Stacey Rozich, Kobe Bryant's Chiseled Cheekbones & How I Became an Insta-Whore

Quick Update:

• Found a place in Orange County that sells gouache paints finally. Aaron Bros on Newport Blvd. Can't wait to test those babies out. I can only hope to achieve an end product as epic as Stacey Rozich, whose work inspired me to try this medium out in the first place (see above). (Finders fee to Chris Steblay.) She is am-ahhhhzing. (Any "Happy Endings" fans out there? I want Penny to be my friend so bad.)

• I've decided that my next painting will be a portrait of the NBA's leading scorer, and forever reigning MVP in my heart, Kobe Bryant! Is he not the most handsome man in the NBA, not to mention one of the greatest to play the game eva'. But that last part is a given. Everyone knows he's got game, but how many take note of his perfectly chiseled cheek bones? Not enough, I tell you. As a tried and true Lakers fan, I plan to pay homage to both his beauty and his braun. It will be a lovely addition to my growing portrait wall. 

• Somehow I managed to accumulate 735 followers on instagram (shameless plug: @amyhoodlum) merely by posting pictures of my outfits. And now I am a monster. A monster who's only goal is to make it to the popular page. Seriously, it's an addiction! I'm not the only one. I have many a friend yearning for the honor (it ain't gonna happen Zach Hendrix). Someone call Dr. Phil. I got a record 102 likes on my pic today and yet STILL did not make it! What does a girl have to do? Anywho, here are some of my ensembles from the past few days. I'll get you Popular Page. *Sinister Laugh* 

Skirt: F21, Top: Old Navy, Hat: UO

Pants: Mossimo, Top: H&M, Leopard Heels: Steve Madden, Bracelet: H&M, Watch: Nixon, Bag: Moda Viajando.

- Amy

Listening to: "That Is What Makes Us Girls" by Lana Del Rey

The Beauty of Illustration, Evgeny Parfenov, and Regina Spektor

[He even nailed the lazy eye. ©Evgeny Parfenov]

INSPIRATION OF THE DAY: Evgeny Parfenov

I was talking to my friend (and now artist rep) Austin James Ranson recently about how I always used to want to illustrate for Rolling Stone or Spin Magazine. They always have the most beautiful illustrations of artists. I've always loved illustration, because unlike fine art (which can tend to be high-brow and inaccessible) illustration is an art form meant to be enjoyed by the masses. I feel like it's one of the few artforms that isn't waiting, stuck in some gallery, to be sought and found, but is rather seeking viewers itself via the marketing, advertising, news, or media utilizing it. It meets people where they're at and brings a bit of beauty into their lives. 


I like the work of this guy Evgeny Parfenov. As you may have guessed from the abundance of consonants and lack of vowels in his name, he is Russian. He's illustrated everyone from Morrissey to Thom York to NAS. Three thumbs way up. Check out his work below. Be inspired. 


- Amy
Listening to: Another Russian- Miss Regina Spektor's "Bartender"


I used to hate Regina Spektor. Mainly because the only song I had heard was "Fidelity" which still sort of drives me nuts with the bird noises she makes. But I love her now! [Sara, if you're reading this, you were right.] She, along with singers like Caleb Followill and Matt Vasquez, remind me of those monkeys at the zoo that like to hear themselves make noises. In the same way that babies do. It's wonderfully shameless! Which is my new motto for 2011: "No Shame." 

[©Evgeny Parfenov]

[©Evgeny Parfenov]

[©Evgeny Parfenov]

[©Evgeny Parfenov]

[©Evgeny Parfenov]

[©Evgeny Parfenov]

[©Evgeny Parfenov]

[©Evgeny Parfenov]

[©Evgeny Parfenov]

[©Evgeny Parfenov]

LA Art Shows, Scott Pommier, and Stacie B. London

I really want to go to this show. It's called Shutter Speed and it's being put on by The Selvedge Yard (one of my all time favorite blogs) and is featuring some rad photos by Scott Pommier, an amazing photographer. It's going to be here in LA, so I really have to try to make it out; leave my Orange County bubble for a night and enjoy our neighbor to the north, L.A. The show will also feature biker babe Stacie B. London. Stacie is an exhibition production coordinator at MOCA in LA where I saw the Dennis Hopper photo exhibit, "Double Standard", earlier this year. She is also the founder of East Side Moto Babes, an all girls moto club. I want to be in a biker club so bad. Cycle Zombies, East Side Moto, The Outlaws, whoever! Maybe I can pull a Hunter S. Thompson/Danny Lyon and just travel around with them and document their vagabond ways seeing as I can't ride a motorcycle. Hopefully someone will let me ride bitch.


SHUTTER SPEED 
Saturday March 26th, 7-11pm
@Secret Service LA
710 Santa Fe Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90021


To get you pumped, here are some of Scott's great photos. You can find more at his website here.

- Amy
Listening to: Social Distortion's "Don't Take Me For Granted"

Inspiration of the Day: Nolan Hall, More Cheesy Metaphors, & A Little Richard Hawley

[ ©Nolan Hall ]

INSPIRATION OF THE DAY: Nolan Hall

Nolan Hall is one of my favorite photographers. He's up there with Kyle Lightner. And like Mr. Lightner, he has an innate ability to capture that Southern California joie de vivre within a 35 mm frame like Jim Croce captured time in a bottle.  Cheesy metaphor. Forgive me. Especially when speaking of such bad ass, gritty photos as these. 

I have yet to meet the man in person, but via social media I've come to know this kid, and I'm pretty sure he might be omnipotent. Nolan Hall is everywhere and knows everyone. The former member of the Japanese Motors photographs famous surfers, skaters, musicians, models and more; He works with the likes of Vans and RVCA; I even found him amidst the pages of my Spin Magazine one time in a two page spread photo with Modest Mouse (see Fig. 1: He's the very tall gentleman in the Captain's hat). Hat's off to you Mr. Hall. You're clearly doin' things right. Check out some of my favorite photos by the OC native below, and don't forget to head over to his blog to further stimulate your eyeballs.

-Amy

Listening to: Richard Hawley's "Tonight The Streets Are Ours"

[ Fig. 1: Nolan Hall in my Spin Magazine with Modest Mouse. Livin' the dream, Nolan. Livin' the dream.]

[ Alex Kopps and boards. ©Nolan Hall ]

[ Alex Knost (former singer of Japanese Motors). ©Nolan Hall ]

[ Black Lips. ©Nolan Hall ]

[ Christian Fletcher. ©Nolan Hall ]

[ CJ Nelson. ©Nolan Hall ]

[The Fuck Yeah Fest. ©Nolan Hall ]

[ Keegan Sauder. ©Nolan Hall ]

[ Matt Archibald. ©Nolan Hall ]

[ Austin Stephens. ©Nolan Hall ]

[ Tyler Warren. ©Nolan Hall ]

Mustachioed Men, Time Warps, and Old Man Crushes

[Fig. 1: via The Sartorialist. ]

5 Things:

1. I hope to have an old man boyfriend like this  [Fig. 1] one day. 
2. He looks like a British Naval officer who's ship got stuck in a time/space warp that teleported and dropped him in the middle of a London rock n' roll club where he asked some punk rock kid to borrow some pants and Doc Martins. Which is a good thing.
3. He also sort of looks like the captain from King Kong, who I also have an old-man crush on.
4. He has great follicle fortitude, much like these rad posters [Fig. 2] I found on one of my favorite design blogs designworklife.com. They were done by AIGA for a show called Full Bleed.
5. He and the posters both remind me of the art and tattoo work of Ricardo Cavolo. He does a lot with carnies and mustachioed men.

Cheers,

Amy

Listening to: Jamie Cullum's "Gran Torino"

[Fig. 2]

Bodacious Babes, Epic Breaks, and Brahs

TODAYS INSPIRATION: Morgan Maassen, Photographer

Morgan Maassen is an Aussie photographer of bodacious babes, epic breaks, brahs and boards. His photography embodies the beauty of the surf culture and it's breathtaking oceanic playground. Did I mention he's only 20? When I think back to four years ago and my body of work, I had nowhere near the impressive portfolio this guy has already amassed. I mean not even close! He's worked for Billabong, Quicksilver, Volcom, Nike, Swell, Verizon, Corona, and the list goes on and on. I am now a proud follower of his blog, humorously named bogustard.blogspot.com. Here are a few of my favorite pics from his blog and website. 

- Amy

Listening to: The Smiths' "How Soon Is Now?"

the smiths - how soon is now..