The Magnificently Macabre Photography of Miss Lakune.

If Heaven and Hell could be combined in an artistic photograph, the beautiful and talented Miss Lakune, has done so with her ethereally disturbing Gothic photographs. The perfect images for the month in which Halloween lies, her work is both simultaneously repelling and compelling.

Artist Will Cotton Styles Elle Fanning Deliciously For New York Magazine

In this collaboration between New York Magazine and artist Will Cotton (which originally ran in the 2013 February issue), actress Elle Fanning is made to look sweeter than she already does.


above left: Will Cotton's sketch of Elle fanning in headpiece, above right: Elle photographed by Will in the headpiece

In addition to being the photographer and stylist, Will Cotton designed many of the sets, accessories and clothes inspired by spring fashions by other designers. In his inimitable style, Cotton bathes actress Elle in whipped cream dresses, candy crowns and petit fours, just like he does in much of his other artwork and photography.


above: Whipped-cream dress sketch, oil on paper, Will Cotton, based on Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquière, available at 138 Wooster St.; 212-206-0872.

For this project, Cotton, who describes himself as a “three-desserts-a-day kind of person,” used spring looks that had caught the eye of New York’s fashion director Amy Larocca, as well as a few that tickled his own fancy. He then reworked them using real materials whenever possible — cake, frosting, meringue, and homemade rock candy.


above: Elle Fanning in Gown by Marchesa, available to order by calling 212-463-8135.


above: Corset and earrings, Will Cotton, based on Dolce & Gabbana. Bodysuit, Dolce & Gabbana, available at 825 Madison Ave.; 212-249-4100.


above: Headpiece by Will Cotton.


above: Headpiece, Will Cotton, based on Alexander McQueen, available at 417 W. 14th St.; 212-645-1797. Gown, Marchesa.


above: Eyes, Will Cotton, based on Dior, available at Dior.com.


above: Bag, Reed Krakoff, available at 831 Madison Ave.; 212-988-0560.


above: Dress, Erdem and Will Cotton, available at Net-a-porter.com.


above: Shoes, Valentino Garavani, available at 746 Madison Ave.; 212-772-6969. Robe, Agent Provocateur.


above: Dessert skirt, ink on paper, Will Cotton.


close-up:

above: Petits-fours-covered skirt, Thom Browne and Will Cotton, available at 100 Hudson St.; 212-663-1197. Shoes, Louis Vuitton.


above: Dress, Dior, available at 21 E. 57th St.; 212-931-2950.


above: Necklaces, Will Cotton, based on Chanel, original available at 15 E. 57th St.; 800-550-0005. Crown by Will Cotton. Swimsuit by Chanel.


above: Romper, Louis Vuitton, available at 611 Fifth Ave.; 212-940-4635. Ink on paper, Will Cotton.


above: Dress, Will Cotton, based on Derek Lam, original available at 10 Crosby St.; 212-929-1338. Lipstick, Candy Wrapper by Three Custom Color.


above: Dress, Marc Jacobs, available at 163 Mercer St.; 212-343-1490.


close-up:

above: Bag by Will Cotton, based on Fendi, original available at 677 Fifth Ave.; 212-759-4646. Dress by Valentino.


close-up:

above: Dress, Reem Acra, available at Saks Fifth Avenue, 611 Fifth Ave.; 212-753-4000.


above: Vivienne Westwood–inspired Will Cotton headpiece, original available at viviennewestwood.com.

A video featuring a Behind-the Scenes look at the photoshoot:


Read more about this project here

See more of Will Cotton's work here


all images courtesy of New York Magazine

A shout-out to my friend and artist Danny Heller for bringing this great work to my attention.

Photographer Wendy Hope Takes First Place in PDN's "The Look" Contest

Brooklyn-based beauty and fashion photographer Wendy Hope has been awarded first place in the beauty category of PDN's "The Look" contest. Her winning image (above), "Onyx Blue Electric Spike" is from the series "The Tao of Wu," a nail art beauty shoot with model Wu Ting Ting of Wilhelmina Models, makeup artist Margina Dennis and manicurist Honey.

Here are more images from Wendy's Tao of Wu series, followed by some of my favorite images of hers:





Credits for above photos:
Publication: Fault magazine
Photography: Wendy Hope @Maxine Tall Management
Model: Wu Ting Ting@Wilhelmina Models
Manicure: Nailz by Honey
Make up: Margina Dennis
Photography Assistant: Colleen Lidz
Concept: Wendy Hope
Retouching: Mdf Retouching

For the last 10 years Wendy Hope has proven herself as a versatile, multi-faceted photographer and visual artist. She exhibits a diverse range of approaches to her subject matter, from clean, crisp and conceptual beauty to vibrant, glossy music and celebrity portraits and advertising. Below are a few of my favorite photographs from her.










Her impressive list of clients includes the following:
• Neiman Marcus
• Carson-Softsheen Dark & Lovely
• Scratch Magazine UK
• Wella Hair
• Pastry Footwear by Vanessa and Angela Simmons
• MTV
• Phat Farm
• Head Footwear
• Rolling Stone Magazine
• Essence Magazine
• Latina Magazine
• Sebastian Hair
• Vida Shoes Int'l
• Run Athletics
• Babyphat
• Epson and Fox Films
• Seventeen Magazine

Wendy Hope is a born and raised New Yorker currently residing in Brooklyn with 2 cats and a 4 foot Iguana named Godzilla.

Take a look at her fab portfolio on pdn here or go to her website here

Wendy Hope is represented in new York by Maxine Tall Management

Thanks to PDN for info and Wendy for the fabulous photos.

New Body Art From Emma Hack. Beautiful Women And A Look At Painting Them.

Body painter Emma Hack recently completed and launched a new series called "Beautiful Women." The "Housewife" and The "Oriental" were both created as a live installation in her Pop-Up Gallery in Adelaide.

"The Housewife" series has been inspired by the stereotypical American housewife depicted in many films of the 50's: her facade is polished and beautiful but, there is a hidden sadness to her posture and a yearning for a life of freedom and happiness.

"The Oriental" series clearly references the work of Vladimir Tretchikoff, in particular his “Chinese Girl” (1953). However in the hands of Hack, the subjects exude an inner strength, through their posture and demeanor. Again, the insertion of birds has been utilized to reference a yearning for freedom.


above: Vladimir Tretchikoff's Chinese Girl served as the inspiration for Emma's Oriental

She painted two canvas backgrounds and two models for these new works and debuted them at her Collectors Dinner last month. As is the case with all her work, Emma paints both the backgrounds and the clothes you see on the models' naked bodies.

The Housewife (3 versions):




The Oriental (4 versions):





Here's a look at the works in progress.

The backdrop for "Housewife" in progress:

The final backdrop for  "Housewife":

Detail:


Painting the "Housewife":





The backdrop for "Oriental" in progress:

The final backdrop for "Oriental":

Detail:


Painting the "Oriental":




The Catherine Asquith Gallery in Melbourne will be showing her Beautiful Women series in from July 9th through July 27th.


all images courtesy of the artist

Don't forget to see these great works by Emma:
•Taking Body Art To A New Level
• Car Wreck Made of 17 Painted Bodies
• POP Art Series


Emma Hack