Emmen Jude Donnelly

EMMEN

One of the most brilliant people I have had the pleasure to befriend. A muse: beautiful genuine sexy crazy BRAIN-STORM loving open stunning hyper extraordinary strong affectionate generous crafty super human ectomorphic wild domestic careful expressive my twin individual independent hilarious cat! Here's to you.

Dr. Sketchy's: The Wizard of Oz

Oh oh ooohhh! Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School Dublin Branch, headed by the amazin' Scarlett Nymph is hosting a Wizard of Oz themed Sketchy's at which I shall be modeling. I absolutely adore this theme and I'm really looking forward to creating my own version of Dorothy or indeed the Wizard himself!

http://www.drsketchysdublin.com/

The last times I modeled for Dr. Sketchy's - see here, here and here

One of my favourite performers Dickie Beau deconstructs Judy Garland:

PaperDolls in the Stripe!

Remember The Stripe photoshoot I mentioned in my last PaperDolls process blog? Well here is the published result (available for free in Dublin city). We were REALLY looking forward to seeing the results and wow - they are awesome! Donegal man and photographer Malcolm Mc Gettigan did a super job. We hope to get copies of these photos as the more flexible we get, the better the photos get! Hah! And we are definitely more flexible than way back when the lovely Will Eames worked his magic for our promo shot - the results of which are still awesome. Speaking of - we have blown up some of those images by the young Will Eames and started (slowly) plastering them around town. Look out for my favourites (below)! While I'm scanning stuff, might as well scan a few a these things too. These are bits of my favourites (scanner aint big enough so you'll just have to go look for the real thang). (Also, just noticing my hair is longer...)

ELAINE DOLL the wonderful:

And the two knicks, myself EMILY and KAREN DOLL (there are two pairs of pants in the original - ghah! I've got the mad eye in this one, awesome):

Can't leave out our NIAMH DOLL and the fish-eye Karen Doll again:

Wow this is an adventure.

Sunday Business Post, September 4th 2011

Not a bad couple of photos for what felt like the slowest photoshoot EVER! Not sure where the "We aim to tease" message came from, but the article is a good one. Journalist Joanne Hayden gave us some good press, evening tripping along to the Burlesque and Cabaret Social Club on the 19th where I was performing the Sugar Club's first ever aerial act! J. Hayden writes of my act:

At the Burlesque and Cabaret Social Club, she performs a solo piece on an aerial rope, an act striking for it's beauty, simplicity and strength.

OOO! Good review.

P.S. Only NINE DAYS 'till 'Paperdolls' at ABSOLUT Fringe!

Buy your tickets here darlings!:

http://www.fringefest.com/event/paperdolls

Ross Waldron: Hoop-skirt space ship

Photo and post production: Ross Waldron

ABSOLUTE ADORATION IN ZERO GRAVITY.

Captured backstage (in zero gravity) at

Bella A Go Go's Steampunk show,

Ross and I both agreed, this shot should be in outer-space.

And so, it shall be.

Impromptu photoshoot: Kyrstin Healy

There have been two promotional opportunities sent my way via the ABSOLUT Fringe offices recently, which have required head shots - no funny stuff, no costumes, just little ol' me. No glitz, no glamour, just straight up - that's her. I find it endlessly humourous that in the vast galleries of my face and figure which exist, of all the photographers I have worked with, of all the photoshoots I've done of myself, I have not ONE straight forward head shot, no costumes, no madness, no 'just' Emily. 'Yes', I thought when the first opportunity came about, 'I have millions of good photos just waiting for a printed home', sending on a reel of colourful, action shots and funny poses. 'Thanks Emily pics are great' Conleth said, 'but do you have any of you in your everyday clothes?'...

Everyday clothes?

No believe it or not, I don't.

Only upside down, swinging from trees, painted with tattoos, slicing a pair of stripy nylons off, dumping a box of Special K over my head or that one of me floating in space - but I can't say I'm wearing everyday clothes in any of those.

I quickly passed that particular promo op onto another PaperDoll, but when the problem presented itself a second time, I knew I needed to call an emergency impromptu photoshoot and get some good, wholesome, head and shoulders Emmo shots for just such occasions. So I called on Kyrstin Healy, a photographer I have been meaning to shoot with for a good while now and thankfully she was all for it. We got the portraits done quickly, but it was during the uploading process from camera to computer that things started to go a little technologically awry...

Photo: Kyrstin Healy

I guess my will for bizarre, ridiculous and generally more interesting visual imagery has begun influencing even the hardware of my environment! Excellent. But still, if you want to see the successful head and shoulders, plain ol' Emmo photo that Kyrstin and myself created this morning, keep an eye out for the Irish Indo's A Question of Culture column in the coming weeks where you can read the answers to those questions I'm sure you've always wanted to ask me:

Favourite aerialist/acrobatic performer? (living or dead). Why?
The best stage production (acrobatic or otherwise) you've ever seen? Why?
Craziest experience so far while performing?
Favourite band? Why?
Best concert/gig you've ever seen? Why?
Your desert island discs and why them?
Favourite book? Why?
Last book you read and loved? Why?
The book you could never make it through? Why?
Favourite film? Why?
Last film you saw and loved? Why?
Last film you saw and hated? Why?
Favourite TV show? Why?
Favourite radio show or presenter. Why?
Favourite website? Why?
Favourite city/country? Why?
Favourite food/restaurant. Why?
Wine or beer?
Cultural blindspot?

PaperDolls Press photos by Leon Farrell

PaperDolls were lucky enough to be invited for a photocall to launch ABSOLUT Fringe 2011 at the Project Arts Centre in early July. As a result, we were featured on the cover of Metro magazine, inside the Irish Times and the Irish Independent. Pretty cool. Here are some of the press images which were taken by Leon Farrell.

Outside Project Arts Centre:

With Director of ABSOLUT Fringe, Roise Goan:

Donegal entertainment market oversaturated by Dublin imposter...

Front of the Donegal News! Fame at last.

More from the launch of Earagail Arts Festival, featured on the Donegal News website. I believe the photographer is Declan Doherty who was a nice chap who wondered how long it took me to 'get into my gear' and wanted me to kiss the camera. Some nice shots Declan! I'm as bright as a beacon!

I should always have a trio of jesters with me. It's a good look. What fun!
And with the director of Earagail Arts Festival, Paul Brown. Good job!

Earagail Dollybird

Helping to launch the Earagail Arts Festival on Saturday outside An Grianán Theatre in Letterkenny. Dolly birds and some very tall men, rrrar!

9th-24th 2011. Two weeks of music, theatre, visual arts, film, literature, circus and carnival at Donegals largest arts festival.

http://www.eaf.ie/

PaperDoll: First Aerial Photoshoot

Impromptu photoshoot with Jym Daly of Fidget Feet, Graphics by Niamh Creely, An Grianan Theatre, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal.

Funny time I'm having here in Letterkenny. A couple of weeks ago I traveled all the way from Dublin to An Grianan for the Crash Cabaret, made a whole ton of friends and was invited back to launch the Earagail Arts Festival yesterday, Donegal's largest annual festival. Conveniently, I was already in Letterkenny as I am taking part in the intensive two week Aerial Dance Forum hosted by Fidget Feet Aerial Dance Company. The course is amazing: 9.30 - 20.30 each day, conditioning and stretching, fabric technique, counter-weight, fabric creative lab, aerial hoop and more conditioning. Next week is aerial yoga, fabric technique and my favourite, corde lisse technique and a creative lab. Perfect timing for our aerial show at Body and Soul!

I looked so pretty after the walkabout launch that I couldn't resist wrangling Jym Daly into taking some aerial and corset photographs - never a wasted opportunity for an impromptu photoshoot! Perfect combination of the style we are creating for 'The Eccentric Ladies of the Woods' at Ballinlough Castle and our aerial heft! A little help from Niamh Creely with the Graphics and I absolutely adore the result. Iconic, don't you think? Perfect for a budding performance company.

Rococo: an eye patch.

I don't want the massive stage in An Grianan Theatre to go to waste, so I'm hurriedly composing a new number for Friday night's show... through one eye. This morning I had a nasty entanglement with a freshly sharpened eye-liner pencil and, casting caution to the wind, I forged ahead with the day's aerial training only for the eye-skratchin' to gradually get worse and worse. Finally, I found myself stumbling to my GP, begging the hesitant receptionist to see the doctor while clutching at my eye screaming: "WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO!!!!!??????". Got some eye drops and nifty patches and I'm feeling hopeful that the show can go on as it must! Further, thanks to the help of some of my friends, it shall be very stylish indeed... with optional dodgy eye patch. Think hoop skirts and chocolate with some feather fans thrown in for good measure.

I trust I'm on the mend when I can take posy photos of myself in a wig like this and a dodgy eye patch and still feel relatively positive about my near future.

P.S. BEST POSTER EVER.

Griff pics: Poseur

Some more really nice portraits taken by Peter Griffin of Griff pics in the ever grimier changing room at the Good Bits, Store St. We plan on taking a few photos of this nature each time both of us wind up in the joint, since the success of the first portrait he took of me there - a personal favourite. These ones remind me of film stills or movie stars. Nice.

Steven Doyle Photography Exhibition

Steven Doyle, mentioned previously, is opening an exhibition on Monday the 2nd May, from 7.30pm at the Front Lounge, Parliament Street, Dublin. Steven has a fondness for fake eyelashes and gender bending, the colourful and the colourfully odd. I am thrilled to be included in this collection, although I do not know which image he has picked for display. Other's include Ireland drag legends Panti Bliss, Veda and Bunny, the gorgeous aerialist Arian Levanael, other bodies and civilians, all considered under the banner of 'Up Close and Personal'. I expect it will be a visual insight into the activities and lives of some interesting Dublin (and elsewhere) peeple.

View his website here.

For a few more of his pictures of me, here.

Portrait: Griff Pics

Portrait taken by Peter Griffin backstage at the Good Bits after the Tank madness of Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School.

http://griffpics.com/

What Peter wrote about this photo on his blog:

“Would you mind not using the flash…?” words that could invoke blind panic in a photographer, especially me. You see, ever since I started taking photos of people a couple of years back I’ve almost always relied on some kind of flash to light the scene or the model. Whether it’s a studio or location shoot I’ve gotten used to having some kind of flash to help me.

So when Emily Aoibheann uttered those very words I did have a momentary weakness as I realised I was going to have to think differently.

The location was a small dark dressing room in Dublin venueThe good Bits where Emily had just finished a sting modelling as ‘Tank Girl’ for Dr. Sketchy’s Dublin. So the only light I had was a table lamp off to the right of the camera. Luckily I had a 50mm f/1.8 lens on the camera!

I love this shot, it’s one of my favourite portraits that I’ve shot so far. Its very simple, a natural, easy shot with a beautiful model. This ‘no flash’ thing? Well maybe it’s not a bad idea after all!

Black Rabbit Cabaret/ Dr. Sketchy's

Having already shared a stage with the captivating Joe Black, I am truly delighted to be part of the Black Rabbit Cabaret taking place in Dublin next Saturday. Not only do I get to consort with the UK royals of cabaret and theatre, but I also get to share the spotlight with one of my favourite ever cabaret artistes, Mr. Ryan Styles - his website is worth a gander. I adore him. So, post-nuclear tank loving heroine one week, 1930s damsel with fans the next. This is a show not to be missed.

Follow us down the Rabbit hole
Dr. Sketchy's Anti Art School Dublin at The Black Rabbit Cabaret

On 12th March 2011: Dr. Sketchy's Dublin will be staying out late, we've got a date.. with The Black Rabbit Cabaret and we're very excited. Grown up glamour and decadence, over two stages and with international acts to inspire and entertain and we want you to join us!

On Saturday night, The Good Bits, Store Street is the place to be - where rules can be broken and no one will tell. For one night only, this infamous club will transfer you to the immoral nightlife of the Prohibition offering you weird and wonderful entertainment, cocktails, champagne and cabaret, spinning crazily from a glamorous location deep in the underground night life of Dublin.

Starring:

• Incorrigible and unrestrained performances from The Lipsinkers: Featuring Ryan Styles, Blanche du Bois, Lisa Lee, John Sizzle and Richardette
• The delectable and dangerous Miss Roxy Velvet
• The Award Winning cast of The Fitzrovia Radio Hour presenting “Beware of the Dark!” – a genuine gothic horror story
• Dr. Sketchy's Anti Art School Dublin - Cabaret Life Drawing Hosted by Mishell Noir with model Blackbird

Hosted by the enigmatic Black Rabbit himself: Mister Joe Black

And spinning the discs:

The infamous Gay Bingo’s John Sizzle, & Richardette from the wonderous London clubs Radio Egypt and 333, playing those tunes you know it’s so wrong to love...
Dublin’s own DJ KXB & DJ Seán John!

Get dolled up, honey - dance through the night at the wildest gin joint with the notorious and the strange...

Tickets available now from Tickets.ie

Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School: Tank Girl and Booga

Some samples of the sketching skills demonstrated at last Saturday's Dr. Sketchy's Tank Girl and her Kangaroo-human-hybrid boyfriend special sessún. The first image by Jonathan Byrne and the water colour by Aine Macken are my personal favourites. There were plenty more on the day, but not all of them have been digitalized. I sometimes find myself hating the plethora of photography, photographs and documentation technology in my environment; the illustrations make for a refreshing change, although I know for a fact that photographer Griff took some stunning photographs of the event. I was lamenting the transient 1990s dyke stylings I was rocking that day and Griff obliged me with some beautiful backstage portraits for the record. I'm really looking forward to seeing those images again.

I will be posing at the next Dr. Sketchy's event, The Black Rabbit Cabaret on Saturday March 12th.

Jonathan Byrne:

Andrew Keane:

Aine Macken:

Sarah Louise: