New World Notes

Incredible Squid Game Cosplay Imagery from the Second Life Community

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

You can always rely on Second Life residents to respond to cultural phenomena with pictures and activities that bring the key elements into SL. Ginger Chevalier’s “Front-Man Squid Game” seems an excellent introduction to residents’ homage to the streaming series that has taken the world by storm. I have not watched it, though, and my exposure has been limited to seeing plurks and tweets that say “OMG, Squid Game!” I got the impression that it’s pretty gory, so I am unlikely to watch it. Scary movies give me nightmares. 

This picture does a good job of showing a sort of hierarchy. These are the people with power. The one in black is clearly the leader, wearing a suit and a mask with human features while the others are in uniforms that seem designed to keep them anonymous as well as safe from liquid and gas hazards.  

“VIP Tiger Mask Squid Game” is another pic from Ginger and it’s lush. There is only the mask on a table with light shining on it and reflecting back. The simplicity makes it seem like a jewel. 

Next up: A scene based on the show's eerie paste Escher staircase -- now on sale in Second Life!

SL Blogger Tells Amazing Stories Through Images, And Includes Shopping Links to the Items He Used to Make Them!

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

“Jaqcuis” is the name of the blog and the avatar. Jaqcuis Encargues to be exact. I love this post Storytelling Comes to Live for its subtle approach to the coming frights and horrors of Halloween. The danger is foreshadowed in the text, “Oh dear, how uneasy I feel?” She’s not quite The Second Witch in Macbeth, but there is the “by the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes” feeling in the text and in her glance over the shoulder. And of course, every endangered fairy tale heroine deserves a good dress and headband. 

•  Headband: Luas Akali Headband Pink
• Outfit: UNA.LittleRedRidingHood FATPACK @ Itty Bitty Petite Comite 

For an inventive story post, click here:

Amazing Photos of an Avatar and His Second Life Horse

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

The Scarred Surgeon [fenrir.grayman] is a Second Life equestrian with a stream full of horse pics. I like “Getting Ready” because the preparation for riding is so important. I remember learning exactly how important it was when I was six and my brother gave me my first pony which he kept on his farm. He told me to press my knee on the horse’s belly when I tightened the cinch, but I thought he was kidding. So, I got up in the saddle, the pony sucked in her gut and my saddle slid upside-down dropping me neatly on the ground. Tricky critter. This horse looks well prepared and I get the saddle will not slide upside down. 

For more horses, click here:

Baihley Hurricane Started Shooting Second Life Fashion Photos, But Now Focuses More on Image Editing & Artistry

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

Baihley R. Hurricane takes fashion pics, but as she puts it, “I began taking photos in Second Life with the intention of focusing on fashion and style. But somewhere along the way I began caring less about what was worn in the photos and became more interested in the artistry and editing process.” You can see that in this headshot that is a fashion pic with credits (in the comments) but is more editorial than the usual blog pic. In this one, she desaturated all but her eyes and the butterflies, leaving these vibrant sparks of blue. It’s lovely. 

For more of her exploration, click here:

Sumptuous Virtual Home Décor Shopping Ideas From Forever Friday SL

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

“Forever Friday SL” is a blog by Malayaa Morningstar that has a strong focus on home decor, though there is some fashion mixed in. She posted Waking Up to Autumn on Monday. I love the coziness that is not one bit overstuffed with bric-a-brac. I love the curtains hiding the area under the bench. I imagine it is packed with shoe boxes. The nightstands are adorable, too. 

• MYSA [Dema Fairport] – Vila Collection Bed with Headboard (Fameshed ends October 27th)
• Dust Bunny [Noel Bunny] & Consignment [ValiantCo] Florence Bedroom nightstand & rug
• Llorisen [Elsa Wellesley} – Rosalyn – repurposed bench and discarded shutters

To see the house itself, click here:

Fantastic Photographs Featuring Second Life's Dark Fantasy, Cyberpunk, and Weird West Roleplay Communities

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

HotDog has a photostream full of ghoulish fun. I love his macabre pictures. Most of his work is for vendor pics for his eponymous store, but he also includes a few wonderful story-telling scenes. For example, “This way or that way?” suggests the meeting of two opposites on a road. He is an extreme ectomorph and she is an endomorph, he is formally dressed and she is anything but formal, a regular Jack Sprat and partner, but a picture that seems to be taken by someone who likes them both. There is a fondness for the people that comes through. 

For more, click here:

Today's SL Flickr Pick: Fashion & Flights of Fancy from Anja Mexicola

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

Anja Mexicola’s “Bouquet” is a lovely romantic picture. The background is one at the Backdrop Photo Dome, a place often used by bloggers who can use the backgrounds rezzed there but she did a great job using a filter to give the entire picture the feeling of being hand-painted. I love that she was not tempted to be too symmetrical placing the flowers and birds. She is not symmetrical either, her left arm and hand are visible with a billowing eyelet lace sleeve. One the one hand, it is exuberant with so many flowers and the birds, but then there is restraint in her colors. She’s smart in her choices. 

If you want to know why you should never have a mermaid roommate, click here:

Vivien DeLancoure's Vivid Goth / Dark Fantasy Avatar Portraits

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

Vivien DeLancoure’s “Sometimes time doesn’t heal wounds” brings together two very different aesthetics into a glorious union. On the one hand there is the baroque delicacy of the filigreed bird cages. Then there is the Steampunk/Goth fight-ready toughness of her boots and gloves, but she is not without her own baroque ornamentation as you can see in her corset. The contrasts are balanced and work so well. The birdcages are all empty suggesting several wounds that are still unhealed. I love the careful balance between the industrial elements and the baroque elements. It’s beautiful and her cast-down eyes create the emotional effect she intends. She also blogs and these items were the Engine Room event that ends October 20th.

To see extraordinary Dark Fantasy pics, click here:

Halloween in Second Life Style Tips from Victoria Konnor James

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

Victoria Konnor James' recent post Thirsty for her blog “Pretty Things, Nice Life” has me wanting those beautiful illuminated pumpkins in real life as well as first life. I mean, let’s get serious about pumpkins. I like roasting pumpkin seeds and will happily substitute pumpkin for potatoes in a stew or even make a pumpkin soup or two or three, but one good-sized pumpkin is about as much as I want at one time. Also, if you put out a pumpkin the first week of October, it passes it’s prime long before Halloween. But these pumpkins are so pretty and of course, they don’t smell of pumpkin 24 hours a day, not even 1 hour a day. I want them. Do they exist in real life? 

{vespertine}

• Illuminated Pumpkin – short /bloody blue
• Illuminated Pumpkin – short /zombie green
• Illuminated Pumpkin – tall /jack orange
• Illuminated Pumpkin – tall /neutral
• Illuminated Pumpkin – tall /zombie green

If you’re ready for the Halloween spirit, click here:

Marvel at These Maximalist Second Life Images by Ella Pavlona

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

Ella Pavlova is a maximalist. While many artists strive for minimalism or realism, a maximalist goes for excess. “More is more” might be the catch-phrase that defines maximalism, but that does not mean undisciplined or chaotic. Yes, she and the bluebird are surrounded by flowers but they curve around her, encircling her. They do not obscure her, though perhaps the bluebird is hard to see at first glance, but then, it is King Charmant visiting the imprisoned Princess Florine, who is, it seems, in a prison of flowers. Elle links to the exquisite Bluebird pas de deux from Sleeping Beauty. 

For more maximalist Ella, click here: