The How-To: Tarantino Stencil

Two of my favorite things would have to be: Tarantino movies and making stencils. I feel as if Tarantino is modern day's Hitchcock, an innovator, a bit of a weird one, with an ability to tell a good story, visually and verbally. So I decided to create a stencil parodying Hitchcock. It's based off of this image:

VIDEO NOTES:

-So on my first try (which is what I recorded in the video) I didn't like the way the stencil came out. So it looks different from the final image in the video because I toyed with it and re-did it over and over again. Which goes to show you, practice makes perfect!
-Use a fresh, sharp X-acto knife to cut your stencil.
-In the video my image is a picture of Tarantino that I edited via Photoshop to make the lines I wanted to stencil more clear. I then inverted it to reduce black (to save ink).

So heres the How-To! Enjoy!



The How-To: Tarantino Stencil from Laura Chau on Vimeo.



xx, LC

Photorealism - Art or Fart?

Transference by Gregory Thielker

Route 7 by Gregory Thielker

Take a good goooooood look at the images above. Pretty interesting photography, right? Wrong! These paintings are part of a series by Gregory Thielker entitled Under The Unminding Sky. The set is part of a genre called photorealism, where the artists render paintings that are meant to look photographic. There's been a lot of controversy on whether or not you can really call this art. Although technically perfect, many critics say that for something to be considered a work of art, it must evoke feeling or make a statement. They argue that rendering paintings to look like reality makes no statement and takes little metaphysical thinking. What do you think?

PB & J 1/2 by Mary Ellen Johnson

By: Wayne Forrest

By: Dru Blair

By: Rob Hefferan

By: Halim Ghodbane

xx, LC

Introduction

Personality is important to the artist. Life experiences change morals and affect behavior and therefore change the way the artist looks at the world and conversely the canvas. In a successful piece of artwork is one that is technically perfect. A GREAT piece of artwork focuses more on the individual than the style, and evokes feelings in the viewer.

For a long time I believed I was in introvert and as a result I acted as such. Here's the first installation in a series about introverts, based on the book Quiet by Susan Cain.



xx, LC

Change Your Perspective

Art has the tendency to be innovative, but one thing I've noticed is that the rendering of perspective takes full decades and movements for new techniques to emerge. From 2D rendering on cave walls, to one point perspective in ancient Egyptian art, to two and three point perspective in renaissance art. Fast forward to today where we have things like 3D movies and picture books. However, these mediums require glasses for the image to be effective. But how can we solve the problem of 3D on a flat canvas? The video below is an interesting take on 3D rendering on a flat canvas.



xx, LC

Feline Design

What if typefaces were cats?

Check out the rest HERE.

xx, LC

Phnom Penh at a Glance

Take a look at this video taken by Andy Blalock. It features a time lapsed look at the city of Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia (my motherland!). Phnom Penh is the most densely populated city in Cambodia. Out of a population of 14 million, 2.2 million people live in this city, making it the largest city in Cambodia. This is not a large feat considering much of the Cambodian landscape consists of countryside and villages. Being the epicenter of all that happens in Cambodia, Blalock effectively captures the hustle and bustle of this lively city. If you pay attention, you can spot some French colonial buildings still standing.





xx, LC

Travel Photo Essay: Costa Rica

If there is one day in the distant future where I have not yet died a young death from skydiving, eating blow-fish, running with the bulls or doing any other of the many dangerous things on my bucket-list, I suppose I would be forced to slow down and retire. And IF that day comes, I choose to retire in Costa Rica. This tropical country located in Central America is dense with foliage and beautiful landscapes.

"Pura Vida!" is the motto of the land, and you'll be hard pressed to not hear someone greet you in this manner or read it somewhere at least 3 times a day during your visit. It translates literally to pure life, and Costa Rica definitely lives up to their motto. Life is so simple here, especially inland. We stayed by the Arenal Volcano where many of the locals get around by walking and where it's hard to get your hands on processed food. The locals are quite relaxed and very comfortable with tourists since a majority of the economy is dependent on tourism. One thing I found out about Costa Rica is that they don't have an army! You know your country is relaxed when your government doesn't think it's necessary to fund an army. Gotta love a country like that.

Our diet during our stay was simple yet delicious. Rice and beans is a staple of Costa Rican cuisine, with fish and chicken being the main sources of protein and fresh fruit like plantains, pineapples, and strawberries. Much of the cows raised in Costa Rica are for milk, not meat, so it's very rare to find red meat on your plate. As a result of this wonderfully fresh diet and the wonders of tropical humidity, Costa Rican people are naturally beautiful! I found that everyone had nice glowing skin, and by the time we left, Shaun and I left the country looking like we blew a bunch of money on facials.

The first day we were there we met some great people while white water rafting. The first duo was Nicole and Erica. These two pals are from Seattle and were at a yoga retreat prior to coming to Arenal Volcano. The second duo was Kenn and Lisa who were on their honeymoon! Coincidentally, they are photographers too and come from southern California as well! We were all in the same raft with each other and the chemistry was so great we all hung out with each other for the rest of the trip. We felt so lucky to have met such awesome people during our trip and we plan on traveling with each other again next year! Hopefully Peru!

This first set of photos is from my waterproof film camera. Glad I brought it because I was able to get one or two one of a kind shots.
These are pictures from our first excursion, white water rafting. This is the first time the six of us all met and bonded as a group. Canyoneering! Hands down, best excursion of the trip! Hot springs adventure, zip lining, and our last night on the town.


Pura Vida!

xx, LC

Coachella En Film

Better late than never huh? A couple of my favorite shots from my film camera from this years Coachella.

 

Who's going next year?

I love this festival and the way it is run. A California institution since 1999, the past three years attending have been quite memorable for me. I give credit for that to the amazing friends who accompanied me and all of the great bands and performances I was able to experience. But I also give credit to how well Coachella is operated, from the $2 sticker price for a bottle of water (price hasn't gone up in years) to the easy navigation of streets to and from the festival to the artwork.

Next year however, I plan on venturing out of California and spending my hard earned dough on some new memories in a not so familiar place. Not that Coachella hasn't treated me well in the past, but I've got the travel bug and I'm yearning for a new experience. Bonnaroo? Treasure Island? Ultra? SXSW? Camp Bisco? Lollapalooza? Electric Zoo? Sasquatch? We'll have to see..

xx, LC

Art vs. Science

I wanted to change the world. A couple years ago, as I sat in my room in my mother's house, staring at the speckled stucco ceiling, I contemplated the past two years of my life along with the five (yes, FIVE) times I changed my major. What did I want to do with my life? There was no straight answer. I wanted to pursue everything that interested me. And I was successful.. in the sense that I got to dabble a bit in every field that my happy heart desired to. But the clock was ticking and with every semester that annoying little question haunted my mind space. What did I want to do with my life? I wasn't sure. The only thing I knew was.. I wanted to change the world.

Or at the very least, make some sort of impact, on someone, something, to make my existence meaningful, while satisfying my insatiable thirst for knowledge and exploration.

I wanted to change the world. But I thought money should be important too. Long gone were the days where I desired to live a bohemian lifestyle, playing piano for a measly income at glitzy dive bars, drinking wine with friends on the weekends and living a simple and modest, yet fulfilling lifestyle. I grew up (just a little bit) and the responsible side of me chose to pursue marine biology so I could work to make a difference in the world's oceans and still make a decent enough income. I loved chemistry and biology, I loved marine life, and I could make a pretty penny. Win win, right?

But it was never about money. It should never be about money. While taking my biology classes, I took a creative writing class and my teacher thought the world of my writing (or at least she acted like it). She encouraged me to pursue a writing career and seemed crushed when I told her I wasn't. It surprised me that I could be so good at something that came so easy for me. What could I achieve when I actully worked really hard at it? Biology and chemistry came really easy for me too, but all the lab books and experiments in the world couldn't give me the same feeling I felt when I finished a really good essay, or a great blog post, or a moving journal entry. So I changed my major and joined the school newspaper.

GREAT. GOOD. "I'm on the right track now!" I thought to myself cheerfully. When I was at school I was happiest in the newsroom, interviewing people and writing stories. Yes! I was great at this. And for once I was 100% sure of what I wanted in life.

But then came that question. At family parties and social events.. "What's your major?" Journalism, I would respond, but I never got the reaction I got when I told people I was a bio major. There wasn't that slight giddy inflection in the voice when people would respond "Oh! You're a bio major!" and instead I was met with a touchy acknowledgement and awkward silence. What? This confused me. I'm a Leo, I'm not used to this type of unattention.

Whatever.

I wanted to change the world.

Why don't majors like art and communication get as much respect and recognition as the sciences do? I feel as if society thinks that these are throwaway majors; I do not feel so. I feel as if they contribute equally to the world. Sure, biology and chemistry majors do a lot of work and it takes a lot of energy to comprehend the material. It also takes a certain amount of brainpower to use that information in a useful way. Art and communications does this too, but instead of facts, it dismantles and studies ideas. You can't just look at a piece of art and understand it, or read a great piece of fiction and be able to disseminate its plot and major themes. An understanding of art and literature and its contexts is an understanding of the human condition. An understanding of the human condition can help spur a change in consciousness. And that's what I wanted to do.

I'll admit there are a handful of bad apples out there who call themselves "journalists" and give the profession a bad name (I'm lookin' at you, Fox News), but if I can work for a reputable media outlet, and create just one article that will change your way of thinking for the better, than I would have done my job. Kindling sparks into a fire, and that is how I will change the world.

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To put this whole thing in perspective, here is a quick interview I did with a good friend of mine, Jorrel Batac, on the subject of art as a major. You can find links to his extensive library of work here.

If you LOVE what you see, he has a photobook called Wake Dream Sleep coming out soon. You can pre-order it by emailing jorrel@aindividual.com

xx, LC

Romance in the 21st Century...

.. is non existent.

Above is clip from Ken Burns' documentary, "The Civil War." It is a letter from Sullivan Ballou, a confederate soldier, to his wife, days before his certain impeding doom. His letter is so eloquent and intimate, reflecting upon his life and his situation with such intellect and insight.

The modern man doesn't write letters like this, at least none that I have met. Is it because our of shoddy school system and decline of English language? Or has the women's liberation movement empowered us so much that it's hard for a man to get too close to be able to kindle this type of romance? I have no answers for you concerning that but I do know one thing:

They sure don't make them like that anymore.

xx, LC

Word of the Day

gra·tu·i·tous [gruh-too-i-tuh s] 

adjective

1. given, done, bestowed, or obtained without charge or payment; free; voluntary.

2. being without apparent reason, cause, or justification: a gratuitous insult.

3. Law. given without receiving any return value.

 

xx, LC

... and Justice for all.

Today, Justice premiered their 2012 World Tour jacket. It was sold via Surface To Air and sold out almost immediately! At least I think it did. It dropped on Nov. 15 at 8 p.m. Paris time and thanks to my horrible attempt at time zone conversion, I missed my chance. It's just as well, the jackets sold for upwards of $1000 and if I was actually resourceful and did the correct time conversion (I'm sure there's an app for that) I would be out 1000 bucks. I'm the luckiest unlucky person.

May do a little DIY project however because damn it if I didn't own a jacket like that. To not make one would be an injustice. Genesis still gives me the chills.

xx, LC

Boiler Room LIVE

If you are conscious and able bodied at 12 p.m. (PST) on Nov. 14 and love good music, then I suggest you point your browser toward the Boiler Room to catch "Do Not Disturb" featuring B2B sets from three of my favorite artists, Disclosure, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs a.k.a. TEED, and Friendly Fires.

 

GET FAMILIAR:

Disclosure is a duo from the UK that just recently toured North America. Their show at the El Rey Theater in Los Angeles on Halloween was touted to be one of the best shows/events that night. They play an eclectic mix of dancey housey goodness mixed with alluring vocals guaranteed to get you on your feet. Check out "Boiling" and "Control" and you'll see what I mean.

TEED's production has got that wobble that will make dat azz drop. I had the pleasure of seeing this one man show at The Echoplex in August and it is as visually pleasing to the eye as is music is to the ear. Check out Tapes & Money to see what I mean.

Seriously, don't miss this.

xx, LC

Halloween Time

Still needs ideas for halloween costumes and treats? Here's a little Halloween flava for all you procrastinators brought to you by Flavorwire.

 

Halloween Themed Nails

 

Best Costumes Based on Works of Art

 

Horrifying Halloween Food

 

Still need last minute plans as well? LACMA is hosting a Stanley Kubrick themed costume ball tomorrow, Oct. 31, in anticipation of the Kubrick exhibit opening on Nov. 1.

 



 

 

Happy Halloween!

 

xx, LC

 

 

The Ghosts That Haunt Nations

Everyone loves a little history lesson
every now and then. Well here's a mini history lesson that will hopefully spark your interest in World War II. Dutch historian Jo Teeuwisse has created composite images of war stricken Europe - then and now. Her images, which are equally intriguing and haunting, helps bring reality to the act of war. It makes one think of our nation's past relations and what -- if anything -- has changed in foreign policy throughout the years.

 

Auschwitz 1945

France, Unknown date

France 1944

Check out the Flickr set HERE
Check out new or updated photos HERE

xx, LC

A Cause For Debate

The importance of politics had always escaped me as a child . I thought it was all such a joke, men and women calling each other names and fighting dirty just to gain power. They rivaled children in immaturity in that regard. I always thought politicians were evil, short sighted people who were easy to corrupt, and the voices of the select few who had the will to help the public were lost in the crowd. Speaking to older people about politics didn't help either. Grumpy, argumentative people who were too set on their ways or beliefs and who thought the whole country should be run based on their values set no better example for me. That was the main thing for me, I believed that as a country, we were all different and could not be ruled under the same strict blanket. For a country to be successful, we must compromise and think of the greater good, and sometimes agreeing to disagree.

As I grow older, I'm beginning to realize the immense importance of my vote and the effects on my life. I learned that I had to set an example, and be a positive role model for my little brother, who is of voting age. I believe the effects of your actions and beliefs radiate and affect people you may never know existed. I vow to think cognitively and keep an open mind on issues and vote for the greater good.

However, it's hard this day and age to get your peers interested in politics. I wanted to think of a cool and creative way to get my friends involved, and in light of the upcoming debates, I've decided to bring my friends together in the best way I knew how..

Presidential Debate Drinking Party!

The first step in motivating people to get involved in politics was to make them start paying attention to politics. And although some people may wake up the next day not remembering anything from the night prior, at least I can put associate a positive feeling to politics in general.

Every good drinking party involves rules, so I've drafted a few for you to use at your drinking party!

When someone mentions 47%: drink 47% of your drink.
When someone mentions Ambassador Chris Stevens: pour out your drink.
When someone mentions the Middle East: Irish car bombs for everyone (I haven't decided if this is distasteful yet).
When someone mentions redistribution of wealth: swap your drink with someone else's.
When someone mentions oil: cigarette break.
When someone mentions foreign policy: last one with their hands up has to leave the living room and go into the kitchen and get everyone a drink.

Happy debate watching! Don't forget to vote!

xx, laura

Best of the Best

This month marked my tenth anniversary with a very important person in my life. This person has been with me through literal thick and thins in between and we know each other so well that we complete each other's sentences, know every minute detail about each other's likes and dislikes, and despite the fact that I only see/talk to this person every now and then, when we meet we always show up with the same outfit! 

Happy 10 year anniversary to my best friend Joyce!

 

It may seem weird that we know the exact date we met each other but it's not really. We met on the first day of high school as two girls who just moved to the suburbs, new in a school full of cliques. We've been through it all and I can honestly say she's really proven to me that she is the BEST BEST BEST friend I've ever had. She's always had my back, and she's never afraid to give it to me straight when I need advice (and even when I don't need it). If you know me, the things I value the most in a person is passion, loyalty, and nonchalant need to express the truth. Anyway, I've burned through quite a few frenemies, but I know Joyce will always be my best friend. She's proven that many times.

In 10 years, one can imagine we've pretty much done it all. Now that we're older, we decided to get fancy and celebrate at a nice restaurant. We went to Il Covo in Los Angeles, an inspired little italian restaurant with the cutest patio I've ever seen. 

I had the Grilled banzino, and Joyce had the squid ink pasta. My branzino (which is just a fancy word for European sea bass) was cooked well and came with a corn salsa with tomatoes and red onion. The corn salsa was amazing for having such simple ingredients. The squid ink pasta on the other hand.. well, let's just say I have quite the obsession for squid ink pasta now. It had generous chunks of crab in it, however the crab was kind of dry. It also had peppers which gave the pasta a nice kick. Highly recommended!

Il Covo
8700 W 3rd St
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(310) 858-0020  

Reservations recommended

inked.

There's a beauty in the simplicity of penmanship. I think these days we get so lost in the momentum of our fast moving lives and we forget about how little things like a handwritten letter from a good friend can make you feel. To be quite honest, I doubt many of us nowadays have given or received a handwritten letter in years! I can bet on that! With Facebook and email it's so much easier to keep up with your friends lives (whether they are aware of it or not).

I often donate to non-profit wildlife and environmental organizations and ever since I've been receiving solitications from environmental groups I didn't know existed until they started spamming my mailbox with complementary calendars, address labels, and greeting cards, along with photos of sad animals pleading for my donation. Pretty ironic, in my opinion.

Think I'm exaggerating? Take a look:

And this was just the address labels!

What a better way to make use of this 'free' cardstock then to treat my friends to a handwritten greeting. Lately addressing my friends consisted of more of keyboard strokes as opposed to pen strokes. It was therapeutic and quite the challenge for a young writer such as myself to refrain from smiley faces and "LOL"'s during a cordial greeting to get my point across.

Who's next?

Fall Back Into Routine

Alas, another summer has come and gone. Summer came and stirred up my life in familiar fashion, another crazy (almost 51/50), spontaneous (so down), and death defying (quite literally!) sunny season exponentially exceeded expectations in the midst of mini shorts, sunblock and the infamous uneven bikini tan. Yuck. And like clockwork, school is back in session. And like clockwork, here I am to tell you I'm back and I'm writing regularly and I'm never leaving again! We'll see how this pans out this year.. anywho..


In case y'all forgot, fall is quickly approaching. There's something so romantic about this time of year when everyone's had enough of summer and it's antics they start getting back into routine of things. Here's a couple things I look forward to in the next couple of months:

-lighting candles
-jackets, scarfs, BEANIES, dark nail polish, nice slacks and basically fall fashion en genereux
-HOT coffee and HOT tea
-crispy mornings (not so excited for the condensation on the windshield though)
-cooking stews and roasts that will warm the whole house
-baking cookies and pumpkin pies
-cooking again in general
-running outside at noon
-saunas and bikram yoga

Of course, I hope I'm not getting too ahead of myself here. After all I still live in California and even though it's been overcast a couple of days this week, it still somehow managed to pull about 80 degrees (F). Ick.


That's it for now!

xx, laura