Cajsa’s Choices: The Second Life Art Nouveau of Jewel Appletor

"Friends" by Jewel Appletor

Cajsa Lilliehook covers the best in virtual world screenshot art and digital painting

When I look at Jewel Appletor’s SL images of Flickr, I am reminded of illustrations you might find in turn of the last century’s books, fashion and fiction illustrations that are romantic and rich in Art Nouveau ornamentation. I mistakenly assumed she did a lot of post-processing, but when I interviewed her for New World Notes, I discovered she creates this assemblage in world and photographs it. To say I am blown away is an understatement.

Appletor’s aesthetic grew out her pleasure in the many beautiful pieces she has collected from Second Life creators over the years. She puts them together “to tell a story that comes deep within her heart and soul” as she describes it. Though she began her SL photography by taking photos of her explorations, memorializing the sims she visited, once it occurred to her that she could put together her own tableaux, there was no looking back.

"If I Had Wings"

Appletor is another of the many SL residents whose life was profoundly altered by joining Second Life. This is where she met the man who eventually became her husband and the reason she moved from Canada’s West Coast to the U.S. east coast. A creative in her first life, she is pursuing her dream of couture fashion and window design. As you browse her photostream, where her physical and virtual tableaux are arrayed together, you see the continuity of her vision. While it’s expressed very differently, there is the same richness in ornamentation and affection for the romance of lace, flowers, and sumptuous details.

After the break, Jewel talks with me about her artwork in SL -- and how it led to meeting her RL husband:

Above: "Unity"

Where do you get your inspiration?

My inspiration comes from within, mostly from my own life experiences. Sometimes I get inspiration from world events such as the image 'UNITY' which stems from all the controversy in more recent months I've seen on the news or 'Weight of Society' and how just that, can have an impact on a person in the sense of anxiety or depression.

Most of my images show my overwhelming love of nature and flower design. I get excited seeing new designs from creators and wrap my head around how I can incorporate them into my image. I love a blank canvas but I also have my favorites which I keep going back to as well.

My mind is always overflowing with ideas. I rarely go searching for inspiration. I can look at one single object in a room and build on that if needed. I think I have had creative block maybe 3 times in my life.

What RL artists appeal to you?

What appeals to me is great composition, out of the ordinary, different, and unique pieces. I cannot pinpoint one specific artist whom I admire more than another.  When I was in my early teens and got my first camera I loved Ansel Adams and still have one of his first calendars that I packed with me in my move. Haha. I love anything botanical and if someone incorporates that botanical into fashion and then builds on that I truly admire as this is where I would love to be in life. :)

Even in her early years photographing sims, she had an innovative approach

The type of art I collect is not necessarily in an image form. I am an architectural salvage as well as nature collector (bee and bird nests, etc...) and build displays out of them.

How much is shot in SL and how much is done in digital painting, on average?

My images have very little effect after uploading. I tweak them in Photoshop to fix areas that are not fixable in SL such as body parts sticking out of clothing or softening hard edges, adjusting lighting a bit...not much digital painting really at all.

Your work reminds me of Alphonse Mucha...not the specific execution, but some of how you look at the world.

I do love Art Nouveau! Some have told me my work also reminds them of Gustav Klimt. Both amazing artists!

Can you pick a favorite picture and tell us a little about your inspiration and how you went about creating...not at tutorial level, but just a general idea.

This is one of my favorite images and is a big impact on my life:

"Touch" is one of Appletor’s favorite images

One morning in 2006 I woke up with something telling me to write this down. Three days later I had finished five children's verses. I had never written children's verses before or anything to do with children, it just happened. Since then, my verses spent four years on slush piles and all the while I was searching for an illustrator, but couldn't find anyone who could match what was in my head.

When I started making these images in SL I decided I wanted to make my own illustrations for my verses. After two years of gathering permissions from over 100 artists my book is ready to be published, but unfortunately finances have brought that to a halt. It's been eleven years since I wrote those verses. :( I truly believe they are meant to be read.

Like all my images I start with one object and build on that. I have the picture in my head so it is just a matter of moving the objects around until they are in the perfect position. Some objects need to be modified so an image can take anywhere from minimum three hours to four days to create depending on detail. If it takes more than four days I usually scrap it and start over. It's all about detail for me and If I cannot get it just right then it doesn't happen.

Mystchavos Aura with Jewel Appletor in SL

POSTSCRIPT:

Appletor met her husband in early 2010 when they were both relatively new SL residents. She went to check out a special edition motorbike released in honor of Canada Day and started chatting with the creator and never stopped. They have been together ever since. She got the bike for free and a partner for life, to boot.

They soon were flying back and forth from British Columbia to Rhode Island to meet and get introduced to the families. They soon realized they wanted to make it permanent. While both of them were willing to relocate, she decided to take the leap across the continent and the border to Rhode Island. Immigration is expensive and slow what with lawyers and application fees, so they sustained their relationship on Skype. She came to the US on a Fiance Visa which required them to marry within 3 months of her arrival. They’ve been together 3.5 years and are still working on immigration status, seeking a 10-year visal now.

Appletor laughs, ruefully, “ I think that is the way they test your true love because if you can make it through the paperwork, your relationship is golden.”

They spend less time in SL. “Mystchavos (Bill) I think has only been back in SL 3 times since I moved here, hahaha, but I still come in periodically to work on my images which I very much enjoy!...I love my husband and I love my life. Without Second Life we don't know what road we'd be on today. So a big Thank You to Second Life for helping us make our lives what they are today.”

Perhaps it is the joy that Second Life has brought to her life that makes her SL photos spark joy in those who see them. When talking of her work, she said, “If I can bring a smile to someone's face or a memory that touches their heart, my work is done. By that definition, she is definitely a success. Now someone needs to start digging in those slush piles.

Above: Mystchavos Aura with Jewel Appletor IRL

Cajsa Lilliehook joined Second Life in 2007 and has been enjoying the art of SL ever since. Disliking the common practice of critiquing poor photos, she decided to highlight good ones and explain why they work in hopes of inspiring with praise instead of criticism. Follow Cajsa on Flickr, on Twitter or on her blog.

Comments

[Roslin Petion]

Great piece, Cajsa. Thank you so much for sharing more about such a talented artist. I'm even more impressed with her work now that I know there's very little post-processing.

[Jewel]

Wow Cajsa, You are an amazing blogger and definitely deserve gold stars in my eyes! Thank you for sharing my art and life story so beautifully. <3 Blessed, Jewel

[Jewel]

If anyone would like to view my art In World, here is a landmark to The Lost Unicorn Gallery.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Faerie%20Tale/209/75/124

[YsabelleStewart]

Great piece, Casja! And those are beautiful images. Great backstory too with the real life changes Second Life brought.

[YsabelleStewart]

Jewel - just noticed the landmark for your artwork inworld. I will check that out!

[Pepa Cometa]

Thank you for this post Cajsa, I didn't know Jewel and it's a nice discovering for me. I love her beautiful and special work :)

[Jewel]

Thank you Ysabelle and Pepa for your wonderful compliments! <3

[Jewel]

Thank you for your compliments Roslin and sorry I missed it the first time! I was overly excited I think. Lol