Second Nature

Vincien says, "So, welcome back to FashionCon 5119 or welcome if this is your first visit."
Vincien taps a large blackboard.
Vincien says, "My name is Vincien and this afternoon our lecture is entitled, Second Nature."
Vincien says, "Feel free to grab something to eat from the basket and refreshments are available through the arch and double doors."
Vincien points at a silver-framed archway.
Vincien grins.
Vincien exclaims, "I think that's the housekeeping part over!"
Vincien says, "This afternoon, I'd like to take you on a journey through fashion's love affair with nature."
Vincien says, "Many of Elanthia's great designers derive their inspiration from nature."
Vincien says, "Looking at the world we live in and finding a way to integrate it into a design requires seeing nature from a new and very different perspective."
Vincien says, "There are a number of techniques for creating original and beautiful, nature-inspired designs."
Vincien smiles.
(Vincien thumps his hand firmly on the linden wood lectern.)
Vincien says, "First, stop taking nature for granted. Instead, take a closer look."
Vincien nods once.
Vincien says, "Can I suggest you close your eyes for a moment."
Vincien closes his eyes for a moment.
Vincien says, "It's autumn."
Vincien says, "Imagine walking along a desolate road, winding down a path filled with brightly colored foliage after a heavy rainfall."
Vincien removes a curling russet oak leaf from in his canvas sack.
Vincien tilts his russet oak leaf side to side, making the light play off it.
Vincien says, "Whilst this is beautiful imagery in itself, pay closer attention to the raindrops running off a leaf."
Vincien brushes his fingers lightly against his russet oak leaf.
Vincien says, "A good designer will notice sparkles running off the raindrops, the texture of the water and leaves, the warping effect of the droplets and the unique shapes, patterns and color variations generated by this tiny sliver of nature."
Vincien turns over his russet oak leaf.
Vincien put a curling russet oak leaf in his canvas sack.
Vincien says, "Now, think of a flower. Just about all of us will visualize the most common flower pattern of four or five petals colored pink or purple with a yellow center."
Vincien removes a velvety dark violet windflower from in his canvas sack.
Vincien gazes thoughtfully at his dark violet windflower.
Vincien says, "Making generalizations can be useful at times, but instinct is not always a designer's friend."
Vincien put a velvety dark violet windflower in his canvas sack.
Vincien removes a satiny rose of muted twilight hues from in his canvas sack.
Vincien cups the blossom of the rose in the cradle of his hands and brings it to his face to inhale deeply of its scent.
Vincien says, "Pick something from nature, and then look at what more it has to offer."
Vincien caresses his fingertips over the face of his rose while gazing thoughtfully into the heart of its petals.
Vincien says, "Green is beautiful, but nature offers so much more."
(Vincien thumps his hand on the linden wood lectern again.)
Vincien says, "Stop looking at trees, flowers and other foliage, and turn instead to natural subjects that are unrelated to plant life."
Vincien says, "Too many designs focus on foliage of some kind."
Vincien says, "Considering other parts of nature is a great way to come up with original yet still nature-inspired designs."
Vincien put a satiny rose of muted twilight hues in his canvas sack.
Vincien removes a smooth round and flat stone from in his canvas sack.
Vincien raises his round and flat stone skyward!
Vincien exclaims, "Rock formations can be stunning!"
Vincien rubs a smooth round and flat stone in his hand.
Vincien says, "... but animal traits can also be inspiring."
Vincien put a smooth round and flat stone in his canvas sack.
Vincien removes a length of lamb's wool from in his canvas sack.
Vincien removes some rabbit fur from in his canvas sack.
Vincien glances between a length of lamb's wool and some rabbit fur.
Vincien brushes his fingers lightly against his lamb's wool.
Vincien says, "Again, look at texture, shape, patterns and more. Put down that leaf."
Vincien nods.
Vincien put a length of lamb's wool in his canvas sack.
Vincien put some rabbit fur in his canvas sack.
Vincien says, "Viewing nature from unusual or different perspectives can help us focus on aspects we might otherwise miss and produce more original and visually interesting results."
Vincien removes some pine needles from in his canvas sack.
Vincien removes a silvery grey birch pinecone from in his canvas sack.
Vincien glances between some pine needles and a silvery grey birch pinecone.
Vincien says, "We can draw inspiration from the intricate details of branches, leaves and tall tree trunks."
Vincien says, "The possibilities are endless when changing perspective, and the technique is a great way to add originality and flair to any design." Vincien put a silvery grey birch pinecone in his canvas sack.
Vincien put some pine needles in his canvas sack.
Vincien removes a tendril of dark green ivy from in his canvas sack.
Vincien says, "Think of nature in motion."
Vincien turns over his dark green ivy.
Vincien says, "Crawling and climbing."
Vincien put a tendril of dark green ivy in his canvas sack.
Vincien removes a dried grass seedhead from in his canvas sack.
Vincien asks, "Which is more interesting, a dandelion or a dandelion blowing in the wind?"
Vincien asks, "Grass growing in a field or grass seeds on a gentle breeze?"
Vincien put a dried grass seedhead in his canvas sack.
Vincien says, "Motion can make nature surprisingly more interesting. If you're missing a spark of inspiration, consider adding the element of motion."
Vincien removes a bright red verlok feather from in his canvas sack.
Vincien gazes thoughtfully at his verlok feather.
Vincien put a bright red verlok feather in his canvas sack.
Vincien says, "Flowers don't have to be pink and pretty ... and leaves don't have to be green."
Vincien shakes his head.
Vincien removes a deep purple spiky milk thistle from in his canvas sack.
Vincien gazes thoughtfully at his spiky milk thistle.
Vincien put a deep purple spiky milk thistle in his canvas sack.
Vincien removes a radiant ghostly blue leaf from in his canvas sack.
Vincien exclaims, "Blue!"
Vincien asks, "As designers, we have total freedom to create, so why not take risks?"
Vincien put a radiant ghostly blue leaf in his canvas sack.
Vincien removes a curling russet oak leaf from in his canvas sack.
Vincien exclaims, "Orange!"
Vincien put a curling russet oak leaf in his canvas sack.
Vincien removes a pale yellow maple leaf from in his canvas sack.
Vincien exclaims, "Yellow!"
Vincien put a pale yellow maple leaf in his canvas sack.
Vincien removes a thin-veined dark oak leaf from in his canvas sack.
Vincien exclaims, "Green!"
Vincien put a thin-veined dark oak leaf in his canvas sack.
Vincien says, "Consider creating more abstract designs based on elements found in nature."
Vincien says, "Use those elements to work out shape and texture, but then start from a blank canvas when considering color."
Vincien says, "A peacock feather design shouldn't be limited to the shimmery greens and blues of the actual birds."
Vincien shakes his head.
Vincien says, "The main focus of a design doesn't have to be an object in nature: it could be a texture."
Vincien rummages through a large green canvas sack, pausing once in a while and then quickly resuming the search.
Vincien removes some willow bark from in his canvas sack.
Vincien says, "Try using wood, leather, foliage or even a mixture to anchor one of your designs."
Vincien removes a piece of verdant green moss from in his canvas sack.
Vincien says, "Focusing on shapes in nature can also help designer rethink what they see."
Vincien scratches idly at the bark in his hand.
Vincien pokes his finger at a piece of verdant green moss.
Vincien says, "Because nature has so many moods, we designers should use more than one of them."
Vincien says, "We generally fall back on moods in nature that evoke carefree and happy emotions."
Vincien put some willow bark in his canvas sack.
Vincien put a piece of verdant green moss in his canvas sack.
Vincien asks, "But what about wild animals, gloomy rainy days or even death and decay?"
Vincien leans against an arboreal linden wood lectern.
Vincien appears lost in thought.
Vincien removes a pale white calla lily from in his canvas sack.
Vincien momentarily glances at his white calla lily.
Vincien says, "To put this technique into action, decide on the emotion that your design should evoke and then use the colors, textures and icons from nature that best represent that mood."
Breathing deeply, Vincien gazes into the depths of his white calla lily and seems to get lost in its petals.
Vincien gives a sigh of sadness.
Vincien put a pale white calla lily in his canvas sack.
Vincien asks, "What makes you happy?"
Vincien says, "Ask yourself that before you create."
Vincien says, "Many cultures integrate nature into their art, symbols and traditions."
Vincien says, "For example, Tyesteron armorers employ an ancient technique to craft intricate lamellar armor that mimic the mottled patterns of tortoiseshell."
Vincien says, "When the erithi embroider or adorn clothing, they do so most often with scenes of natural wonder and beauty."
Vincien says, "Flora and serene fauna are most common."
Vincien says, "Look for the same sort of inspiration in your own design work."
Vincien says, "Whether the place you love most is close to home or across the world, it is sure to elicit strong emotions in you that you can draw on for ideas."
Vincien says, "Use elements in nature to create a design that evokes the emotions you associate with that familiar place."
Vincien removes an empty oyster shell from in his canvas sack.
Vincien gazes thoughtfully at his oyster shell.
Vincien says, "A fond memory perhaps."
Vincien removes a niveous crystalline snowflake from in his canvas sack.
Vincien glances between an empty oyster shell and a niveous crystalline snowflake.
Vincien put an empty oyster shell in his canvas sack.
Vincien put a niveous crystalline snowflake in his canvas sack.
Vincien says, "So let fall be about going back to nature."
Vincien says, "Back to things that inspire you and make you happy."
Vincien says, "That inspire creativity in both yourself and others."
Vincien says, "Because, Mother Nature never looked more beautiful."
Vincien says, "Thank you."
Vincien nods once.