Tag Archives: creativity

you look horrible and you need makeup

2 Apr

Just kidding.

LOL!

LOL!

You do not, and no, you do not.  I’m just kinda tired of reading shite like this, to be honest.

“How do we get off this carousel of crazy standards and obscene expense?… Women’s doubts, insecurities and downright self-loathing will always be the most potent fuel.”

Give us a little more credit, jeeeeez.

I don’t put makeup on myself or other people because human faces are so gross that I can’t deal with them bare.  I don’t spend money I don’t have on £40 lipsticks because I believe on some level that it will transfer some of Beyonce’s magic onto me, and nor should you.  My own laziness – ie NOT my self-loathing – dictates how much makeup I (don’t) put on in the mornings.

I think we’re all aware that the media and the fashion and cosmetics industries are evil giants blah blah blah.  I can’t speak for everyone obviously; perhaps you DO sob in the mirror every morning, applying your lipstick, heart heavy with the sheer misery of not looking like Emma Watson.

Just saying, I really like makeup and I don’t think it’s because I’m insecure.  I enjoy the art of makeup, I am intrigued by the craft and the science of it too.  I don’t paint Ziggy-Stardust style makeup on myself because I want to swap my face for David Bowie’s.  I just really like the creative, transformative, expressive nature of it.  ‘Sfun.

It’s my big-girl version of how I used to tie a towel around my neck as a cape and pretend to be a superhero (I actually had a Superwoman colouring in book as a kid, and one of the super things she did was cleaning.  I’m not even kidding.  Obviously this attempted brain-washing had the reverse effect.)

Anyway.  Makeup.  Not expensive self-harm.  A creative expression, with a temporary nature.  Actually, that’s my favourite thing about makeup – it comes off.

Thank fuck.

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I think I look a bit like Paul Stanley here.

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cool shit, second edition

9 Dec

Or, a love letter to Irish makeup artist Maria Malone. (www.instagram.com/mariamalone1122 – twitter @mersartmakeup)

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Bob Marley

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Robert DeNiro

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Elvis

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Jack Nicholson

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Marlon Brando

HELL’S BELLS, that is some amazing face painting right there.  Mad skillz, Maria (I really hope that is your name, I just kind of assumed from your Instagram name…) – I want to be like you when I grow up *Admiration and disbelief face*

Keep practicing, Imo.  One day, grasshopper.

In other news, I’m in love.

no, not with myself. OK, I am, a little bit.

no, not with myself. OK, maybe I am, a little bit.

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This guy!  My new gadget, my first DSLR.  Scream!  Regular readers will be aware that I have a pretty jizz-worthy collection of photographic hardware… all of it analogue, except my Samsung smartphone and the new Nikon.

Where the love affair with analogue photography got serious; the first camera I owned that wasn't disposable. My NIkon FG, a gift from my parents on my 19th birthday. Sexual 70s strap came along years later, pilfered from my Olympus OM10

Where the love affair with 35mm film photography got serious; the first camera I owned that wasn’t disposable. My NIkon FG, a gift from my parents on my 19th birthday. Sexual 70s strap came along years later, pilfered from my Olympus OM10

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THE Fisheye. Watermelon print, cos that’s how we roll here at imogenmaxwell.com
get your own (but not watermelon, stop copying me, also they were limited edition and they don’t sell them any more, HA) from Urban Outfitters in the UK, or http://www.lomography.com for all you international flogstars

Anyway, welcome to the Imosphere, Nikon D3200, I look forward to making you my bitch.

And Dad, if you’re reading this and cross-checking Amazon for roughly how much I spunked on this, can I just say most of my student loan went on clearing my overdraft and credit card, and paying my rent right up until March.  And I NEEEEEEEDED it, amazing photos for my professional portfolio aren’t going to take themselves! 😉

You might think I’m about to sign off with Girls On Film, but I have an irrational hate for Duran Duran.  I would elaborate if I could, but I really can’t explain it.  So instead, not photography related, also not my usual 80s hair/glam metal crapfest, but glorious nonetheless.  Here are the Troggs, With A Girl Like You, cos it’s my favourite love song today.


Sweet dreams, lovers Xx

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imminent wig assessment

2 Oct

My original concept was actually quite demure.  It was inspired by a steel-grey bob wig, possibly the most unsexual thing you might imagine.  When Sinead tried it on,  teamed with her catseye glasses it somehow came alive and my idea was born; I’d use her as my model for my first wig assessment, headmistress-inspired shoot in the library, keep the makeup very simple, have her holding a book and a coffee mug, take a nice classy photo and be done with it.

I pitched this idea to my tutor and within moments it had escalated to something rather more hardcore, including a suggestion that perhaps we could (and I quote) ‘lure a young man in from the corridor’ and get a photo of him bent over Sinead’s knee while she wields a ruler ‘or other spanking device such as a hardcover book’ about his rear end.  Well I never!

hopefully not.

hopefully not.

The idea has (d)evolved further and now bears absolutely no resemblance to its original form.  Even the wig may be different.  Carissa is now my model.  I just had to message Chloe asking where the skin-tight pink power suit is (in the same bag as the Boy George shirt and the kimono).  Things have taken a sharp turn towards… sexy secretary who just happens to be in the library.

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“Amateurs.”

So that’s all happening tomorrow.  After the wigwork, Carissa and I will be heading out on the town, off to rock you like a hurricane, Glasgow.  Only one more decision to make today – do I wear the gold foil leopard print trousers, the blue foil snakeskin, the pink leopards, or the green snakeskin?

Here’s Reckless Love to ring in the weekend early, relevant because that’s who Carissa and I are seeing tomorrow, and because there’s some rather spectacular wigwork in this video.  Enjoy, and happy weekend lovers!

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