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APRIL - JUNE 2022
COBRA FILM PROJECT
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SNIPPETS
DANIELA ROTA
Daniela Rota is the creative behind @damppstudio.
A Brazilian illustrator and graphic designer with a passion for curves, shapes, and simple lines.
Her conceptual and minimalistic approach is the launchpad for her self-ironic women with soft curves and full lips.
Inspired by the bodies and movements of dancers and by the strength and power of women and their femininity, her work stands for body-positive messages and features a subtle hint of humor.
A big fan of good food, coffee, yoga, and eager to learn new languages and cultures, she is lucky to live in Florence, Italy, where she works with visual communication, branding, packaging, and editorial design.
Dani / damppstudio
IG @damppstudio
THE COBRA FILM PROJECT
INTERVIEW WITH WILLIAM A. MASHETER BY DEVON HARVEY
When discussing his recent project, I asked Will to summarise it in five words. He gave me:
inspirational, true-story, resilience, power, love…
These words capture the essence of the project perfectly.
I became initially intrigued by this project some months ago, I knew it was going to big and powerful… something that needed to be showcased on as many platforms as possible.
Therefore, when Will reached out to collab with Snippets we jumped at the opportunity. This article aims to put Will at the helm allowing him to guide you through the Cobra Film Project and link you to all the necessary material.
Last month Will and I discussed the Cobra Film Project, and I was able to ask the following questions:
What is the Cobra Film Project and what does it stand for?
The Cobra Film Project is an exciting endeavour founded by a group of friends and family that all work in the film industry. We have a huge emotional connection to this project, why, because it is inspired by an incredibly unique man, my uncle, Tiago Amorim—also known as COBRA. Tiago sadly passed away 7 years ago doing what he loved most—pushing boundaries of human limitation in the extreme sports world. We have established Cobra Film Project Ltd. to build a foundation to tell his inspiring story to the world.
Tiago had a terrible accident with fire when he was just a child—covering 84% of his body with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd degree burns. He was left with scarring that would be with him for his entire life. His physical limitations were clear in his mobility, his ability to grow into his body from a child to an adult, and even in the adversity he faced throughout his life... but that never stopped him from excelling at everything he did. Before the accident he already possessed an energy unmatched; not even an event like that could stop him from living faster than most of us can only dream. From a young age he learnt to love himself and embrace his misfortune in a beautiful way. He lived his life the way he wanted to—with unstoppable speed, radiant smiles and at the forefront of all his endeavours was love. This is the core message of the project, and the reason we are telling this story.
The Cobra Film Project begins with a book; written by Francisco Gomes de Amorim (Tiago’s father/my grandfather) which was recently translated by myself (Will Masheter), from Portuguese to English. All book sale profits will go towards funding the production of the documentary.
If you had to condense the project down to three main points, what would they be?
Three main points I think would be the fact that this man was a hero. People with facial scarring are commonly portrayed as villains in mainstream Hollywood movies. We want to show the world that a person isn't defined by what they appear to be; but by the radiance of who they are within. Therefore, we want to inspire a new trend of acceptance based on who we are, not what we are. Tiago is a prime example of someone who had no superficial ego and managed to be one of the most loved and respected people. His infectious energy attracted his peers, and his influence was undeniable to this day. Another would be the journey of someone with dyslexia, who against all odds managed to live his life so fully and then go on-to start a successful business which gave him the freedom to pursue his passion to fly. Overall, it is about the limitations we set, and that society sets for us; how these fabricated lines stop us from living how we desire. Tiago was a rebel with a cause, forever searching for meaning away from the constraints of societal demands. He found peace in speed, bridging the gap between life and death. After experiencing a near-death experience so young - I believe that gave him a different outlook on life, one that most of us will never see.
I know it’s important to you that you incorporate charities into this project, which charities have you chosen and how do you aim to do this?
Tiago always wanted to work with young burn survivors that had perhaps suffered similar accidents to his. He had such an amazing way with people, I can only imagine what an extraordinary job he would have done. We want to help that dream come to fruition, so we have partnered with the Children’s Burns Trust & The British Burns Association. They have been extremely supportive of the project thus far - offering advice and expert knowledge on Tiago's burn & recovery after his accident. Our goal is to inspire people around the world with Tiago’s story; and, to help raise awareness on the importance of burn prevention. We will be allocating a percentage of the film profits to their cause - as well as offering support to young survivors who are interested in perusing a career in film production.
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Collaborations in the creative world are so important, to support one another, utilise platforms, and generally showcase upcoming works that will undoubtedly make an impact. Therefore, with this in mind, Will has some exciting predictions for future collaborations. Looking to work with the likes of Crocs and GoPro in the future, it isn’t hard to see that this project will be an amazing legacy to Tiago himself. As Will told me: ‘Tiago used to live and sleep in his crocs - climbing mountains and flying in them in many of his videos; all filmed on gopro.’
If you have been inspired by this project and would like to follow and support this amazing journey alongside Will and his team, please donate and follow.
Donations can be made via their website; or alternatively, any profits from book sales will be going towards the production of the documentary. For private investment please contact info@cobrafilmproject.com
LINKS
Website - www.cobrafilmproject.com
Donations - https://www.cobrafilmproject.com/getinvolved
Project Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMLwo2bYCdI&t=3s
KIM BLUE
I’m an illustrator working in Seoul. I use bright color palettes across traditional materials and digitals and convey emotions through lines and textures. Work through various media such as illustration, comics, and animation.
portfolio site
@herxblux
Behance
WHEN IS A LADY A TRAMP?
Daisy Richardson (@daisyswriting)
When she writhes under the garish lights of the local club
On a Thursday night, eyes gleaming under smudges of black
Just beginning to trickle down her cheeks.
When anxious fingers tug down the hem of her favourite dress,
A silken shield from eyes which linger too long
And leave milky skin blistered.
When lips stained scarlet leave a stamp of approval
On the rim of a tall glass of Pimm’s, brimming with
Strawberries and cucumber and promise.
When she brushes past you on a quest to comfort
Whoever is crying in the toilet this time,
And leaves you in a fog of coconut body spray and
The feeling of wanting more.
LITTLE MEL
Hi I'm Melinda :)
A dreamer with a thousand ideas that whisk in her head; chaotic ideas that run through many different paths. After years of continuous ideas and research, Little Mel was born, a little me who continues to dream and to seek beauty in small things. Little Mel is an illustrator who loves to explore, find meaning in what she creates and who tries to bring a bit of her world into everything she draws.
As a child my thoughts flowed on large white sheets, between pencils and crayons. I followed those papers arriving at the artistic high school of Porta Romana in Florence, continuing to learn. During the pandemic I started drawing again and along the way I met wonderful people, the first commissions and collaborations arrived; and today my dream remains the same, to be able to make my passion the job I love.
I love creating illustrations of picture books for children, making custom illustrations and recently I discovered the Surface Pattern.
THOUGHTS ON… “BODY NEUTRALITY”
Renée Lewis
“Body acceptance.” These two words have become increasingly important over the past few decades and can be especially noticed in the general media through avenues such as adverts and social media. “Be yourself” and “love yourself” are taglines that have become part of everyday language. But what exactly constitutes as body acceptance? It appears to have split into two avenues over the years – “body positivity” and the newer term “body neutrality.” Though both share similarities, they are quite different.
“Body positivity” is a term that is more widely recognised, so much so that it was added to the Oxford English Dictionary in the first few months of 2021 with definition “an acceptance of the human body, especially one’s own.”[1]The body positivity movement itself can be traced back to the 1960s, where it was known as the “fat acceptance” movement. Its main aim was to campaign against the discrimination against people with who were not conventionally thin and to draw attention to the stigma surrounding weight, which are still prevalent today. As time went on, this movement evolved to challenge pervading myths surrounding what the “ideal” body looks like and is perpetuated by the wider (commonly Western) media – i.e. ethnically white, slim, tall, able bodied people with toned muscles etc. Within this toxic culture of shaming people who “failed” to conform to these standards, people of colour, people who are plus-size and people with physical disabilities are amongst those who tend to be excluded and ostracised. Since its conception, the body positivity movement has sought to celebrate and promote a realistic body image, while and the acknowledging that most people’s bodies do not live up to this standard. And we can definitely see its impact in the inclusion of plus-size models and people of different races and physical abilities in a wider range of spaces including fashion, TV and film.
However, Michelle Elman, author of Am I Ugly?, states that the term has now become “diluted” and taken too literally: that you have to always be positive about your body and believe yourself to be beautiful, even when you don’t feel and though you are.[2] This could be partly due to the growing commercialisation of body confidence and positivity, with marketing strategies settling on a mere “buy our products and you’ll feel beautiful too, regardless of how you look” message. The focus is primarily on selling products. What we’re still failing to dissect the oppression and discrimination that marginalised bodies experience. For instance, finding as many racially ambiguous models as possible is not going to transform companies into trailblazers when it comes to challenging Western beauty standards.
On another note, many believe that constantly repeating positive things about the parts of their bodies that they don’t like will magically get rid of their negative self-image. It can take a very long time to replace those negative thoughts with kinder ones, but if the person does not feel as though anything is changing, they could end up feeling worse about themselves. As we are generally taught to see our differences as flaws, rather than just differences, body positivity as we now know it is perhaps not the most productive way to combat negative self-image. There is a huge difference between being told to love your insecurities in spite of how they look and not seeing them as flaws in the first place. And this is where “body neutrality” comes in.
“Body neutrality” is a term that I came across fairly recently on social media, and as a concept, it is believed to have started circulating around the internet as early as 2015. It encourages people to focus on the body’s abilities rather than how it looks and is more about changing the language we use in regard to our bodies entirely. By neither hating nor forcing yourself to love your insecurities, body neutrality avoids making you feel good about your body when you don’t. However, it can definitely be an avenue into self-love and more positive body image. For example, up until my late teen years, I used to have clear skin, but continuously breaking out in spots all over my face in more recent years really started to get me down. I hated it so much and struggled with forcing myself to love it because I didn’t. But instead of saying “I hate my continuous breakouts”, I’ve opted for saying something more like “I have spots on my face, it’s something very natural and very normal that happens.” I’ll admit, I do sometimes get quite annoyed when my skin seems to be clearing up and doesn’t, but I’m on the road to accepting it as it is. Acknowledging that social media has only further warped our idea of what actual people’s bodies look like, that the majority of people do not have completely “flawless” skin because skin is naturally textured, that stretch marks and cellulite are both normal bodily things, that having a flat stomach is not entirely achievable because your vital organs lie underneath, is perhaps a gentler way to body acceptance. Of course, unrealistic beauty standards will still continue to be ever-present and definitely won’t crumble overnight, but taking more of a neutral stance on what makes you insecure about your body is what could give you the time you need to see that you are enough as you are.
[1] https://happiful.com/body-positivity-takes-on-a-whole-new-meaning/
[2] Ibid.
LAUREN MARINA
Hi, I’m Lauren Marina, a freelance artist, illustrator, and pattern designer. I live in Poole, UK.
My bold black and white drawings are formed with smooth and flowing lines, generating a sense of calm movement. I tend to draw in my identifiable charcoal and oat palette and often use inventions of this limited palette to add interest.
I aim to evoke a gentle feeling of fluidity and calm. My work taps into my own inner vulnerability and softness, and I try to reflect that clearly in the work to encourage others to honour those inner depths of themselves.
My work is versatile and can work well in a whole host of commercial applications. My key interests are in creating bold iconography, illustrative branding assets, packaging patterns, fabric designs, decorative murals, and illustration for merchandising.
I also offer a range of eco-friendly greetings cards, homeware and giftware. I sell online, at markets, and with a curated selection of independent retailers across the UK.
Instagram @laurenmarina
Twitter @thelaurenmarina
Facebook Lauren Marina Studio
JUDIT ZENGŐVÁRI
Judit Zengővári is a Budapest based illustrator. She loves to create playful illustrations which bring joy to people. In her work, she focuses on diversity, nature, and simple everyday moments. She enjoys exploring bold colour palettes and interesting compositions.
THINGS YOU DO WHEN YOU FEEL INSIDE OUT
Daisy Richardson (@daisyswriting)
Cry, first and foremost. Reach out to someone you know won’t answer. Go to Google to see if it might be something do with the planets or the stars, mercury throwing a strop.
Run a bath. Let it get cold. Rinse, repeat.
Smash a glass and watch the blood bloom in your palm, slowly at first then all at once, forming ink stain patterns in the sink. Petals of scarlet against the silver.
Watch life keep moving and take offence at how the world doesn’t seem to stop for you. It definitely should.
MIKI HANYU
My name is Miki. I am a Japan-based freelance illustrator.
I like to draw people with a bit exaggerated body shapes. My aesthetic is simplicity and playfulness.
I am inspired by nature and everyday life. I spend a lot of time with my children so they also give me some inspiration too.
My career is a bit unique. I was born and raised in Japan and studied abroad in Sweden.
After graduating from university, I worked as a Japanese teacher, a journalist, and an administrative worker. A year ago I took the leap and became a full-time illustrator. This was challenging but I am happy because I have loved painting and drawing since childhood.
See more of my works on Instagram: @hanyu.miki
SOPHIE BENMOUYAL
Sophie Benmouyal is a French-Canadian illustrator living in Montreal, Canada. She specializes in children’s book illustration, but never says no to fun editorial or licensing projects.
After working a few years for different advertising and marketing agencies as a graphic designer, she decided to pursue her dream of becoming a freelance illustrator. From her home studio, she started to explore colors and textures while experimenting with different techniques, and never got enough of it. Working mainly digitally, she enjoys adding a traditional feel to her illustrations by playing with hand-made textures. Her two full-of-life little girls are her main source of inspiration by reminding her daily the importance of dreams and play. They are also an excellent excuse for her compulsive children's book buying.
You can see more of her work here:
www.sophiebenmouyal.com
instagram.com/sophiebenmouyal
twitter.com/sophiebenmouyal
Represented by Becca Langton at The Darley Anderson Illustration Agency
BOOK REVIEW BY KATHY BALDOCK
People Person By Candice Carty-Williams
‘Dimple Pennington knew of her half siblings, but she didn't really know them. Five people who don't have anything in common except for faint memories of being driven through Brixton in their dad's gold jeep, and some pretty complex abandonment issues. Dimple has bigger things to think about. She's thirty, and her life isn't really going anywhere. An aspiring lifestyle influencer with a terrible and wayward boyfriend, Dimple's life has shrunk to the size of a phone screen. And despite a small but loyal following, she's never felt more alone in her life. That is, until a dramatic event brings her half siblings Nikisha, Danny, Lizzie and Prynce crashing back into her life. And when they're all forced to reconnect with Cyril Pennington, the absent father they never really knew, things get even more complicated.’
I have loved Candice Carty- Williams since I read Queenie, her writing is compelling, witty and gives you all the feels. People Person is no different.
I loved this book, the raw feelings that are portrayed when the siblings are forced to reconnect for the most harrowing of reasons creates a dynamic that you can’t ignore. The strong family obligation and the navigation of new relationships and different personalities create an unputdownable read.
I cannot recommend this read enough and the message it gives and the feelings it makes you feel. I cannot wait to see what comes next for Carty- Williams but at this point even if it is a shopping list, I will still read it!
JUNOREGEN
Junoregen is a retro inspired Illustrator based in Germany. She wants to create a feeling of cozy nostalgia with her art. When she is not drawing, she is probably out looking at vintage books in antique stores or watching old french movies.
ANNA DEEGAN
Anna is an Irish print and pattern designer living in Dublin, Ireland. She creates intricate and colourful designs influenced by 1960s and '70s vintage and retro design.
She is driven by her love for creativity and seeing her designs come to life in perfect harmony.
Anna’s collections are inspired by her travels to Italy, walks in nature, and from her everyday life in Ireland.
Her process involves researching trends, sketching ideas and digitising her work as vector based illustrations suitable for a diverse range of products.
You can follow Anna’s latest creations on Instagram @annadeegan or visit www.annadeeganillustration.com
BOILING POINT: THE BEST FILM OF 2022... SO FAR
Harry Membrey (@anygood_film)
Trailer - https://youtu.be/_JFrZZPtYrs
1917 made serious waves when it was released in 2019. It was an epic war movie about two young soldiers who had no choice but to cross no-man’s-land during WW1 and deliver a vital message that would save thousands of troops’ lives. What made it all the more interesting was that director, Sam Mendes, wanted to make the whole thing look like it had been shot in one seamless take. Safe to say, 1917 will be remembered by cinephiles for a long time and delivered one of the best films of that year.
It was initially released in August 2021, but in January 2022 Philip Barantini’s Boiling Point was made widely available for the first time on Netflix and it’s still there for you to watch right now. It’s the best film to have been released this year, and just like 1917 it is an extraordinary film. Unlike 1917 though, Boiling Point was actually filmed in one immense, immeasurably intense take. This isn’t to take anything away from 1917, but Boiling Point doesn’t use smart edits to trick us. Boiling Point is the real deal.
Where 1917 is unquestionably ‘epic’ in its scope and scale, Boiling Point is an intimate and unyielding look into the day-to-day life of Head Chef Andy Jones (Stephen Graham) and his team. We’re placed alongside them in their kitchen on what happens to be the busiest night of the year at one of the most well-renowned restaurants in London. But an array of personal and professional issues start to mount over the course of 90 minutes, plaguing their service and threatening to destroy everything Andy has been working for.
Boiling Point manages to capture a sense of stress and anxiety from every fibre of its being in a way that is hard to gauge on film. But this is balanced with a mounting sense of excitement. It’s fast and fragmented in a way that wraps you up into what’s going on and has you desperate to find out what can possibly go wrong next.
It’s anxiety-inducing stuff held together with honest performances from some of the best British talent working today. They make that kitchen feel lived in, not for a second letting us believe that they aren’t putting their blood, sweat and tears into that place. Every character and every situation they’re put under feels real - as though Boiling Point is a microscopic view into the world of a pressurised kitchen with a whole host of different dynamics working at once, ready to burst at any moment.
But it’s a really simple film. It shines because of both that very simplicity combined with an ability to place you right in the middle of everything, not letting you step away for one second until it’s all over. This is only made possible because every element works within one single take, what can only have been some of the most complex blocking and choreography for the entire production team. Watching Boiling Point is a highly worthwhile endeavour because of it.
Boiling Point is now available to stream on Netflix
ARISTRATION
Hi there, it’s Aristration!
I go by my name, Arisa and what I do, illustration. I’m a Bangkok-based graphic designer, a tireless knowledge seeker, and a digital illustrator. My work is inspired by fashion and the everyday life. Self-love, female empower and diversity are usually the theme in my illustrations. I love experimenting with different styles, colors and patterns.
Find me at :
PAOLA CARBONARO
I am Paola Carbonaro, alias "Carbo"! I am a Sicilian illustrator, but I have been staying in Milan since 2015. I am actually a graphic designer, and I really love to design. Since I was a little girl, my mother gave me crayons to keep me quiet for an entire afternoon. In essence I have been drawing since I was a little girl. I never took drawing course and I started seriously only when I did realize that drawing was and still is a way to express
myself better than in words, for this reason I define my illustration "little colored introspection".
I started to execute my works in black and white with simple lines,
then I had a big evolution since I realized that black and white only
were not enough to express my coloured soul.
You can see my illustration on instagram as @carbo_illustrazioni or https://behance.net/pacarbo
AN INCOMPLETE LIST OF THINGS I AM
Daisy Richardson (@daisyswriting)
A softly spoken thunderstorm
And the fruit that tied Persephone to the Underworld.
Skin and bones sauteed over a medium heat
And topped with a sprig of rosemary.
The flesh of a lemon stinging under your nail beds,
Bitterness which settles on your tongue.
A porcelain grenade adorned with cobalt willows.
A hiss of breath which paints winter air
Into something heavy and pale.
The scorched crust of the earth
And the hunger of the five thousand.
INTERVIEW WITH JANEEN CONSTANTINO
Devon Harvey
What inspires your aesthetic?
Colour! I love the way different colours, when combined, can create a feeling or a mood. I’m also inspired by just about anything that catches my eye or stops me in my tracks. Photography, flowers, plants and my favorite, creative product packaging, all influence the subjects I illustrate.
How did you branch into creating animations? We love how you bring your illustrations to life!
I always thought it would be fun to add just a little bit of motion to some of my illustrations to further bring out their personality. I’m not an animator so when I first started learning how to animate, I searched for the easiest way to bring motion to my work. I landed on frame by frame animation because it felt like the most straightforward and fun process for me to learn.
Do you have a favourite piece or collection from your illustrations?
I have a few pieces that are favorites such as my Frida Kahlo portraits and my Iris Apfel portrait. They were a lot of fun to create because they both were - and Iris still is - such colorful and creative people. But one of my most favorite pieces is my blossom girl holding a flower bud because that piece is when I really developed my style of illustration.
Finally, for those reading this interview, I am sure they would love to know if you sell your work and take commissions?
I am working on a little online shop for prints right now! I have done some commissioned work also and am currently contributing illustrations to a children’s book to be published later this year.
CECILIA MOK
@ceciliamok_
I’m an artist and surface designer in Sydney. I studied fine arts, and fashion design and have worked as an artist in graphics, print and textiles.
I’m drawn to themes of wonder and storytelling. My surface designs are explorations of rich colour palettes, movement and flow, and decorative illustration.
My work celebrates the beauty of nature and includes symbolic storytelling. I love the symbolism of birds, snakes, fruit and flowers, especially in modern chinoiseries. I want to convey the feeling of being in nature and an appreciation of our living world, and the mysteries of life and death.
My advice to other artists is to create work which truly excites you, and create what you love. Design for those who love the world you want to create.
Instagram - @ceciliamok_
Website – www.ceciliamokart.com
DARIA SUKHANOVA
Daria Sukhanova is an illustrator working in various kinds of illustration fields, such as editorial, advertising, covers for digital media, gifs, AR effects, etc. Much of Daria's work is inspired by everyday aesthetics, lifestyle and woman's beauty. Daria likes to play with the viewer's perception, you can find vibrant colors, rough textures and simple shapes in her illustrations. Everyday situations, women, food and interiors are favorite themes in Daria's work. She works in raster illustration and creates drawings on her ipad. Emotional expressiveness and visual appeal are important components of illustration in Daria's opinion. GIFs creation takes a big place in work. Currently, her gifs on GIPHY have been viewed over 400 million times.
Best wishes, Daria Sukhanova Illustrator catchuuu@gmail.com +79193748685
http://catchu.tilda.ws/portfolio
LITTLE LUXURIES
Daisy Richardson (@daisyswriting)
I want rich things.
I want velvet and cherries and night-time.
I want cocktails just a little bit too strong,
The burning sweetness a reminder of excess.
Crusty white bread dribbling olive oil and balsamic.
Tights without ladders.
I want to walk down the road at 3am
With no fear. Demeter among mortals.
I want Stevie Nicks crooning honey-sweet through a record player,
The needle scratching an itch I didn’t know was there.
Laundry detergent which takes me back to autumn
No matter the time of year.
SHIH-YU LIN
Shih-YU was born in Taipei (Taiwan) but grew up in a little town, Puli, a heart of this beautiful island. This place was surrounded by mountains and always nice to enjoy natures. Even through there weren’t much drawing or doodle going on in my childhood but these scenes have remained deep in my mind and becoming the way I see this world.
