Last night, I had the joy of taking senior photos for my sister: a talented and beautiful artist, sister, and friend. The last time we shot together was for a "cottagecore" inspired photoshoot (linked here!) and this time, she wanted cottagecore inspired photos again. It was fun to recreate this aesthetic in a different setting, and I loved every minute!
In high school, Didi has won third place in Hamilton County High School Art Competition, and her art has been featured in the Hunter Museum and Stoveworks. She does art commissions with her business, Didisketchbook. Other high school highlights include digging for dinosaurs, running cross country, and playing piano for BCCMS. Congratulations Didi! We can't wait to see what you do next. ☽
0 Comments
It's been 3 years of St Lucia's shoots! I can hardly believe it. Doesn't time go by quickly?
This year, I had the privilege of doing a shoot at college. I made a last minute call and my friend showed up in the exact outfit we needed. And on December 26, as you know, we had a snowfall! I'm late to posting, but I got Didi to throw on a St Lucia outfit and we played with the snow. The atmosphere was perfect. I'm thrilled to share these with you! And another announcement: I have officially switched to Lightroom for editing, and I couldn't be happier! Though I need to figure out overlays, I've learned so much and I'm grateful to Chynasia Photography for helping me with all kinds of settings :) Do you want to see more snowy photoshoots? Stay inspired! ☽ hello everyone, it's been a while! I'm excited about this set with Chynasia: "water dragon."
Do you ever start plans that don't work out, but in the end you get a result that's just as amazing as you dreamed of? Maybe that's because Chynasia is an excellent artist, but if you find yourself stuck with plans that don't work out, keep going! Originally, I thought of a John Everett-Millias "Ophelia" inspired photoshoot, but with the discovery of tiger lilies (and Chynasia's fabulous earrings) we changed plans to a water dragon inspired photoshoot. I knew she would rock the theme, and it brought a special character into the pictures! My favorite part was the photographic process. In Eastern mythology, water dragons are benevolent spirits who rule over seas and rivers. Almost in charades, we acted out the story of a water dragon's day: the descent into water, overseeing the river, and moving from place to place. The exercise was amazing, and now I want to learn more about water dragon mythology! Have you changed any plans, only to get a better result? Stay inspired! 🌙priscilla hello, everyone!
i suppose you were wondering why there wasn't a post last wednesday. Well, spring break happened (have you had it yet?) and I took some time off. i've been learning a lot about photography this week (which i'm very grateful for! Thanks for your advice, ms kelley!) and then, for spring break, we-- - made cookies for st patricks day - had a st patricks day concert in the rain - went to cloudland canyon for the first time--the hike was hard, but the waterfall was amazing! we also got to look at the geology in the park (it's got limestone, sandstone, chert, and other rocks). Also, I have a shark tooth from the souvenir shop. :) - got vaccinated (not pictured) but my dad got his first dose and I'm going to get mine tomorrow! i am researching the biotechnology of the vaccine and i'll let you know if i turn into a large purple elephant. : ) have you had spring break yet? what did you do? 🌙 priscilla I struggle with gratitude. It’s so easy to forget all God’s faithfulness and blessing in the loud voices of anxiety, greed, and distraction. So...here are some reminders for that help me focus on gratitude. 1. Take time off distractions. Okay I NEED to know. Does anyone else start rapidly refreshing social media whenever they feel anxious? Or just look for a stimulating video distraction? It’s natural to distract ourselves when we’re nervous. But I think that clouds our ability to see clearly--to see our problem clearly, and to see our blessings clearly. 2. Ask God. If it’s too hard to detach yourself from distraction or remember anything to be grateful for, I would talk with God. He’s the one who gives the spirit of gratitude. Ask for it. He provides faith if you ask, too. 3. Celebrate. One time at CRU, one of the leaders mentioned the struggle to remember God and his faithfulness in the midst of blessing. Do you know what God prescribes so we can remember him with gratitude? Celebration. They celebrated Passover, Purim, Hanukkah--all memories of God’s faithfulness. Are there areas you’ve seen God rescue you? Speak? Work in your life? Find a way to celebrate it! I think that’s important to remember. God wants you to be happy. He wants you to have fun. I often think I have to hide my desire for fun when I’m with God, but like--that’s not who he is at all! I think it would be neat if you were to make a list of places you’ve seen God work in your life and celebrate with a special treat. 4, Quiet. Even for a few minutes, stopping to thank God and pray before you move onto the next task has provided peace and joy for me. Small moments might not seem like they matter, but they do. 5. Know what you love and what you don’t. Life is short. Do what ACTUALLY brings you joy and gratitude instead of filling your time with things you don’t actually like. We might think we like loading instagram for the 44th time, but I find when I examine myself, it brings more hopelessness than fulfillment. When you’re tempted to worry, examine yourself. Ask what the real reason is. Ask why you’re not trusting God. And hey, we can be grateful for anything. Right now I’m going to stare up and be really grateful for the tree outside my window. I like looking at it. It balances the bubble of sunlight on the left and the blue sky on the right. One last note: don’t think gratitude is something you MUST achieve on your own. Don’t think that. God founded your faith, and he’ll perfect it. He can provide the gratitude you need. stay inspired, priscilla 🌙 some things to be thankful for: sunsets, clouds, trees, flowers
All right. I intended to write about "gratitude" today, but I've been so worried lately, I thought I'd share a few thoughts I've been having on the subject of Worry.
I wish i could say i was 100% calm all the time, but i’m not. And when life looks like it’s going to change--especially in a big way--it’s like internal chaos. It seems like a lot of worries go back to a Few Major Anxieties. And then our brains just multiply the anxieties by examining all the crossroads and the Anxiety grows into a way bigger deal than it actually is. For instance: I’m nervous about my math test. If I don’t get an A, I’ll fail the whole class. If I fail the class, I’ll lose my scholarship. Then I’ll be in debt! I'll never have a real job. I'll be homeless. I'll be a burden. I'll never be happy. What will I be, if I fail? Does that sound familiar? There’ll be a worry--maybe about money, self-worth, belonging--and it’ll branch into a million fragments. Like branches on a tree, it grows from a root. Worry. He’s probably visited you today. Maybe he’ll come again tomorrow. Some days it’s worse. I want to say: solving worry isn’t simple. Remember those roots? Worry branches from the roots of a major anxiety. Is it hard to uproot a tree? Yes. It’s kind of impossible, too, if you don’t have the right tools or knowledge. And those roots might go deeper than you think. And if they do, it’ll be harder to uproot them. Not only that, but worry is something that comes back every day. Do you have a moment where you say, “Okay God. I forgive my dad.” But then when you see him the next day, anger swells again? And you have to go back and forgive all over again. Worry is like that. It’s never a one-and-done problem. If the voices quiet, don’t be fooled--they aren’t really gone. Keep watching. This thought is something i’ve only had a few moments ago, but there’s some things i’m wondering about.
🌙 priscilla i'm soooo excited to share the next aesthetic with you: cottagecore!! February might not have felt like fluffy clouds and gold sunshine, but Didi and I managed to recreate a cottagecore picnic in the sunroom, cause it was too cold outside. one thing I love about cottagecore is that it's not just fashion--it's a lifestyle. (just kidding). still, i watched a video that said cottagecore celebrated a "return to simple times and natural aesthetics." even if you don't have a flower dress, you can still enjoy the cottagecore aesthetic by enjoying nature and simplicity. (although you should get that dress at some point). without further ado, here's how we got the look! inspiration: credit: pinterest key pieces 1) flower dress this held the outfit together! what says "cottagecore" more than a springy calico dress? It's flowy, and fun (and billows when you twirl). The color doesn't have to be black or white--anything neutral works. 2) oatmeal jacket we used this to temper the darker color of the dress, but for a double dose of cottagecore, you could pair a light flowery dress with a light jacket. extras since cottagecore is about the vibes, not just the look, here's some extras we threw in for maximum fun. proceed with flowers. earrings. we did leaf earrings. anything simple + natural will up the aesthetic--it could be stud earrings, a necklace, or small bracelet. flowers. try tucking them in loose hair. or holding them, like she is here. light flowers are preferable. makeup. cottagecore is about a simple, glowy look. we chose pink lip gloss, light mascara, and a mix of creamy white eyeshadows to bring out her eyes. If you have lighter eyes, taupe or light brown might work better. brown shoes or bare feet. i love not wearing shoes. if you're outside, though, choosing a neutral brown pair, like the one in the "inspo," would go with your outfit quite well. and there you have it! this shoot was a dream and I'm hyped about how it turned out. stay inspired!! Also, check out didisketchbook for all your cottagecore inspired art-comission needs. 🌙priscilla Bonus Points
bake some muffins. these are chocolate chip walnut :)) hello!
so, something i've been learning lately is the importance of visualizing your art. and some varied advice on how to keep going. 1. Visualize your project. What do you want the end goal to look like? Where will you go if you don't know where? I don't mean you have to have a twenty year layout for your creative goals, but if you want to do a photoshoot, look at inspiring images or create a moodboard. If you're writing, find a pic on pinterest where you imagine your scene happening. 2. Take advantage of inspired moments. What do you do if you have artist's block and art isn't working for you? According to poet Mary Oliver, when you set up a time to write, the words will come. Daily creative time is a must. I've always believed this. Lately though, I've learned that if you have the urge to go an extra mile--do it. 3. Use disappointment. This week, I encountered a disappointment: rejection. I'm realizing how much it helps to distract yourself from disappointment. At the same time, that can lead to toxic habits, like losing yourself in a whirlwind of obsessions or experiences, and I completely validate that--it's necessary sometimes, and good can come of it. But another way to respond is losing yourself in creativity. Channel your disappointment into your poetry or short stories; separate it from yourself. Or if it's too painful to think about, just play with words or worlds or pictures. Don't drown yourself in goals, but find something inspiring to do. I hate disappointment, but at the very least, I'm grateful that it opens me to invest more in things people can't take away from me. When you were young, did you ever argue with a parent and fear they might take away something--phones, laptops, fun times--but seized your diary, or passion, or drawing paper, and knew that was something they couldn't take away from you? I think art is healing because it doesn't hinge on peoples' acceptance, love, understanding, wealth, or age. It isn't something people can take away from you. Stay inspired and safe 🌙 priscilla this was quite an eventful week. My younger sister turned twelve, and my youngest sister turned ten! That's double digits. It's hard to stop thinking of her as the baby--but with double digits, it's hard to ignore how old she is. Celebrating their birthdays was wonderful, but I also felt sad. Do you have younger siblings or cousins? One of the most memorable things to do is play pretend with them, whether that's with stuffed animals, paper dolls, or stories. In fact, children are the best storytellers in the world. Do you have a popsicle, a piece of yarn, and a stuffed cat? Suddenly, the yarn is a magical wand that transports the cat (but only him, you have to hold his tail if you want to go with him) into another dimension where everything is made of popsicles: trees, grass, houses. And you have popsicle sticks as currency. And grape is the most popular flavor, so there's an annual festival where everyone smashes grapes and makes them into popsicles. --that's the kind of story a kid would tell, right? My younger sister is making up a story (don't tell her I told you) about fairies who have powers over things like holly berries or juniper trees, but only that. And they have crowns. So as I'm watching my sisters grow up, I'm sad. Because what will I do when they're older and don't want to play pretend anymore? When stuffed penguins aren't as exciting as driver's licenses and college degrees are more important than donuts? I have to say: I don't have an answer. But I think I can pray, and we all can hope, that as year after year goes by, we'll grow older--old enough to love fairytales, like CS Lewis said. But how do we make ourselves love fairytales? Or love kiddish things like creativity? There might be an idea from Maya Angelou: "You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have." Maybe the more we play pretend--imagine worlds from wicker baskets--the more we'll enjoy it, and the more it'll come naturally. You can't stop yourself from growing old, but you can grow old enough to love fairytales again. With that said, here's a birthday photoshoot. I just got Lightroom, so that's awesome! on the subject of creativity:
Creativity is one of the best ways to be more like a child. And I'm announcing a series: the Artist Interview series. Some of you wanted to see this. I'm hoping to interview and promote as many creatives (professional or not!) as possible. Interviews = sharing some advice about creativity and art, especially the type you're interested in. So if you'd like an interview or promo, please comment, DM me on Instagram or Facebook, or fill out this survey and I'll be right with you! stay inspired, priscilla 🌙 "And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." -Matthew 18:3-4 the other day,my mom took us to film a sunset. It wasn't what you'd expect. We rolled up to the parking lot at HHS, where I thought we'd see a great view, and what was everywhere but rain?
Clouds misted the mountains and stifled the sun. We stayed inside the car, trying to film what we could through the windows as rain rolled down. It was definitely not what we had in mind. For whatever reason, the unexpected sunset reminded me of some things I've been thinking about lately. Spiritually, I've been trying to listen more to God and understand what he wants for my life. And while it is amazing to hear him, it also shows me--in ways that are hard to see--how desperately...behind I am. Like a kid who has to repeat fourth grade math. Reading stories in the Bible is awesome, but then you think, "How, God! How do I get from A to B? From not having faith to having faith?" It's an impossible equation. You feel so helpless when you remember how doubtful, unsteady, and afraid you are. But, as with the rainy sunset, there's something to remember. God works in small ways. The sunset wasn't what I had in mind. It wasn't a brilliant array of colors sinking into the horizon. But that doesn't mean it wasn't beautiful. After a few minutes, my sisters and I climbed out of the car and ran to the new tennis court. We saw our reflections shimmering on the floor, following us from upside down as we ran. Raindrops rolled down our coats. You can catch them if you stick out your tongue. Going home, lights blurred in a watery red, yellow and green, making Middle Valley Road feel like an alternate dimension on a Star Wars planet. Does a sunny day have that to say about itself? So when it comes to that question, the "How do I get from A to B?" question, I think the answer is one word: Trust. Even when things aren't working the way you expected--when you're not making leaps of faith no matter how much Bible time you did--still pay attention to God. He might be working in different ways than you plan. And don't forget, God works in small ways. If you listened and got a glass of water for someone, be glad! That isn't too small to be used by God. Just because you don't have the Grand Prophetic Calling in a dream doesn't mean God isn't working in amazing ways. A glass of water is a miracle. A rainy day is a miracle. And I'm glad God works our faith in small ways, because if He didn't, we might take the big things for granted. : ) 🌙 Priscilla |