New: Entice for Men skins @ Nora

August 4th, 2007 at 03:10pm Ryan Darragh

I’ve been looking forward to the release of Sezmra Svarog’s new “Entice for Men” line of skins for some time now.  Some months back–it seems like months–I heard that she was working on new designs that would replace her current line, then being discontinued.  Art cannot be rushed, however, no matter how eager (or impatient) we may be, and time went by.   Then, in June, she posted some preview images on her blog, raising the level of anticipation more than a bit.  To no one’s annoyance and disappointment more than her own, Sezmra then suffered a spate of ISP and other frustrations that delayed her work on several levels.  Ultimately, David and Hunter, the first skins in her new line, were released in mid-July, still coinciding with her third SL birthday.

Sezmra was gracious enough to take some time to talk with me about her new skins for men.  As you can see, she was charming, delightful, and generous with her artistic insights and design approach.  (Details and review after the interview.)

Ryan Darragh: The first skin I bought for myself was one of your earlier BodySkins. I see some similarities between that skin and your new skins that suggest a natural progression in your design work.  How do you see David and Hunter in relation to your earlier work?

Sezmra Svarog: I spent some time in thought about what I wanted to do with this new skin.  I didn’t want to stray from the original style so much so that it would be unrecognizable.  Especially to older customers. I mean, there’s no doubt that there will be differences and that some individuals will dislike it and some won’t…but I know that when I got started in all this skin business, that I had created a sort of style that was “mine”.  It’s important to pay homage to that beginning, to me.  :)  Plus, I do kinda like my own style!  Hehe.

Ryan: David and Hunter have different levels of muscle definition, but both are smooth rather than  “ripped” and neither is highly muscular.  For me, this positions your skins NOT in direct competition with many of the currently popular, more muscular skins in SL.  Also, at least on my avatar, the faces seem sensitive and delicate rather than rugged. Is this intentional or simply the result of doing creative work that appeals to you?

Sezmra: Again, when I set out to finalize what I wanted to do with David and Hunter, I had been taking inventory of many of the skins we see in Second Life…naturally what’s popular will change from time to time.  However, since there are so many men’s skins that are of type “A” or “B”, I decided to be somewhere in the middle, there.  I won’t lie either, frankly, I don’t find “ripped” men to be attractive,  either.  *chuckles*

Ryan: Somewhere in the middle of the range between highly realistic and highly stylized?

Sezmra: Yes, you could say that. I always called it “Soft Realism”, the hints are there, but it isn’t the kind of detail that knocks you down.  So, I set out to be bit different!  But “Nora”, at the same time.

Ryan: Are you concerned about being “too photorealistic”?  The Uncanny Valley effect?  Some skins I’ve seen are VERY photorealistic, to the extent that some friends of mine have found it distancing or off-putting.

Sezmra: Absolutely!  I’m not saying it can’t be done well in some cases, however it boils down to shadows and highlights that can be so realistic, they turn UNrealistic.  It just seems unnatural in some areas.

Ryan: I think most of us have a “line” somewhere, and if the skin crosses it…

Sezmra: Yes, indeed.  It’s fascinating, but it’s there.  …you can get some VERY nice images using those kinds of skins, but when they’re in action, it can be hard to process.

Ryan: What are your general thoughts on men’s appearance in SL?

Sezmra: Overall, I am happy with the way men’s appearances are growing.  We see a lot more non-hulks than we used to, and that’s always welcome.  Not that I’m saying I don’t like seeing the gym-hunks either!

Ryan: I feel that men often get short shrift in the dramatic clothing department.

Sezmra: You’re right, men get the short end in many areas.  It has improved from several years ago, that is true!  It will only get better.  :)  …The fashion industry for men has grown as well and that means more suits, pants, and some very interesting items in addition to that.  So, all in all, I’m happy with the way it’s going today and hope it gets even more interesting in the future.  I spend a lot more time as a guy than one might think, after all. 

Ryan: Strictly for design purposes? Or for fun, enjoyment, the variety?  If you don’t mind my asking.  It’s interesting, even with barriers like gender removed or minimized, we still fall into familiar patterns.

Sezmra: It started out as a design issue, but honestly, I do try to romp around as a male for fun–it gives you a different perspective as well as experience that can help in design.  Familiar patterns ARE hard to get out of, I agree.

Ryan: Do you find it’s more than “physical”?  If that makes sense.  Not just the body–is there a mindset difference?

Sezmra: Oh, yes, definitely.  Some may find that mindset hard to change, but others don’t.  Sometimes it’s harder than others, of course, but when it clicks–yes, you can realy get a feel for the MIND of the other gender.

Ryan: I would imagine that helps you in designing FOR that other gender as well.

Sezmra: Yes! I mean, I’m not male, I really can’t say what men like and don’t from my own experience, can I?  ;)  So it does help me, for sure.

Ryan: Your new skins (like your earlier BodySkins) seem stylized and idealized rather than 100% “realistic” (whatever that means).  Is that a fair understanding of your design approach and intent?  Feel free to disagree. 

Sezmra: Oh, yes!  That’s a fair assessment.  There are many realistic skins and I honestly don’t feel that I need to add to that pool.  I went for something between the two…style and realism.  I guess you can say my art style from the last 15 years influenced my decision.

Ryan: Art you create in real life?

Sezmra: Yes, I’ve been an amateur for a long time.  I was always bored with realism; I felt that if I  were to create art–that I’d want it to be more fantastical and different than what I see every day.  I guess I’m an escapist!  *chuckles*

Ryan: That touches on something I’ve heard from and discussed with a number of SL designers.  Some designers have described their SL design work as an “outlet” or “escape” from RL jobs that don’t satisfy them creatively.  Does that ring true for you?  Or is your experience different?

Sezmra: Oh well, I used my art, many years ago, as a way to escape what-have-you. Second Life is a bit different for me than my art was back then…. It’s more of an opportunity to express myself in ways I didn’t before.  In design, especially…modelling…texture work.

Ryan: The SL environment seems to offer possibilities that don’t necessarily correspond to anything in real life, at least not anything readily accessible to most in real life.

Sezmra: It does offer some very different possibilities. The idea alone, that there are X number of people enjoying one of my skins out there–is kind of like equating to one of my paintings hanging on someone else’s wall.  That’s just a staggering thought.  For me, anyway.  :)  I guess that’s probably why I do what I do!  It makes me happy to know others enjoy it.

Ryan: I think I can understand why.  For skins especially–I think our connection to the skins we select is highly subjective, deeply personal, very real.  I think for most it’s a reflection of something we want others to see in us.

Sezmra: Yes!  It is something deeply rooted in the human psyche.  It’s a part of us…just like breathing.  And in SL, it translates into some very creative freedom–that makes it even more personal.  So, when it comes to skins…wow, talk about being flattered! 

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Sezmra’s new “Entice for Men” skins are initially released in two styles, David and Hunter.  David (shown here) has a slighter build, with less muscle definition, while Hunter (below) has a stronger build, with more muscle definition.  The skins come in a wide range of realistic color tones (in order from lightest to darkest): Cream, Latte (shown here), Champagne, Almond, Cinnamon, Mocha, Truffle, and Espresso (shown below).  Also available is Glow, a pale white Goth tone.  All are tintable using the SL skin sliders.

Here you see Hunter (Latte tone at right, Espresso at left), which you can see is more muscular than David; the facial features and other skin texturing are identical.  As Sezmra and I discussed, neither is heavily muscled or “ripped.”  Both feature smooth, almost velvety texture work–the skin looks soft rather than roughened or worn.  I’m hardly an expert on darker skin tones, having worn very few that weren’t at least fairly light, but the details, shading and highlights on the Espresso skin seem realistic and appealing to me.

Nine different face options are available: Basic (clean shaven), Light Stubble, Stubble, Manliner, Shadow Liner, Gothic Liner, Mature, Aged, and Grizzled.  The portrait pictures featured at the top of this post show, in order, Basic, Stubble, Aged, Manliner, and Gothic liner.

While looking the skins over, I noticed that the fingernails were darker than the surrounding skin on the Latte skin, lighter on the Espresso.  When I ran this by Sezmra, she helpfully responded:  “I generally always leave a heavy transparency on that part of the skin to allow for the use of SL’s nail color slider.  I’m not sure if anyone still uses those sliders–but.  :)  Unfortunately, this can make the nails darker or lighter on fair or dark skins.  The skin color slider also affects this too.  I guess it’s a trade off in terms of functionality, sometimes!”  It’s worth keeping this in mind when trying on a demo, so you can make sure that you can find slider settings that work for you.

I’ve been wearing these skins around for several days now, both to get a real “feel” for the skin and to gauge the reactions of others.  (I try to do this with any skin I’m planning to review, which is why you’ll never see a review from me of a skin the day after its release.)  I really like the look and feel of these skins.  The muscle groups feel balanced and well proportioned, and the skin texture is pleasing and looks touchable.  I wouldn’t call these “something for everyone” skins, but it seems clear that’s not Sezmra’s intent.

Each skin is priced at L$1000, and includes one bald skin and one with scalp stubble.  Selected sets of three skins are discounted t L$2200.  Free demos are available in the shop.

What can we look forward to in the future?  Sezmra says, “I’m happy to be back to offering something for the guys. 

“In the near future, I’ll be working on more facial hair, including beards, moustache, and goatees.  I hope to also provide more eyebrow colors and further on, bodyhair.  Lots of exciting possibilities–Entice for Men won’t be left in the dust!”  In fact, I see that Sezmra has just announced on her blog the first three of 12 different variations she has in the works.  Me, I’m already looking forward to red hair options!

Available at Nora BodySkins & Fashion (Sonata 197, 63, 30).

Disclosure: Seen in World: Yes | Review Copy: Yes | Friends List: No

Notes: On Ryan: "Mess It Up" hair by Lost Thereian (Naughty). "Drift" hair, Classic Jeans - Light Wash and Realistic Boxer Briefs by Jesseaitui Petion (Aitui). Samar Swimshorts by Shai Delacroix (Casa Del Shai).

Entry Filed under: New Items, Nora, Skins