By now I know my camera pretty well and the ideal times of day to use it, but sometimes I enjoy playing around with settings, especially when I decide to shoot right smack dab in the middle of the day, in front of water reflecting so much light it becomes so backlit you just look like a black silhouette. Such was the case this day, so I had to adjust my settings quite a bit which resulted in grainy photos. But, I kind of like it. They have a very nostalgic quality to them that only analog cameras seem to capture. A fitting vibe for an outfit I feel like would be worn by an old timey gondolier in Venice…although I guess I don’t have the stripes to make it a true rendition, but the colour combination, plus the boater hat are quite reminiscent of the whole look and that’s the whole fun of getting dressed anyways- it is what you make of it, which I guess is true for photography as well…you find inspiration, take what you are given and make it your own.
Blouse: boutique in MTL (can’t remember the name…sorry!)
Skirt, hat, shoes: thrifted vintage
Tag: fblogger
Paint Nite
Last week myself and 3 friends were invited to attend Paint Nite, a nightly 2 hour (roughly) event that blends artistic painting and drinking cocktails (or whatever you want) at local bistros in Toronto and the GTA. It’s lead by a performing artist who guides everyone in the class step by step through blank canvas to “masterpiece”. I must admit, when I first got the invite I wasn’t so sure about it. I mean, I cannot paint, or at least I thought I could not. But Paint Nite specifically boasts that you need no skill whatsoever, which left me feeling a little more reassured. When we got to the class we were seated together, each with a blank canvas in front of us, oil paints in blue, red, yellow, black and white, two paint brushes and an apron. The painting we were to paint that evening was “white tulips”, which I knew ahead of time because you can choose which event you attend based on the painting, day or location you prefer. The thing that is really nice about this event is that you have total creative freedom – you can follow the teacher’s instructions as much or as little as you like. I mostly followed every instruction given, just mixing colours how I preferred, but Ryan painted something totally from his own imagination, so that gives you a good idea of how much freedom and choice you have.
I came away from the evening feeling pretty proud. I don’t think I had picked up a paint brush since I was a child, let alone actually paint something I felt was pretty decent looking. I’ve always felt like a creative person – I dance and choreograph pieces, I write and I’m clearly into photography, but I have always shied away from arts like drawing and painting; it often feels like a skill set I just don’t have. But this sort of showed me that if given some direction, it is likely something I could learn to be decent at. I doubt I’ll ever become a painter, but this opportunity has made me interested in trying some other art forms…I’ve now done pottery and painting…I wonder what’s next?!
If you are interested in giving Paint Nite a go (and I really think you should) I am offering 35% off with the code INSTA. You can book online here.
*I was given 4 complimentary tickets to Paint Nite in exchange for social media posts, but all thoughts and opinions are my own, obvs
Beauty / Think Pink
This was originally going to be a tutorial for the makeup I’m wearing, but the weather was so shit (i use natural light…another reminder that I desperately need a lighting kit), it was just not bright enough out to get clear, good quality photos. So, I just went with it, as you do when things don’t go as planned.
Pink is my favourite color (I’m sure you guessed that already), so it only felt natural to create a totally pink look to go with this new dress I received from Family Affairs (don’t worry, you’ll get a full outfit post of this gem soon). I covered my lids in a pretty shimmery pink and white shadow, did away with my normal cat liner for something more subtle, used a rosey blusher on my cheeks, gave my lips a nice pop of peach, and swiped some pink and mint on my nails for added cheery effect.
It only makes sense when creating a sweetly feminine (I use that term loosely, because what does feminine really look like anyway?) look, that I’d pair all pink with my rag curls (tutorial here) tied into a high ponytail and topped off with a matching hair bow. A fun look that I’m considering wearing for my birthday this weekend ❤
*Dress c/o Family Affairs; Bow vintage via Victory Mills
Genus, humanus…Alice
I had some definite troubles picking an outfit on this day (don’t you hate when that happens?!), but finally when I came to a decision, it only felt appropriate to adorn myself in a floral dress while surrounded by the beautiful flower gardens at Scadding Cabin. It’s hard to believe this cabin -with a rich history dating back to 1794 – is within the city and just a hop skip and a jump away from Lake Shore Blvd (an arterial road in Toronto). While I love the city for all it’s metropolitan glamour, my favourite spots are always the ones that are surrounded by nature, which is why a lot of my photographs end up being in the more natural spots of Toronto…spots you probably wouldn’t even recognize as Toronto. Although, I will be honest, I do get sick of all the green-ness (the actual colour green, not greenery, I could never get sick of greenery irl) in my photographs, so it’s always good to switch it up a bit and shoot in the more urban spots of my beloved city. But today, we’ve got a whole lot of green (and blue).
Do you live in a big city? Where are your favourite spots to escape the hustle and bustle?
Dress, hat, shoes: vintage
Socks: Target
Beauty / 60s Makeup
It was only a matter of time before I decided to share a 60s makeup look. It’s honestly a bit more eye makeup than what I’m used to wearing, but it really reminds me of the makeup I used to do back in my goth days. I don’t know what it is about this very Twiggy-esque look, but it makes you want to pull all kinds of silly facial expressions…mostly surprised and sad ones. Maybe it’s the drawn on lower lashes that make the eyes so expressive, which makes the rest of your face want to follow suit… anyway, I dare you to try this look and not make a silly face, it’s impossible.
Shirt & hat: vintage; Shorts: F21 (similar, similar); Bow tie: handmade
GET THE LOOK
– start by priming your lids, then apply white or cream coloured shadow to your top lid; I used this primer and this shadow palette
– using a liner pencil, draw a black line all the way along your crease, from the very inner corner to the outer, making it as pronounced as you like. then with a black shadow fill out the crease and blend so you create a softer smokey eye; I used a shadow from the same palette above
– using a liquid liner make a cat-eye and join it to your crease at the end; i used this liquid liner
– with a black pencil liner draw singular lashes on your bottom lid, fanning outward, just the way your natural lashes do
-apply mascara and curl those lashes with a lash curler and then add even more mascara. if you want to get extra crazy, you could add fake eyelashes to enhance the look; I used this mascara
– apply a nude or light lip colour; I used a combination of this lipstick (in shade 14) and this gloss (in apricot pucker)
*see more of my beauty posts here.
okay andie 
