Elven Enchantment Art Reviews

Dancing in Second Life

2012-01-14T12:21:00.000-08:00

Dance like nobody's looking is a great piece of advice and in Second Life everyone can dance! However, the magic in our dancing can be contributed to the talented Scripters who create poseballs, dance Heads Up Displays, (HUDs), and animations.

Dancing is a bit different in then in Real Life. In order to animate our pixels you have to have a set of commands to move that pixel body! Those commands are supplied by scripts and stuffed into poseballs. The avie then hops on the poseball and dances.

Dancing using my Huddles HUD

Another set of instructions are put into a HUD and attaches to your computer screen and then you can animate your own avie and up to six other avatars with dances from your HUD!

Additionally, the dance animations are made up of a series of movements some as small as putting your hands in the air or side stepping. These movements are created in an animation software, uploaded to Second Life, where you can purchase them and put them into your HUD.

Where do you go to dance? Why any club in Second Life have dance floors, private homes, and whenever you get Ruthed!

Although we are only pixels you can be surprised by the romance in dancing with your sweetie! Enjoy your perfect dance moves!

Music

2012-01-11T22:37:00.000-08:00

Music is the oldest art form; our Mothers and Fathers sang to us and maybe to each other, and we sing to our own children, and grand kids; we pay to attend concerts, operas, and enjoy free concerts in the park.

In Second Life, the first set of musical instruments that I saw were the Elven drum and wind instruments. The first club that newbies went to was The Edge. We enjoy concerts, theater, and ballets.

Mankind Tracer performance at Sweet Whispers

You can find many types of music genres in Second Life and you might enjoy them and you may not. There are DJs and live performers, such as Mankind Tracer and so many different types of clubs: women only and men only clubs, vampire and goth clubs, furry and "other" clubs, men and women clubs, strip clubs, dungeons, and casinos; and all have music.

There are clubs catering to jazz, easy listening, pop, steampunk, goth and death metal, rock-n-roll, classical, country western, country rock, opera, house, and much more in the clubs across Second Life.

Some clubs do not care what you wear, but places like Avalon, ladies must be in ball gowns and gents in suits, tuxedos or formal dress from yesteryear!

The most famous and the oldest rock club in Second Life is "The Edge" this club welcomes newbies and oldies alike to enjoy dancing and music. The Edge closed for a while, but it's now reopened a great place to rock out with your friends!

Mankind Tracer - Live Performance

I had the privileged of seeing Mankind Tracer perform at Sweet Whispers he has a great voice and sang easy listening tunes both popular and his own music. The performer links into the sims radio stream and performs live, singing and in Mankind's instance playing the guitar beautifully! Mankind takes request, but you must choose something off his playlist, which is listed at the venue!

Mankind has performed for five years in Second Life and has been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award 2011 for Outstanding Contributions to Second Life.

In real life, Mankind Tracer is Seth Regan and his music can be found on his website, Itunes, Amazon.com, etc. He is music style is mellow and romantic. His concert would be a great place to take your sweetie for a special night out on the town!

Music is part of our Second Life and thanks to the many venues that support live performers such as Sweet Whispers, everyone can enjoy great performances!

Author's Note: Clubs filled with lots of people, are also full of lag, but it's so worth it!

Highlight Tour of Second Life Art Galleries, Part 2.5

2012-01-02T13:58:00.000-08:00

The floor of the first floor at Crossworld Gallery

Crossworld Gallery

The next stop on my art tour is Crossworld Gallery and it lives up to its name by having over thirteen floors of Real Life and Second Life artwork. The Second Life fantasy artwork of Gee Noel is spectacular!

Pixivore Allen display's her RL acrylic paintings of lush, vibrant flowers painted from her travels in Asia and Africa. At first, you think that the flowers are second life, but upon closer inspection, just fabulous paintings! Kirle Adamski is a RL artist and uses watercolor as her medium and the colors and style are vibrant, abstract and lovely! My new fantastic discovery is Sledge Roffo his artwork is called primigary and it's absolutely beautiful! The colors are stunning and wonderful! His artwork is located on the fifteenth floor!

Julia Gray uses people as part of her artwork blending them in as part of the scene, these brilliant paintings can be found on the forth floor and is an absolute treat to view! Right around the corner from Julia are fantastic paintings of jungle animals in vibrant colors and majesty by Gamini Ratnavira.

The gallery itself is made up of floating spheres above the sim. The floors are styled differently giving them a distinct flavor to match the paintings and their artists. One portion of the floor is clear allowing you a glimpse of that is below! (My favorite type of floor!)

Art of Destiny, Crossworld Gallery

In my personal opinion, no art gallery is truly complete without beautiful, relaxing gardens. My visitation to the Art of Destiny gardens were wonderful! Your TP'ed facing two huge replicas of the "Lord of the Rings" statues on either side of the stream and so begins a great time of taking Picture Perfect Second Life photos!

Crossworld Gallery has a variety of artists using many different mediums such as: oil, acrylic, watercolor, digital media, 3D, scripted/interactive, ink and pencil, stained glass, and photography to name a few. There is also a wide use of styles such as: contemporary, abstract, post-modern impressionism to list make a very short list. This Gallery is not to be missed and get two thumbs up!

Author's Note: This is a gallery virtually lag free!

Another Note from the Author: This gallery closed on January 3, 2012.

The Art of Machinima

2011-12-30T15:39:00.000-08:00

The art of Machinima (pronounced ma-She-na-ma) is the art of making videos in a virtual world. There has been some famous movie makers who have played around with Second Life Machinima such as the creators of CSI: NY, which turned out to be quite the let down, for the Second Life fans and players, as it was only a 60-second clip along with a very corny story line, however, there are people in Second Life who are passionate about movie making in a virtual world.

The Machinima Film Studio

There is a huge movie studio on Charmed Island, called The Machinima Film Studios. The landmark takes you to a beautiful forest with picturesque bridges and mountains and streams. At first you don't even see the mountains as the forest has several levels, the forest floor with the pretty flowers, then the scrubs and small trees are nestled in between these huge sky-scraping trees and then suddenly you look and see the snow-capped mountains!

It's a photographer's paradise! After you take all the pictures that you can, you teleport to the main studio which has sets from a Bandstand to the Wild West, horror to fairyland.

Even after viewing these sets, I wanted to know how to go about taking a video. I went to the Second Life wiki and Torley Linden did not disappoint. She has a library of videos for the Machinima beginner. She gives you tips and tricks to make your videos wonderfully convincing!

Italian set

There are groups in Second Life who shoot Second Life reality TV clips! They are very funny! One is set in a trailer park there is mystery and intrigue around every corner!

Whatever you wish to do with your Machinima clips, remember that like with everything in Second Life there are copyright laws that need to be respected, other then that have fun making your virtual films!

Highlight Tour of Second Life Art Galleries...Part 2

2011-11-16T23:04:00.000-08:00

Cadeling Gardens, Second Life

I am back on the gallery tour and my first stop was to view Indulgence and the Designz Gallery and the post-modern art of Leigh Quartz. The artwork here is a fine example of mixed media.

It takes a lot for me to say that I think a new fractal artist can compete with my friend Spiral Silverstar, however, I have discovered that Milly Sharple's fractal art is as passionate as Spiral's, but of course, Milly has her own style, but the important part is that she is passionate about her artwork! She display's her artwork on a corner wall with lovely furniture along with urns that match the artwork! This is a must see on the Gallery tour. Additionally, Milly's gallery is surrounded by a lovely beach setting with the sounds of the ocean waves crashing against the beach! A big two thumbs up on the low lag at this gallery!

Adapt or Perish, Originalia

I skipped ahead of my HUD tour to the Originalia, Adapt or Perish and it's a lovely garden with poetry about the Goddess throughout this garden are magical creatures, enchanting trees with thumbprints on them, which reminds us that the Goddess made us all unique!

The Goddess made light and dark; as you descend into Chaos, remember that if we don't start treating Mother Earth with respect she will unleash devastation on us all as punishment for our greed! A must see on this gallery tour! Two thumbs up!

My next stop on the regular Gallery Tour is The Art Gallery at the Retreat, Luminoso, which features the 3D artwork of Feathers Boa. My favorite piece of hers at this Gallery is "Phasmatis Ex Machina 3D." It is on the first floor and it draws you; from afar the face looks like a Roman centurion, but on closer inspection is a human male slowing being eaten away by technology!

The room on the left as you enter the gallery features wonderful abstract art and statuary. This type of artwork can be interpreted in 100 different ways because we are each unique and depending on our mood at the moment, can make the interpretations quite different! My favorite piece in this section is "Oceans of Light" and it does take scripted/interactive art to new heights!

The room on the right of the landing spot has dynamic artwork! My favorite piece here is the center sculpture, "Chaos #5 Artist Chris Hill ww." This gallery is not to be missed! It's relatively lag free!

My last stop in this section of the Highlight Tour is Trill's Art Studio, Artropolis, she is Gwen Penner in Real Life and is a Graphic Artist and Illustrator. I love finding unique artwork in Second Life and her art is a wonderful example of that!

Nirvana?

Be sure to teleport to the second level where some of Trill's bigger pieces are they are wonderful and not to be missed! After the second floor, be sure to use the ladders to climb up to view the artwork inspired by Far Eastern influence of India and China. Touch the artwork to get the names of the art, it helps with the flow of the work as you view! The last level leads you to a door dare you go through?

Author's Note: The reason that I go on and on about passionate fractal art is because fractal art is part mathematical equations and I have seen fractal art that I can only describe as precision fractals because they look like someone added 1+1=2, precise fractal math, but no passion!

Linden Endowment for the Arts

2011-11-06T01:53:00.000-07:00

Linden Labs have endowed the arts in Second Life (SL), called (you guessed it!) Linden Endowment for the Arts (LEA). The artists who have displayed their art in the LEA Sandbox Self-Curation Gallery and won the admiration of the LEA board, which voted on their work, then the administrator approaches that artiste, and they are offered a quarter sim for three months!

This patronage by Linden Labs has opened up a whole new aspect to the art in SL! I happened to be In-World this afternoon when Tyrehl Byk's announcement came over the Art and Artist Network that his "Catharsis" was open for viewing and it would only be open for 24 minutes! This is an absolute must see!

When you are In-World, search LEA under places you will find many sims and they are named LEA6, LEA 8, etc. A description is on the teleport page and if it appeals to you definitely go and check it out!

I have added the LEA blog to my blog roll! Enjoy the new and innovative Second Life art!

Picture Perfect Second Life

2011-11-06T01:24:00.000-07:00

I mentioned at the end of my post "Highlight Tour" article, that I had a personal project screaming to be done! I am traveling through Second Life (SL) looking for picture perfect SL pictures. That means that the pictures have not been touched up by PhotoShop or any other software that can touch up photos, but came from my camera just like you seen them on Flickr.

A Sky Elf Blending!

All picture perfect pictures will be featured on Flickr, which will be the first for Elven Enchantment Art Review!

The rejected pictures will be available for viewing on my Facebook (FB) photo albums or decorating my articles here! (As always there are links to all my FB pictures at the bottom of my blog!)

This will be an ongoing project so you will want to join my in-world group or follow me on Twitter so that you can keep up to date with my photography project!

Some of the sims that I visit may be art sims and if they are worthy of being listed in my Highlight of Art Galleries, then you will find them there!

Otherwise, you can email for details on the places you wish to visit in SL from viewing the Flickr pcitures! Eventually, the photos on Flickr will be available to purchase via the SL's Market Place, however, if you absolutely must have a picture before any one else... email please!

Goodbye to an Era of Second Life Art

2011-11-05T20:11:00.000-07:00

Time in Second Life (SL) goes by very fast and art galleries and museums come and go very quickly, however, some art galleries and museums have staying power, and it is very sad to see them close their doors. For whatever reason, sometimes RL interrupts SL lives or this recession makes financial hard ships on the owners of the properties.

Proof I was there in the last days! So sad!

The ZRM Gallery is closing it's doors on November 12th. This gallery is home to some famous artiste's such as Serenity Questi, whose name I have heard in the SL art community for many years. The ZRM Gallery has been in SL for four years.

Serenity Questi is a fractal artiste and after viewing her artwork, I like it! It is not the same as Spiral's, but still has a draw to the imagination! It triggers a flicker in your peripheral vision, as if something is darting by, but you can't quite see it or decide just what it is you saw!

Merranda Ginssberg, Pamela Moonkill, Fuschia Nightfire, Dacob Paine, Harter Fall, among others also make this gallery home. Below some of the art, on the first floor, are teleport (TP) buttons so you can TP to the floor that that particular artiste is showing on.

All the artwork here in this gallery is quality art and it's a shame that this gallery is closing it's doors! Come by before the end of an era in SL galleries!

Highlight Tour of Second Life Art Galleries...Part 1

2011-11-05T12:06:00.000-07:00

Relaxing enjoying SL art!

I had such a great time exploring the Halloween sims, that I have decided to compile a Highlight Tour of Second Life Art Galleries. I am using the Gallery Tour HUD and the sub-titled: Galleries.

The first stop was a bust, but worth it as the second stop was the Dreamscapes Art Gallery. This gallery deals only in Second Life artwork by Carlotta Caewlin. You can find furniture with art in too! The scenes range from spooky to serene and peaceful! A must visit!

A fantastic experience is Primtings! The artiste's take a real life painting and design a 3d "prim painting!" It's fantastic! I remember a similar sim when I first entered SL, but the name of the sim was different. This is a fun experience and puts a new twist on "making art come alive."

Lesson in Anoobtomy, Rembrandt

The artiste's give a sample of the original artwork next to the 3d Primtings! Some of the Primtings allow you to be part of the picture!

Be sure to visit all the floors! A must see stop on your art gallery tour!

The Toy's Ary Gallery is an eclectic grouping of Real Life (RL) and Second Life (SL) artwork.

It is set in a castle-like structure in the sky. You walk up a smokey clear sidewalk and you can see the sky below you. You enter the gallery's first level and there are lovely paintings on display.

On Top of the "Toy Art Gallery"

As you walk up the spiral stairs to the next levels, stay in the middle of the walkway as the railing and column are not solid as you would think and you could fall through it. The photos on the third level urge you to touch them to find out more about them, so I did as they compelled me, and found out where the photos were shot and how they were prepared before they were hung in the gallery!

The Grass Gnome is my favorite by far! This is a must see art gallery! (My only suggestion for this gallery would be to add a teleporter!)

At Nuance the artiste combines SL/RL art with uplifting poems. The poems make you think, feel the art, allowing it to sink into your psyche and dwell in your soul! Art should change the beholder, here at Nuance the artiste lifts up your spirit and encourages you to fly again! It's been so long since my soul has flown!

Avalon Art District

The Avalon Art District is set on a very laggy sim and some of the sim is under construction. The artwork available for viewing are paintings utilizing modern art methods, statuary, and interesting lights!

The flooring on the levels above the first floor are oval and the corners are empty and you can lag and fall through.

On display is a big book of art called the 77 Million Paintings, the SL version AngryBeth Shortbread, concept by Brian Eno; the Real Life premiere in San Francisco will run concurrently in Second Life.

The second floor has modern and contemporary art along with SL artwork! A quiet spot to take in some peaceful artwork!

Note from the Author: Visiting these galleries will take awhile and I have a new project that is jumping out of my skin! So I will try to visit several galleries each month! Watch out for updates on my next project!

3D Art

2011-10-28T17:43:00.000-07:00

Juggling the Solar System!

It's always exciting to see new art and the 3D artwork that is now in Second Life (SL) is incredible mix of graphics and scripting!

The University of Western Australia in SL is hosting 3D art and they have a little competition going on, you the people of SL can vote for your favorite piece. My absolute favorite piece is by an interactive 3D where you hop on a poseball and suddenly you are juggling the solar system! There is 3D Halloween art to big bugs!

The University is hoping you will come by tonight and see the art and cast your vote! The votes will be tallied and announced on Sunday, October 30th!

Some art is abstract, interpretative, interactive, and some that makes absolutely no sense, except to the artiste, some are gentle and others harsh, but there is something for every taste! A must visit is to the 3D interactive of "My World," by Secret Rage. Excellent and thought provoking!

There is also dark and sad, happy and grotesque, but as in life not everything is peaches and cream. There are honest pieces and deceptive ones, but this is a MUST see art sim! Be patient as the sim is laggy because of so many active scripts, it is worth the frustration!

My friend Spiral has several pieces entered! I recognized his work even before I saw his name on the voting boxes! His "Drawn to the Dream" is magnificent! (And it is one that I must have in my collection of SL art!)

There are 99 wonderful artiste's exhibiting on this sim! This is a MUST see!

1000+ Avatar Project - Art by Gracie Kendal

2011-10-24T19:38:00.000-07:00

Second Life (SL) is a center for distance learning, a coming together for like-minded people who represent themselves with an Avatar. Real Life (RL) people use SL for many reasons, to blow off steam, meet new people, fulfill fantasies and it all comes down to their Avatar.

The Avatar of Atlantis Jewell, October 23, 2011

Why do you look the way you do in SL? I know personally that I took some character's out of my creative writings and made a prequel to my writings and made my Avatar a Blue Sky Elf... after all I reasoned, I am human in Real Life and have spent many years wishing I was of another race or at the very least someone else! I certainly couldn't imagine anyone wanting to be human in their Second Life!

Gracie Kendal is an artiste in Real Life and in Second Life and she is works on her art too. Her project explores online anonymity, which turned into a documentation of Second Life Avatars. I participated in the project and am very excited about seeing the published works in SL and RL!

She explains it better then I: "What started out as a set of 100 portraits to help illustrate the idea of online anonymity, has turned into a sort of documentation of avatars in SL. There are so many questions I have been asking myself and ideas I have been pondering throughout this whole process, especially on the idea of online identity.”

“Like many of my other projects, I started out with one idea: to take portraits of avatars facing away from me. That was it, pure and simple. I had the idea that I wanted them to be unrecognizable, their faces hidden, just another level of anonymity in SL vs. RL. I plan on printing some if not all of these portraits out in RL for an eventual show in a gallery as well as publishing a book.”

Front view, Atlantis Jewell

“Our online identity has become a way of life for millions of people around the world. Not just in Second Life, but on many internet sights you go to. When you look on Facebook or Twitter, how many post pictures of their children or pets? Pictures of places they have visited, cartoon characters they love, logos of their business, landscapes, art, and anything else they find from their lives that they want to represent their identity online.”

"This is our avatar. I write about the avatar in my thesis."

"I think it’s important to begin with an explanation of what avatars and Second Life are; Sean Egen explains that ‘Avatar’ derives from the Sanskrit word Avatara, which literally translates as ‘descent,’ specifically, a deliberate descent by a god into the land of mortals. In Hinduism, an avatar is the bodily manifestation of immortal beings… Many who use avatars today are literally approaching it from the point of view that their avatar represents their ‘incarnation’ into the internet.” In contemporary culture, an avatar is our virtual representation.

"Most people are familiar with avatars through video games. In World of Warcraft(TM), for example, players create avatars then customize their appearance. People also use avatars as icons in instant messaging applications, social networking websites like Facebook(TM) and Twitter(TM) and through their email programs. Avatars are also represented in film and other forms of media. Max Headroom (1986) is an early manifestation of an avatar. The British virtual band Gorillaz (2006) is made up of cartoon figures representing its real life band members. Movies such as Tron (1982), The Lawnmower Man (1992), The Matrix (1999) and Avatar (2009) give examples within the plots of alternate realities in which the person has an alter ego or other persona: an avatar."

"Besides the practical reasons for having an avatar, there are many psychological reasons. Because avatars offer anonymity, people use them as a way to escape reality. In his book I, Avatar, Mark Stephen Meadows discusses how people use avatars as masks. “We are more inclined to reveal ourselves when we use our avatars. We’re more inclined to reveal what we want, dislike, and think. But in a world where information is more important than physical proximity, we are not as safe as we might assume… After all, the word persona originally meant, in ancient Greek, ‘mask.’ Not as in a thing that hides your face, but one that shows what is truly underneath.”

"SL offers people the freedom to explore changing identity dynamics. Experimentation is welcome. It is a safe environment which allows unlimited freedom to express oneself and consider boundaries/barriers that aren’t readily accepted in the physical world. “Computer screens are becoming the new location for our fantasies… The immateriality of cyberspace dissolves not only space and time, but our identities as well. For some this is a frightening prospect, for others perhaps the beginnings of a new empowerment.”

“The portraits I am taking have become a documentation of the lives of hundreds of people who to me are fearless. These people (yes I say people, because no matter how we represent ourselves online, we are all people on the other side of the computer) put themselves out there into the brave new world of virtual environments as explorers, searching for anything and everything. They are amazing, creative, soulful people who I am so honored to have in my project."

"Each portrait represents a different personality, a singular life. Each person has a story to tell, a life to live. Does it matter if we know what these stories are? Does it matter if we know who is on the other side of the computer?"

Close up of Atlantis Jewell

From my personal experience, you do indeed reveal more of yourself then you would ever dream of to a complete stranger that you just met all because you feel secure behind your avatar.

Sometimes you are more honest because you are introspective of your Real Life because Second Life allows you to take a step back from RL and can objectively see things that the "noise" in RL sometimes prevents!

Many SLers have avatars called Alts or alternative identities. I have about five or six Alts, but play exclusively with my Atlantis Jewell identity! SLers make new identities for many different reasons, to have affairs, to start over, to evade undesirable "friends", to explore childhood again, to name a few.

I have one for creating "human" clothing so the dimensions of my avatar matches other avies. I also have a Drow, mermaid, demon/vampire, and I have had fun exploring with all of them and I can't remember all the names of my alts! What is your online face? Why did you choose your avatar? For every avie in SL, I believe there is a story to be told.

Gracie Kendal is telling that story! I urge you to go and see her on the Coyote sim, "Environment for Creative Minds."

Our avies are our ultimate works of art, they represent who we are at a primal level! I found my shape first and had it professionally tweaked and then I found my hair, but it took me six months to find a skin maker to do my skin and a couple of redos to finish it, and then magic happened!

The Best of Halloween in Second Life

2011-10-23T16:36:00.000-07:00

Darkness Falls @Pandemonium, Second Life

Creepy. Spooky. Scary. These are what you look for when you want to be scared out of your wits, but can you really get creeped out, after all you are behind a computer!! Darkness Falls @Pandemonium gave me goosebumps and chills up and down my spine.

The howling wind, moaning cries, and little gnome children playing hide and seek and the lighting effects are truly scary. A bonus for me was that it hit the creep factor of my basement of the house where I grew up in in Real Life...a truly creepy place!

Enjoy all my creepy pictures on my Facebook album! This blogger gives this sim two thumbs up!

Island of Fear Haunted Mansion

A good scare preys on our phobias! This haunted mansion for me was some creepy fun! The wind howling around the mansion; poltergeist girl watching the telly and floating around the house, rats, spiders and clowns! Floating beds and man eating plants! Blood everywhere and special effects as you sit in the chairs!

And monsters head, skulls, and trapdoors to bemuse and confuse. This adventurer gives this mansion two thumbs up!

Grimm Shores

With wolves howling and raining brimstone, Grimm Shores is a fun and spooky place. There is an insane asylum, a haunted house and a spooky boat ride! The mountains look like they might gush with lava flows at any moment!

Skulls float in the water indicating that it is too hot to jump into, but it looks so cool! There is a treasure hunt for you to complete and fun gifts to find! Enjoy taking special Halloween pictures with your friends! This is a must visit on your list of haunted sims, I give it two thumbs up!

Who Killed Pixeleen? Taunt, Second Life

Murder and mayhem is the order of the day on this sim. Don't think that your HUD isn't working properly because you have to find the clues and the story pages on the sim! It's a mystery to solve! Surrounded by fabulous October colors and dark scary skulls and the grim reaper! Regardless if you solve the mystery or not, the sim is a spooky and grim place to explore!

Along the way you find Halloween gifts from the sim's sponsors. Bring your friends, solve the mystery and be a "meddling kid!"

Siren Haunted Trail

This haunted trail/maze was the first one that I visited to actually rez for me. Spiders, skeletons, and ghosts come out to play. Fun picture taking opportunities to be had here! Land in Stonehenge and enjoy the maze!

HelloHallows 20XX

When you land here and the land spot rezzes, you will think there is nothing scary to see here, I dare you to click the Halloween pumpkin and see where you go! A fun, spooky sim where anything can happen! Most enjoyable!

Sherwood Haunted Forest

This place is truly spooky! There is nothing that I fear and hate more in Real Life then fog! Imagine my pulse racing when you can barely see through this haunted forest! This sim is mature and there are some poseballs for all those ghouls who want to "do it" in a cemetery!

This adventurer rates this spot... SPOOKY!

The Haunted Forest

There is an almost mystical quality about this haunted forest almost as if you were expecting the druids to arise from their sleep and chase the spiders, spirits away and lay to rest the skeletons!

There is a haunted swamp and pumpkin carousel hidden in the forest!

Bloodmoon Haunted Motel

Horror, Grim Reaper, Ghosts, then the most fearful... choose a door if you dare! What is behind them? You must come and find out! Definitely a scare is in store for you!

Looking down the long hallway with even more closed doors with horrible conclusions, this adventurer got the ebbie jeebies and left to see who much scarier the cemetery would be!

With crows calling to one another that prey was in sight and the werewolves howling and the grim reaper following me, it's definitely a spooky place to be!

I felt a little like Little Red Riding Hood as I ambled through the forest! Grab a friend when you visit here!

I rate this spot SPOOKY!

Halloween Trivia Hunt from AUL Music Gardens

This sim is lag free which was a wonderful thing! If you love treasure hunts and trivia this is the place for you! All the trivia refers to some aspect of Halloween. The gifts given are excellent! Bring your friends and enjoy some Halloween fun!

Spookyville: Welcome to my Nightmare 2011

Parking in the parking lot are ghosts and their trucks and cars and the grim reaper with his carriage of death! An insane asylum, haunted house, and cemetery invoke all the creepiness of Halloween!

Arcane Delights

Arcane Delights lives up to its name as it was a delightful discovery of Second Life art combined with the spookiness of Halloween. This discovery reminded me of my own museum and art gallery! Well done!

There is a contest going on at the moment of In-World untouched photos only and they are on display from October 24-31st and the winner will be announced on October 28th! So you have an amazing SL photo that you want to share... do contact belladonna Enchanted!

Beware that the drawbridge is down for a reason... don't go outside.... CREEPY!

A must see for Second Life art lovers!

A Note from Atlantis Jewell: Many of you will be wondering why I included a Best Of list of sims celebrating Halloween! One of the arts in Second Life is Sim building, it's difficult as the textures have to just right as do the castles, trees or that dying flower.

We take for granted the sims that we explore and travel through; the artiste's of the sims are unsung and I felt needed a spotlight! I hope that you have a wonderful and safe Halloween and dare to be scared!

Photographic Arts

2011-10-15T21:00:00.000-07:00

Learning to take pictures in Second Life (SL) is difficult to master as the avatars tend to move either where your AO puts it or arbitrarily according to where your cursor on your PC is! However the pictures turn out, it is fun to take them, share them, and post them in blogs, Flickr, or wherever your picture taking creativity takes you.

Early Days

As with any other art form in SL there are those photographers that are one cut above the others, either because they excel at PhotoShop or they have the patience to wade through the lag to take that perfect picture. I remember my first picture, it was amateurish at best, and so to PhotoShop I went.

Up to that point I had never done anything in PhotoShop, but I had some videos to watch and I got extremely lucky! I was very proud of my first doctored picture, however, having no real talent with PhotoShop for a long time, I began looking for someone with the talent to take pictures of my avie. It took me six months to find a skin maker who transformed my idea of Atlantis into the Elf I am today.

After that I visited a friend of mine, Roxi Richez who is an absolute wonder at Second Life pictures combined with PhotoShop and I was thrilled with the results. My favorite picture that she took of me, is of course, my profile picture, which appears in this blog and on my many other profiles pictures.

When I first started taking pictures, I would take them, share them, then doctor them in PhotoShop, and then hang them in Elven Enchantment Museum and Art Gallery, honoring my wives, friends and associates. There were romantic pictures, noobie pictures, and gruesome pictures all shown in my museum at different times. I found an astonding amount of gruesome pictures to show off in the Museum for the month of October!

The Grove at Halloween

Taking "the" shot in Second Life is just as hard if not harder to do then in Real Life, but once you have "the" shot it was worth the aggravation that you went through to get it. I remember taking this picture, it was Halloween and I took hundreds of pictures for this one shot of lightening striking during a thunderstorm on the grounds outside of my Museum.

Scenery pictures can be difficult to take as you have to have the correct graphics resolutions on your computer. Some of the SL pictures that I have seen taken of Second Life, you would swear they are really from First Life.

Some of my favorite pictures are romantic ones with my sweeties or settings where I "accidentally" got "the" shot!

At the Four Seasons Plaza

Then there are those crazy SL photos you took because you couldn't believe you were "ruthed" or you were not rezzed properly and you turned into a pretzel! As photographer interacting with a software to take my photos sometimes I see things abnormal things, but I take the picture to see if they are worth keeping and sometimes, I am surprised!

When I took the picture at the right, which was at the Four Season Plaza, my vision was blurring everything; my avie's torso, kept disappearing, and I saw myself walk around in a wig and a skirt; I couldn't see the buildings then when I sat down to take this picture my "vision" turned odd and I snapped the above picture, which I didn't think would turn out, but I like it!

Whether it's your 1st or 1000th picture in Second Life our collage of photographs, bring to mind of things past, enjoyable moments, and hopefully warm our hearts with happiness and smiles.

Art to Wear

2011-10-12T15:43:00.000-07:00

Artwork takes on a new form in Second Life with the ability to purchase clothing, which in of themselves is artwork, but this artiste takes artwork one step further... a painting transformed into a dress, evening wear, and night wear!

Chrysanthemums, Pierre Renior (1841-1919) painted circa. 1881/82

For example, Renoir painted a painting called, Chrysanthemums painted circa. 1881/82. The painting is just beautiful! Now, Thera Taurog takes this painting and makes clothing with it!

Additionally, she takes paintings by Dali, Rembrandt, and Georgia O'Keefe, to name a few, and turns them into beautiful works of art to wear!

Thera Taurog's shop is set in an absolutely beautiful build of the Four Season's Plaza, which is beautifully done in white marble, has beautiful stone carvings, artwork, and statuary gracing grounds and is a totally understated and elegant.

The clothing we wear in Second Life is an form of art all by itself. Most clothiers use PhotoShop to make their clothing and upload it to Second Life... I have tried making clothes and it's hard... I have also made prim clothing and that's just as hard... even with a machine!

So when I see beautiful artwork combined with the art of making clothing! I am stunned and delighted by the results. It's a must see to purchase and wear!

Dress: by Thera Taurog

Fractal Art

2011-09-28T17:27:00.000-07:00

As I was deciding on what next to write about, I saw an advert in the Destination Guide for a fractal art gallery and ernestly I hoped, that it would be my friend Spiral Silverstar's Gallery. It was not, and what a disappointment that gallery was, no passion that I have associated with fractal artwork since I met Spiral back in November 2007, he was the second artiste to have a live gallery showing at my Museum!

I immediately wondered if Spiral was still in Second Life, sure enough, he changed his name to The Spiral and has a gallery full of passionate fractal artwork!

What is fractal artwork? Is the use of math and shapes lined up to be symmetrical and flowing in a design that captures your imagination. To quote Spiral Silverstar, "Simply put, fractals are shapes which show similar features at different sizes. Much as a very close inspection of a rock can show similar features to an aerial view of a mountain, fractal shapes are characterized by this property of self-similarity." (Elven Enchantment Museum and Art Gallery Blog, November 2007, used with permission.)

I am absolutely delighted to rediscover his artwork! In my opinion it is still the best artwork in Second Life! And his gallery features the art on the walls, but in the middle of the gallery are tall trees, magical flowers, and fractal sculptures. A couch is on one side of the gallery so you can sit and chat with friends while enjoying the ambiance.

A new add to his gallery since I last saw him, is his scripted/morphing fractals that move in the picture frame. Sorry, but the artwork here is not quite scripted art and not morphing art either, but a pleasing combination of the two!

And surprisingly, the gallery is lag free! Many Second Lifer's know exactly what I mean... most gallery's lag like crazy! Well done ... Sprial!

Lastly, Spiral is a fractal artiste in Real Life too. His work has won many awards over the years. Go and enjoy them as he features these in his gallery as well! Congrats to Spiral!

In the opinion of this blogger, The Spiral Art Gallery is NOT to be missed!

Twisted Fairy Tales

2011-09-28T15:14:00.000-07:00

Once Upon a Time...

Chapter One

Do you remember the tales of our childhood? Take a look at the them, Twisted! Ask the Mirror on the Wall whose the Fairest of them all?

You will think you are sitting down, but be warned you will be Snow White! Tour the Seven Dwarf's Diamond Mine, and take a peek at their treasure!

Get a spot of ice skating in and dance with your friends!

Chapter Two!

When you land in Chapter Two you are not quite sure what to expect as its dark, but you see a glimmer of light ahead and you move in to look and it's a boat! A great place to take some pictures with a waterfall behind you!

You may not have seen, as I didn't not, but there is zip line over the waterfalls! Be sure to climb the "rope" in front of the boat! Enjoy discovering the tower, which will be sure to make you laugh as only you can in Second Life!

This part of the world is meant to be viewed at midnight, believe me I checked my settings to see how it would look at another time of day, but it's built to be viewed at night!

It took me a minute to remember my stories while I climbing another vine... I was headed to Jack's home via the beanstalk! You land on a picnic blanket with giant food, be careful or you might get squashed like a bug!

Whew, you escaped! Brave the waterfall and dry off in a cozy cave complete with a rug with pose balls and enjoy your sweetie! After you are done romping around with your babes, take a shower in the outdoor pool! Then dance the night away and enjoy your fairy friends! (No pun intended!)

Chapter Three

Watch out! You're in a cave! Beware! It looks like you have landed in the middle of hell, but you see gold on the ground, hmm, a buried city? Maybe it's Atlantis! Not!

You have dropped into an enchanted forest could it be Alice in Hell, I mean Wonderland? Enter into the forest and you don't find a witch, but a dance floor! Walking back into the main chamber and allowing my eyes to adjust, I realize that I am hotter then you know what and spy a vein of flowing lava!

This chamber hides a dragons treasure! Be sure to leave a tip as lots of these areas operate on shoestring budget! I hope you enjoyed your twisted fairy tales as much as I did! Amarande is a a fun spot to explore!

Fairy Tale Land

2011-09-28T10:37:00.000-07:00

I love the enchanted lands on Second Life and this is my first time writing about the unique appearance of such a placed called Cerridwen's Cauldron Main Gallery. Yes, they have magical artwork for sale in the midst of an enchanted forest!

The main feature is the Tree of Life in the Middle of the forest, from this point they have huge trees growing up towards the sky and nestled in the limbs of the trees are homes, spots to rest and chat; look closely out into space and enjoy the floating art gallery in the sky!

If you dare to walk on the forest floor you will find poisonous mushroom spewing their spores into the air and the grass glows with otherworldly magic!

Look closely at the wood it's magically sculpted into dragons holding a fortuneteller's globes and there eyes glow blue, green, and red.

There are plants with blue veins indicating magical qualities... this Gallery is a piece of art in itself and the artwork is lovely.

The artwork feature beings of Otherworlds! Enjoy a romantic day with your sweetie being enchanted!

Photography and Digital Art Museum, Moya

2010-10-16T16:22:00.000-07:00

I was right when I said in my last article that the artiste, Moya has an affinity for Pinocchio. In this section of his museum there are lovely wooden dolls pictured in almost all of the digital photographs.

Then you round a corner and there Moya is pictured with Mickey Mouse! The digital photos have pictures within pictures so take your time and enjoy the twist that this artiste has put into his work!

There are portals in the walls that you need to know about in this museum. If you take a picture of from where you are standing outwards and then zoom out the hole and take another picture and them line them up side-by-side you will have your own zany, contemporary photographs to share with your friends. Enjoy mine on my Facebook album!

The statuary that look like it is moving, but when you walk into it, it's a phantom script that moves in a pre-designed way.

On the ground level are abstracts that are surprisingly soothing and opens my mind to wonder of creativity. It inspires me to be more; encourages me to keep my imagination, imaging the impossible and then make the impossible come true!

Museum of Fine Arts, Moya

2010-10-16T12:24:00.000-07:00

Museum of Fine Arts in Moya has a startling twist on traditional art. The artiste has taken work of Real Life Masters such as the Mona Lisa and then hung right beside it their own interpretation of the Mona Lisa!

The artiste has an affinity with Pinocchio! All the while that you are looking at these interesting interpretations of artwork, you can hear chanting in the background, drawing you into the next section of the Museum!

On the terrace in the second room overlooking an area that has wildfires, an army tank, graffiti on the ground that says in English and French: "Not a dictatorship of art." The chanting comes from the little figures on the ground.

The lower level features sculpture interpreted by black and white sketches! The sculptures are small bronze figurines on stands beside the sketches; then there are huge color pieces of contemporary artwork next to the sketches.

The artiste has offered us a personal glimpse of himself via drawing and he spoofs himself into some of the artwork, some of the them are funny, Rated R, and thoughtful!

Chappelle Moya is a real life artiste from France. On the ground level is a photo of him in Real Life and with him in the picture are sculptures seen in the Museum. The museum features photography, ceramics, in addition to the Fine Arts Museum!

Hidden Art, Part Two

2010-10-13T21:49:00.000-07:00

The other hidden art in Second Life are particles! Have you seen of this form of art in Second Life? There are particle emitters where you can poof anything you want from pictures of your love to butterflies, ghosts, and spiders.

Objects spew particles like volcanoes, stars, pictures, and fog. These are only the tip of the particle as to what you can poof in Second Life. There are quite a few of famous particle scripters that I know and you do too! The most widely know is Outy Banjo who makes particle scripts for builders to buy. For example, Julia Hathor will purchase a script from Outy or in her case pay him for an exclusive particle script to do something specific for her builds on the Creative sims!

Then there are other artiste's such as RacerX Gullwing who scripts moving particles for charity, funny fountains, and similar items for Burning Life, where I met him! He's irrepressible rabbit who races around Second Life promoting, "The Great Snail Races" for which he is very famous, but won't say a word about his charitable donations to raise money for the Relay for Life!

I loved RacerX's Very, Tiny Castle so much I featured it in my Art Gallery as a permanent center feature on the Second Floor of Elven Enchantment. I consisted of two prims and had a castle at the center and the outlaying village, that went through morning, noon, and night and at night there was a fireworks show! An incredible work of art!

Particles are scripts told to do something specific. Poof this texture, like this:

default {
state_entry() {
llParticleSystem( [ ] );
}
}

And yes, it does look similar to a script because it is a type of script, if this looks like fun you can go to: The Particle Laboratory and you can learn step by step how to make particles. Follow the arrows on the floor and touch all objects. You will get one or two paragraphs per notecard and hopefully by the time you are done, you will be a particle scripter bar none!

You can identify a particle script because you can walk right through it, this is not to be confuse with the ability to make something flexible such as hanging tree limbs and leaves!

If you are thinking that particles are not really hidden because you can see them, here are some interesting facts about particles. Particles can be emitted from any prim. Particles don't create sim or network lag, because they exist only on the viewer's computer; and only the texture and the particle definition needs to go over the network!

Particles are fun, flashy, and you can surprise your honey with hearts, quotes, or a picture! Enjoy your particle emitters and if you want head on over to The Particle Laboratory, to learn how to make these wonderful scripts, the SLurl is provided within this article!

Hidden Art, Part One

2010-10-13T19:12:00.000-07:00

Tonight brought back memories of my initial reaction to Second Life Art. There is the open and obvious art, the statuary, paintings, drawings, sculptures, and then there is a hidden art that we all take for granted.

Scripts. Scripts are the hidden art in Second Life. Why? Because they run in the background making our lives easier, fun, and interactive. The people who have the ability to script are the unsung heroes of Second Life. Have you ever been asked, "Who do you know who scripts?"

Most people can't say a single name. Fortunately, I can say I know quite a few scripters who are brilliant at their craft and I know that they are among the many, Susan Steinbeck of the Morphing Sculpture fame and RacerX Gullwing of the Great Snail Races fame, Outy Banjo, who really needs no introduction, Drathon Montague, Digital Knight specializing in scripted art for your home, and Papo Lungu of Papo Lungu Custom Choppers!

Think about it, everything that moves from your Avie to the tree swaying in the wind is powered by a script. Have you seen a script? It reminded me of algebra and wow, I admire anyone who can decipher the script and then build it into a new script making something completely different:

default
{
state_entry()
{
llSay(0, "Hello, Avatar!");
}
touch_start(integer total_number)
{
llSay(0, "Touched.");
}
}

It is a special formula that makes your ao, guns, battle huds, and doors to open. Is it art? I know it is! I am in awe of the people who are so creative that they make such a beautiful piece of art work, hidden from obvious view of the denizens of Second Life who take them for granted that moving objects are just there!

I love the scripts that I use and I appreciate some nameless scripter who quietly put a string of words and numbers together so I can have my exploding volcano, my gestures, and my snow!

Scripts are truly the hidden art of our world! Join me for part two of this series and discover the other hidden art of Second Life!

Second Life Art Recources

2010-10-12T20:15:00.000-07:00

Art in Second Life is everywhere, but how do you contact other artiste's and connect with them? The best way to connect to artiste's and their work is to belong to the Art & Artist's Network. It is a group, which anyone with Second Life art to advertise can join. Obey the posting rules and you will have an audience for your gallery opening, promoting guest artiste's at your gallery or an exhibit.

The other ways to use the search engine and put in "museum" and "art gallery" here you will find all the people who are spending money on advertising for their spot and you can teleport to view. Once there you can keep your eyes open for notecards to other sims where artiste's hang out.

Another way to find art is a newspaper in Second Life and read up on the happenings in the art world. Artiste's and/or gallery owners will write articles on their exhibitions and sometimes are featured in the newspaper.

Go to the Second Life, Linden Lab website and look under arts for the newest and most interesting spots in the art world, (also known as the Destination Guide!) you may not agree, but you can find some gems. Another resource on the Official Website is to search for art blogs that Linden Labs has listed, peruse them until you find art that you enjoy.

Another resource is the Events calender in Second Life. This is a free service to advertise events and lots of artist use this too. The events at the top of the list are live so go, live events are so much fun! If there is a dress code, you read about it in the event log and you can change and go!

Once you find something that interests you attend an exhibition, make friends join art groups, make a group of your own and enjoy the art world!

Remember EVERYTHING in Second Life is art! Enjoy! Smell the roses and relax! Beauty is all around you!

ArtNation

2010-10-11T11:43:00.000-07:00

ArtNation is an eclectic gathering of artiste's who are continuing the Brooklyn Project by Jan Van Beuren, "Brooklyn is Watching." At first look you think, "yawn, boring," but I wanted to give the fair shake at with this group of artiste's and so I began exploring.

If you have been in Second Life for awhile, you realize that something is off on this sim, but what is it? It's grey with the prediction of rain, but you can predict the weather on a sim, but that's not quite right either, then you notice that there is a moon hanging in the in the distance, nothing too unusual about that and so you dodge the phantom heads to see what there is to see at this gather of artiste's.

The first thing I began interacting with was the chairs set in front of all the smiley faces! Hmm, not sure why anyone who isn't high would want to stare and smiley faces, but since I am sober, I move on!

My eye is drawn to the box with the picture of the blindfolded woman, but then I realize that it's a bunch of lines drawn over and over to achieve this picture! I see some chairs and click to sit. I am hurdled into the stratosphere and the am floating above the sim. I realize that there is definitely, something odd about this sim. It is here that I figure it out! I laugh and stand up and continue my explorations.

There is a trailer with a chair inside and I take a picture of the lonely chair, wondering how to get in, next to the "house" is a haunted forest. I am sucked into the forest, from the outside the forest is transparent, but it closes in around as you enter, invited by the fire.

Again, not too much of interest from first glance, but then I notice the fog, having a phobia of fog, I almost run out, but stay when I see the trees and the stars, then I notice a disembodied spirit floating around the room.

I exit the forest and found the entrance to the trailer so I spend some time taking pics in the chair and floating in a wading pool! Now here is where the question is posed, how do you get out of a house with no doors or windows?

I escape and head over to the boxes to see if I can go to the top? No elevator or teleporter so I am off to the sculpture in the distance.

I get lost washing my hands and taking pictures again! I finally get close to the sculpture and see some odd pictures and cross the bridge. Looking back it looks like a city, but it's just posts at different shapes. Looking down I see something hot pink in the water. I fly down and find another picture taking a moment and I walk up the river and find a phantom ball of string in the water or is it? I exit the river and look back and the ball of string winks at me from above the water, but I could have sworn that it was in the water when I was, my pics support both points of view!

I found a ride that didn't quite work, but I fly up to see what is up there anyway with my flight feather and I find the top of the world!

This is a fun interactive sim with quite of few of surprises! I enjoyed my time there as my pics that I took will tell you!

Artis Gallery Part 4: Center for Inworld Photography

2010-10-09T14:18:00.000-07:00

Second Life pictures are unique to the viewer and beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I love Second Life photographs they range from personal to majestic and they record the lives of our Avatars!

We enjoy sharing them with our loved ones and people we don't know. Pics are ingrained into our mesh from Basic Island when we took or in my case tried to take our first pic! Hahahaha! Not that any of us look like we did on Basic Help Island, but hey, that's what photos do for us give us happy memories or not so happy memories, they can be ookie and spookie beautiful and sad.

The last stop for me at Artis Gallery features Second Life photography, featuring landscapes by Kelen Ventris at first glance the landscapes look like Real Life photos, but then you look again and grin as you see the artistic Second Life look to them!

Jewel MacMoragh has portrayed the form of the female avatar in her photographs of nudes, partial body parts such as legs, and a half photo of the back of a female sitting in some undies is very attractive. The pictures are well done! The photographs in the middle of the floor have two different photos per gallery stand and the stands are works of art too!

Artis Gallery is owned by Patrick Cournoyer and his vision is to promote young and talented artiste's in Second Life. It is my opinion that he has found some wonderfully talented Second Life artiste's and I highly recommend a trip to view this gallery!

Artis Gallery Part 3: Pixel Gallery

2010-10-09T09:31:00.001-07:00

Moving pixels are a signature art form found in Second Life, those of us who don't know how to make them are intrigued by them and when used for art are low prim and absolutely beautiful! The opening room in the Pixel Gallery features "Primordial Cocktail" and true to this form of art you can walk right through it!

There are three artiste's featured in this gallery the artiste on the first level is Eliza Quinzet who also has sculptures in the next room. My personal favorite is the "Time in a Bottle," which represents the evolution of life.

Ms. Quinzet says that her art is "influenced by the works of Louis Comfort Tiffany, Gustav Klimt, Marc Chagall and the estimable Pablo Picasso."

On the second level features Maryva Mayo who did the work on the kaleidoscope in the Sculpture Garden and there are two points to teleport to enjoy the real big scope in the Garden! If you are looking for unusual artwork for the walls of your private home or work the animated artwork here is a great find, some move slightly, some not so much, but her real masterpieces are in the back room and are the miniature kaleidoscopes in a wall picture, they move and spiral and are absolutely a treat!

On the third level of this gallery is the artwork of Fiona Leitner. Her artwork looks like mosaic upon first glance then you stare at it and you notice that it's really digital artwork on canvasses. Others look like stained-glass that you would find in a old-world, real life church. The intricate work is amazing. Fiona says that lots of her artwork is layered in Photoshop until she is pleased with the outcome!

The Pixel Gallery is a real interesting place to visit and represents Second Life artwork very well. Join me for Artis Gallery Part 4: Center for Inworld Photography!

Artis Gallery Part 2: Yeaxbleux's Greenhouse

2010-10-08T20:36:00.002-07:00

Real Life Photography

As many of my long-time readers know, I am very fond of peaceful settings to show artwork whether it is Real Life or Second Life artwork. The landscaping in Yeaxbleux's Greenhouse is peaceful and beautiful. There are wooden, floating sidewalks around ponds with bamboo, lily pads, Egyptian Papyrus growing, and upon close up inspection you can spot koi fish swimming.

This is a great setting to portray the real life art of Rebecca Tolk whose photos are pictures of wildlife such as a wild, pink rose that looks so soft that you could bend over and smell it's delicate perfume.

Venturing down the paths, there are photographs taken underwater and flowers in full bloom. My favorite photograph is the winter landscape with thick snow on the tree branches, untouched with human footprints.

I teleported to the glass floor and a smile crossed my face! I adored my glass floors at my Museum and I absolutely love the view of the ponds and artwork as well as the sculpture garden it is amazing! Through the arched doorway is a terrace and it has a great view of the ocean! This was an amazing surprise! Well done!

The Rebecca Tolk show is sponsored by Petal Fairlock. This greenhouse and the artwork are a real treat!

The next article is Artis Gallery Part 3: Pixel Gallery.

Artis Gallery Part 1: "Sculpture Garden"

2010-10-07T20:28:00.000-07:00

The Artis Gallery has been an Independent Gallery since 2007. It features several different galleries all content is Second Life or Real-Life based. I will be featuring the various parts of the gallery in a six-part series.

Sculpture Gallery

The Sculpture Garden features artwork by Elko Schufan and Maryva Mayo and they are incredible sculptures all different and individualistic.

Featured in the center of the garden is a kaleidoscope designed by Maryva Mayo. Using the mouselook, you can look into the kaleidoscope and enjoy the moving pixels and colors. Unlike real-life you don't have to turn the end or look up into a bright light to enjoy the colorful shapes and spirals. There are four scopes so you can bring your friends and enjoy it together! You can teleport into the kaleidoscope and take pictures while the wild colors twirl around you!

All of the sculptures are by Eko the first seen is a twirling dervish hovering over a rock interlocking loops called, "A Crazy Day..... LOL." It's always good to maintain a sense of humor!

There is a claw-like circle holding a giant diamond with a fire pouring out of the center and it's named, "This Fire in Me."

The sculpture set in sand and from certain angles looks like a Japanese Toris Gate interlinked with a black fence. It's a fanciful description, but that is what the shapes from one angle reminds me of! It's called, "Zen." Set on one corner of this sculpture is a poofing red rose! It's beautiful and it's a free, take one!

"Stroke" is an interesting sculpture one twisty-leaf-like swirl is colored in stripes varied colors and the other is a solid steel-blue in the center between the two is pole with a red base. Twirling your camera position around this piece of art the idea of what it is changes. From one angle it looks like a Bird of Paradise and from another angle, looks like gemstones are about ready to jump into the palm of your hand! Whatever this looks like to you, it's a sparkling piece of art that you can purchase.

The next piece of artwork is called "Hey...time is running." It's an unmovable leaf floating on a pool of moving water with an interlocking piece of steel overhead.

There is a sculpture that looks like a child scribbling in straight , sharp, vertical lines, and you ask, "what the h*ll is this?" Then you move your camera out to look at it from another angle and see a red bird soaring above the world free of the mess and stress we live in! It's a striking sculpture.

There is a heart with a partial Cupid's arrow piercing it's center and was named, "Open Mind." Love does call for an open mind and spirit.

Tucked into a corner is a open shell with a pearl nestled inside--appropriately it's called, "Spring."

I recommend that when you visit, you enjoy the Sculpture Garden in both day and night settings. It's an absolutely gorgeous setting surrounding with waterfall and waves crashing over rocks out at sea and the waves washing up on the beach.

I highly recommend that you visit this Sculpture Garden and I hope you will join me for the Artis Gallery Part 2: Yeaxbleux's Greenhouse featuring Petal Fairlock and the real life photographs of Rebecca Tolk.

Museum on Identity Part 2

2010-10-05T20:01:00.000-07:00

Split personalities. It's the pull and flux between our "player or human" and our avatar! I, the Player, laugh hysterically sometimes when I think about it! And what some psychologist will someday say! Atlantis says: My "player" has a Facebook page for me and a Twitter account and when she talks about Atlantis she talks about me in the third person giving me an Identity all my own!"

Since Second Life is a microscopic look into the huge world our "players" live in, I believe we can equate a year of being rezzed to about 20 human years. Things happen fast in Second Life so fast that you blink and you have missed it. Our Avies have great, big emotions, because our "players" live out their fantasies to some extent in Second Life, but even in this life we have to keep a cap on them just like in Real Life because Daddy Linden says we have too! Love, disappointment, failings, hate, successes, all become more intense and sometimes blown out of portion to the situation!

That leads us to the final question...Is what said in public chat as the same as in private? Doubtful! I have never tried to talk double what I say in open chat I say in private chat, hehehe! Oh, yeah that's true too! (My Player is laughing hysterically again!)

Who am I? Who are you? I don't know who you are, but I am a blue-skinned Sky Elf, born in the imagination of my real life "player" I have existed for many millennia, protecting humans against the Dark, "Things That Cannot Be Spoken Of", but have found a place in the popular myth and legends, that the humans are so fond of. Why did my "player" decide on a character that is not human?

My real life "player" is human and has always hoped to meet a being of another race, however, those races currently only reside in her imagination, now through me, she can live out of fantasy of being a seven foot, blue-skinned Sky Elf who has magical powers and has a life story that is fascinating!

The funniest thing of all is that my "player" thought everyone else would want to be an Other too, but found that most just want to live in an utopia that is their ideals of their heart!

The best thing about Second Life is that there are no rules, but the ones we impose on ourselves there are no levels to achieve except what drives you as a Real World person and again the question is asked: "Who is the virtual you?"

This fabulous, sim-wide exhibition is from October 1-31 and this Curator finds that it is a gem of an exhibition and loves the perspectives these artiste's have put into sculpture and on display for us all to enjoy and think about! I rate this as an absolute MUST see!

Caerleon Museum on Identity - Part 1

2010-10-03T20:29:00.000-07:00

This is a limited time showing on the subject of identity in virtual worlds as based on Georg Janick's dissertation on virtual art, which states: " There are six aesthetic-technological dimensions that collectively distinguish the art of virtual worlds from earlier forms of art. They are immersion, interaction, ambiguity of identity, environmental fluidity, artificial agency, and networked collaboration."

The 18 artiste's who collaborated on this project chose to reflect on the ambiguity, which is the fifth exhibit on Identity that has been built on this site.

The landing spot has a hallway with pictures of different Second Life avatars and opens into a open space with a stairwell leading to the ground level which displays occupations that can be found in Second Life such as: Teaching, musicians, singers, artiste's, shoppers, Master or Mistress/slave to name a few!

Flying up to view the avatars on the upper level that represent the different types of avatars that you can find in Second Life such as: devils, pharaohs, mermaids, angels and demons, humans, Star War characters, Romans, furries, earth goddesses, mini-avies, to name a few... no Sky Elves, though, but I won't take offense!

Ages range from young to the old in human years to the immortals all begging the question, "Who are you?" "Who am I?" The artiste's who worked on this project divided up the main theatre into several distinct sections with exits to different parts of the sim. There is a hot air balloon ride that you can take before taking time for intimate exploration. Additionally, you can orbit around the sim and take a magic pillow ride!

I started my exploration that the "I am only a mesh" and it's the celebration on what makes us 3-D and rezzed in Second life! Who are you? Male or female? Human? Other? What is your occupation?

Are you Somebody or Nobody? Now there is a good question! Let's reflect for a moment. In humans our DNA dictates what we are going to look like, but as an Avatar what predicts what our mesh looks like? Are we a mirror or a reflection?

We are now digital, rezzed, but who are we? Gracie Kendall's "My Life as an Avatar" exhibit brings forth the question by a quote from Kurt Vonnegut, "We are what we pretend to be so be careful of we pretend to be."

Transworld Identity. Now that is quite the mouthful! What does it mean? I think it means to provoke thought, do we bring into Second Life our own selves or a portrayal of who we wish we could be given a perfect situation or do we pretend to be better in Second Life then who we are in Real Life?

"Now you see me!" Do I? Maybe I do, but maybe I don't. There is more to this exhibit then meets the eye. Like an onion, it has layers, an obvious one, but then one that with patience another is revealed! Perhaps it's like our Identity in Second Life! Or are we as lonely in Second Life as we are in First Life?

FreeWee Ling takes a gander into this question, one, I asked before I saw her exhibit! Perhaps we are as happy or lonely in our real or second lives as we allow or give ourselves permission to be. Hamlet said, "To be or not to be!" and Yoda said, "Don't try, Do!" I think we forget it in both lives to a great extent!

FreeWee Ling says: "I found the idea of wearing a mask in SL to be a hilarious satire. A curious redundancy, since our avatars themselves might be thought of as a kind of mask. Our freedom to express ourselves in this world comes in part from our ability to be anonymous, yet public by wearing an artificial persona. Curiously, very few artists in the show seemed to have grasped the brilliance of the idea."

The Identification Office brings to mind who polices us? We all know it's Linden Labs, but how to identify those who are wrong or right we all know it's the whim of the Terms of Service, but how much do we police ourselves? After all the original idea is that Second Life has no rules, but our own! Do we leave a virtual fingerprint?

The liquidity of our Avatar selves depends totally on who our "player" is, is it an extension of our imagination? Or are we as vague and ambiguous in our Second Life as we are in our First? Or are we the same in here as we are out "there?"

This gem of a show will be on exhibit until October 31st, never to be seen again! This is a must see! Join me for the final conversation on Identity in Part 2 of this interesting topic of Virtual Identity!

Dresden Gallery

2010-10-03T18:24:00.000-07:00

Dresden Gallery is modeled after the Real Life Gemaldegalerie Alte Meister of the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen, Dresden, Germany, translated into English means: "Dresden State Art Collection of Dresden, Germany, owned by the State of Saxony" opened in 1855 and is one of the world's famous museums!

In Second Life the Dresden Gallery resides in Dresden and has 750 pictures of the Real Life Masters making this the biggest collection of Real Life masterpieces on display in Second Life. Displaying artwork of John Paul Rubens, Raphael, Giorgione, and Vermeer to name a few!

The museum features an Acoustiguide Tour for free, don on your headphones and touch the audio symbol and listen to the information about the artwork you are viewing. This is a new feature added since I last visited the museum! If you don't wish to use the audio guide, then click on the pictures and you will get a notecard telling you who painted it, when they painted it and the Gallery ownership number.

This is a must see for all Second Lifer's who enjoy art! The Dresden Gallery has lasted for all the years I have been in Second Life and I hope it continues with its success!

Morphing Sculpture

2010-10-03T10:30:00.000-07:00

The Morphing Sculpture by Sasun Steinbeck is one of the most amazing pieces of Second Life artwork. It has fired my imagination since the first time I saw it morphing in a gallery over two years ago.

Ms. Steinbeck is a well-known scripter in Second Life and has been involved in SL since the September 2005. She entered Second Life wanting to create something that was truly unique to Second Life. This project took 2 years to complete, however the results are amazing, stunning, and beautiful.

My first view of this was the Summer of 2007. My neighbor on the first private estate my wife bought had one in her front yard. The sculpture was twirling on the lawn and it teased me into touching it! I was playing with it and our neighbor came out of the house. My wife and I apologized for playing with it, but our new neighbor said, no worries, it's why we bought it--it's a great icebreaker with our neighbors!

What is a Morphing Sculpture? Sasun Steinbeck says: "I wanted something very beautiful to look at, as well as fun for owners to play with. SecondLife gives us all amazing control over the shapes of the prims that we work with - but I wanted to make something that would create beautiful, complex, and unexpected shapes completely on it's own, as if it were a living thing, morphing into completely different shapes with every touch."

This is a 3-D medium that changes shapes, colors, and induces peace and tranquility when used with soft music. It can be adjusted to be as big or small as you wish it to be depending on how you want to use it.

When trying to photograph this wonderful piece of art, I had to find a setting and color that would allow for the delicacy as well as the robustness of this sculpture to come through. Imagine that each of these designs spins, changes colors, and then morphs into the next shape. These five shapes are only a few of the many varied shapes and colors this sculpture can be.

Additionally, the sculpture has a particle element, can glow, and change the asymmetrical angle in which it morphs. The owner can also change the spin speed to fast or slow it down, change the texture, and change the music selection.

This wonderful sculpture is one prim and sells for L$4000. In this Curator's opinion, I should have bought it when it was L$2500!

Blog in Transition

2010-10-03T07:30:00.000-07:00

Maintaining a fully functioning sim is hard work, but when it brings in no money it gets expensive. In September 2008, I had to shut down my sim and withdraw from Second Life.

I am venturing back in-world now. I still have a passion for Second Life art and so I am transitioning my blog from featuring on my own museum and art gallery to featuring other peoples art galleries and the artwork displayed therein.

The plan for this blog is to review artwork on display introducing newbies to old artiste's as well as new artiste's.

With this journey in mind, I have changed my blog and updated the style, taking out pictures and links to give it a new look. I will be blogging at least one article a day, which means that some lucky person in Second Life will be featured here!

I will also featuring other blogs related to the art world in Second Life. All comments will be moderated by me and promptly posted!

This will be a fun journey, I hope you will travel it with me.

Atlantis Jewell
Former Curator of Elven Enchantment Museum and Art Gallery

Landscaping at Elven Enchantment

2010-02-04T11:18:00.000-08:00

Some of you have written to me asking where you can buy some of the items found at the museum. I would say that the items you find including the textures, unicorns, dragons, water, rocks, trees, shrubs, bridges, and animals are all creations of Julia Hathor's imagination! She is the most talented of SL developers for anything you can imagine, winter, summer, beach, underwater, above water, jungles.

She is a wonderful lady. Her sims are named, Creative Fantasy. I have provided a link to a SL website that will provide you with a description of her sims, what are on them and an SLurl!

Please note: She is a very busy woman and if you IM her please make sure it is related to something you purchased or you are looking for a specific item that is transferable, but not copable she will sell things copyable if you want it but not transferable and it is not copyable on the sim ask her to make it so.

The benches at Elven Enchantment are hers, but I asked her to take off the pigeons. She did and I have beautiful granite garden benches less the pigeons!

Creative Fantasy is my number one pick for SL Landscaping, Cheers Julia!

Atlantis Jewell,
Curator of Elven Enchantment Museum and Art Gallery

NEW Home and Look for Museum

2008-11-23T19:56:00.000-08:00

Elven Enchantment Museum and Art Gallery has been in the process of moving for sometime, however, the Museum is finally sorted out and the new building and landscaping is residing at her new home.

The Museum truly lives up to its name now, Elven Enchantment. The building and grounds are imbued with magic of the owner and its resident magical creatures, dragons, unicorns, leopards, pixies, fireflies, and rainbow.

There is a magical pavilion where foxes, squirrels, and peacocks play! The trees are also mystical some Elven in origin and some simply magical! Once again, the landscaping would be impossible without the magical, deft creations of Julia Hathor.

Prominently featured on the grounds and air around the museum is the magical dragons. There are baby dragons, some flying, others drinking tea, and still others playing in the water fountains, they are all kept an eye on by their Mother.

The landscaping kept to its original theme, which honors the Elven Imperial Symbol of Atlantis's race: Water, Air, Wind, Fire, and the Elementals.

The Museum is now a brick building and it only has two floor, but we now have teleporters! No more stairs!

The Museum reopened on October 30, 2008, the building is dedicated to Patron Papo Lungu, who built the building and donated it to the Museum.

Currently on display on the first level of the Museum is artwork from the creators of "Dark Delights." These are 100 percent adult pictures of humans, subs, centaurs, pixies, elves, and much more. Please use discretion when viewing this layout.

The second floor is dedicated to the real life Masters and the Art Gallery are in the four corners. The Museum will be continuing to promote Second Life artistes (As soon as the Curator's Real Life settles a bit more!)

There will be short temporary walls on the second floor of the Museum when we have art shows. It is my hope to have another art show in the new year, begin 2009 in a wonderful way.

Elven Enchantment sits on the Isle of Atlantis, floating above the sim in a world of its own. If you visit the House of Lords their teleporter's are connected to the Museum and you can teleport to the Museum.

The grounds are a great place for you to bring your friends, if you want to impress your partner, with a romantic evening! The sim is set to eternal night, so the romance of the gardens of the Museum are always there.

Elven Enchantment is truly an enchanted place to come and visit whether you love artwork or the artwork that is Second Life!

Come and enjoy, visit with the Curator, or stoll around with your loved one(s).

Trains, Planes Automobiles, and Magical Transport

2008-09-06T14:46:00.000-07:00

Trains, Planes, Automobiles, and Magical Transport was the last exhibition that Elven Enchantment Museum and Art Gallery had at the Eunpyung Sim. This is a brief report on some of the most fascinating modes of transportation in Second Life. The above picture is of the Flying Scotsman train. It is a fully working train complete with its own track and smokestack.

The bikes and automobiles were all on lend from a Museum Patron, Papo Lungu. His extensive collection contains over 20 cars, 20 bikes, several water vehicles, and a luxury jet. Featured to the right is one my of favorite bikes, the Fire bike. When this bike is turned on fire emanates from the wheels and the red skull on the front of the bike.

In contrast the bike below is a free bike. It has red tail lights and interesting looking particles that pass for blinkers and headlights and is not owned by Mr. Lungu, but by the Museum.
I commend the person who began bravely to make this bike in Second Life because it gave way to better scripts and building practices making better and better bikes.

In Real Life we have all heard of the Indian bikes and a few of us may have been lucky to own one or to see one at a biker convention. In Second Life anyone can own an Indian bike and here it is in all its glory and a close of of the artwork on the tank is provided. The detail of the Indian Chief is a piece of artwork in itself. We are very grateful to our Patron for the lending of these truely wonderful bikes.

There were also many different types of automobiles on display, prim cars to sculpty cars and even cars with Hemi's. Racing cars to drag cars and old fashion cars to modern Lamborghini's were on display.

There was a a Dominus Shadow that was on display it was blue with gold wheels and if you haven't guess yes, this Elven Curator is the owner, enjoy the pictures of the wonderful cars.

The first red car is the first car that Mr. Lungu built himself. Yes it is possible to learn the art of building a car and successfully making it run!

The other pictures of cars are ones that at one time could be purchased or still can be purchased in Second Life.

Temporarily Closed

2008-08-04T20:26:00.001-07:00

Elven Enchantment Museum and Art Gallery is temporarily closed due to a move to different sim. That's right, the Museum is moving from its home of a year--Eunpyung to a new sim: the Isle of Atlantis.

The Museum will undergo a facade change, and yes teleporters are all ready installed! A new layout of dark artwork is being assembled and I am chasing down fountains in my inventory. I expect that the Museum will reopen by mid-August and a formal ball is being planned for the year anniversary in Second Life for August 31, 2008.

I hope that you will be patient while this curator she gets her act together, however, this blog will continue with some entries and new photographs on the Trains, Planes, Automobiles, and Magical Transport exhibition, a final report on the Relay for Life, and a preview of the upcoming exhibitions.

Final Weeks of the Relay for Life

2008-07-11T02:56:00.000-07:00

The last and final push for the Relay for Life is underway. The sims will be open shortly for public viewing.

The Enchanted Elves have a plot where we have made a tribute to the Relay and Why we do it on that plot. The poem you will find on the signs on that sim is below in its entirety:

As I spoke to you and I heard your reply,

I saw, the barren forest in my frozen minds eye,

I placed a toe upon that path,

Determined to do the math,

The price for not walking the path was too high,

I placed my feet firmly on it and took that first step, bye and bye,

As I began my journey, O the pain, the suffering, the despair,

I spoke to you again, and you said, this would repair,

Hardly believing I saw the red hot lava, pain so unbearable, torturing me,

I said, let me be,

I saw a bridge and hastened up it,

And the desolate forest turned into day bidding me to rest a bit,

Sitting down, at last at peace, I thanked you,

And your reply, it is turned out as I had hoped, but sometimes it’s hard to have that clue,

As I sat and garnered strength, gathering my loved ones around,

Kissing, hugging, laughing, happiness abound,

Then I saw you, and you shook your head,

And said, its time for bed,

Glancing around I noticed others,

Mothers, Fathers, Sisters, Brothers,

Some sitting, standing, others wandering past, I stood,

Fearfully, I began to walk, the pain was back, I shuffled as fast as I could,

Past the water, I saw my rest,

Tears slid down my face, loved ones hugging me, I whispered, this is for the best,

No more pain and suffering, remember me,

And now let me be.

Trains, Planes Automobiles, and Magical Transport

2008-06-08T16:47:00.000-07:00

Monday, June 9 at 5:00 p.m., SLT is the premier of Trains, Planes, Automobiles, and Magical Transport. Featuring the extensive vehicle collection of Museum Patron Papo Lungu.

His collection features, motorcycles, leer, jet, cars of all types and makes from prim to sculpty. The motorcycles are as varied as the engineers. My personal favorite is the Hells Bike and the Fire Bike.

The Museum's contribution to this show is the train and magical transport. Some of the items are free so be sure click on the object to see if you can buy it for free.

This is one aspect of Second Life art that is fascinating as all the modes of transport work and can be driven, rode or flown.

June Exhibition

2008-05-30T19:44:00.000-07:00

On the Garden Level of the Museum the House of Lords display will continue, an intimate look into the House of Lords featuring its Master and His subs.

In the grove, we will be changing the theme from statuary to Vehicles in SL. The car and bike collection is On Lend from a Museum Patron, Papo Lungu. His extensive collection of all types of vehicles range from motorbikes, cars, and jet skis to name a few.

In the Exhibition Hall we will feature the wildlife photographs of Macintaz Balbozar whose RL picture talents never need touching up in Photoshop!!

These new exhibitions will be ready for viewing on Monday, June 9th at 5:00 p.m., SLT. Come and see the wondrous envirnment that we live and play in and call Second Life!

Halfway There Fair!

2008-05-30T19:37:00.000-07:00

We are Halfway There at the Relay for Life Fair. The Enchanted Elves will be selling quality goods for half price... that's right some businesses in SL have donated their items and all you have to do is pay the kiosk!!

The business feature, Exquisite Furnishings, Elven Enchantment Museum and Art Gallery, and Atlantis Jewell Creations. We may have a few more, but right now these SL companies have definitely committed and 100 percent of the proceeds go to the Relay for Life!

Sculpture in the Grove

2008-05-30T18:17:00.000-07:00

This past month the Museum has featured various sculpture artiste's in the grove. Their work is superior, interesting, passionate, and diverse. The first I am going to share with you is from an up and coming sculpture artiste, Mayden Dragonash! This sculpture is not named but is to me a thinking head, resigned to its fate and is waiting the end... hmm, that was quite dark, you decide!!

This next piece is called Thorny Spirals. Now before moving onto Thorny ... I must point out that all of Ms. Dragonash's sculptures have moving textures on them making them jump out at the viewer! Thorny Spirals have fire on the tops of the branches with blood veins spiraling down to the base. Great for a Gothic Castle or Halloween!

Orth of Lava is a globe set on a pedestal of iron with a wooden base. The orb looks like an alien world in which if you look deep enough into the globe you just might see the alien residents going about their business! But the swirling fog of their world keeps them safely hidden from view!!

The original Thorny Sculpture is the first one that I saw by Ms. Dragonash and this has spiny limbs coming up from the base held together by the lava orbs at various points on the sculpture. All of Ms. Dragonash's works would be fantastic in a Gothic Castle or your BDSM dungeon!!

The fantastic sculpture by Mayden Dragonash is leaving Elven Enchantment tomorrow May 31! Come and see her wonderful pieces of art!

The next piece is a sculpty gazebo done by a RL sculpture artiste who is in SL under the name of Ms. Chastity DeCuir. In RL her sculptures sell for lots and funds her theatre work...! But here in SL she owns Virgo Rising and this beautiful piece is the centre piece of some lovely SL weddings!! In this picture you can see the grass, but at her home, Chas has this set out over the ocean and you can view the ocean life below. She lent this to the Museum for this exhibition, thanks Chas!!

It looks like a sculpture, it is moving (it's SL, so we can indeed have moving sculptues!), but is it a sculpture? Now, most of my guests to the Museum would not try walking through this sculpture, but stand back and enjoy the view of this cartoon character representation of RacerX's Burning Man statue in a mini size, but if you know who RacerX is then you know that his specialty is particles and so the answer to the question is this a sculpture? Technically, no, but boy is it fun! This not-a-sculpture (technically speaking) is complete with waterfall around the inner particle. If you saw this in giant size at 2007's Burning Man then you know that it stood at least 50 meters tall and moved and had fireworks and many intricate parts that all moved... RacerX rocks!

For as long as there are Museums and the legends of Egypt intrigue our imaginations, no Museum can exist and not have Egyptian sculpture, even if it is on loan for a little while!! Elven Enchantment has some wonderful Egyptian statuary and the tallest is of Anubis! This artiste is Naadarih Shimad and her work is beautiful and detailed. She has built her own Egyptian sim in SL to house these wonderful works of sculpture.

This sculpture features Anubis sitting in the traditional Egyptian position with his ears pointed up and sitting at attention this Egyptian god is set on a block of granite guarding the dead along with two Bastet Cats in silver and onyx. The Eye of Ra circles Anubis's eye and the Bastet Cat's eyes too.

No Egyptian Exhibition would be complete without a Mummy and a Sarcophagus, which sits between the two Anubis sculptures. The door on the sarcophagus swings open and shut! This artwork will mysteriously find its way back to the Museum around Halloween this year. The detailed work on the mummy is incredible you can see the embalming bandages. The smooth wood of the sarcophagus is brilliant.

The final twist in the Egyptian Exhibition is the Asp, that was made into a coiled constrictor and you may lay off with your Master or Mistress and your collar sisters or brothers for an afternoon of cuddling and togetherness!

Since this is a Second Life Museum, I felt that this sculpture exhibition would not be complete without some erotic statues, but sadly, I cannot post pictures here! If you would like to see Bahumat and the golden Xcite! Statue, you must stop by Elven Enchantment Museum and Art Gallery and have an enjoyable time being impaled on this wonderful interactive statues!! Shy? No worries these beautiful statues are tucked behind a modesty hedge for your privacy to enjoy an interactive moment!

Fund Raising Live Concert

2008-04-23T20:13:00.000-07:00

You are cordially invited to attend a live concert for a Relay for Life Fundraiser at Elven Enchantment Museum and Art Gallery on Sunday, May 18 at 6 p.m. SLT, featuring Pmann Sands in the Grove. The fundraising cover is L$50 per person and it is to be paid into the kiosk as you cross the bridge on the right.

The Enchanted Elves will also be offering up artwork for auction during this concert, featuring a Drathon Montague, and various other artiste's, who have donated work.

Come enjoy the company of music and art lovers, friends and help us raise money for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. Until there is a cure, We Relay!!

Sincerely,
Atlantis Jewell, Team Captain of the Enchanted Elves
Macintaz Balbozar, Co-captain
Fairy Contepomi
Magdelena Cazelet
Zaknafien Barbosa
Pateagle Amat
Mello Bonetto
Drathon Montague
Aeryn Beck
Dezeray Aeon
Lando Biedermann
Roxi Richez
Chel Norfolk, Team Mentor

Meet the Enchanted Elves

2008-04-23T20:04:00.000-07:00

The Relay for Life is taking off in SL and the Enchanted Elves are involved in a fund raiser. However, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge and thank all the team members who volunteer their time and energy to fund raising for American Cancer Society's Relay for Life fund raising for cancer research.

Presenting the Enchanted Elves Team sponsored by Elven Enchantment Museum and Art Gallery:

1. Atlantis Jewell, Team Captain
2. Fairy Contepomi
3. Macintaz Balbozar, Co-captain
4. Magdalena Cazalet
5. Zaknafien Barbosa
6. Pateagle Amat
7. Mello Bonetto
8. Drathon Montague
9. Aeryn Beck
10. Dezeray Aeon
11. Lando Biedermann
12. Roxi Richez

Chel Norfolk, Team Mentor

Thanks ever so much!

Second Life Photograph Exhibition

2008-04-18T06:00:00.000-07:00

Our first Exhibition featuring only Second Life photography. We are featuring the Second Life photos of Roxi Richez. She is the fab photographer that took the head shot that is now featured on my Second Life profile tab and on all my blogs. Her talents are fantastic and varied in the style in which she portrays avatars in Second Life.

The Roxi Richez photography exhibition will run from Monday, April 21 to May 31. Patrons, Artiste, and Group night is Sunday, April 20 from 5 to 6 p.m., SLT. Opening night is Monday, April 21 from 5 to 7 p.m., SLT.

The photo to above is a sneek peek at another wonderful Roxi Richez photo. Oh, I couldn't help myself, two more are below. Enjoy and come see the Roxi Richez SL Photography Exhibition.

And I almost forgot, if you wish your avie to look this fab, on opening night, Ms. Richez will be offering a 10 percent discount on any orders placed on this night, so come out and get your 10 percent discount coupon.

Normally during an opening Elven Enchantment offers artwork for purchase from our exhibitors, but this time there will no offerings available.

The photograph on the right are the Three Fates gazing down on a rebel Sky Elf. Fortunately for this Sky Elf the Fates do not have a hand in forming her destiny.

The Elven Enchantment Museum and Art Gallery Curator as you may see her on an opening night!! Come out to Elven Enchantment on April 21. See you there!

Enchanted Elves

2008-03-16T06:05:00.000-07:00

The Relay for Life's launch party was yesterday and we were given our kiosks! The Enchanted Elves have been granted permission to drop donation boxes at the following places of business:

1. Club Incircle
2. Lady Killerz
3. xZonex Club
4. Valhalla Beach Resort
5. Jewel of Atlantis Shopping Centre
6. Akaska's Temple
7. Elven Enchantment Museum and Art Gallery
8. @Avy's Club Giggles

The Enchanted Elves thank these places of company's for allowing us to drop our kiosks at your places of business. Our Relay Team will be planning events and we will offering the above places the opportunity to have auctions, concerts, and dances at venues to so their traffic goes up and our fund raising events are also successful!! So far, our efforts have raised over L$2,000! More Updates to come regarding our fund raising efforts for the American Cancer Society.

"Until there is a cure, We RELAY!"

Elven Enchantment on Technorati

2008-02-28T12:05:00.001-08:00

The Museum's Blog had been registered with a Blog statistical site called Technorati. This site keeps track of popularity of blogs. Currenty the Museum's Blog is rated at a little over 2.2 million in the rankings!

So this is what you can do for me... put my blog on your blog, and I will link to your blog! This way our rankings rise and we become an authority on Technorati! This is an exciting way of getting the Real World and non-Second Lifers to read about our Museum and hopefully encourage people to enter Second Life and visit the Museum!

Expert Author at Ezine.com

2008-02-21T18:27:00.000-08:00

It is a very exciting day for Elven Enchantment Museum and Art Gallery as yours truly has obtain Expert Author at Ezine.com I am happy to inform you that in the Real World over 1,000 people have read articles on Elven Enchantment Museum and Art Gallery!

On the right of your screen you will find a new logo and its a link to Ezine.com, once there be sure to search for Atlantis Jewell and you will find all my musings and ramblings!!

Grins a sly Elven smirk at you... "You just might find yourself featured there!" Enjoy!

Valentine's Ball

2008-02-15T11:01:00.000-08:00

There is a Valentines Ball at Elven Enchantment Museum and Art Gallery tonight at 5 p.m., until 7:00 p.m., SLT on Sunday, February 17, Best in Red for girls and guys! Bring your sweethearts and dance your night away.

DJ Annie Lane providing romantic music for the entire night!! See you there!

Welcoming Eden Cale to Elven Enchantment

2008-02-03T08:28:00.000-08:00

I wish to welcome Eden Cale to the Elven Enchantment Family of Artiste's. He is a RL digital painter, whose works have been on display on the First Level of the Museum for the last month along with "Beauty in Bondage" Series and the new Drathon Montague's.

Mr. Cale is a talented digital painter whose work is quality and unique, a hallmark of Elven Artiste's. He owns his own studio in SL called Visions of Eden. He will be exhibiting during the month of February, and the Patrons, Artiste, Group Member night is next week Sunday, February 10, 5-6 p.m., SLT at the Museum on the new Third Level, which is now the Exhibition Level of the Museum.

Opening night is Monday, February 11 at 5:00 p.m., SLT!!

The Museum's pick for this exhibition is "Lighthouse" and will be available for purchase from the Art Gallery on the Fourth Level of the Museum which now has a floor of its own too!

This will be an exciting exhibition as you can view the new changes at the entrance of the Museum and on the Fourth Level!

Welcome Mr. Cale and Patrons, Artiste's, and Group Members this exhibition is not to be missed!

Digital Knight Scripted Art Studio Has a New Home

2008-02-03T07:58:00.000-08:00

Digital Knight Scripted Art Studio has a new home, the land at the Odessa Astounding was sold and Digital Knight had to find a new home and with the help of Biggy Harvey the new landowner of Odessa Astounding land, we found one spot at Horizons Retail Zone, Horizons WEST (102, 140, 21).

This is a new retail area and has a lovely shopping area so come on over see the new site and shop in our shopping district for art, furniture, clothing, and there is a BDSM Resort nearby and a shopping mall. Enjoy!!

More Changes at Elven Enchantment Museum and Art Gallery

2008-02-03T05:12:00.000-08:00

More changes have come to Elven Enchantment! The entrance signs have been renovated and redone. The company that volunteered to do this project was Exquisite Furnishings, which is a new furniture business in SL. The owner is a Patron of the Museum and Papo Lungu kindly consented to redesign the Museum's new signs. You will see his golden, signature seal on the ends of these signs.

The gazebo has been moved from the right side of the museum to the far left end of the Museum, if you stand on the bridge, on or next to the daydream poseballs and look straight down the gazebo is now nestled at of the end of the crunchy snow and between the winter trees. Remember that there is one set of dancing poseballs here so bring your sweetie and dance in a very romantic setting.

The Museum has also under gone a redo of the front facade correcting some noobie building errors of mine...and making the "lines" virtually disappear. It was always my goal to put a roof on the museum, however, this has not happened until now...the fourth floor now has a smoked, ninety degree glass roof, so if your fond of flying over the wall to see the Gallery beware that this is no longer possible!!

A huge thanks goes to Mr. Lungu of Exquisite Furnishing who not only donated his time and materials for the signs, but also designed the "peak" glass enclosing the fourth floor entirely in a glass roof.

Another big thank you goes to Marrissa Lafabvre who helped with some of the original floor design and helped again in the raising of the fourth level by giving me permission to modify her objects for this endeavor.

Elven Enchantment on the SLX

2008-01-25T07:40:00.000-08:00

Most of the artwork that is in the Art Gallery is up on the SLX (Secondlife Exchange) so if you need to purchase a quick gift for your friend, lover, or business partner and do not have the time to log, you can go to the SLX and purchase for your gift and send it to them inworld.

Please note: That it is important to be sure that your friend(s) have not muted the SLX... (Don't ask!!)

There were several pieces that no matter how the Curator tried, could not get some pieces up onto the SLX so be sure to come by the Art Gallery to see the artwork available.

Changes at Elven Enchantment Musuem and Art Gallery

2008-01-25T05:49:00.000-08:00

Since opening our doors on September 1, 2007, Elven Enchantment has gone through some incredible changes. Elven Enchantment hosted its first Exhibition in November 07 showcasing Spiral Silverstar's factal art. Next, Gracie Barbosa kindly consented to exhibit a part of her RL photograph collection, and our current exhibitor is Lexy Wilder.

We also have awesome artiste's whose artwork has been displayed in the Art Gallery for sometime and with each new exhibitor we have exclusive and multi-copy artwork that remains in the Art Gallery. The Art Gallery grew too small so this week a fourth level was raised up, moving the art gallery to the fourth level and the third level remains the exhibition space for artiste whose work are being shown for the month.

The aquarium moved up to the fourth level too as it was too big to remain as a center element on the third level. Additional artwork will be available for purchase in the art gallery choice pictures from the "Beauty in Bondage" will be available for purchase in early to mid-February.

We are gearing up for another artiste, who is a digital painter--Eden Cale. We will be welcoming him to the Elven Enchantment family on the second weekend of February.

There is only one stairwell going up to the gallery level as the curator was trying to save on prims. To access the new level, go to the middle stairwell on the third level and you can walk up to the Art Gallery.

Women of RL/SL Beauty

2008-01-15T05:51:00.000-08:00

During the months of January and February we are celebrating Women of Beauty in Second Life and Real Life.

The Garden Level in tradition of Elven Enchantment is filled with SL Women of Beauty the the first set of pictures is of Gorgeous Rosa was taken by PJ Trenton, a SL photographer. There is a black and white series turning this color spread to black and white was inspired by Magdalena Cazalet's remark...Atty that picture looks like a "Film Noir" photograph.

There is a beautiful woman tied up to the Japanese Bondage structure that was on display at Elven Enchantment's opening. The next set of photographs are donated by Elven Enchantment's Patrons Chastitiy DeCuir and Ailenor Laval. This photograph was used on their wedding invitations and so absolutely beautiful that it takes the viewer's breath away.

The "Two Beauty's" has made a reappearance at the Museum as it was out during the opening month of September and the Fairies from Sunrise to Midnight are the final phase in the SL Women of Beauty series.

The Real Life Women of Beauty is reflected on the First Level of the Museum, which has been changed to display the photographic donations of Rhad McMillan, RL/SL Master and Museum Patron in the "Beauty in Bondage" series. The Museum's pick for this series is "Master's Touch."

The Real Life Masters Floor has remained the same, as this floor is only changed out once a year.

The Third Level has new art in the Art Gallery and of course the Lexy Wilder Painting Exhibition is on the West side of this level. These are her real life paintings of her homeland, using oil and acrylic the beautiful landscapes are painted and she provided one sketch as well. The items for purchase are on the northern wall of the third floor. The Museum's pick for this exhibition is "Waterfall." An enchanted forest where this Curator would love to play hide and seek! Thanks Lexy for sharing your fantastic real life artwork with us in Second Life.

Lexy Wilder Painting Exhibition

2008-01-07T04:59:00.000-08:00

Beginning on January 13 at 5:00 p.m. SLT with Patrons, Artiste, and Group Night, Elven Enchantment extends a warm welcome to Lexy Wilder who is a Real Life painter and whose brialliant works will be exhibiting at the Museum from January 13- 31st.

The gala opening night is January 14 at 5:00 p.m., SLT open to all visitors who wish to come by the museum and see some absolutely gorgeous paintings.

Ms. Wilder is a talented SL Resident who, I am very happy to welcome to Elven Enchantment Museum and Art Gallery.

More to following on purchasing Ms. Wilder's artwork.

New Year's Party

2007-12-29T06:27:00.000-08:00

You are cordially invited to celebrate the New Year's on the 4th of January 2008, which is the first Friday in 2008 at Elven Enchantment, First Level for a night of dancing, talking and celebration, ushering in the New Year SL style. Dust off your ball gowns and your coat tails, bring your lovely guys, gals, pets, subs and dance the night away celebrating all things new and wonderful for 2008.

Elven Enchantment wishes you a very happy and safe Real Life New Years and we want to see you on Friday, January 4, 2008 at 5 p.m. SLT for a night of dancing, celebrations and fun!! Our in house DJ is Annie Lane bringing us a real treat the original tune of Aulde Lang Syne.

Changes at Elven Enchantment Musuem and Art Gallery

2007-12-29T06:13:00.000-08:00

Elven Enchantment Museum and Art Gallery is celebrating Women of Beauty in Real Life and Second Life during the months of January and February 2008. That means that these lovely Second Life women will be able to be viewed in the Gardens for two months.

Surprise, the Second Level has been changed out to celebrate Women of Beauty in Real Life though the eyes of a Real Life BDSM Master and Second Life Master Rhad McMillan. Rhad is also a patron of the Museum and has kindly donated the 20 pictures that I have named: "Beauty in Bondage." These stunning pictures reveal that there is true beauty in bondage and submission.

Elven Enchantment is proud to introduce to you a new up and coming digital artiste, Eden Cale and his three huge pictures may be viewed on the First Level. I am very happy to inform you that Mr. Cale will be exhibiting at the Museum during the month of February for our first Digital Art Exhibition.

And last, but definitely, not least is the change of the scripted artwork by our very own Drathon Montague, whose artwork, "Lupine Dreams," "Dallas," and "Tall Ship" have been hung for your viewing pleasure.

Month of the Drow

2007-12-29T05:16:00.000-08:00

As the month of December ends, I am taking a moment to thank all the people who participated in the Drow Elf photo shoot: Matron Mother X, Matron Mother Jax, Weapons Master Zaknafien Barbosa, and the Renegade ArchKaine Hax.

This shoot was a very fun photo shoot and the role playing was at a very high and intense level. If you have not seen the Drow Elf layout at the museum, I urge you to do so as its an accurate snapshot into the daily lives of Drow Elves, the vicious creatures that they are and I hope if you have seen it you have enjoyed the depictions of the the fight to the death approved by Lloth herself.

What and who are Drow Elves? They come from the fantastic imagination of R. A. Salvatore and TOR Publishing House, they live in the Under Dark of Menzoberranzan, worship the Goddess of Choas, Lloth and plot to overthrow the House above their own for the glory of Lloth.

Again thank you Matron Mother X, Matron Mother Jax, Weapons Master Zaknafien Barbosa, and the Renegade ArchKaine Hax you all are marvelous!

Gracie Barbosa Photography Exhibition

2007-12-08T07:13:00.000-08:00

Elven Enchantment is proud to present Gracie Barbosa's real life photographs in our second Exhibition. Ms. Barbosa takes road trips in the southwest of the USA and takes photographs of the places she visits from the Grand Canyon to Artiste Drive, Salt Flatts of Utah, to Monument Valley.

Ms. Barbosa's photographs are passionate, and do real justice to the landscape she takes pictures of and the viewer is treated to a fantastic view of the southwest of the United States of America. If you have not had the privilege of visiting this part of the US then these photographs are a must see.

This exhibition begins on Monday, December 10 and runs to December 30, 2007. Bring your friends and come and see these fantastic photographs.

Big Vote of Thanks to JamesT

2007-11-15T15:01:00.000-08:00

The SL-Newspaper is owned by JamesT Juno and has a fantastic eNewspaper on his website: http://www.SL-Newspaper.com and a wonderful blog where he reports Second Life, events, news stories, focus on people, and many varied stories.

He has featured several articles on his Events, M.A.C.E., and Explore sections of his newspaper. As a vote of thanks on your next visit to Elven Enchantment pick up a SLurl to his RL website from the newstand! Thats right folks, you can now come to the museum sit down and read the SL Newspaper, where you can find all the happening news on Second Life and whose opening new stores, reviews on products, and which club is opening.

Thanks JamesT for the space in this week's M.A.C.E. section and for the readers of this blog you may read it at: http://www.sl-newspaper.com/mains.htm .

We also have a a newstand at Digital Knight Scripted Art Studio so if your not up for the museum go buy some scripted are and read the paper there!!

Premier Gala of Fractal Art

2007-11-12T10:48:00.000-08:00

On November 12, 2007, at 5:00 p.m., SLT, the Museum is very proud to host its first exhibition featuring the Fractal Art of Sprial Silverstar. Mr. Silverstar is a fractal artiste is Real Life and one of his pieces on display for the International Conference of Mathematicians.

A more technical definition of Fractal Art and I quote Mr. Silverstar: “Simply put, fractals are shapes which show similar features at different sizes. Much as a very close inspection of a rock can show similar features to an aerial view of a mountain, fractal shapes are characterized by this property of self-similarity.

Much of what goes into fractals is based on mathematics. Sometimes the math is complicated; sometimes it is not. But, you do not need to know or understand the mathematics behind the art to appreciate it. The basic images are created using fractal generating software.

There are some who will feel that if this is all just based on mathematics, that it cannot be art. Fractal art does not pop out of nowhere, mathematics notwithstanding. To produce an aesthetically pleasing fractal image requires enormous input on the part of the artist. It also requires patience, and an eye for form and color—skills that are required for virtually any artistic discipline. (Damien Jones)

Can't anyone produce fractal art? The simple answer is yes. However, anyone can buy a camera and take snapshots, but very few can produce photographs that can be appreciated as art.

The images created in this gallery were made using the Ultra Fractal and Fractal Explorer software programs, with post-processing work done in Photoshop.

I hope you enjoy my work and realize that the finished products here are not simply the result of clicking a few random buttons. Thanks for taking an interest in my art, my passion.” Unquote.

As the artiste, Mr. Silverstar must choose the color combinations that really make this art truly unique and beguiles the viewer.

Elven Enchantment Art Gallery will be selling an Original and a Limited Edition Series from the Art Gallery and a special certificate of authenticity (COA) commemorating this Exhibition as the premier show that the Museum hosted will be put in each piece of work sold for the duration of the Exhibition. There will be two pieces chosen to be multi-copy sold from the Museum for the duration of the exhibition and there will be COAs also put in these and once the Exhibition is over the COAs will be removed from the multi-copies and the artwork will be available from Mr. Silverstar's gallery. However, the original and Limited Edition Series will remain at the museum until they are sold and once sold no more will be produced for purchase in Second Life.M/p>

Fractal Art is a vibrant, passionate, and beguiling and as Curator of Elven Enchantment, I am very happy to host Mr. Spiral Silverstar.

Fractal Art...What is It?

2007-11-10T06:51:00.000-08:00

What are fractals? What is fractal art?

Simply put, fractals are shapes which show similar features at different sizes. Much as a very close inspection of a rock can show similar features to an aerial view of a mountain, fractal shapes are characterized by this property of self-similarity.

Much of what goes into fractals is based on mathematics. Sometimes the math is complicated; sometimes it isn't. But you do not need to know or understand the mathematics behind the art to appreciate it. The basic images are created using fractal generating software.

Can't Anyone produce fractal art? The simple answer is Yes. However, Anyone can buy a camera and take snapshots, but very few can produce photographs that can be appreciated as art.

The images created for this exhibition and in my own gallery were made using the Ultra Fractal and Fractal Explorer software programs, with post-processing work done in Photoshop.

I hope you enjoy my work and realize that the finished products here are not simply the result of clicking a few random buttons. Thanks for taking an interest in my art, my passion.

Spiral Silverstar

Premier Art Exhibition at Elven Enchantment

2007-11-09T07:24:00.000-08:00

The Museum is very proud to host its first exhibition featuring the Fractal Art of Sprial Silverstar. Mr. Silverstar is a fractal artiste is RL and one of his pieces on display for premier exhibition has been displayed in RL at an art exhibition in Italy.

What is Fractal Art? Perhaps you would call it "modern" art and dismiss it. However, I find that it grabs your attention and draws you into the picture and captivates your passion. Fractal art consists of an indefinite number of spirals and circles using mathematical equations to give you the proper distance from one sprial to the next. That is the simple lay person view on this art. For a more technical overview please see Fractal Art...What is it? in this blog. As the artiste, Mr. Silverstar must choose the color combinations that really make this art truly unique and beguiles the viewer.

Elven Enchantment Art Gallery will be selling an Original and a Limited Edition Series from the Art Gallery and a special certificate of authenticity (COA) commemorating this Exhibition as the premier show that the Museum hosted will be put in each piece of work sold for the duration of the Exhibition. There will be two or three pieces chosen to be multi-copy sold from the Museum for the duration of the exhibition and there will be COAs also put in these for the duration of the exhibition. Once the Exhibition is over the COAs will be removed from the multi-copies and the artwork will be available from Mr. Silverstar's gallery.

The other pieces that are for the exhibition may be purchased from Mr. Silverstar's own gallery and a LM will be available to all those who are interested.

Elven Enchantment Incorporation

2007-11-09T07:01:00.000-08:00

Elven Enchantment is now a registered corporation in RL and very exciting things are to come for the new company.

The first new thing for Elven Enchantment is that the land that the Museum and Art Gallery sits upon is going to be solely owned by Elven Enchantment as of November 25, 2007. Dano Singh the current landlord has been a rock of support for this museum as it was painstakingly put together and has been a huge help in his encouragement of purchasing the land from his SL company Singh Holdings. In fact, he sold all of his SL property except the land upon which Elven Enchantment sits and he hesitated to put it on the market for fear someone else would not be as passionate about the Museum as he and would cause the Museum to close due to higher rent.

Dano Singh is a Patron of the Museum and Art Gallery and a man of integrity, and it has been a wonderful five months that I have worked with him and he has worked very hard to obtain prims for the Museum and has always dropped whatever he was doing to answer my questions about this or that.

When the final touches were added to the Museum just before September 1, 2007 for the Gala Opening, Dano was amazed at the transformation and very enthusiastically loaned a piece of his personal art, "Twins" to the Museum for display until December 2007. This loan fleshed out the art on display on the First Level. He also introduced to me some artiste's whose beautiful wildlife photos are displayed next to the "Twins" and helped me finalize the art on this level of the Museum.

Mr. Dano Singh has been a huge blessing to Elven Enchantment and believed in my vision even when I was learning how to build as fast as my fingers would allow me to make prims! To Dano...your the best!

Winter Has Come to Elven Enchantment

2007-11-05T16:53:00.000-08:00

The weather person was correct in its prediction of early snow and Elven Enchantment has been dumped upon...the ponds are frozen over, the snow pixies whirl around the Museum and snow drifts are everywhere.

However, there is something sizzling hot at Elven Enchantment and that is our "Not All Pixels Are Created Equal" canvasses on the Garden Level, featuring our first male model in various stages of dress and undress.

For the optimal impact when teleporting in and walk straight to the "Snow Horses" and take a left walking clockwise around the gardens. There are over twenty canvasses celebrating the Second Life men in their handsome, clothes and tattoos.

The model wishes privacy so please do not ask for a name as one will not be forthcoming. After that enjoy a walk around the winter wonderland that is in the grove. Bring your skates and skate around the ice rink.

Be sure to bring your warm clothes because it's cold outside!

November Events in the SL Newspaper

2007-10-24T10:13:00.000-07:00

Elven Enchantment is in the SL Newspaper again, announcing our November line up of new and interesting events. The link is below.

http://sl-newspaper.com/mains.htm

Atlantis Jewell

"Firsts" at Elven Enchantment in November

2007-10-21T06:01:00.000-07:00

Elven Enchantment is busy preparing for the transition from Halloween to winter at the Museum and for the month of November 2007 there are going to be three fantastic firsts. The first is the winter is coming to Elven Enchantment for the very first time. It has been thundering and lightening, and the weather person is predicting snow very shortly.

The next fantastic first for the very first time we will be featuring our first SL Male model for the Garden Level of the Museum. The Curator has recently learned that not all pixels are created equal in Second Life. Come by and enjoy the fantastic male form. All canvasses will be of this handsome male model. Enjoy!!

The last fantastic first for the Museum is our very first exhibition. Elven Enchantment is proud to showcase Spiral Silverstar's fractal art on the Third Floor of the museum. For the exhibition the "Magic Revealed" part of the Museum will be removed and the art installed. For information on the "Magic Revealed" and the Photo Enhancement that the museum offers, see the blog entry: Personal Photograph Enhancement.

The dates for the Fractal Art Exhibition are November 12-30, 2007. Come by and enjoy the elegant spirals and the vivid colors that make the art incredibly special. Also on display for this exhibition will be the fractal art that is owned by Atlantis Jewell.

Calendar of Events

2007-10-12T08:30:00.000-07:00

Elven Enchantment now has a Calendar of Events at the bottom of this blog. The calendar is set to SLT time, however, it will automatically adjust to your very own time zone courtesy of Google! So please do not change your calendar to SLT time as it is all ready set to that time when the calendar is made up!!!

Otherwise you will miss all our events!

Atlantis J.

Halloween At Elven Enchantment in SL Newspaper

2007-10-11T05:26:00.000-07:00

Elven Enchantment is in the SL Newspaper in the explore section! Enjoy and here's the link:

http://sl-newspaper.com/mains.htm

Atlantis J.

Digital Knight in Second Life Newspaper

2007-10-10T11:10:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Digital Knight Scripted Art Studio on its debut in the Second Life Newspaper. You may view the article at:

http://sl-newspaper-fnd.blogspot.com/2007_10_01_archive.html

Atlantis J.

Report on Burning Life

2007-10-10T10:00:00.001-07:00

If you missed Second Life's Burning Life during the last weeks of September 2007, then your in luck, as I went several times and endured lag, crashes, and long treks through the sims searching for the art worthy to take pictures of to share with all of you!

It was celebration of music and art in a grand style and certainly confirmed Elven Enchantment's Vision Statement: "Everything in SL is art, and everyone is an artist." There was art there for all types of art lovers and depending on your enjoyment of art could be discribed as the good, the bad, and the ugly, but it was so much fun to view all the works and taking pictures of those ones that I thoroughly enjoyed. While trekking through the sims enjoying the wide variety of music from classical to rock and roll.

There was the fantastic sculpture of made by my friend RacerX and it was a mixture of build and particles and it was a rotating sculpture of himself, complete with fireworks! There was a build of a giant tree with an ocean floating in the air with ocean life swimming within its confines. A glass forest, giant chairs, a marble dance floor with golden couples dancing the waltz, abstract art abounded, rainclouds and rainbows. Some builds celebrated life, death, remembrance, and reminders that we all live on the planet called earth and we need to keep this planet healthy and clean so future generations will enjoy it as well. There was a lava and ice castle, the Twin Towers, and a circus, a maze with dead ends and at the center a sculpture, a Mayan pyramid, builds that had dice and dominoes inside within closed buildings making me wonder--how did they do that?

On September 30, 2007, was the day the man was burned. Unfortunately, the sim was full to capacity and I missed this event. However, I did spy some burning men and women at the sim I was on and was mollified. All this mayhem and magic disappeared at midnight on October 1, burned into our memories making us wonder if it was really there at all.

Halloween Has Arrived at Elven Enchantment Museum and Art Gallery

2007-10-10T09:27:00.001-07:00

The month of October has arrived at long last fall is beginning to turn the leaves from green to orange, and thoughts of witches, pumpkins fill our minds as we prepare for the best holiday event...Halloween!

Elven Enchantment Museum has taken out all the stops for your entertainment this year and has transformed the Garden Level in to a viewing of the "Oookie, Spookie, Groosome, and the Bootiful," for your viewing pleasure this year. The pictures on the Garden Level have been changed since the opening day to gory pictures, depicting gored avatars, mermaids, devil's, warriors, and BDSM entertainment! Front and center is my favorite piece, "Odd Couple," which a one of a kind scripted art piece made specially for your favorite museum curator by Drathon Montague, who knew I was looking for Halloween decorations.

The front entrance has a carpet of fall leaves and pumpkins greet your arrival, there are three blood fountains for your viewing pleasure and all the ponds have been turned to blood. Turn around before you explore the gory pictures and enjoy the fantastic thunderstorm in the grove. There are flying bats and spookie graves and a cauldron for those witches out there to throw your ingredients in to make a ookie brew!

Once inside of the museum the First Floor element has been changed to reflect Halloween and our friendly ghost haunts this floor. There is an added element to the Fairytale Castle, beware of the black cat on this floor.

In the Art Gallery, there is a witch the startles me every time I work up there as I forget I put it there!! However, don't let the witch prevent your coming to the Art Gallery to enjoy the new sketch artiste's that have work there for you to purchase...the fantastic collection of Dominique May and Donnatella Calameri have been added to the Gallery's list of artiste's and Elven Enchantment welcomes them to the Elven Family of Artiste's.

Digital Knight Scripted Art Studio is Now Open

2007-10-02T15:59:00.001-07:00

October 1, 2007 from 5 to 8 p.m. SLT was the fantastic opening of Digital Knight Scripted Art Studio. The evening was a success and the competition to identify the name of the "Tall Ship" was in intense.

We had fantastic guesses of French tall ships such as: Dora, Le Napoleon, the Royal Louis, and Cutter Sark to name a few. Some not so serious guesses of Unroyal Louis and H.M.S. Fig Newton were a few of my favorites.

The guessing was intense as was the Googling for the answer. Your favorite Curator was the first to identify it, but since the Museum was the Exclusive Sponsors of the event, was not qualified to win the Tall Ship.

Mr. Montague threw out helpful hints such as: It's flying a French Flag, Napoleonic War, and It's a special ship as I had to find a picture of it to make it into "Tall Ship".

Spanish ships Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria made an appearance in the guessing line up as did the HMS Victory and Surprise.

The win went to Tressie Jetaime with: "Acheron". HMS Surprise was the British ship that was commissioned to arrest the Acheron. The picture of this fabulous tall ship can be found in the movie, Master and Commander.

Congrats to Ms. Jetaime on winning the contest and thanks to all who participated in the event.

The Museum in the Real World

2007-10-02T15:56:00.000-07:00

Elven Enchantment Museum and Art Gallery is in the Real World. This right Real World!! The exciting events at Elven Enchantment may be read by non-residents at Ezine.com.

All the exciting happenings since the opening can be found at this address: http://ezinearticles.com/?cat=Arts-and-Entertainment .

Your name just might appear in these articles so go and check them out!!

Description of the Museum

2007-09-26T08:47:00.001-07:00

On the First Level on the west side of the Museum is the Scripted Art of Drathon Montague. In Second Life, all items you see are either built or scripted to animate movement in-world. The Scripted Art featured in the Museum is "Lunar Month", "Houston", and "Sunset Sailing" in each piece of art there are elements that move and interact with the still textures bringing the art alive with movement and passion.

Another artiste featured on the northwest and eastern walls are the lovely sketches of Dominique May. These are real life sketches that she has done and they are lovely representations of pointillism.

In order to preserve the beauty of the Gardens, glass flooring was put in on the First, Second and Third Levels. On each of the levels of the Museum above the gardens has a feature element and on the First Level there are two distinct items that are not to be missed, the First Level Element has pottery, ancient vases, and wolf fountain. The second attraction are the big windows overlooking the Grove. The moving statuary, trees, and rainbows can be seen to advantage from this point in the Museum.

On the Second Level is the incredible Private Art Collection of Mello Bonetto who has kindly lent to the Museum his extensive Van Gogh and Picasso canvasses. Each canvas has been identified by its proper real life name and period in which the real life artistes rendered them complete. There are notecard dispensers that detail each painting in this collection. The Museum received an On Lend of a Monet from Ailenor Laval and purchased the paintings of Michelangelo, Rubens, and Da Vinci.

The center element is a scripted, eight prim build that is a Fairy Tale Castle and designed and built by RacerX Gullwing who made this work available for purchase and all proceeds during the Relay for Life was donated to charity.

The final element separates the Magic Revealed and the Art Gallery is an aquarium. The aquarium is 10 meters by 10 meters by 10 meters. The entire build was a challenge. First, the shape of the aquarium had to fit into the space provided for the center floor elements. The next challenge was reshaping whirlpool water to look convincing as ocean water as the aquarium is a salt water aquarium. Then finding the coral reefs, ocean fish, and the shark.

The shark was much too big for the space that I provided so I had to ask the creator to shrink it to fit within the confines of my aquarium, which he happily did. Finally the "steel" bands were put into place and the glass put in and the water didn't fit the aquarium. All the work had to be taken apart so the water element could be fixed and once corrected the glass had to be put back together and the entire build locked together.

As the newest museum in Second Life, it was built to compete with other Museum's that as creator of the build had not viewed the competition. The vision for the museum and its grounds was to make the place a tribute to artistic beauty in Second Life, providing an atmosphere of peacefulness, beauty, and romance, enhancing the viewing experience of the art within its walls.

Only a visitor to the Museum may judge whether this vision has been met.

Grand Opening of Digital Knight Scripted Art Studio

2007-09-25T06:04:00.001-07:00

Everything in SL is art, not all art is created equal or even beautiful in SL, however, some art stands out and deserves recognition. The Museum has three scripted pieces of artwork hung on the First Level, West Wall "Lunar Month", "Houston", and "Sunset Sailing". These pieces represent artwork that combines a hidden art in SL with beautiful, scenic settings, citycapes, and wildlife.

What is the hidden art in SL? Scripts, scripting, and inserting these scripts into objects so that we can interact, within our world, with other avatars, objects, and in this case animates the artwork to have moving elements making the common scene more, awe inspiring, mesmerizing, and makes the viewer go hmm, how did they do that?

For the purpose of this article, I will only speak on the three pieces of artwork currently on display in the Museum. "Lunar Month" is a 24-moving, texture of the phases of the lunar cycle, beginning with a thumbnail, and advancing to the full moon, and returning to the outline. The script that makes this piece of art was a very difficult set of instructions to assemble to make this artwork move. The end results are incredibly peaceful and beautiful.

"Houston" is a cityscape and the first one Mr. Montague did to see if scripted artwork was possible to do. In the foreground is the skyline of the city of Houston, USA with its skyscrapers and awesome buildings that make up the city centre of Houston. Behind the skyline of Houston are dark, angry thunder clouds blowing a gale over the city, highlighted by lightening strikes to the ground dazzling the viewer to its ferocious nature of this storm.

"Sunset Sailing" is a peaceful, brilliant orange sun sinking down into the horizon of an ocean, a silhouetted sail boat in the foreground sailing across the water, preparing for an evening of calm sailing. This piece is an Exclusive Limited Edition Series of 20 pieces that once sold will no longer be available for purchase except from an owner of "Sunset Sailing". Each piece has a Certificate of Authenticity both in the form of a notecard and texture so that tracing provence back to Elven Enchantment Art Gallery is an easy thing to do. All pieces are transferable, so you may purchase the artwork as a gift for your friends, loves, or a gift for a business partner a wonderful way to say, "Thanks." You may also resize the artwork without hurting the integrity of the moving elements or distorting the picture. All these pieces of artwork are for the art lover who wishes to have a beautiful piece of low prim, low lag moving art without taking up a lot of space and will fit nicely on any wall.

Elven Enchantment Museum and Art Gallery is honored to present Digital Knight Scripted Art Studio's grand opening on October 1 at 5-8 p.m., SLT. Mr. Montague will be on hand to answer your questions on his newer pieces and oversee a contest for a free piece of artwork called "Tall Ship". The contest will run until 7:30 p.m., SLT at which time the first person to correctly identify elements in "Tall Ship" will win a copy of "Tall Ship". Please IM Mr. Montague or Ms. Jewell for the complete details on the contest.

In addition to being able to purchase all Mr. Montague's current artwork, if you have a request for Custom or Exclusive artwork, you may leave a notecard in the suggestion box and Mr. Montague will be in touch with you to discuss what you would like completed. Custom work is artwork that will be resold in quantity at the Studio after your piece is completed. Exclusive artwork is one of a kind artwork and your piece will be the only one in existence in SL. Contact Mr. Montague for a quotation for both Custom and Exclusive work.

Scripting is an art in SL, and in the opinion this Curator, one that is unsung and unnoticed and for the most part taken for granted in our world. Personally, I have taken several scripting lessons and can admire some of the complexities that goes into creating a script from scratch. The language that makes up the art form of scripting has its basis in algebra. You must be able to correctly identify the commands and the order those commands to do something that the end results is something usable in Second Life. If you are like me, and hate math more advanced then the @sum on a spreadsheet then scripting will offer complexities that are truly mind boggling. My conclusion was leave the scripting to the unsung talents in SL and enjoy what they present to us in our world.

What is Second Life?

2007-09-21T17:54:00.000-07:00

Has anyone ever told you to get a life? Hmm, I am sure if you are like me you have heard it at least once or maybe twice! Now you can get a Second Life!

Second Life is best described as a 3d Interactive Chat room. If you are familiar with chat in any shape such as Yahoo Messenger, MSN, Google, etc., then you understand that you type a line the the "chat box" and get a reply from whomever you are talking.

Now take the above description of a normal chat room and put it on steroids, then kick it up a notch and make it 3-d with your own Avatar (Avie as we call it In-World) dress yourself as a vampire, elf, drow, furry, human, dress yourself, go forth and chat!

We have IM's just like a chat room, except we can fly, teleport, make everything you can see in Second Life and some things you cannot like scripts that run in the background, we have houses with adult poseballs*) (trust me a good thing), dance clubs, museums, art galleries, communities, land to purchase, money to buy stuff, and you now have a souped up chat room of the likes that you have not yet seen!!

Guess what? Daddy Linden allows you to try out this world with a free account. Now a word of advice...You may choose your first name, but please, please do not put a number after your name...if your choice of first name is taken paired up with a last name provided by Daddy Linden, choose another last name or another first name. Log on and you have a new birthday...Happy Rezz Day! Mine is April 9, 2007, I grew up fast *)!

Lastly, remember that there are real people behind the avies you come into contact with, live, love and have fun.

If you decide to upgrade your account...tell Daddy Linden his favorite Sky Elf Atlantis Jewell sent you...and to IM me and let me know you are inworld and I will be very happy to give you a hug and Landmarks to get some awesome free stuff!

Carp Diem!

Calendar of Events

2007-09-20T17:19:00.000-07:00

Elven Enchantment is preparing for an exciting fall line up of parties, shows and exhibitions. The Calendar of Events are as follows:

September 1, 2007, Gala Opening Night of the Museum

October 1, 2007, Grand Opening of Digital Knight Scripted Art Studio, Magical Dreams, Odessa Astounding (232, 183, 21) Mature. Time: 5-8 p.m. SLT. Contest: "Tall Ship" Must be there to win!!

October 31, 2007, "Ookie, Spookie, and Groosome", Halloween Costume Party and CARP Maze! Come dressed in your most scary, sexy costume and view the Halloween canvasses that will be for viewing around the garden, along with a personal Exclusive Scripted Halloween art: Odd Couple form the personal collection of Atlantis Jewell. Truly disturbing SL images, sexy mermaids, and the Kiss of Death Series! Be prepared to have the Ebbie Jeebies scared out of you with all the spookie Halloween decor and be sure to only have your night view on so to completely enjoy this one of a kind experience. However this night is not for the faint of heart...there will be semi dressed or completely nekkid people playing the Museum's version of capture roll play of which there is a L$100 cover charge and participants are allowed to run amok through the maze and all levels of the museum!! All participants must wear an Elven Enchantment Poofer for ID before any play may happen between Predator and Prey!! Come, bring your friends, lets crash this sim for Halloween night!!

November 12-30, 2007, First Exhibition of Elven Enchantment, featuring the fantastic fractal art of Spiral Silverstar and the personal fractal collection of Atlantis Jewell. Mr. Silverstar is an artist who uses math and a very sharp artistic eye to combine spirals in lovely arrangements of color and design. Watch here for more information.

December 10-26, 2007, Photograph Art Exhibition featuring the personal photographs of Mr. Mello Bonetto, Maximus Barbosa, and other talented SL photographers. Watch here for more information.

December 31, 2007, "New Year's Party" Come dressed to the nines in your best formals and dance the night away, usher the New Year in with SL fireworks and champagne!! Contest: Best Dressed Formal Women/Men. Watch here for more details.

January 14-February 13, 2008, Theme: "Women of Beauty" Come enjoy the extensive BDSM collection of Patron Rhad McMillian, sketches of Dominique May, and other talented artiste celebrating the Beauty of Women in RL and SL.

February 14, 2008, "Happy Valentines Day Party!" To end our month long Exhibition of "Beauty of Women" we will have another formal party, best dressed in red Women and best dressed formal for Men, cause lets face it no guy wants to dress in complete red so, guys break out those handsome tailcoats and top hats and bring your SL love over for a dance, fireworks and a very romantic time at the Museum.

March 2008: "Sculpture" This will be our first exhibition of sculpture in SL, giving the Curator a chance to find some really fantastic pieces for your enjoyment. Contest: Best First Build. Watch here for more information on the contest.

Watch this blog for more information or IM Atlantis Jewell to join Elven Enchantment Museum and Art Gallery's Group for updates that are sent to group members automatically!!

Introducing Digital Knight Scripted Art Studio

2007-09-20T16:53:00.000-07:00

Elven Enchantment Museum and Art Gallery is very proud to sponsor Digital Knight Scripted Art Studio, where the talented artiste Drathon Montague has set up his studio and is busy filling it with fantastic scripted art.

In addition to the pieces that are currently on view at the Museum, First Level West, Mr. Montague has added: "Dallas", "Tall Ship", "Lupine Dreams", "Cascade", and of course you may also purchase "Houston", "Lunar Month", and "Sunset Sailing".

Yes, "Sunset Sailing is an Exclusive Limited Edition Series from Elven Enchantment Museum and Art Gallery, however, there are very few pieces left to purchase in the series and wanted to also display it for the enjoyment of all visitors.

Mr. Montague accepts Custom and Exclusive requests. Custom work are requests that he is allowed to sell copies in the studio to anyone whose interested. Exclusive requests are one of a kind pieces and yours will be the only one in existence in SL!! (Elven Enchantment will want to add your name to a list of Exclusive Scripted Art Collectors so that upon occasion when the Museum has Scripted Art Exhibitions the Curator can call upon you for an On Lend for the event.) Prices are by quote from the Artiste.

Come to the Grand Opening on October 1 at 5:00-8:00 p.m., SLT and meet Mr. Montague, and enter the contest for a free copy of "Tall Ship". IM either Drathon Montague or Atlantis Jewell for a notecard for the rules and the LM for the studio.

Bring your friends and enjoy the best Scripted Art available in Second Life!!

A Place for SL Events That is Formal, but Not the Office

2007-09-20T16:30:00.000-07:00

Elven Enchantment Museum and Art Gallery is a place of beauty it is also a place that may be rented if you have a special party, want to impress business associates, have a wedding, or have your wedding reception.

The Museum may be rented as only the grove, first level, or the entire Museum entirety. What are your renting in addition to the museum? You will need to fill out a notecard letting Atlantis Jewell know what your needs are such as: DJ, dance floor, dance poseballs, adult pavilions *), decorations for a seasonal party, table for a business meeting, hostesses for your event, etc.

The daily rates for the grove without shutting down the museum for minimum of a 3-hours rental is $2,500. Includes setting up the grove to your requirements, and shutting it down during your event to those who are not invited.

The daily rate for the first level is $5,500 for a minimum of 3-hour event. This includes meeting your requirements for your event, shutting down the First Level to other guests while allowing those guests to wander on other floors, and darkening the floor above for your event so incoming guests are not bothering you by walking on the floors.

The daily rate for the entire Museum is $10,500 and this includes shutting down the entire museum and grove to visitors except those on your invite lists, setting up the floors to meet your needs for your event for 24-hours.

All Museum rentals requires 100 percent down payment with one weeks notice of cancellation prior to the event to obtain a 75 percent refund, 25 percent non-refundable.

If you cancel with less then one week for your event the refunds rates are: 6-day notice 65 percent, 5-day notice 55 percent, 4-day notice 30 percent, 3-day notice 15 percent, and 1-2 days before the event only a 10 percent refund.

In world IM Atlantis Jewell to arrange your magical event at Elven Enchantment Museum and Art Gallery.

Personal Photograph Enhancement

2007-09-12T15:04:00.000-07:00

Personal Photograph Enhancements are available from Elven Enchantment Art Gallery. The snapshots below are photographs that you can make more through tinkering with the photograph, making them canvas by either being fortunate to have a Perfect SL Photograph to Enhance or if your photos are like most of mine, you have a beautiful main element, but an absolute horrible background due to poseballs, see through body parts, or the true lack of gravity effects in SL.

In this blog post, I will walk you through how to evaluate your photographs for enhancement, teaching you to identify the caliber of enhancement needed to provide you with a fantastic picture for open display in your home.

The photograph above is a perfect SL photograph. Look at it closely there are no poseballs, no see through limbs and the clothes are not thrust through the avatar. Now look at the picture below it. It is the same photograph and the only difference is that this picture was turned into a canvas. The work to enhance this photograph was minimal and thus is considered a Picture Perfect Enhancement. Do you have photograph that is perfect and you would like it enhanced?

The base price for the Picture Perfect Enhancement with a plain black or brown frame, two prims is L$110, with a modifiable TV frame (that you can add other photographs to and rotate the pictures) L$160. The Gallery offers to animate photo frames featuring words of love, of which there is a list of 10 that you may choose from and the frame and animation cost for this L$250. You are not held back by the list of 10, but any phrase you wish on your photograph we can do, however it is a special commission price on English phrases not on the list and we also offer multilingual prices as well.

The photograph above is considered a Minor Edit compare the picture below as see if you can find the small change to this photograph. You guessed it it is the poseball that was removed and grass put into place where the ball had been.
This is a Minor Edit and should you choose this option for your Photograph Enhancement the price for this edit is L$210 for either a black or brown frame or you may choose a modifiable TV frame (which you may put other photographs in and rotate them) for L$260. The Gallery offers to animate photo frames featuring words of love, of which there is a list of 10 that you may choose from and the frame and animation cost for this L$350. You are not held back by the list of 10, but any phrase you wish on your photograph we can do, however it is a special commission price on English phrases not on the list and we also offer multilingual prices as well.

The next set of edits are Medium Edits and require much more time to remove the blemishes in the photographs. The editing time is between 45 minutes to 2-hours. An example is given for this edit above this paragraph. The only items that has remained the same was the main subjects kissing. The entire background was removed and another inserted as represented in the canvas.
The final product is a stunning canvass preserving the subject's romantic kiss and deleting the horrifying background of the picture. This Medium Edit base rate is L$510 with a black or brown frame or a or you may choose a modifiable TV frame (which you may put other photographs in and rotate them) for L$560. The Gallery offers to animate photo frames featuring words of love, of which there is a list of 10 that you may choose from and the frame and animation cost for this L$650. You are not held back by the list of 10, but any phrase you wish on your photograph we can do, however it is a special commission price on English phrases not on the list and we also offer multilingual prices as well.

This is an example of a Heavy Edit signifying 6 to 8 hours minimum of work. The subjects in this photograph are dancing at a SL club and it is a stark decor with lots of advertising. Many SL photographs suffer from this affliction, great focus on the subjects and a poor background for the photograph.

The photograph below is the final edit, which changes the background from a club scene to a lovely garden wall of ivy. The base price for this edit is L$810 and comes with a choice of a black or brown frame or for L$860 a modifiable TV frame that will rotate your pictures. The Gallery offers to animate photo frames featuring words of love, of which there is a list of 10 that you may choose from and the frame and animation cost for this L$950. You are not held back by the list of 10, but any phrase you wish on your photograph we can do, however it is a special commission price on English phrases not on the list and we also offer multilingual prices as well.

Our final offer for Photograph Enchantments are Portrait Extractions. These extractions are the most difficult of all photo editing techniques. You take the subject(s) from the original photograph and put them into a totally different photograph with a completely different background and blend the subject(s) and new background together. Below is a an example of this technique.

This is the original photograph of the subject, however, Elven Enchantment needed a publicity photograph and did not have time for formal photographs to be taken so solved the problem by extracting Mr. Drathon Montague, the Museum's Scripted Artiste, from this photograph and blending his likeness into the new picture below and adding the new background.

The new background is blue, purple, and black which matched his outfit better then the red room in the original snapshot. These types of extraction are on quote basis and will depend on the following: the current workload at the Gallery for other clients, the level of difficulty, and if we have to develop a new texture for a background for your extracted subject, and how many subjects are extracted.

A more detailed look at these photographs are available in the "Magic Revealed" section of the Third Level in the northeast, east, and southeast walls of the Art Gallery. There are detailed descriptions of the work that was done to enhance the photographs and a sample of the animated photograph textures are available for viewing as well. You may pick up your notecard giving you prices on the services discussed in this blog. IM Atlantis Jewell in world for your Photograph Enhancement needs.

Patrons

2007-09-11T06:23:00.000-07:00

Elven Enchantment has been very fortunate in having Patrons and Supporters of the Museum that has gone a long way in its building, development, and art that is hung within its walls. Below is a list of the Museums Patrons and it is with thanks that I list them and their contributions to Elven Enchantment Museum and Art Gallery.

Mr. Dano Singh

Mr. Singh is my landlord. He has rented out the prims to me at lower price then he normally rents them. In addition to this, he has donated prims outright, given monetary contributions, taught me building techniques, come to the Museum at a moment's notice, passed along information to the SL media about the Museum, and has lent the Museum the beautiful photograph of "Twins" which may be viewed on the First Floor on the northwest wall. He has given me much encouragement and knowledge on how to run one's SL endeavors. Dano, my thanks for your patronage, kindness, and encouragement.

Ms. Chastity DeCuir

Ms. DeCuir is my lovely and loving wife, who has given me time away from her side to follow my dream of building this Museum. In addition to the gift of time, she has built several items for the museum, the donation box and the rotating artistic box on the Garden Level, southwest corner. She also donated time and help in the Museum's final phase of development prior to opening, helping with research on the Mello Bonetto Picasso's finding their names, and data details for proper identification. She also helped me with my advertising campaign for the Museum and arranged the live sculpture and dance balls that were available at the Gala Opening. Additionally, she has contributed monetary donations to the Museum, helping with the advertising costs for opening night. My love, I thank you, Atty.

Mr. Mello Bonetto

Mr. Bonetto has kindly lent his Personal Private Collection of Van Gogh and Picasso's to the Museum. These lovely pieces may be found on the Second Level, north and east walls. With the loaning of this collection, he helped me enlarge my collection of RL Masters and encouraged me to further purchase RL Master works of Rubens, Michelangelo, and Da Vinci.

His artistic talents can also be found in the lovely landscaping of the Museum's Gardens and Grove, a must see and a very romantic spot for proposing to your love or having your SL nuptials. Be SURE to set your view to Midnight as this is a viewing is not to be missed.

Ms. Pateagle Amat

Ms. Amat's patronage has come in various forms of donation of personal time, sculpture art, and ancient vases. The rotating spiral sculpture in the Grove is a On Lend from Ms. Amat and she has donated the ancient vases found on the First Level and is part of the element of this floor. Another donated items was the lovely Japanese letter sculpture that allowed me to have the live sculpture that was for viewing on opening night. She also IM'd me the week prior to the opening and volunteered to be put to work on whatever project that I needed working on, she helped identify all the Van Gogh canvasses with proper names and descriptions, which are a part of the Mello Bonetto Collection, she helped me send out invitations to the pre-opening events, and gave me emotional support by just being a fantastic friend...thanks my love!

Ms. Taranae Rhode

Ms. Rhode is also my wife and has gladly given up personal time with me allowing me to work on the Museum. In addition to this, Ms. Rhode is also Vice President of Public Relations and on formal occasions you may find her greeting you upon arrival. She also donated time in the final push to open the Museum on time, and is my official proofreader. Thanks for all your help my dear.

Ms. Magdalena Cazalet

Ms. Cazalet also gave up many hours of personal time with me, while she was my wife allowing me to work on the Museum during my log on times. Additionally, she has donated the beautiful Dragon feature fountain in the gardens. Ms. Cazalet also introduced me to blogging and inadvertently she started me on the path to building the Museum as it was the extraction for my first blog that began the Museum. She has also spent many hours lending a shoulder for me to moan on and an ear listening to all the stress of opening the Museum. Maggie, thanks my dear.

Ms. Marissa LeFabvre

Ms. LeFabvre spent many hours helping me with rebuilding the flooring of the Museum helping me free up prims, teaching me how to detail my work, and how to rotate textures to match the lines, and contours of existing textures. She also built my east and west stairwells, adding the fancy flooring to the stairwells on the Third Floor. Without your help Mari, my Museum would not be quite as beautiful, my sincere thanks.

Sir Malick

Sir Malick is my neighbor in Eunpyung and came over to view my building efforts while it was in the basic, unpolished stages. He kindly popped over to introduce him and his lovely partner and offered to help if he could. Several weeks later, I took him up on his offer and he mentored me on the building techniques of windows and two-way glass. The lovely widows on the First Level are a direct result of his tutoring. He also donated a lovely surprise on Patron's night, a gift of fireworks. He also allowed me to borrow the pyrotechnics's on opening night for the viewing pleasure of all my guests. We are also partnering in an endeavor that will boost the Gallery's offering of textures and pictures, but this will be discussed in another blog entry.

Mr. Pat Wunderland

Mr. Wunderland is a mentor through the introduction of Mr. Zaknafien Barbosa. Mr. Wunderland owns the lovely Blue Tattoo Dance Club, which he built himself. He kindly taught me precision building, also known as building by numbers, and how to attach a single texture to a single face of a prim. He also advised that I should always use .5 meter thickness to all walls and flooring. All his advice I took and the results have made the Museum the beautiful build that you may view today.

Mr. Zaknafien Barbosa

Mr. Barbosa was the first Patron to donate a photograph to the gallery along with his friend Ms. Valeria Pera. Mr. Barbosa's donation is the self-portrait that can be viewed from the entrance on the First Level. This donation was given when the crooked walls and sidewalks still existed. Thanks for your trust and belief that this Elf could make a go of that god-awful looking first try at building walls and floors!

Ms. Valeria Pera

Ms. Pera accompanied Mr. Barbosa to see my "progress" on the Museum on the day she too, donated a self-portrait, which may be seen on the First Level from the entrance. This photograph was the second donated piece that the Museum received. My thanks Val!

Ms. Ailenor Laval

Ms. Laval has lent to the Museum a lovely Monet which may be viewed on the Second Level of the Museum. However, the piece was originally labeled as a Van Gogh. Ms. Amat said she thought it was a Monet, but could not find conclusive proof of this on the Internet or in any in any of her personal art books. The Museum ran its first competition on this painting for proper identification. The competition began and ended on Patron's night when Ms. Marci Masala correctly identified the painting as Charles Monet's "Waterlillies" and provided concrete proof. In doing so, she won the Museum's first competition and L$2,000. Thanks both to Aile for the On Lend and to Marci for the identification of this lovely work of art.

Ms. Murron Rossini

Ms. Rossini is an accomplished artiste in her own right and is also a neighbor of mine in Eunypung. She is the creative genius behind Reality Designs. In the course of the final month of preparing for the opening, I had the opportunity to visit with her during one of my breaks from the work at the Museum and bemoaned that I did not have a script for my donation box. She gladly gave me the script she used for her donation box. Thank you Murr for the donation.

Mr. Wick Wylie

Mr. Wylie is an awesome scripter. He owns a night club in SL and he has a scripted avatar there that spins his tunes and playing the requests from his guests. Through a request from one of his regulars, Zaknafien Barbosa, he donated to the Museum a microphone that allows the wearer to shout, and look good while doing it. Thanks Mr. Wylie for the gift.

Ms. Dominique May

Ms. May is a talented SL creator and kindly donated the lamp post that is in the Garden beside the two benches that sit back to back. This gift was unexpected, however greatly appreciated, thank you.

Mr. Drathon Montague

Although listed last on this long list of patrons, his donation's to the Museum is not small nor has it gone unnoticed. Half-way through the building process, when my walls were finally straight he pops over the Museum with the lovely gift of the sidewalks that may be view upon arrival to the Museum. The paving stones say: "A single rose can be my garden, a single friend my whole world." In addition to this donation he also has donated several scripts to the Museum for the notecard box, a script to read the individual lines on a script, and support during the second to last week before the opening. This week was tumultuous for my SL family and his support during this time is deeply appreciated.

In addition to the mentioned donations above, he entrusted me with his scripted art during the very beginning of my build when confidence of my abilities of builder was definitely in question as he lent "Houston" and "Lunar Month" and at the time I had crooked walls and floors. For this trust, I am eternally grateful and from my heart, I say: "Thanks Drath!"

None of my Patrons have given any of their various donations with anything but in the spirit of SL community and giving a hand up to a new SL resident. They gave these donations without a thought of thanks or recognition. It gives me great pleasure to recognize each of you in this blog.

History of Elven Enchantment Museum and Art Gallery

2007-09-09T04:52:00.000-07:00

As with anything, there is a history to why something happened or was developed. It is especially true with Elven Enchantment. When I first logged onto the grid, I truly did not get how to take snapshots using our camera tools. My wife, Chastity taught me, but the pictures did not turn out well because it took me a while to master the ability to use my panning features of moving the camera. However, this Elf finally figured it out..and a shutterbug was born.

I will take pictures of anything and my passion was pictures of my wives in very intimate moments in our SL lives, which mattered not to anyone, as all enjoy taking and sharing pictures with each other.

At the time, my wife Maggie shared her blog with me and it really tickled my fancy and I began developing my personal bog, which is the background for my avatar, to share with my friends, however, I needed a decent picture to place on my blog. I had just purchased Photoshop and began playing with my snapshots. The very first picture was of "Early Days" and my wife Chastity took one look at it and exclaimed that it was a beautiful extraction and congrats as extractions were the hardest element to do in Photoshop.

Being one of my first pieces in Photoshop, I really had no idea what she was talking about but was tickled I had accidentally did something wonderful, from a professionals point of view and thus "Early Days" hung in our home and I began contemplating how I could combine my passion for SL pictures and Photoshop.

As I began perusing my snapshots in my photo album, I decided that correcting the SL bugs in the photographs with Photoshop and then displaying them would be fun. So using Photoshop, I did a few more pictures and then I discovered how to use the texturizing tool in Photoshop and I began canvassing all my photographs.

As the pictures were completed I would shyly show my wives my progress and obtain honest opinions of my work and with encouragement from Chas and Maggie I continued uploading and downloading and working on my canvasses.

In June 2007, we lived where the western part of the gallery is now and our property extended to corner where the sidewalk extends south towards the grove. Around the first of July we had decided to purchase beach front property on another sim and I bought out my wives interest in the property in Eunpyung. At the time, the landlord who owned the land sold it to Mr. Dano Singh who is the current landlord of all the land connected to the gallery.

Now I must confess, I spent several weeks building on OI, but had not built a thing on the mainland since Chastity and I came over, so I began some experimental building and my walls were crooked and sidewalks uneven. I began asking friends who they knew in SL that had built their own stuff to perfection. My friend Zaknafien Barbosa said he knew the owner of the Blue Tattoo and he built his entire club and his own home. Having been dancing there a time or two I knew the high quality of this build. So I asked Mr. Barbosa for an introduction to Mr. Pat Wunderland the owner of the club for a building lesson.

Mr. Wunderland showed me how to assign one face textures, build by numbers, and and to build with .5 of an meter of thickness for the walls. Back at the gallery I began reworking all my walls and floors. My, what a difference this 30 minute lesson had in my ability to build!

About at this same time I began suffering from lag. I could not receive incoming IMs or outgoing IM's nor could I teleport out of the Museum. I thought it was Daddy L and all residents know the name of that tune--rolling reboot of the sim. However, Daddy L was vindicated when I caught a glimpse of a phantom wall thrust into mine. I only discovered this when the phantom wall gobbled up my walls.

Thinking that I had built accidentally onto someones property, I turned on the view property lines option. My walls were indeed on my property, crooked, but on my property all the same. I IMd the owner of the property at the time and asked her to remove her phantom walls off my property. I was told if I took down my walls she'd take down hers. Recognizing this as blackmail as her land had become landlocked, I made a harassment report to Daddy L, who took care of the problem, but what he could not take care of was the 20 foot ugly wall my neighbor chose to hoist up on her side of the property. The real sad thing about this situation was if this neighbor had IMd me and explained her problem, I would have happily moved my entire museum down the property as at the time, my other neighbor on the south wall, had an ugly sign that I had to build around, however this didn't happen.

I hoisted up my walls higher so my visitors would not have to suffer the indignity of seeing that ugly wall. While this drama was happening, my landlord Dano was scouring the sim for more prim property as I was not prim conscience on this build because the more I built the grander my creative ideas became...I felt that prims should not be counted during the building or hinder the creative process. In the end Dano found me close to four thousand prims and linked them to the property.

In the meantime, I was purchasing art, speaking to artiste's, still learning to attention to the details on my build. In mid-July I met Marissa LeFabrve who is a talented builder and brilliant artiste. She taught me how to finish the edges. If you look at where the glass floors meet the marble floor, the .5 meter thickness under normal circumstances would not be marbled, but squished lines. Mari taught me how to rotate the texture on a prim and face repeats of the texture so the marble look extends down over the sides of the flooring. Mari also rebuilt my walls and floors so that I could free up my prims.

With two weeks to go, I called on my SL family and friends to help me with the final push to finish the gallery, my wife Taranae Rhode proofread my signs...ouch, without spell and grammar checks, which when you are in Photoshop you do not have the advantage of, well, I have discovered that I really have become a rotten speller, but I suppose working on this project late at night, blurry-eyed did not help either.

Chastity DeCuir and Pateagle Amat helped me with Internet research putting names and dates to the On Lend Collection of Van Goghs and Picassos. Chas, Pat, Tara sent out invitations to the various pre-gala events and to the opening night. Mr. Montague came though with scripts for my notecard dispensers, notecard rotations, and giving notecards and landmarks to someone who touches an object.

Without the help of these SL residents, Elven Enchantment Museum and Art Gallery would not have been finished for September 1, 2007, which was our gala night.

Artiste's and Their Art

2007-09-08T05:57:00.000-07:00

Second Life is full of talented Artiste's who bring incredible beauty to our lives. The contributing artiste's to Elven Enchantment Museum and Art Gallery are divided up into several categories: Creator's, Art Contributor's, and Artiste.

The Creator's of art at the museum are as follows:

Atlantis Jewell: Designed and built Elven Enchantment Museum and Art Gallery and chose all the art on display on all levels of the Museum. Ms. Jewell also raided her personal snapshot collection and using Photoshop, redesigned the erotic art on the Garden Level and hung the canvas for the enjoyment of all visitor's and guests. Of all that was built in this museum, the hardest element was the aquarium and the placement of the water within the glass aquarium and putting sea life within it's confines.

Mello Bonetto: Designed and created the lovely gardens and grove. He had free creator's reign over the design and placement of all plant life in the garden. The major elements such as the fountains were found by Ms. Jewell. Mr. Bonetto also suggested putting the potted plants on the other levels to add green to the other floors.

Chastity DeCuir: Designed and built the rotating picture box found beside the bench on the southwest side of the Garden Level. The scripts was provided by Mr. Drathon Montague.

The following list is a complete list of all those who made something that is in the garden and grove:

Alberto Linden, Azrazael Maracas, Cattra Montagne, Christos Atlantis, Cierra Anatine, Dominique May, Elisandra Ree, Eric Linden, Fey Brightwillow, Charmaine Huber, Gene Replaceme, Higbee Protagon, Honeybaby Beac, Jemma Flora, Jesrad Seraph, Julia Hathor, Keith Extraordina, Khamon Fate, Ky Callahan, Laurenzo Allen, Liliana Bethune, Lion Ewry, Luna Bliss, Lyric Alexander, Mikey Fairlane, Nomasha Syaka, Olympia Rebus, Sarah Nerd, Siggy Romulus, Stardust Suncha, Siggy Romulus, Duntroon Donbur, Maggie Morgan, Michael Kolache, Starax Statoksy, and Liliana Bethune.

There are two creators above that must be mentioned for their creative brilliance and they are Julia Hathor who created the marble benches, dragon fountain, and flower floor fauna her attention to detail has made the Museum shine. Another creator of note is Duntroon Donbur who brought in the RL Masters into SL and whose beauty can be viewed on the Second Level.

The art Contributors are the SL Resident's whose artwork caught the fancy of Ms. Jewell, who purchased the art for the Museum and they are as follows:

Hamish Obzina--"Unicorn"

Charmaine Huber--"Lier", "Beloved", "Devotion", "Nude I", "Courbet 4"

Elisabeth Beurlin--"Planet Seattle" and three pottery pieces near the center stairs, First Level

There are several artiste's whose work shines in the gallery and they are as follows:

Drathon Montague is a talented SL scripter and has created Scripted Art that may be viewed in the Museum's First Level West. His creations include, but not limited to: "Lunar Month", "Houston", and "Sunset Sailing". Each work of art has moving pieces that may be seen when viewed.

"Lunar Month" is popular work of art. When viewed the moon cycles through its lunar phases that in RL take a whole month to perfect, but may be viewed here in two to three second intervals. This piece has 24 textures that cycle in and out beginning with a faint outline of the moon, fingernail, and gradually moves to full moon.

"Houston" reveals the city center of Houston, Texas USA and has a stormy, forked lightening affected background with moving stormy clouds.

"Sunset Sailing" is part of the Art Gallery's Exclusive Limited Edition Series of 20 that once sold will never be available to purchase again in SL unless you can talk an owner into parting with his or her original piece or art. This piece is a brilliant orange sun setting on the ocean horizon and a silhouette of a sailboat sailing across the horizon. The few remaining Exclusive Limited Editions may be found in the Art Gallery on the third floor.

Dominique May is a talented SL resident whose RL artwork is represented in the following pieces: "Love Hurts", which is a study in facial structure and pencil sketch. "Sorrow's Rose" is a picture of man gazing sorrowfully at a rose and this piece of art is in pointillism pen and ink drawing. "Renate @ 16" is a beautiful sketch of Ms. May's RL mother at 16. These sketches may be found on the east wall first level.

Ms. May has also two more pieces that may be found on the northwest wall of the Second Level next to "Sunset Sailing". These two pieces are also sketches and are as follows: "Collage of Faces and Emotions" and are sketched using a sketch board medium. "Polaroid's" is a study in multi-mediums including: pastel, pen, ink, and pencil and utilizing various technique's such as pointillism, posterization, and crosshatching.

The center element of the Second Floor is a Fairy Tale Castle designed and created by RacerX Gullwing. This is a mixed creation of a prim build and script. This lovely piece has a beautiful castle at its center and a village surrounding it. The elements change as the SL day progresses from sunrise to sunset and at sunset there are fireworks to be viewed at the Fairy Tale Castle. This piece was available to purchase during the Relay for Life held this past August.

In the Art Gallery you will find the Asian art of Shenn Coleman and the photography of Maxumus Barbosa. Mr. Colman's art features brilliant textures and color. Mr. Barbosa's photos are of his RL home of Bermuda.

Introducing Elven Enchantment Museum and Art Gallery

2007-09-06T11:32:00.000-07:00

Elven Enchantment Museum and Art Gallery officially opened on September 1, 2007, at 5:00 p.m. SLT, however, the dedication of the Museum was officially done on the previous evening, August 31 and reads thus:

On this day 31 August 2007 Elven Enchantment Museum and Art Gallery is dedicated to my friends who have given unswerving support, love, and assistance during the last and final push to complete the museum and prepare it for opening night.

Chastity DeCuir
Taranae Rhode
Pateagle Amat
Drathon Montague
Mello Bonetto

With my entire heart, I say, “Thank you.”
Atlantis Jewell, Curator

There was a live sculpture, featuring SL subs and a beautiful light blue Japanese letter, at the entrance of the Gardens. The landscaping of these lovely gardens was done by Mello Bonetto. The art on the Garden Level is the erotic Art of Atlantis Jewell. Across from the landing point in the gardens is the grove.

Another artiste featured on the northwest and eastern walls are the lovely sketches of Dominique May. These are RL sketches that she has done and they are lovely representations of pointillism.

In order to preserve the beauty of the Gardens, glass flooring was put in on the First, Second and Third Levels. On each of the levels of the Museum above the gardens has a feature element and on the First Level there are two distinct items that are not to be missed. The first centre element is the pottery, ancient vases, and wolf fountain. The second attraction are the big windows overlooking the Grove. The moving statuary, trees, and rainbows can be seen to advantage from this point in the Museum.

On the Second Level is the incredible Private Art Collection of Mello Bonetto who has kindly lent to the Museum his extensive Van Gogh and Picasso canvasses. Each canvas has been identified by its proper name and period in which the artistes rendered them complete. There are notecard dispensers that detail each painting in this collection. The Museum received an On Lend of a Monet from Ailenor Laval and purchased the paintings of Michelangelo, Rubens, and Da Vinci.

The center element is a scripted, eight prim build that is a Fairy Tale Castle and designed and built by RacerX Gullwing who made this work available for purchase and all proceeds during the Relay for Life was donated to charity.

On the Third level is the "Magic Revealed" and Art Gallery. The Art Gallery features Exclusive Limited Editions of "Sunset Sailing." This Exclusive Limited Edition is a 20 edition set and once gone will only be available if a SL resident puts his or her copy up for sale through the various networks available for this in-world. The Art Gallery also features the Asian art of Shenn Coleman and the photograph art of Maxumus Barbosa.

Come by and see this lovely Museum and purchase any artwork that you are interested in having in your home. Before you leave be sure to force your settings to midnight as this gives a whole new meaning and romance to the Museum.