Anais Mitchell's Hadestown + Alicia J. Rose , and me!

Awhile back I posted some teaser pics of promo shots for Anais Mitchell's upcoming album Hadestown. Time's come to release these beauts into the universe. I worked with pro photographer/amazing gal Ms. Alicia J. Rose yet again. This time I dabbled in a bit of everything: hair, make-up, wardrobe, styling, set design. I'm very pleased with our little collaboration. (big sigh...I sure do miss Portland)

Hightower's Power

This is a Native pin-up/portrait series of Rachel I worked on by photographer, Marne Lucas. Besides being a stunner of a woman, fellow Libran, Marne's also enormously caring, talented, optimistic and hilarious. I've found rad women travel in packs. It's no wonder she's runs with m'lady Raquel. (sorta dying from how rad they both are). I dream of collaborating on creating gorgeous images coast to coast and continent to continent with my ladies. To dream the dream.

Here's a couple doozies from the series to sate. (hair, make up by me. styling by Rachel or "Lady Raquel" if you're nasty).

Marne and Lady Raquel have worked together as a serious dynamic duo. Beauty? I'll say, sheesh. They got it for miles.

Hot Folk Opera -- Hadestown by Anais Mitchell

Anais Mitchell came through town a couple days on tour. I got together with Alicia J. Rose again to collaborate on photo ideas. This time around I did sets, wardrobe, styling, hair and make up. Serious heavy lifting in the name of a great picture. Anais wrote and performed Hadestown, a folk/rock opera, coming out soon. Think Tom Waits and Nina Simone meets Greek Tragedy. Here are a couple teaser shots I took. I'll post more when they're edited and ready for the world.

It was a really nasty day out the day of the shoot. We opted to shoot indoors for the most part at Mississippi Studios.

Here's Anais in a dress designed locally with refurbbed fabrics by Urchin sold at Flutter. You can't see here yet but a pink dress with spandex leggings and knee high boot = ballerina badass.



This is my favorite look with an ascot and brass buttoned vest. Bye-bye cutie, hello toughy.

Beloved Vivian Girls

I was hooked after read the treatment by Alicia J. Rose for "Golden and Green". HOOKED! The description of the video was a magical melding of two sources Wisconsin Death Trip and my undying favorite outsider artist Henry Darger. My mind pretty much melted right then and there.
+
+
+
= Hearts coming out of my eyes!

I was so excited to work on this project and come up with a creepy/scary/cute/otherworldly look for the ladies cast as the Vivian Girls. Here's the evolution in pictures:

This is David Scott "Wig Master" trimming Shayla's wig.


Wardrobe mistress, Nicole Cook making the finishing touches on the magenta bows.
Wig on a wig.

Gymnasts Uli and Miranda of Portland's Kazum stay limber between shooting.


Working on Flannery.

Nicole and I get to work...

...and lounge.

My olde timey picture of the ladies.
Rachel and I talk shop.




Two pictures above by Alicia J. Rose. Other photos by Brandon Hafer.


This is just a testament to how hard these girls worked on this video. These champs really powered through. We started calling their days "ballerina bootcamp". fierce.

Tall Order

Early in the Summer I was asked to do make up and hair by photographer, Jason Kinney for writer Arianne Cohen. Who's she you ask? None other than a really tall lady who wrote a kick ass book about being tall. That's who. Simply titled "The Tall Book" offers good social advice small or tall. I think my favorite is, when in doubt in an awkward encounter, be the first to hug. It will diffuse the tension and establish the dynamic as open and friendly. (that's not a direct quote, but you get the idea). While tall people are bugged constantly about their height and shorties (like me) aren't, it gives me pause to think of tall activism.

Here's my makeup/hair jobby job on Ms. Cohen.


Did you know there's a special shop just for tall ladies?! It's called Tall Girl (durh). Arianne sported their wears. Lookin' fine, mighty fine. Another hidden talent of Arianne, sex advice. She started writing Sex Diaries in the New York Magazine. In short, Arianne's got the dish on everything from being tall, sex advice and even DIY home projects. P.S. Can't wait to read about the last of craigslist 'adult' listing foray. Juicy, juicy.

Back from the Dead

I'm back! I've had the most life changing Spring of my life. Everything has changed from here on out. I'm so excited about my future. Life is as good as it gets right now. So much goodness to come.

I'm back in the swing of things after traveling and spending a ton of time communing with nature. My spirit quest has led me back to this bloggy blog. Today, I worked a photo shoot atop Rocky Butte here in Portland for the Portland Mercury's bike issue. Here's some teasers shots. The issue comes out on June 11th.


Photog caravan with Mt. St. Helens on horizon.

Photographer Jason Kinney of Pauper.

Director and Editor Majorie Skinner and Writer Brett Glass.



Models Ben and Megan with Jason.

Llama in a Party Hat

Spoiler alert! I spent 4 hours on a bizarre hippy compound/commune with a llama and an alpaca. I guess the Shaky Hands played a show in the barn which is how the location was discovered by art director, Justin Morrison [who's an excellent animal wrangler!]. It's occupied by a lone tripped out hippy dude who's weathered 6 winters in the make shift apartment on the upper tier of the barn.

Here're some behind the scenes shots of the Portland Mercury fashion issue photo shoot directed by Ms. Marjorie Skinner. Photos by Tim Gunther and hair and make up by me!

The fashion issue comes out Thursday. I'll update when it's up on the Merc.

Fat Fancy Love

I'm a huge supporter of Fat Fancy, a plus size fashion forward boutique located right here in Portland. In fact, it's a couple blocks from my house in deliciously rehabbed basement (much like the set of Desperate Living) There is so much love and support going into this place. I align myself as ally by donating clothes. So far, I've been able to be their make up artist for two photo shoots. This one for Just Out (I know you can't see their makeup, trust me, it was RAD)

And this one for a Fat Fancy makeover contest winner for Portland Mercury MOD blog.





Help these fine ladies get a permanent store space by voting for them to receive a grant. Follow the link and register to vote.


SATURDAY, March, 28th
SUNDAY, March, 29th

12-5 pm
834 NE Emerson
(1 block S. of Killingsworth. 2.5 blocks East of MLK)

Hot Blooded, Check It and See

So much skin, wood and fur. OMGEEEEZus. Hair and makeup by me!

Mix Tape in Spanish

A Spanish language magazine, Tendencias, apparently the "Nylon magazine of Spain" published a story about the mix tape article I wrote for Found Magazine. Here's the article, "Nostalgia of Young Love" is about all I can translate.

My tape is the blue one on the bottom left corner with the "1111111111 <3". It was made for me by my ex-boyfriend a bazillion years ago but it's still really sweet to listen to. And you can listen too!