Monday, December 24, 2007

Where is Rudolph? Where is Blitzen, baby?


I created this stop motion video with my play-doh Joey that I made a few months back. I know this is probably his second appearance on my blog, but I love him. He just sits on my studio desk, hanging out with play-doh me (see the one-year anniversary post somewhere below). I know this is not the greatest stop motion as it is my second one. The first one was a quick screen test of Joey walking to "hey-ho let's go!". This is a small taste of what's to come on Youngest Indie. It hasn't been easy. I don't have all the time in the world, but I will try to push myself to create new things. Well, I hope you like the video and have a very merry Christmas and happy new year! Please come back to check out my blog soon! Thanks!

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

I should stop being so cynical 'cause we're hotter when we don't give a damn

Saturday around noon, we hit up the Morphine Generation sample sale. There was a MG skirt I've been obsessing about for several months. I would even doodle sketches of myself wearing this skirt. Yeah, I know, but I do that a lot. Anyways, to my delight, I got the skirt at the sample sale! I got a few other gorgeous pieces. Erik was there, working. He's so very crush-worthy.

Later that evening was the opening reception for Liz McGrath's solo show at the Billy Shire Fine Arts gallery. I'm a huge fan of hers, so I was very excited about it. She's so cool and most importantly, so inpsiring to me. I loved her black felt reindeers. Please go check it out. Her work is amazing and it'll really blow your mind. Also saw her 3-D music video. That was totally cute. Love her. The Heartbreaker rockabilly frog was my favorite.






Monday night, went to the Hotel Cafe. As many of you know, Butch Walker's house was completely destroyed by the Malibu fire recently. He lost everything. All of his equipment, his recordings, etc. So the show was for that. He wanted to start by paying back his friends that he borrowed equipment from and was also lost in the fire. I like Butch Walker, so I was so sad when I heard the news. Anyways, so right when I got there Butch was hanging out outside talking to someone. During the acoustic show, he had special guests such as Jared (The Honorary Title) and Pink. But what I loved most was Butch playing piano and singing. You can hear the rain outside, cars going by on Cahuenga. Hotel Cafe has a warm atmosphere. It was really nice, rainy Hollywood outside, and lots of great people hanging out inside.

Friday, December 14, 2007

I turn my camera on


My old camera died last week of October. In desperate need of a new camera to shoot The Hives early November, I just ended up buying an Olympus. This camera just didn't work for me. All my pictures came out blurry. I was really upset. Needless to say, I had to return it. Then I realized, my old camera must've been sad that I just moved on so easily. So here is a post dedicated to my old Canon camera.

Dear Digital Elph S500,
Thanks so much for taking so many great pictures. Where would I be without you? You were there for me at all the right times. Your pictures never came out blurry. No matter how crazy some rock shows were, I endured the crowds by concentrating on taking the perfect shots. I guess it was time for you to go, since I took over 100 pictures per show, or occasion. Here are some of the people you have captured digitally: Steve Jones, Chris Robinson, Slash, Jet, Ok Go, All American Rejects, The Horrors, The Fratellis, CSS, The Lashes, Head Automatica, Shepard Fairey, Rooney, Living Things, Razorlight, and many many more. I promise to pay tribute to you if I ever get a chance to publish a photo book. Thanks again for everything. Last week, I bought your younger sibling, another Canon, and I promise to take good care of it and take many many more awesome pictures.

On another note: On Sunday....
me: "Mom, Spoon is opening for the Kroq Christmas Concert today! Spoon! You know, Spoon!"
mom: "What about fork?"

Thursday, December 06, 2007

We'll be the same tomorrow, 'cause we all been painted by numbers






Absolut Fake. Like, literally fake.



I thought this was beautiful. Art by Si Scott.


My favorite.

Last night I went to the Art in Motion event at the A+D Museum. It was presented by GenArt and Nokia. During the event, there were three teams who were filming a short right there in the midst of it all. So, all the people at the art show were, in a way, extras for their film. The NokiaNSeries was really cool. I liked all the prints they had up. Especially because I was already familiar with most of the artists shown: Terence Koh, Floria Sigismondi, Jeremy Kost, Andrew W.K. and more. The Absolut Fake piece were pictures of people dressed up as famous people. So, literally fake. Isn't it great? The Terence Koh piece was really interesting. The DJ was really good. I probably would've danced if I was drunk. Free drinks, free hor douvres. Good crowd. It was fun and inspiring.

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

The very thought of you tearing my walls apart


Last year, I did the graphic design for The Lashes. You can now buy my t-shirt online! Go to http://www.myspace.com/lashesmerch! Only XS and S sizes left, unisex American Apparel tee. The story behind this is that it was created on Photoshop using all of the photos I took during their Spaceland residency back in March of 2006.

Sunday, November 25, 2007

But by Monday morning, my alarm clock knows how this story goes


There's something I do every Thanksgiving weekend. It's my tradition to clean. Throw away all the old things I have no space for anymore, and convince myself that I don't need or want them. Organize and clean everything so I can have space and clarity in my head to start new projects. But, among the many things I threw away, the above were all trashed as well. They are illustrations I did in the late 90s. All before college. I've grown as an artist and as a designer, that I just felt I didn't need these anymore. I literally have no space. Then I get mad that I don't have more space. But then I try to let myself down gently by saying to myself, I still would not need these even if I did have the space. Sometimes when I do this, I end up crying over things I threw away that can never come back. Must've been about 70 illustrations or more.

I also watched "I'm Not There" over the weekend. I highly recommend it. It was absolutely amazing and very very well done. Cate Blanchett is just wonderful as Bob Dylan.

Thursday, November 22, 2007

I can't stand I'm just no good for you


I've always loved stripes. The other day, I was thinking about my obsession with vertical striped blazers and pants. In junior high, I bought a pair of vertical striped pants from Contempo Casuals. Does anyone remember that store? So, nineties. But it was a slight bell shape, they were white jeans with painted distressed looking green and brown tone stripes. Yes, I actually wore them. Next, I bought a pair of vertical striped pants from Banana Republic when I was in my late teens. It was dark denim with maroon and white stripes. It was very sixties rock and roll. I loved them. I still have them, but I no longer fit into them. How embarrassing to admit so. Then, Trish Goff, one of my favorite models from the nineties, walked down the Balenciaga runway for Fall 2006 wearing these bold black and white vertical striped pants. Obviously, I cannot afford anything Balenciaga. But soon, to my delight, a lot of knock-offs were inspired. It took me a while, but I finally found less bold stripes, but totally flattering skinny pants at H&M. I bought it in two colorways: grey & black, cobalt blue & black. Vertical striped pants are a staple in my wardrobe. It's not trendy, it's just stylish. Then, it got me to thinking, maybe it all happened when I fell in love with Ringo when I was a kid, and when I watched Yellow Submarine when I was about ten or eleven. Pop art, Ringo, The Beatles music, and vertical stripes equals love love love.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Friday, November 16, 2007

Keep me in your thoughts, don't disappear

I drew this on Illustrator today! I know it's been a while since I've last drawn or made anything. Sadly, my studio is very dusty. I've been very busy. But I thought I'd draw a pretty lady for fall because after all, it is almost Thanksgiving.


The 3rd Paper Project LA was in town last week. I so wanted to go to the Thriller dance party, but as you know, that was the same day as The Hives, and The Hives reign supreme in my world. If it weren't for The Hives, I totally would've gone, though. My friend and I went to check out the 24hour store on Saturday. We hung out and people watched. Since she's also in the fashion industry, and she has major style, we were busy looking at people's fashion choices. Lindsay Lohan was shopping there when we were hanging out. My friend and I were like "she looks better as a deep redhead." But I was more thrilled to see artists like Fawn G, Kime B., Jeremy Scott, etc etc. Paper Project always inspires me. I went last year, too. One day, I will......

Wendy Yao, mastermind behind Ooga Booga, always inspires me

DJ Andrew, one-half of Andrew Andrew

Heartschallenger: reminds me of downtown warehouse parties on hot summer nights and they gave us free powerpuff girl ice cream. =)

Sunday morning, went with my friend to the Inpsiration Outreach day at Paper Project LA. It was so much fun. More inspiring and awesome than anything. I love being around creative people. It helps my soul to breathe. Sunday evening, I went to the Troubadour to see The Walkmen. First time we saw them was at Spaceland few years ago.



I know some of my pictures are blurry! My trusty Canon died on me at the Murakami exhibit. I bought a new Olympus because I needed a camera for the Hives show. I took about 200 pictures at the Hives show. Majority came out blurry. Made me really upset and depressed. I returned it. I'm without a camera now and I feel so lost. Well, my old Canon did take some amazing pictures and captured all the great shows I've been to. It's a few years old, and seeing that I take about 100plus pictures per rock show, and I usually attend 3 to 5 in a month.... well, you get the picture.


I told my friend that I'm a photographer, not a videographer. Because I have to dance. I can't stand still and hold a camera. I can focus and take quick shots. I can't do videos. But, we wanted to try out the video function on the new cam so here it is. Me trying to focus, then dancing while holding the cam. Someone said I look possessed when I dance to the Hives. I couldn't agree more.

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Be ignored by the stiff and the bored because I'm gonna

Back in December 2004, I was really sick with the worst case of the flu. I missed 2 weeks of work because it was really bad (fever, vomit, couldn't eat, terrible). We had bought tickets to see The Hives at the Wiltern. I had never seen them before. There was no way I would miss the show despite my state. So we went. I realized that they were the best LIVE band EVER. THE best. And I also realized that when the Hives play, dancing is an involuntary action for me. I had no strength but I danced so hard that I left during the encore in fear of literally collapsing and causing a scene. I came out to the lounge area and I totally fell to the ground. I had no energy left. Yes, I can dance to the Hives even with a high fever. I'm so rock and roll.

Well, you see how much I love The Hives. How excited am I about their new album? I went to see them last Wednesday at the Avalon. Luckily, I got to stand front row but off to the side. Only way I could survive with all those crazy fellow dancing fans. It just reconfirmed how awesome they are, and that they are truly the BEST LIVE PERFORMERS EVER. Hands down. They're so special. If you've been to see them, I think you know what I'm talking about. Best dance session. Awesome energy within the crowd. It's their music. It's just that good. I had so much fun that night. Everything about that night was PERFECT! Their stage presence..... I swear, they really are out of your league. No one will ever pass them.

The Hives @ Avalon, Hollywood 11-07-07











Saturday, November 03, 2007

YOUNGEST INDIE TURNS ONE!!!




One year ago today, Youngest Indie the Blog came into the world wide web! Thanks to anyone who's ever stopped by just to take a look at what I post. Really big thanks. You see, sometimes I doubt anyone wants to see my things. I can't believe a year has gone by. It's actually really hard to make new things, but I always want to do it. So in a way, this blog is my motivation. Like, I must draw something new to post on my blog. I get so lost in the daily grind, I forget why being creative is so important to me sometimes. Here's to many more new posts to come, to prisma markers and Adobe Illustrator, to rock shows, to music that never ceases to inspire me, and to you for coming back to my blog.

P.S. I celebrated by going to the (C)Murakami exhibit at MOCA and then hanging out at Little Tokyo. It was great and truly inspiring. =)

Monday, October 29, 2007

I'm losing at this game, no fair, why don't you seem to care

Busy weekend. Friday was shopping research day with my boss. You know me and shop day. It's really overwhelming for me and hard to stay focused for work. Because even one dress, or bag, or song playing in the store, can spark some kind of emotion or story in my head. Then I start thinking way too much, because we hit all the important stores and see so much. By the end of the day, I'm emotionally drained.

Friday night was the Halloween party, and it was so good to see my buddies and people I haven't seen in a long time. I really love them. It's so hard to meet awesome people, but they were all there! I was very happy to see everyone. I dressed up as Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany's. Unfortunately, I forgot to wear my sunglasses. Some people mistook my costume for some cracked out prom queen. I mean, really?!

Then on Saturday, I went to go see The Airborne Toxic Event and the 1990s at the Troubadour. Easily one of my favorite venues. It was only my second time seeing Airborne Toxic Event, but they were better than ever and so amazing. I love all their songs. They're amazing live.



1990s were adorable. They rocked it. Jackie makes people smile.


Sunday night, went to see Hot Hot Heat at the Fonda. Since when are cameras not allowed at the Fonda. This venue is slowly starting to move towards the bad list. You know how I am with venues. I couldn't take pics of the opening band, De Novo Dahl, but they were really something. I really like them. So charming, and good songs. Did I mention colorful suits with rhinestones and embroidery? Yeah. Go check them out, they're from Tennessee. And of course, Hot Hot Heat never disappoints!


And can I just end this post by saying today was just another manic Monday. Back at work, I probably did 10 million things today, and I felt like a zombie. Not to mention a few other things that just made it hard to focus. But who wants to hear about my job? Yup, I thought so.

Thursday, October 25, 2007

The easiest things are so hard

Just got back from the Interpol mini-concert at the Jimmy Kimmel show. Aren't they just smashing, darling? Such characters, such style would inspire me to write a novel...


Last night I went to the David Yurman men's collection party at the Paramour Estate. The Bravery played a set. It was great. The guests parked at KCET and we all took shuttles to the mansion. Paramour was wonderful. The night air, the amazing view... The jewelry was beyond. Watched the Bravery front row. Because that's where I like to dance. Took lots of pics but my camera, or my battery, is dying. I need a new camera or battery.





Today I was sitting at work. It was a pretty busy day. I felt really depressed today. It was weird. But anyways, I was sitting at work, and I realized I really could've done better with my outfit last night. I just threw on anything. I think I'm still sleep deprived and jet lagged. Well, too busy and too tired to look my best I guess, which is a darn shame because I'm a designer/stylist. Why is it that everything matters so much when you're young? I can't wait to be like 30something and be mellowed out because I just don't give a damn anymore and have given up all my silly dreams. When you're 20something, everything's just so intense. All your emotions.. or maybe it's just me.

Saturday, October 20, 2007

You bang your head against the wall and and say you're sick of it all

Friday night, even if I was dog tired, I went to see Brian Lichtenberg's spring collection fashion show. I loved it. I've always been aware of Brian, but it was one day last month, I ran into him while we were both shopping for trims in the garment district in Downtown LA. I was looking for lace for work, and he was there. So I just started talking to him. And he told me about this show.

This is probably my favorite. I need it.







DJ Skeet Skeet spinning at the after party upstairs.

Afterwards, went to Mel's diner on Sunset Plaza. Came home and crashed. It was one crazy week for me, but I'm glad to be back home.