POPArt!

January 8, 2011January 8, 2011 / Sunshine / Leave a comment

Experiencing the amazingly creative environments in Second Life can be very inspiring at times. Some builds last for months and years, while others are merely built for a single event and are gone in a short time. These short-lived creations are sometimes the most amazing and make you wonder how much time and energy the creator expended to put them together. These “artists” do this for many reasons…to highlight other products (such as for a fashion show); for a holiday event; for a social get-together; or maybe just to celebrate a special happening. Whatever the reason, the residents of Second Life benefit from the creativity and “eye-candy” that these builds offer.

Maddox DuPont, the owner of MADesigns, MAD Agency and KMADD, created a fantastic set for Modavia Productions” POPArt 2010 event and opened the KMadd Event sim for one last look the other day. This POPArt 2010 event was a collaboration of Modavia Productions, Modern Gypsy and MAD Agency and showcased fashion inspired by the POPArt movement of the late ’50s and early ’60s. While I did not make it to the show, I heard that it was fantastic and very well presented (and attended). The set is truly eye-catching and the fashions would have “POPPED” off the runway… the stark colors and fun whimsical environment just added to the atmosphere. Maddox, the set creator extraordinaire himself, published a machinima piece capturing highlights of the show, be sure to check it out!

Second Life is definitely a place where our creative forces can smash together in collaborative nature. So many places to see and experience that allow our imaginations to be fed… and for fantasies to form. Thank you Maddox for opening this set (as you often do) to allow us to capture our own interpretations…

Explore, explore, explore… find your imagination and soar!

~Sunshine

Winter in Motion

December 30, 2010May 18, 2011 / Sunshine / Leave a comment

Have been playing with FRAPS again and trying to do a few machinima projects. My patience isn’t that great with it and I am only using MS MovieMaker for now, but have produced a couple of videos of our sims… Am going to try to do more, but wanted to share here…

The first is of just our Arctic Surf sim…watching the wave crashing, orcas splashing … both daylight and dark:

The second is a walk/flight around both and primarily capturing the overall view of our home sim. We make changes every day so it might not look the same if you visit:

Enjoy and do come visit our Arctic Surf and Winter SOLstice environment 🙂

~Sunshine

Exploring – Innsmouth

November 8, 2010 / Sunshine / Leave a comment

One night, before Halloween, we were bouncing around to sims that were listed with Halloween events or in the Haunted section of the “Showcase” in Second Life when we happened upon “Innsmouth“. I found this sim, created by Darmin Darkes and BaileyMarie Princess for Joyous Parkin, to be very well built indeed.

Though Halloween has past and many would not venture to such a sim in the “off season”, you should make an exception and visit. I went back right after Halloween so that I could explore Innsmouth fully, entering the buildings, experiencing the feeling of an abandoned coastal town. My visit to this eerie town provided great opportunity for photos as well as a view of a wonderfully creative sim.

Upon entry into the landing point, be sure to grab the note card which provides a little of the origination of the sim … Innsmouth was created with the stories of an American author, H.P. Lovecraft, in mind. The locations described by Lovecraft in The Shadow over Innsmouth” and “The Colour Out of Space” were the inspiration. The town is basically an abandoned coastal town in Massachusetts set in the 1930’s. Before venturing through the teleportation door, be sure to change your environment settings as indicated in the note card. The suggestions (“Gelatto”, “[EUPHORIA] fin de siecle” or “[TOR] HORROR – Dawnbreaker”) each give their own experience, so try these out while there…and any other favorite Windlight settings you might like!

As you explore, be sure to listen to the sounds…the squeaky doors, the steps across the wooden floors, the wind, the sounds of the rain… it all adds to the experience. Wear a raincoat or take an umbrella… it is rather rainy and wet in Innsmouth… along with the fog rolling in… all heightening the effect of the coastal location. Wander in and out of the buildings, visit the theater and opera houses… the church and homes… feel the presence of the citizens that seemingly mysteriously departed… and enjoy yet another wondrously creative build in Second Life.