Welcome to the first look for my self love series!
The first phase I want to share with you is what I could consider my “hippie/raver” phase.
2013, I had asked to do a “Janis Joplin inspired” shoot.
photographer: Meagan Abell
THE BACKSTORY:
These years made up the last two years I was in college. I had always been a diligent student all throughout my life. High marks throughout high school, got into the college I wanted with early admission, and always held education at the highest priority.
But honestly I was on my way to being burnt out. My parents were proud of my accomplishments; I was on the precipice of graduating and a career in mental health. I felt no excitement anymore, and it felt like I was just going through the motions.
I came home to Virginia for the summer after my junior year at college and got in touch with some old friends from high school. One in particular had been hearing about these music festivals where attendees would come out to these big empty fields, set up a tent, and dance and meet new people all weekend. The idea was so scary and intimidating for me at first. At the same time it was so enticing. It was something I never thought I would do because it was so opposite of everything from my experiences at that point. I decided to go.
THE IMPACT:
That weekend changed my life. I met so many people from all different walks of life. People that could so freely just live in that moment, genuinely enjoy music and each other’s company. It was like all guards were down, people watched out for each other and shared their supplies and shelter if one was without. I felt like I was in my own version of Woodstock and it was liberating. It opened up a new level of consciousness for me.
When I came home I wanted to emulate more of this in my life. I relaxed a little, I was open to more experiences and delved into astrology as a means to discover more about the complexities of my personality. When the time came to return to school, I continued to go to music festivals and raves (safely, of course). I fell in love with all of the color, the costumes people would wear, and the liberation of no holds barred self expression. This time of my life really solidified the belief for me that everyone has a right and space to express themselves exactly as they choose (and I still managed to graduate college in the top 15% of my class).
ART INFLUENCES:
I discovered and fell in love with Art Nouveau as an art movement around this time because it physically encapsulated all that I felt from this time. It is aesthetically beautiful, pulls design aspects from nature, and has a movement and flow to it that represents life itself. I was learning at this time to go more with the ebb and flow of life and to appreciate the beauty in everything that presented itself to me.
I also really fell in love with Janis Joplin. Her emotion was so palpable, her voice so raw without the frill of music “niceties”. She was the embodiment of living and expressing herself so authentically during her lifetime. The same could be said of Amy Winehouse, who I also started in heavy rotation on my playlist around this time.
BEHIND THE MAKEUP:
When I started this look, I wanted to incorporate the free flowing line work in Art Nouveau and the colorful palette from the raves I went to. Since these two worlds collided for me at the same time, I wanted to take elements from both and make one look out of them. I used a touch of blush colored eyeshadow for the cheeks, under the chin, and across the nose for that nostalgic summer sun-kissed touch.
2020
PRODUCTS USED:
Suva Beauty Hydra Liner in “Space Panda”
Anastasia Beverly Hills Norvina Mini Pro Pigment Palette Vol. 1
Juvia’s Place The Tribe palette
Pat McGrath Mothership Subversive La Vie En Rose Palette
Benefit Gimme Brow in Shade 6
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Lip Pop
Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb in “Fenty Glow"
Mari Shten Beauty strip lashes in “MAYE” and individuals in “She’s Extra”
MY ESSENTIALS PLAYLIST:
Janis Joplin
old school house music
John Butler Trio
Jefferson Airplane
Zedd’s “Clarity” album
Amy Winehouse