MODELING: Marie Grippon

Modeling Appreciation

Model: Marie Grippon

Photographer: Xavier Hennebel

Filmed & Edited, PHG Productions, Philippe Guédon

via Normal Magazine

Thomas Wedgwood

Photography Appreciation

Thomas Wedgwood was born on May 14, 1771, in Etruria, into the prominent Wedgwood pottery family. He was the son of industrialist Josiah Wedgwood, whose scientific curiosity and innovation influenced Thomas from an early age. 

Although he did not follow a formal academic path due to chronic health issues, Wedgwood was well educated through private study and intellectual circles that included leading thinkers of the time, such as Humphry Davy. His upbringing placed him at the intersection of art, science, and experimentation—conditions that would shape his later work.

Wedgwood is widely regarded as one of the earliest pioneers of photography, though he never achieved a fully practical photographic process. Around the 1790s, he began experimenting with light-sensitive chemicals, particularly silver nitrate, applied to paper and leather. By placing objects like leaves or small items directly onto these treated surfaces and exposing them to light, he produced silhouette images known today as photograms. He also attempted to capture images using a camera obscura, but struggled with a critical limitation: he could not “fix” the images to prevent them from fading when exposed to light.

Despite this limitation, Wedgwood’s experiments marked a turning point in the development of photography, later influencing figures such as William Henry Fox Talbot. His work was documented and promoted by Humphry Davy in an 1802 paper, which remains one of the earliest written accounts of photographic experimentation. 

Sources:

Wikipedia

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Thomas-Wedgwood

https://precinemahistory.com/chapter-seven/thomas-wedgwood-photogram-1800-first-attempts-at-photography-by-using-the-camera-obscura-and-a-photosensitive-chemical-on-paper/

RANDOM WEDNESDAY: Ney:3 as Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon (The Witcher)

 

Guess Ciri’s not the tallest after all ⚔️📏#TheWitcher pic.twitter.com/OAXBXNv64p

— 🌻Ney:3🍯 ✨ (@Neyrodesu) April 4, 2026

via Ney:3 

Michelle Jung

Art Appreciation

Michelle Jung is a Connecticut-born painter whose path into fine art developed later than most. Raised in East Hartford, she earned a degree in art history from Colorado State University before working in galleries and later running her own insurance business. 

Her formal transition into painting began around the age of 40, followed by intensive study through workshops and, eventually, a Master of Fine Arts in painting. This nontraditional trajectory plays a central role in her perspective—she approaches painting with both academic grounding and lived experience, often emphasizing that artistic growth is not confined to youth.

Michelle’s career has since grown into a national presence, with exhibitions, awards, and memberships in organizations such as the American Society of Marine Artists and the California Art Club. Her work is rooted in observation but not tied to strict representation. As she explains in interviews and writings, including features on her official website, she studies environments repeatedly—sometimes for years—before translating them into paintings built from memory, sketches, and layered references. This process allows her to move beyond documentation and instead capture what she describes as the “personality” of a place.

Stylistically, Michelle operates between realism and abstraction. Her paintings often read as representational from a distance, but dissolve into expressive brushwork and layered color up close. She works methodically, building compositions over time before executing the final paint application with speed and confidence. Her use of multiple planes, subtle distortions, and unconventional formats—such as square canvases—creates visual tension and draws viewers into the work. 

Sources:

https://www.michellejungstudio.com/

https://www.instagram.com/michellejungart/

https://theartfulpainter.com/artful-painter/michelle-jung-16

https://www.oilpaintersofamerica.com/about-opa/bloggers/michelle-jung/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxTkJ1oBXQg&t=1s

Body Art: Kazim - Belgian Bodypaint Championship

Artist: Kazim Christophe Cwikla

via Kazim 2C 

Cobra Starship: You Make Me Feel... ft. Sabi

Music Appreciation

“You Make Me Feel…” is a 2011 single by the American synthpop band Cobra Starship, featuring guest vocals from Sabi. Released on May 10, 2011, the track served as the lead single from the band’s fourth studio album, Night Shades, and was made available digitally through iTunes the same day. 

The song marked a continuation of the band’s shift toward mainstream pop and dance music, following the success of earlier hits like “Good Girls Go Bad.” The collaboration with Sabi, who was then emerging in the pop scene, added a polished, radio-friendly dynamic, with her vocals providing a bright counterpoint to Gabe Saporta’s lead.

Lyrically, “You Make Me Feel…” centers on the rush of attraction and the liberating energy of nightlife, with a tone that leans more toward carefree indulgence than emotional depth. The chorus, driven by Sabi’s vocals, reinforces themes of desire and escapism, while the verses maintain a playful, slightly irreverent tone typical of Cobra Starship’s style. 

Musically, the track blends synth-heavy production with a four-on-the-floor dance beat, reflecting the early 2010s pop landscape dominated by electronic influences. The song’s structure—catchy hooks, repetitive chorus, and upbeat tempo—was designed for club play and radio rotation, contributing to its commercial success.

The music video, directed by Kai Regan, captures a chaotic house party filled with vibrant visuals and youthful spontaneity. Much of the video unfolds through photobooth-style sequences, where partygoers document their night in quick, candid snapshots, reinforcing the song’s theme of living in the moment. 

One of the most memorable aspects is a cameo by actor Robin Williams, whose unexpected appearance adds a layer of humor and cultural intrigue. The video’s fast cuts, saturated colors, and playful energy mirror the track’s upbeat tone, helping cement it as a defining pop anthem of the early 2010s.

Sources:

Wikipedia

https://www.allmusic.com/artist/cobra-starship-mn0000571913

https://www.billboard.com/artist/cobra-starship/ 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpyZEzrDf4c

https://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1666029/cobra-starship-you-make-me-feel-video.jhtml

https://www.songfacts.com/facts/cobra-starship/you-make-me-feel

https://genius.com/Cobra-starship-you-make-me-feel-lyrics

Cosplay is an Art: Best of Sakura Con 2026 (Seattle Anime Convention)

via Justin Pineda Media