sound.”

His foreseeable plans? Bonillas said exuberantly, “Onward and upward!”

156

inspadesmag.com

Canon EOS 5D Mark III camera, and Lightroom and Photoshop for editing

157

inspadesmag.com

BY JACLYN TRUSS

The Woven Tale of

Rachael Montemayor “I knew how to thread a bobbin before I learned to tie my shoelaces.”

Photos by

@kiddosoriano

@rachael_montemayor

159

inspadesmag.com

160

inspadesmag.com

R

aised in San Francisco in the 60’s, I can’t help but have bohemian blood. I currently reside in Bayou Vista, Texas, a short distance from Houston and Galveston Island, but growing up embedded in the counterculture of Haight and Ashbury in the 1960’s leaves its mark on a girl. My paternal grandmother had a tailor shop in San Francisco. Yes, she made all of my clothes. I remember playing behind her cast iron Singer sewing machine when I was little. I knew how to thread a bobbin before I learned to tie my shoelaces. Fabrics and buttons were my playgrounds during the times I spent with her. As an only child, I had to entertain myself. My 64 pack of Crayola pencil crayons with a built-in sharpener were my best friends. One summer I visited my maternal grandmother in Wyandotte, Michigan. She taught me to crochet. I made the biggest granny square.....ever.

Time went by and we moved to Point Reyes National Seashore in Northern California. This is where I went to high school. My playground then was a place of timeless beauty amongst giant redwoods poised on towering cliffs overlooking the untamed Pacific Ocean.

In the late 1990’s, the landscape changed to the big skies of Texas. As the millennium turned I decided to re-teach myself to crochet. All it took was a library book, a cheap ball of yarn, an old hook and two hours on the living room floor swearing and smiling interchangeably as I failed and succeeded. By then, you could say I was hooked.

Eventually, I learned to hand dye the wools and silks myself and then spin them on a traditional spinning wheel to produce oneof-a-kind art yarns. The yarns would then be knitted, crocheted, woven, felted and knotted into exquisite works of wearable art and home décor. I have never had any formal art training and some say that it’s a shame that I didn’t pursue an art education. I see it as a virtue! I don’t know the rules, therefore, I’m not afraid to break them. I am not restricted by guidelines. In fact, a lot of my work includes the phrase “what if?” What if I do this? What will happen? It opens up possibilities that hadn’t occurred to me before. Inevitably, while working on a project, a new idea will come to me. I try to capture it on paper. Every instinct tells me to drop the current project and run to start the new one...but I’d never complete a thing if I did that.

I work with plush fine white Merino wool from Australia, Shetland wool from the Shetland Islands, silk from India and any other fiber I can get my hands on. To dye the wool and silk, I fill large jars full of fiber and water with a touch of vinegar and top it off with a mixture of powdered dye. Then I leave the jars to sit on the dock in the sun for the day. I’m sure my neighbours wonder what on earth I’m doing with these multicolored jars lined up on the water’s edge. The process is much like making sun tea only with color! As the water heats in the sun, the dye drops down into the fiber in gorgeous patterns. In the evening the fibers are rinsed and hung to dry overnight.

163

inspadesmag.com

164

inspadesmag.com

To blend the different fibers and colours together and prepare the fibers to be spun into yarn, they are fed into a drum carder, a large rotating dual drum with spiked teeth, which disentangles and intermixes the fibers.

The fibers, once pulled through and aligned by the drum carder, are laid out straight, layering various colours together. Once the carding is complete, I am ready to begin spinning yarn.

The mixture of fiber and colours make for a brilliant display of richly textured art yarn. I enjoy mixing fiber and techniques within a single item to add interest and texture.

I’m currently designing for my 2017 summer line which I intend to call “Dune”. My vision is “stranded on a desert isle” and the materials I have chosen are spartan in their simplicity and natural beauty. Cotton crab line stained in coffee and tea (I am a barista at Starbucks by day so I am cozy with coffee stains!), local Galveston Island shells, bamboo stalks (which grow wild in the dunes) and local found feathers (vigorously cleaned) from beachcombing expeditions. The photo shoot for this line is scheduled to be on location on the shores of Galveston Beach and I am weaving, crocheting and knitting my conceptual vision into an island dune fantasy.

I have a love for nature’s rich textures and colours and they are a constant source of inspiration which is reflected in my fiber art.

My work evokes an emotional connection to me as an artist, as well as the wild beauty of a land that is at the core of my identity and my fiber art.

Rachael Montemayor sells her gorgeous handmade items by request and is working towards creating her masterpieces on a full-time basis. Her unique creations are also seasonally available at Tangerine Boutique on Post Office St. in Galveston, Texas. Montemayor is able to produce similar pieces of what you see here by request, but due of their artistic nature, each bespoke item is impossible to completely duplicate!

She ships internationally and accepts special orders and collaborations. Soon you will also be able to find her store on Etsy: sheepandhookfiber Montemayor can also be reached at the following contacts for orders and collaborations: Instagram @rachael_montemayor Twitter @sheepandhook Email spindriftgirl@att.net Phone 409-739-1353

166

inspadesmag.com

167

inspadesmag.com

Photographer: Ezekiel Inocencio (@zeikgraphic) MUA: Taylor Chausky (@taychoww) Model: Lucrece Summer (@summerlucrece) Stylist: Yasmim Ferreira (@yasmim.b.ferreira)

168

inspadesmag.com

Winner of the

Toronto Fashion Academy

Fashion Stylist Contest Brazilian fashion stylist, Yasmim Ferreira, cannot remember a time when she didn’t have an interest in fashion. Preferring only to dress up her dolls rather than actually play with them, Ferreira was infatuated with fashion from an early age, and it wasn’t long before she was even creating her own looks.

“In Brazil, it used to be pretty common to have your clothes made by a seamstress, so I spent a lot of time pouring over fashion magazines, piecing together the details I liked,” she recalled.

Having been exposed to the flavourful melting pots of Brazil and Canada, Ferreira has always been surrounded by many different ideas of fashion and the unique ways that different cultures use them. In an ongoing

169

inspadesmag.com

“Fashion is the primary channel of our expression: our current mood or a portable piece of art. It is our gateway to a daily and personal exercise of art.�

effort to experience the many facets of fashion in an ever-evolving way, Ferreira found that travelling the world offered her a diverse palate of fashionable tastes, creating for her a veritable feast of inspirations, both tangible and intangible.

“Fashion is an amazing communication tool, a single look can portray many messages or you can simply use it to convey beauty. In my work, most of the time we need the clothes to fit a particular idea, but sometimes I like to let myself be inspired by the pieces of clothing,” said Ferreira, “In these images seen here, the concept came together around the fake fur, its peculiar color and the luxurious feel of it.”

Now based in Toronto and attending the Toronto Fashion Academy, Ferreira attributes her recent successes to the school. “I’ve worked with some good names, like ELLE magazine, Girls Night Out wine and Redken,” said Ferreira, “The school gave me the tools I needed to put all of my knowledge into practice and they have great partners who challenge the students to be more creative each day.”

Her worldly advice to up and coming stylists?

“Please don’t be fooled into believing that fashion styling is all parties and glamour.

There is a lot of studying, practice and hard work that goes on behind the scenes before you can come to a place where the decisions look effortless. Also, don’t let your talent and ambitions turn you into a bad human being.

Be kind and respectful of all of the people you work with because, like you, they are all just trying to do good work.”

171

inspadesmag.com

Our new and upcoming video community showcases the best artists and creative talents the world has to offer!

Tune into the INSPADES YouTube Channel for exclusive interviews, behind-the-scene looks and stories about fascinating people and their spectacular creative genius!

We bring the creativity to you!

www.youtube.com/c/Inspadesmagazine