Tank Hill

Do you have that one place where you go to think? Where you escape from everything and everyone? For me, it's sometimes/usually Tank Hill. It's right down the street from my house and this beautiful view of the city that no one really knows about (or at least not that many people go to it esp in comparison to the buses of asian people at Twin peaks). Yes, it's not as impressive as Twin Peaks just up the hill, but it's more intimate. You're a little bit closer to things, right next to houses, on a hill with grass, trees, rocks, and sometimes a couch--I'm not kidding, there was a couch there sitting on the hill one day. It's a great place to go, so if you guys are ever looking for a beautiful view of the city, stop short of Twin Peaks and head over to Tank Hill.

I hit my shin on a rock...it hurt. I'm sure you can tell that from my expression.

Outfit: Denim Jacket, Floral Dress: Urban, Shoes: Steve madden, Hat: Aritzia

Sarah's outfit: Top: Kooples, Headband: AA, Skirt: AA, Shoes: Urban

Photo Cred: Sanam

Young Artists: Heidi Quach

University High School! (That's my HS)

Oh, the infamous RISD App Bike.

I'm in love with this series she did during an independent study this past fall. A wonderful marriage of abstraction and highly detailed realism.

Heidi Quach is a senior at San Francisco University High School and will be attending USC in the fall. I've had the pleasure of being in two art classes with Heidi and I honestly love her work. This past year, she's been working on Independent studies in painting.

Why did you start doing painting/drawing?

My parents recognized that I enjoyed all the arts and crafts projects at school, so they started enrolling me in weekend and summer art classes since I was 5 and I've never been able to stop since then.

How do you choose your subjects?

Usually it's just the things I see or have seen around me that I am interested in. Even if I'm drawing/painting something abstract or imaginary, I am always inspired by something real.

How has your style changed? What do you think has influenced your work style?

All of my paintings/drawings used to be realistic because I guess I was classically trained, but now I'm moving towards incorporating more abstract and mixed media elements into my work. It is becoming more graphic designy.

Who is your favorite artist?

Wayne Thiebaud. He paints fooodd.

What's your favorite piece of art?

Monet's water lily paintings.

Tell us about a current piece your working on.

I'm currently in ceramics 1. We're doing a word project where create a font that reflects the meaning.

If you could learn another art form, which one would you look into?

Architecture sounds cool.

What do you want to do when you grow up?

I'm majoring in "philosophy and law," but I'm not really sure yet. I definitely want to figure out a way to connect it back to art.

Describe your style.

I'd say comfort matters a lot to me, but still kind of cute/girly. A quiz I took a while ago said casual chic or something like that, I think that's accurate.

Who are your favorite brands/designers?

Alice + Olivia, Madewell which is a spinoff of JCrew, Free People, Abercrombie.

A self-portrait in charcoal done her freshman year

What color would your shadow be? Hot pink (my favorite color)

The Big 1-8 on Lucky 13.

Hey you guys!

Guess what happened today? I turned 18. WHAT!??! Ridiculous. Omg! Amazing! Right? K, not really. It was a tuesday, which just made the entire thing anti-climactic. Last year, I think it was on a Monday, which you might think is worst, but I was on break, in NICE last year. Yes, Nice France. God that was so much better than this. It was so much fun! IT WAS VACATION! Instead, I've just gotten home from an anti-climactic dinner to be greeted by a huge pile of homework. GAH! Okokok, I'll get over it. I'll manage. Breathe....OH AND I GOT A NEW BEAUTIFUL CAMERA FOR MY BIRTHDAY! YEY! I'll share it with you later.

On a completely different note....thank you so much for all your support! I really appreciate all of your comments and visits etc. My amount of comments, visits, and even followers have increased gradually but I would LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE to have 50 followers by my graduation. Just to have a goal. SOOOO 50 followers by June 5! So, if you like my blog just hit that button on the top of the screen that says "Follow" and tell your friends or whatever. THANKS THANKS THANKS!

I found this fashion shoot on Fashionising.com

Polina Barbasova: Elle Norway March 2010

I love the balloons everywhere! I wish I could really have that many balloons. Hehe.

Le Garage

the other weekend, me and my friend Sanam went over to Marin to have brunch with our Friend Sarah at this lovely french resto called Le Garage. It was quite lovely, right in front of the water with all the boats. We got the Pain Perdu and the Eggs Benedict. It was yummy. The main focus on conversation, besides catching up, was college. Since it's April its also college acceptance (or not acceptance) period, and it's been pretty stressful. During brunch, I looked up Colgate University since I just got my letter. Preppy and likes ice cream? I'll update you on more college stuff as the month goes on. After brunch, we went around the beach and took some pictures. Turns out I'm a big scary cat and can't even climb up the railing.

If only I was courageous enough to get a sick picture up on that....damn my fear...

Outfit: Skirt: AA, Cardigan: Bloomingdales, Shirt: Forever21, Heart Tights: AA, Purse: Vintage Gucci.

Photo Cred: Sanam and her beautiful camera.

A Little Sketch of...Not So Naked

Channelle (known as Coco) and Amanda are the amazing blogging duo behind the Australian blog Not So Naked out of Adelaide. I found them a couple months ago and fell in love with their clothes, dreamy pictures, party and concert events, etc. Check out their blog and their looks on their lookbooks! Amanda's Lookbook and Coco's Lookbook.

Sketch I did of Coco + Amanda from Not So Naked

How do you know each other?Coco: Amanda stayed at my house when she was on holiday here in 2003 (I think!) when she was a friend of some friends. I was 12, she was 15. She moved over here from Malaysia a few years later and happened to go to the same church, lucky for us!

Why did you start blogging? Did you originally start blogging together?

Amanda: I started fashion blogging April 2009. Initially Coco had her own blog but then she stopped blogging so I asked her if she wanted to join me on my new blog. So she said yes and now it's OUR blog!

What do you think you gain from having a partnership in a blog?A: I think we both have different ways of writing and presenting our thoughts. So there is a broad spectrum when it comes to our blog content. We both have different styles so it's good to have someone with a different perspective of things. That I must say is a definite gain!

C: I definitely take heaps of inspiration from what Amanda posts. Her photography and styling encourage me to improve my own content. I wouldn't enjoy it nearly as much if I was doing it by myself.

What are some of the perks of blogging?C: I love being able to meet people who share our interests, especially here in Adelaide. I've also found that blogging regularly has really improved my photography skills.

A: I like getting feedback on what we post about and also like Coco said, meeting other people who share the same interest as us. Another thing is, I've been challenging myself to try to think of different ways to style the clothes I usually wear. I love that I'm working my creative juices. Blogging helps me be creative!
You both clearly have amazing style, where do you guys shop?C: Op shops! Vintage is absolutely the way to go - it's environmentally friendly, unique and cheap. On the high street, I can't go past Sportsgirl for cheap fixes though.

A: There isn't really a specific store I go to, but I do like Topshop and Sportsgirl. I do a lot of op shopping (great bargains!) as well as online shopping (Malaysian blog shops and eBay).

What do you think is your greatest style inspiration?C: The Sartorialist.

A: Other bloggers.
Is there a current line that you just wish you could make your wardrobe? A celebrity’s closet you wish you could make your own?C: Alexa Chung. She can't step a foot wrong.

A: Alexander Wang. I want Taylor Momsen's wardrobe!
Besides fashion, what are you two interested in?C: Pretty things. For me that usually means photographs, books, beaches, and travel.

A: Music and singing.

What’s your occupation? When you were younger, did you plan on doing something in fashion?
C: I'm a journalism student, and I do freelance writing and photography. I've been writing ever since I can remember, but childhood friends will freely attest that fashion was certainly not something anybody could have foreseen for me!
A: Honours year Chemical Engineering student. I never planned on going into fashion, but now I'm slightly leaning over to maybe? It's kinda hard when I have no art background whatsoever. I've been a Maths and Science student all my life!

What are your future goals? Do they involve fashion?
C: I'm pursuing photography pretty seriously, and I would love to be involved in fashion photography at some point. I'd love to take my writing further, and I'm working on a book about third-world poverty at the moment.

A: Mainly I want to be a business analyst or a business/engineering consultant. But if that doesn't work out, I would like to own a boutique as well as be a stylist

Side note: Favorite band?
C: On high rotation at the moment are the Bloody Beetroots, The XX, Meaghan Smith and Frank Sinatra. I listen to pretty much everything.

A: Anberlin
And to finish it off… If your shadow had a color, what color would it be?
C: It would correspond to the colour of my nails for the day.

A: It would be orangey red in the summer and baby blue in the winter.

Blue Wall

Serious/Bitch

Rachel! Stop laughing and look at the camera!

My friend Sanam came to visit me from DC during her spring break. We went to one of my friends little party and on the way took some pictures in front of this blue wall (By Sarah).

Outfit: Leather Jacket: H&M, Top: Ella Moss, Jeans: Urban

Side note. At the party, these little sophomore were trying to hit on me and my friends. After, a friend of mine told me that those guys hated us for being mean to them, for shutting them down. What do you guys find is the best way to turn someone down? I end up putting a sarcastic, slightly bitchy front up to get rid of pesks but I wonder, how do you guys manage to get out of that sticky situation without looking like a bitch?

Young Artists: Vera Gould

Vera is a senior at University High School. She is currently 17 years old and will be a freshman at Williams next year (as of now). She plans on studying both chemistry and visual arts--perhaps as a double major, and hopes to continue her work in art in her future.

Why did you start doing painting/drawing?

I started drawing as soon as i leaned to hold a marker. I started painting when i was 10.

How do you choose your subjects?

I paint whatever I think is beautiful/cool/interesting.

How has your style changed? What do you think has influenced your work style?

My style used to be more cartoony. Last year I moved into more realistic painting (flowers, plants, landscapes, etc). Then this year I've been into more abstract graphic design.

Who is your favorite artist? Your favorite piece?

My favorite artist is van gogh. My favorite piece is starry night.

Tell us about what you're currently working on.

I'm currently working on a series of 12 paintings about science topics, They all depict infinite cyclical movements or patterns of some kind (sine waves, swinging pendulums, the earth's magnetic field, an electrocardiogram) in a colorful and graphic way.

If you could learn another art form, which one would you look into?

I've always wanted to do sculpture, so I would look into ceramics.

Describe your style.

My style is pretty artsy. I like to make, or at least alter a lot of my clothes. I usually hand-make my jewelry and turn baggy t-shirts into cute dresses and such. My clothes are colorful, but I like them to match. I love big complicated earrings and intense eye makeup, but I usually keep the rest simple.

Who are your favorite brands/designers?

I don't really have a favorite brand or designer because I like to buy clothes as cheap as possible, so they come from miscellaneous places.

What color would your shadow be?

Magenta. But that's weird color for a shadow.