Alice in Wonderland: The Mad Hatter

"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--
Of cabbages--and kings--
And why the sea is boiling hot--
And whether pigs have wings." - Lewis Carroll

"There is a place, like no place on earth. A land full of wonder, mystery, and danger. Some say, to survive it, you need to be as mad as a hatter. Which, luckily, I am." - The Mad Hatter

I'd like to think that a lot of who I am is based on the Mad Hatter. My uncontrollable love of tea. My absolute need for my very weird tea kettle. There is no practical electric kettle in this household. No siree. My need to be myself and my joy on the reaction of others on how much of myself I am. I strive on not being 'normal' but hilariously it's normal to me. I couldn't see myself any other way. I'm really glad that I'm a weirdo.

It really takes a lot of courage to be yourself even in this day and age. I just got blue hair a week and some change ago and got asked to do a modelling job for Armani. I told them my hair was blue now and that I could do it up all fancy like. It's just hair. I haven't heard back yet. I'll let you know.

"Trust me. I know a thing or two about liking people, and in time, after much chocolate and cream cake, 'like' turns into 'what was his name again?'." - Mad Hatter

There's not a day that goes by where I can walk out the door and see the vast majority of people who look exactly the same. The world is full of trends whether it be beauty or fashion or lifestyle and everyone gets so caught up in it. And if you like it and that's who you are all the power to you. I'd never want to take away the happiness of others or the comfort that they have in their own skin. I'm just saying if that's not you have courage and just go for it. There is nothing more beautiful then seeing a smile on someones face when they love who they are.

To give you an idea of who I am. If this blog hasn't already given away that much. I'm a twenty-seven year old woman with bright blue hair and undercuts. I wear dresses and skirts in the summer because I really loathe pants. On some occasions I leave the house with a unicorn horn. If I run out of time like yesterday when I borrowed the clothes for this shoot. I go and drop them off looking like the Mad Hatter. I freak people out sometimes but mostly I get smiles and pictures taken of me and I've made someones day. And really that's a wonderful thing. If my 'weirdness' can turn someones day a little brighter I'm very happy to be me.

"Have you any idea why a raven is like a writing desk?" - Mad Hatter

When I was younger I was asked, if you could be anyone in the world who would you be? I sat there forever and I really didn't know how to answer. I felt really uncomfortable with the question. At the time I wasn't completely me. It was high school and I think the majority of people are trying to find themselves. It took me until I moved away from home all the way across the country when I become much more muchier. I think my answer back then should have been me but more. It should never be someone else. Everyone has something amazing to offer and you debilitate yourself by wanting to be someone else. I want to be me in all my ridiculous glory with all my faults and troubles and all my talents and aspirations.

So, a tip of the hat to all of you. Have courage today and do something completely you. Be free and open to a complete metanoia. Let your spirit soar in transformation. Become the butterfly you were always meant to be.

"Of course not. This is an unbirthday party." - Mad Hatter

Products used:

Foundation: Kat Von D lock-it foundation in Light 44 and MAC Face and Body Foundation in White AC3.

Contour: City Color Be Matte Blush in Fresh Melon.

Highlight: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade.

Blush: Nars Deep Throat Blush.

Eyes: Morphe Brushes Eyeshadow Palette 35E and some MAC shadows I never labelled before I depotted them. Probably limited edition. I think one was from Heatherette...

Lashes: MAC Lash Mixing Medium mixed with Morphe Brushes Eyeshadow Palette 35E. As Well as, Make Up Forever Artistic Lashes 110 and Lash Show C-807.

Brows: MAC Lash Mixing Medium mixed with MAC Eyeshadow in Rule.

Lips: Jeffree Star Hoe Hoe Hoe overlayed with Naked Cosmetics in #HE-02.

Wig: Powder Room D Flame Lace Front Wig.

Clothes: Borrowed from Hunter & Hare Consignment at 334 West Pender, St Vancouver.

Cup and Chair: L'Atelier Home on 452 West Cordova St, Vancouver.

Book: Of course my copy of Alice in Wonderland.

"Yes, that's it! It's always tea time." - Mad Hatter

Alice in Wonderland: The Blue Caterpillar

So far, everything that I've posted has been influenced by close family. I guess I can give some credit to early childhood fairy tales and Disney but I never watched Alice in Wonderland as a child nor did I hear of the book. I've always been interested in fairy tales and have read a staggering amount of them but it wasn't until I was in high school that I read Alice in Wonderland.

There is so much imagination crammed into Alice in Wonderland that is so hard to find. See, I love to read. There's really not a day that goes by where I don't read at least twenty pages of something or other whether it be book, or magazine, comic, or dare I say it fanfiction. Sorry, not sorry. Every time I open a book though it's like jumping into another world. And every time I finish a single novel or series it's always like saying goodbye to dear friends. There are very few books that transport me to such a topsy-turvy fantastical place where everything is just a step to the left and a little bit backwards and yet resonates on such a profound level in my soul.

I can't say that the only exposure to Alice was the book and the first time I read it. Though it meant much more to me after I did. My Mum's favourite song is 'White Rabbit' by Jefferson Airplane and written by Grace Slick. If you haven't heard it, it is a psychedelic wonder to the senses and it is a beautiful journey to be on.

I guess my Mum did introduce me to Alice indirectly. I should probably return the favour by letting her borrow the book. We can both be the influences this time.

Anyway, the blue caterpillar or Absolem in the films is a hookah smoking caterpillar of profound wisdom and sight. With a shocking vocabulary for one so small. But that's the joy of Alice. Great things come in any size and from any place.

I want to do something a little different for this post because Alice in Wonderland has had such a drastic impact on my life and who I am now. So let's do this I guess:

It was with great pleasure and a bit of remorse that the caterpillar awoke for the day because there is a great many adventures that can happen during a day but also a question of what may come of dreams. And of course caterpillar do dream.

Don’t be silly.

Caterpillars dream of the sky and flying. Of reaching heights they’ve never known and seeing if the sky is really that blue. The caterpillar wondered if the sky was as blue as it was. Of course if a caterpillar can dream it can also think and this particular caterpillar was very wise.

It had much to say on daily events. Creatures came from far and wide to hear its great wisdom. They just had to beware the smoke. For a hookah smoking caterpillar said a lot more than a regular blue caterpillar. And he had quite a bit to say.

Today, he would have a surprising adventure. Today, he would meet a three inch tall, pink skinned, little thing in blue garments. And he definitely had quite a bit to say. The most important being:

“Who are you?”

Products used:

Foundation: Kat Von D lock-it foundation in Light 44.

Contour: Make Up Forever Artist Shadow Palette ME-230 and Stila Eyes Are The Window Shadow Palette Sapphire.

Highlight: Make Up Forever Star Powder 90944.

Blush: Make Up Forever Artist Shadow Palette D-236.

Eyes: Make Up Forever Artist Palette ME-230 and D-236 Stila Eyes Are The Window Shadow Palette Sapphire, Aquamarine, and Moonstone.

Lashes: Make Up Forever Smoky Lash.

Brows: Make Up Forever Artist Shadow Palette ME-230 mixed with MAC Lash Mixing Medium.

Lips: Jeffree Star Blue Velvet mixed with Jawbreaker and Druglord topped with Make Up Forever Star Powder 90944.

Who Are You?

X-Men Apocalypse: Psylocke

There's a story on why Psylocke is a character close to my heart. She wasn't prevalent in any of the cartoons I watched and it took me until my teen years to get into the comics. Plus, it's really hard to start something when it was started in 1963 and I'm a person who needs to begin at the start. You should have seen my disappointment at Doctor Who. But that's a story for another time.

When everyone my age was collecting Pokemon cards and I had no money for them so I drew my own like a little weirdo. My brother had just started getting into Overpower cards with his friends. Now I can bring up Overpower cards to ninety percent of the people I know and they'll have no idea what I'm talking about. To the ones that do a very merry cheers to you friend. Come and lets talk about this small joy of the universe. No, for real. Let's talk.

So, to the people who don't know, Overpower cards were comic based cards and there were actual tournaments that took place so it was a legit card game. Most of what I learned about characters started with these cards. My brother taught me how to play and I was soon hooked but what really got me was all the characters. I'd go through the binders of cards to "build my deck" when in reality I was looking at the art on the cards and getting fascinated by certain characters. One of them was Psylocke. It was one of those love at first sight for the absolute aesthetics of her.

Of course, I had to learn all about her. Elizabeth "Betsy" Braddock a.k.a Psylocke has quite the story behind her. What got to me when I was younger was that she had been "bodyswapped" into the badass ninja-esque body that I'd fallen in love with. And she's stuck there. Her previous body was dead. Talk about body dysmorphic disorder. It always made me sad to think about but it's not like any story comic wise has a pleasant history.

To be completely honest i don't know why she's in the movie. She seems like a huge filler character with no plot whatsoever. She's really cool looking and that's it. I hope people who see the movie actually take the time to read up on her and not just think she's cool looking. There's too much awesome behind those looks to let it go overlooked.

Without further ado let's get to this fard.

Products used:

Foundation: Kat Von D lock-it foundation in Light 44

Contour: Morphe Brushes 9BZ Palette

Highlight: Make Up Forever Face Contour Kit 1

Blush: Nars Deep Throat

Eyes: Morphe Brushes Palette 35E Stila Eyes Are The Window Shadow Palette in Amethyst and moonstone as well as Make Up Forever Aquaseal for the liner.

Lashes: Make Up Forever Smoky Lash.

Brows: Stila in the know palette colour in rain.

Lips: Jeffree Star I'm Royalty with Morphe Brushes Palette 35E Shadows

Up Next: Alice in Wonderland. If you have any suggestions for future themes or just want to geek out with me hit me up with a comment or e-mail me at artistry@nicoletessela.com

X-Men Apocalypse: Mystique

This is probably my great big start into geek culture. Well, X-Men the animated series in the 90s. It was my introduction via my older brother that quickly spiraled into a massive accumulation that probably now scares him. But yeah, this is what shaped me as a person. X-Men cartoons, my brother, and that geek spiral. I've gone through it all. None of the genres have been safe.

The Age of Apocalypse was always quite frankly the most doomed of the timelines. The amount of possible destruction done by one man and the overwhelming fear that it triggered in humanity was catastrophic. Every new X-Men movie that was announced my brother would turn to me and say "it better be Apocalypse". 

It finally happened! Please don't screw it up. It's a cherished childhood memory you could be ruining!

I think in a few months time I'm going to be amazed at how many characters are blue. There were four looks for this movie I could have chosen from that were blue. This time votes were in for me to do a Mystique look. The answer was of course I'm doing Mystique. She's practically who I am with her ever morphing features.

I was a little upset with her look in X-Men Days of Future Past. The character was done entirely different then all the other movies. Even First Class. The look was so much less satisfactory. I haven't been watching the Apocalypse trailers that closely because they always add in something that gives the plot away.

I'm a big fan of comic book Mystique. The movie version just can't match up. There's just so much backstory that makes her amazing and in the movies all you really get is a brief glimpse. So, the inspiration for this look was more based on the comics with a little addition from the movies.

Products used:

Foundation? How I got my skin this shade: Kat Von D lock-it foundation in Light 44 mixed with Make Up Forever Flash Palette Turquoise 000 as well as Kryolan Rubber Mask grease Paint in 091

Contour: Naked Cosmetics #HE-06 and Kryolan Aqua

Highlight: Stila Cosmetics Eyes Are The Window Shadow Palette Aquamarine

Eyes: Make Up Forever Artist Shadow Palette ME-930 I-918 as well as Kryolan Aqua

Lashes: Make Up Forever Smoky Lash.

Brows: Make Up Forever Artist Shadow Palette ME-930

Lips: Jeffree Star in Redrum

Keep an eye out for the next mutant look later this week.

Captain America Civil War: Iron Man

First off, sorry for how long this took. I had quite the illness I had to get over that put me back a few paces. All is well again. So without further ado, I present you with "Tonya Stark" aka Iron Man. The genderbending continues on this weeks installment of Civil War with the woman of red and gold.

I'm never going to have the absolute charisma of Robert Downey Jr and how he is most definitely Tony Stark in real life. I don't think anyone can deny that. I tried to bring a little of the movie into this look. The more emotional side mind not the battle hardened side. If you haven't seen the movie yet I can highly recommend it. I promise not to give any spoilers. And if I do, well be sure to unfollow me on any platform because that is complete and utter blasphemy.

I wanted to bring this look back to Tony's roots. In his lab making robots all covered in grease and dirt being a genius. And he's working so hard to just not think about anything that plagues him by putting all his efforts into manual labour.

It's a look into a Tony who has lost so much but is at that place where he has to be strong. To hide all of himself behind sarcasm and jokes a very thin veneer to mask his heart and vulnerability. Hopefully I conveyed that if only just a little bit.

Products used:

Foundation: Kat Von D lock-it foundation in Light 44

Contour: Morphe Brushes 9BZ Palette

Highlight: Make Up Forever Face Contour Kit 1

Blush: Nars Deep Throat

Bronzer: MAC Global Glow Mineralize Skinfinish

Eyes: Stila in the know palette in ebony as well as Doucce Cosmetics ultra precision eyeliner 500

Lashes: Make Up Forever Smoky Lash.

Brows: Stila in the know palette colour in earth.

Lips: Jeffree Star in Posh Spice

Wig: Lacey Costume Wigs

Arc Reactor: Think Geek. It's a coaster.

Next week, technically this weeks theme is X-Men. Stay Tuned for some mutants. If you have any requests do please email me at artistry@nicoletessela.com.

Captain America Civil War: "Stephanie" Rogers

Welcome to week two. Captain America Civil War. I'll be making some interesting choices this week as there's not many woman I can portray. So, sit back and enjoy a week of genderbending.

I've been waiting for this moment. I enjoy the Captain America movies (well mostly all superhero movies with some noted exceptions) and this one looks epic. Marvel is really stepping up the game to a beautifully large collaboration. It kinda reminds me of those huge Marvel character spreads that were Where's Waldo like in character intensity. 

We all know what happens in the comics. At least I hope we do. Spoilers: I'm not going to tell you. Let's just hope that the movie deviates a little for some mystery. I know some people get annoyed when movies take creative license from subjects that they love but if you know everything that's coming how exciting would it really be? I like to think of it as having two separate mediums you can enjoy. Sometimes more!

I decided to bring Captain America back to the 40s and make him a woman. I drew inspiration from the time period and one Peggy Carter. It was a very fun experiment turning a morally upright man into a confident lady.

Products used:

Foundation: Kat Von D lock-it foundation in Light 44

Contour: Morphe Brushes 9BZ Palette

Highlight: Make Up Forever Face Contour Kit 1

Blush: Nars Deep Throat

Bronzer: MAC Global Glow Mineralize Skinfinish

Eyes: Stila in the know palette earth, desert, wind, air. MAC warm neutral warm breeze and gingersnap. Elizabeth Mott Glitterati liquid eyeliner

Lashes: Make Up Forever Smoky Lash. Red Cherry Lashes.

Brows: Stila in the know palette colour in rain.

Lips: Jeffree Star in Hoe Hoe Hoe

Wig: Lacey Costume Wigs

Necklace: My mom made it

Fascinator: Made by me.

The Captain America shield fascinator is one of the gifts at the end of the month so if it's something that you want email or comment me.

Game of Thrones: Daenerys Targaryen

First and foremost, I hope everyone is excited for episode two and that this provides enough added excitement.  Daenerys has always been one of my favourite characters so of course I was going to be inspired to do an interpretation for the final look of the week.

I love how she's portrayed in the show by Emilia Clarke. She always has this look of vulnerability that hides this startling fierce ruthlessness. She's powerful because she's respected in a way that none of the other characters are. Generally, for her humility and strong moral values. Plus, dragons. Dragons are always a big win. 

I wanted to show her with the layers stripped away. The vulnerable surface with the ruthless interior. So, I decided to bring it back to when she grew her backbone with the Dothraki and show the mother of dragons as a bit of a dragon herself. This also happens to be when my favourite moment of the show occurs. Viserys being doused with melted gold. Such a wonderful moment.

"Let the priests worry about 'good' and 'evil'. I'm giving them a choice: they can live in my new world, or they can die in their old one." - Daenerys

Products used:

Foundation: Kat Von D lock-it foundation in Light 44

Contour: Morphe Brushes 9BZ Palette

Highlight: Make Up Forever Face Contour Kit 1

Blush: Nars Deep Throat

Bronzer: MAC Global Glow Mineralize Skinfinish

Eyes (Human): MAC Eye Shadow Warm Neutral Gingersnap, Vanilla Extract and Brule

Eyes (Dragon: Make Up Forever Flash Palette Black 011, Naked Cosmetics DB-06, MAC Amber Lights, Make upForever Glitters #14, Skone Cosmetics Tattooed Waterproof Eyeliner

Lashes: Make Up Forever Smoky Lash

Brows: Stila in the know palette colour in rain.

Lips: Jeffree Star in Weirdo and Posh Spice with Make Up Forver Glitters #14

Wig: Lacey Costume Wigs Veronica

Necklace: Guess

Leather Bodysuit: Made by me.

"I am Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, of the blood of Old Valyeria. I am the dragon's daughter, and I swear to you that those who would harm you will die screaming." - Daenerys

Next week's theme is Captain America: Civil War. The Game of Thrones week prize will be in the May giveaway for a super starter box. So, get in your comments for a chance to win!

Game of Thrones: The White Walkers

The second installment of Game of Thrones week is the White Walkers. I've wanted to do a White Walker look for awhile now. I also wanted to see if I could self apply a bald cap to a satisfying standard. I apparently can. That knowledge makes future endeavors far less daunting.

I remember the first glimpse of a White Walker in the show and being a little disappointed. The fact that they're evolving into this frightening force every time they are reintroduced on the other hand makes me very happy. I was inspired for this look more so from the appearance of the White Walker in the massacre of Hardhome and also by the discussion of George R.R Martin that the others are strange and beautiful. Think of the Sidhe made of ice, inhuman, elegant, and dangerous.

The White Walkers are especially interesting as they are old story book legends come to life. I like to think of some of the myths from around the world and what that would be like if they were real. It's a terrifying thought. It never mattered what time period. People always told horror stories or at least made up creatures that would be a cautionary tale.

To achieve this look I made my own bald cap out of latex stippled onto a redhead and powdered with a colourless powder to stop any of it sticking. If you are allergic to latex there are other options such as a vinyl called watermelon or a plastic cap. Always do a spot check to see if you're allergic to anything. Special effect makeups have a few more safety requirements then normal makeups. Make sure you know how products react with your skin as well as being extra careful around any orifices. Safety first!

I wrapped my hair back with a wig cap as I wasn't going to be wearing the cap longer then just a few pictures. If it was for something important or a full day I would've done a wig cap wrap and stuck my hair down until it was flat as can be. To glue the cap down I used prosaide and to melt away the pesky edges of the cap I used a 50/50 mix of 99% alcohol and spirit gum. It might not always work as well as you desire if the caps edges are too thick.

To take away my brows I used prosaide cream. It's easiest for me to use even if the removal takes a bit longer. For the raised edges I used bondo and blended that out with water. Lastly for the texture I stippled over a layer of latex.

"The cold gods. The ones in the night. The white shadows." -Gilly

So, products used:

Bald cap: Latex

Powder: RCMA No-Colour Powder

Adhesive: Prosaide and a 50/50 99% alcohol spirit gum mix

Brows: Prosaide cream

"Scars": Bondo

Face Colour: Kryolan alcohol palettes and rubber mask grease paint

Added colour effects: Stila in the know palette

contacts: 9mm spfx contacts

If you have any questions email me at: artistry@nicoletessela.com