The Quest for Inspiration

It is often wondered where and how one can invoke inspiration from...As artists, and people imbibed in the creative fields we always dread that moment when our vision falters and our creative juices stop flowing. While sometimes, it is simply fine to let go and allow our minds to have a break from conjuring ideas, most times it tends to happen exactly when we NEED a breakthrough...

As a professional makeup artist working on fashion projects, I face this challenge on a regular basis. On any given day we may be called for a creative makeup/hair design and going blank is not an option. I thought I'd share and give an insight into how our specific line of work creates magic alongside with views on inspiration in general.

1. Stick to doing what you love- if you love what you do, you will be highly driven (very necessary) and everything tends to work in your favor. Plus, you are less likely to get bored :)

                                 Hand-made face charts I created for a creative fashion project

Face chart done with several makeup products

2. Research, research, research-It's an endless process; we are never done with learning and new information processed in our brain = new channels of thought. So go to your nearest library, bookshop, friend's bookshelf and grab'em books! You don't even have to read them completely; stick to topics/chapters that might interest you, pick visually stimulating books with plenty of photographs. Go online and spend time researching on your subject, view other artists' work, talk to people in your field, etc.

                                        Feather String from Cheap Jack, Bandra Mumbai

                    Playing with paper and eyelashes on plain white mask as a face mock-up

3. Look at everyday life for inspiration- Leave the comfort of your home (or not!) and explore the obvious and not so obvious around you. For one of my recent makeup projects I decided to go into a general department store and pick up kitchen utensils to construct headgear...just because I could ;)
Look at things you generally see and turn them around. Think Lady Gaga; if you have a shoe, wear it on your head (maybe not literally speaking...). Travel to a different place; abolish familiarity and aim to open your senses to new experiences.

Intricate coffee shop windows at The Collective, Phoenix Mills, Mumbai

Tree at Rajesh Khanna Garden

4. Gather everything (experiences, photos, words, mood boards,objects), shut yourself off from the world, have a creativity-inducing space where everything from the mood, to the lighting, to the music and decor are supportive of your vision and tastes.

                Head mannequin with false attached dreadlocks & hair pins on center parting

Messy space with all the materials for a shoot being gathered

Start ideating! 

Artistic Shoes!

Having just returned from a much needed pedicure (and of course, having selected the brightest nail polish color to top it off), it dawned upon me how long it's been since I last fell in love with a truly remarkable and unique pair of shoes....On that note, here are a few of the most creative and museum-worthy pairs out there!

A sublime collection ;)

The perennial white dress

Having just bought my first party white dress, I started thinking about the general bad publicity that comes attached to a white dress especially when paired against a black one...Regardless of it being the color of choice for western weddings (and regardless of the fact that some women with a strong urge to get married go ahead and purchase a wedding dress just to keep it in their closets...) it's generally set aside for many reasons. Here are a few:

1. It's white, and therefore more prone to get visibly dirty.
2. It can be transparent/see-through (not that most men would mind).
3. The common idea that white can make one look bigger.

While all of these might hold true in certain instances, it's all about finding one that really suits you and your body shape. In the honor of the white dress, I've found a few stunning ones while browsing and thought I'd share. The ladies look lovely.
Enjoy!

Food Nostalgia- Portuguese food I miss... (Part 1)

This post is dedicated to those food items which make me lick my fingers, happy to indulge and not regret it one bit. A collection of my favorite and most missed Portuguese food items...food nostalgia at its best!

1. Pasteis de Bacalhau (Codfish fritters)

These little crunchy pieces of heaven can be eaten cold or fresh off the pan. The interiors have a soft and soothing  consistency, backed by the saltiness of Portugal's most loved fish (Codfish) and a bit of herbed potatoes. Found in most pubs, restaurants, cafes...they can be had any time of the day, and in plenty of numbers!

2. Lapas Grelhadas com limao (Grilled Limpets seasoned with garlic, butter & lemon)

This sublime (ah...finally an opportunity to cleverly refer to this blog's title!) platter is typical of the Madeira Island region and sadly, it's hard to find elsewhere. Limpets are saltwater snails (aquatic gastropod mollusks) which fishermen (and anyone who is ready for a challenge) expertly pluck/collect from sea-side rocks where they generally house themselves in colonies. They are absolutely
wonderful with tons of garlic, lime juice and butter and are eaten as an appetizer or as bar/pub food to
be downed with a chilled beer!

3. Pasteis de Nata (Mini Egg Custard Tarts with Cinnamon)

These mini tarts are a celebrated traditional dessert/snack, very much in demand through the year. They are cooked in the oven to perfection (I love the slightly burnt ones on top) and finally sprinkled with powdered sugar and cinnamon at the time of eating. Had on their own, with coffee, as a dessert or as pure gluttony they have a beautiful crunch on the outside, while their inside is a warm and moist delight!

4. Fios de Ovos (Angel's Hair/Egg Threads)

 Like most portuguese desserts, Fios de Ovos are presumed to be invented by monks and nuns around the 15th- 16th century. Made primarily of egg yolks, they acquire their thread-like consistency by being passed through a special cooking utensil right before falling into and being boiled in a decadent sugar syrup. They can be had on their own or used as garnish in cakes/side-dishes. Believe me, once you have a spoonful, you are doomed...they are divine!

5.Chamucas de Galinha com Caril (Chicken Samosas with Curry Spices)

    Now, while I do live in India and while I like Samosas in general and I don't dispute their Indian origins and authenticity...I have to admit to preferring the Portuguese adaptation of the dish. Most of the easily (and cheaply) available samosas in India are vegetarian in nature (which in this case means, lots of potato filling with some peas) and are quite thick and heavy. The Portuguese version commonly found in bars and once again, generally accompanied with some beer is quite thin on the crust and absolutely filled with a beautiful chicken mince. It's also nicely infused with spices for a great kick in the senses! Strangely enough, I sometimes had then cold and still enjoyed... :)


More to come soon! 

Dominoes India

Here is a set of images for posterity. They were taken while on a warm and sunny afternoon on a Goa beach...as I was sipping my beer, the most amusing and absurd scenario played out right before my eyes. A pizza delivery guy, walking along the beach actually searching for the pizza's rightful owner...Now, let's consider  2 things:

1. Dominoes prides itself for its "under 30 minutes" delivery service, or the bill is free.
2. It's a HUGE beach! How in the world is this guy gonna find the so called delivery "address"?

Is dominoes setting itself up for failure (at least with their on-time delivery promise), or could this be a successful move? Well, I'd like to think they really ought to feature a promotional campaign with a similar message. If they deliver ANYWHERE, then they certainly should advertise so ;)

It made my day!

Cooking Experiment   

 In an attempt to revive a friend's slightly bland red pepper rice, and having decided to dedicate time to start learning/experimenting how to cook this year, I came up with what I think is a pretty random yet scrumptious Mexican/Fusion inspired dish.
    I threw some onion, olive oil, ginger and garlic paste, soy sauce (not so Mexican but always nice), Worcestershire Sauce , Old Monk Rum (a favorite in India) chilly flakes, red chilly powder, apple cider vinegar, mixed herbs, lemon juice, chicken stock cube and water into a pan, let it all heat up and added boneless chicken breasts allowing it all to cook for a good 20 minutes in this strange concoction.
    For the already cooked rice,once again I caramelized some onions, added chilly flakes, apple cider vinegar, some peas and  a can of baked beans in tomato sauce with a generous helping of butter and kept stirring and mixing while the heat was on.
   The result was this spicy yet sweet sauce which dripped over the rice and tasted over the chicken pieces, really filled our stomachs and hit an unexpected soft spot of pure and bizarre indulgence!
   Bottom line, don't be afraid of experimenting and being inventive in the kitchen...you never know what you might achieve :)

Here's a not so appealing image of the outcome...taken from my phone after the lazy cooking session!