Soutar Fine Art: Inspiration and Appreciation

Inspiration comes in many forms when you work in media, from the walk to work to the art on our walls, there is always something that catches your attention and as a collector of art, our creative director takes inspiration from the work and many stories of the talented Stewart Nicol Soutar, a fine artist with an extensive back catalogue of work and anecdotes that we wanted to share.

Stewart Nicol Soutar has a creative background that has seen him teach, work on sets with a wide range of TV shows and creating advertising blocks while working on what has been dubbed neo surrealist abstract work that captivates the imagination and sold to critical acclaim in the European and American markets where his work features in the finest galleries and homes.

His newest venture takes some of his iconic work and puts them in limited edition format encapsulating his stellar art and varied collection into a series of beautiful framed images that can be placed in your home as an accent piece or in a work environment as a conversation piece.

*Corporate art collections are now common and can elevate your space from a standard office to a comfortable gallery atmosphere with minimal effort.

Personally we are going to be negotiating with Stewart about hiring pieces that will be used for editorials and film and possibly even adding to our collection of original art work because we appreciate the value of having these stunning images as both art and inspiration.

To learn more about the artist or to purchase work see:

Soutar Fine Art Website.

A New Addition To The Lost Library

A new addition to the lost library is the fantastic book by Begona F Martin titled Special Makeup Effects & Prosthetics - An essential guide, a truly fascinating and well structured look at the potential of special FX and prosthetics aimed at the cosplay market, it offers up a wealth of information, resources and tips that will be beneficial to a wide range of creatives from makeup artists working in media to cosplayers looking to up their game.

With her extensive background in the arts as well as FX, Begona’s (BB to her friends) book is to me, a must read for those looking to expand their knowledge and test the waters of flat moulds and silicone, with step by step images and detailed explanations of each process with cost-efficient recommendations that will help those on a budget looking to get more creative in their work taking you through materials and techniques in a way that is easy to follow and insightful.

From the images to the text, it is all created by Begona over two years showcasing absolute passion for not just the special FX industry but sharing the skills that she has gained over the course of her career.

To learn more about the book or to purchase from her range of ready made FX or just to follow her work see:

Begona F Martin Website and Store.

BBFX Etsy Store.

Begona Martin Instagram.

Cosplay Instagram.

Project Development With The Team Behind The Memento Mori Portrait film

With an important and historical message, the short Memento Mori Portrait film is tackling a heartbreaking moment in Western history and bringing it to a wider audience.  

Having already won 7 awards for the script, the film itself is a love story with a twist, looking at the voices of those left behind and mixing in science fiction, imagination, and memory to create a beautifully sculpted narrative that takes the Holocaust and gives voice to the people who were lost with, the pink triangle badge, being the symbol of their shame and degradation.

An excellent team of filmmakers are already behind the project with accolades across genres and a collective CV of note, this film is a project designed to showcase their work, the story being part of a larger tapestry, it is a moment in time that is important to highlight and a story that deserves to be heard. 

The importance of the message this film creates is part of the reason it is being made and shows that there is still a long way to go with certain rights in the global narrative.  

To learn more about the project or to offer support see: 

Memento Mori Portrait Fundraiser.

Memento Mori Portrait Facebook.

Lumino Films.

The Full Depixym Kit

The team behind Depixym paints have been building the brand and it is now seen as a staple for many in the realms of fashion and print with film and TV artists also reaping the benefits of what is a multipurpose cosmetic grade emulsion that can be used to create a wide array of looks and fits neatly into a working kit. Taking the step to create what can only be described as a covetable working case housing the full collection of the Depixym paints, they have given the artistic a professional case, a full collection in one place of colors that can be blended to make anything that you may require as a makeup artist.

Depixym is a brand that looks at the artist and sees what they need, the tubes are styled to look like traditional art materials and work in any given situation, editorial and creative artists have taken the brand to heart and are creating a storm on social media while others are integrating the range into the more day to day elements of their business, a truly must-have range that needs to be seen.

The newly launched Pro Program (we have joined) offers an even wider incentive to the professionals and has opened the door to new and exciting possibilities, which for us is perfectly in line with the editorial goals we have in motion.

To learn more about the company or to purchase see:

Depixym Website.

Depixym Facebook.

Depixym Instagram.

The Makeup Museum new York

In terms of the cultural lexicon makeup has a place from the realms of film to fashion, the creative artists of makeup have been front and center of this and in a move that will span the globe the Makeup Museum New York was founded. Giving legitimacy to the craft by exhibiting talent and looking at how makeup has become central to the lives of men and women alike.

Historically, makeup has been a part of life and often missed in the grander scheme of things and has been a respected craft from the Egyptians to the current talents and stars of the cosmetics work such as the amazing Pat Mcgrath who has created iconic looks for both print and catwalk before pushing boundaries with her own makeup line.

The Makeup Museum has taken all those elements and put them in the limelight taking both current and historic icons of the industry and given them a place to be seen.

From the fashion world, the renowned and respected Kevin Aucoin’s journals have been made available giving the world at large an insight into one of the leading lights in beauty whose talents saw him work with stars like Liza Minelli, Tina Turner and many more, creating books and talking openly about the tricks and techniques that made him a household name and The name on everyone’s lips when it came to beauty.

In film and TV, it is without question the innovators and founding fathers of the industry as we know it: The Westmore’s that truly stand out shaping how we as makeup artists work today and creating iconic images and characters that are still recognizable today, the family was and still is a respected benchmark for excellence in the creative fields and to this day are part of the industry offering their insight and professionalism to the world.

Having a dedicated space for makeup as an art form is a stellar move that is lauded in the press and offers a space for the makeup artists to the makeup lovers to appreciate and revel in a craft that is both an art form and a pleasurable indulgence.

The Lost Creatives along with Lost Project and our hard of makeup and creative director JamesC will be showing support for the museum as a part of the industry we feel that this is a cause we can get behind and love the fact that talent in the creative side is being showcased.

To learn more about The Makeup Museum or to shop from the store see:

The makeup Museum Website.

The makeup Museum Shop.

The makeup Museum Instagram

The makeup Museum Facebook.

The Makeup Museum Twitter.

The makeup Museum Youtube.

Fondation Valmont supports Publicolor with a new artistic initiative

Faithful to their core of giving back, Fondation Valmont is proud to continue their partnership with Publicolor, a New York-based nonprofit youth development organisation that engages at-risk students through design-based programs to help empower them to plan and prepare for success in school, college, work and life. To support this organisation, Didier Guillon, Owner and Creative Director of Valmont, created 14 pieces of original artwork during the quarantine lock down that will be offered for sale with 100% of the proceeds directly benefiting Publicolor.

Didier's inspiration for these new creations stemmed from his 'The Elegant Symmetry of the Gorilla' exhibition that travelled around the world to Munich and Berlin in 2019 after debuting in New York City in 2018. During a visit to the Berlin Zoo, Didier fell under the charm of Ivo, the famous gorilla and zoo mascot, and designed a series of artistic tributes to portray the quest of a gorilla in pursuit of happiness.

To embark on a new chapter of Ivo, Didier explored new materials and elevated daily objects to create a series of new compositions. As a result, new gorillas were created on dollar bills, newspaper articles and other sustainable materials.

To purchase artwork or donate directly to Publicolor, please email info@fondationvalmont.com.

Fondation Valmont extends its charitable operation until the end of the year.

About Valmont Art / Fondation Valmont:

Art is a fundamental pillar of the Valmont Group and plays a role in every initiative of the luxury Swiss beauty brand, promoting their motto ‘When Art Meets Beauty.’ An artist and collector himself, Valmont’s Owner and Creative Director, Didier Guillon founded Fondation Valmont to support artists globally by presenting international art exhibitions. The Valmont Group recently purchased Palazzo Bonvicini, a historic palace in Venice, Italy that is the new home to Fondation Valmont and hosts art exhibitions on a rolling basis. Through Fondation Valmont, Didier has curated art exhibitions all over the world, including multiple shows in Venice for the Biennale, Switzerland, Greece and New York City.

About Publicolor: 

Founded in 1996, Publicolor's mission is to improve educational equity by promoting an imaginative use of color and design in schools. Creating 'stay-in-school' youth development programs, Publicolor helps to mentor and guide students on how to achieve success in school, college, career and personal life. To date, Publicolor has helped to transform 270 under performing public schools in New York City, impacting over 900,000 students and teachers, and 241 community facilities.