Getting to Know You - Valya

Valya - 081710

There are moments in art when everything aligns for perfection.  I started looking for models to work with a month before going to New York in June.  One found me, Moon ( a perfect moment of serendipity), the other I found, Valya.  Finding Valya was a perfect alignment of  working hard to find the perfect model and finding a wonderful woman who was quintessential to the session's success.

I spent hours going through One Model Place, Craigslist, and Model Mayhem looking for models.  In my head I had a feeling for what I wanted and I hoped I would find it before getting to New York.  After looking at hundreds of portfolios I saw the small thumbnail for Valya and knew instantly, that is her.  I went through her portfolio and my initial gut reaction was right.  I had to reach out and ask if she would work with me.

Valya is an artistic and erotic force to work with.  She exudes the attitude, look, and emotion I wanted to capture of and in that great city.  She is the perfect person to work with when creating art.   As she wrote in her Model Mayhem profile:

I am an art, erotic and occasionally a fetish model, or as I like to think of it, a performance artist, based in NYC and available domestically in the US.
I am also a fancy free and open-minded woman, passionate about making fine and erotic art (and blogging about it too)

Valya writes a great blog which was another reason I wanted to work with her.  Much of her work has a raw force to it.  She lets her images speak for themselves and offers minimal, but important written commentary, opinions and thoughts.  I appreciate her conservation of words and only adding as much as is needed.

I am excited to bring back a feature from my old blog, The Sensual Seven Seconds, the "Getting to Know You" interview where I present someone I find who is important to art, creativity, writing, photography, and life in general, using the Proust questionnaire.

Valya is the first person I thought of to share her responses for two reasons.  First, she is an amazing artist, model, friend, and person that I deeply respect and appreciate.  Second, she is the first person I've interviewed for this feature that has actually shaken my hand, worked with me to create some fantastic art, and have shared a non-internet creative relationship with.  For both those reasons and many more, I am honored to share her answers to these questions.

1. What is your favorite word? Russian word for porcupine, it sounds so cute: yozhik
2. What is your least favorite word? "Dirtbag", ew right?
3. What turns you on? Bizarre things, Freud would have a ball with me
4. What turns you off? Insincerity
5. What sound or noise do you love? Rain drops against a window
6. What sound or noise do you hate? Angry voices including when it is my own
7. What is your favorite curse word? Motherfucker
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? I was and technically still am a fashion stylist (on hiatus while I get undressed for the camera), but when I was in school I had full intentions on becoming a psychotherapist, an analyst more precisely.
9. What profession would you not like to do? Physical labor
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? "Ask me anything!"
11. What is your idea of perfect happiness? It's found in moments and is so fleeting, kind of the way Spalding Grey discussed "the perfect moment" in his monologue film "Swimming to Cambodia".
12. What is your greatest fear? The inevitable despair my children are bound to suffer from time to time through their lives.
13. Which historical figure do you most identify with? Maybe Mata Hari? I'm not sure.
14. Which living person do you most admire? Bjork, a genius.
15. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? I am SUCH a procrastinator.
16. What is the trait you most deplore in others? Cruelty
17. What is your greatest extravagance? I'm afraid I'm not quite there!
18. On what occasion do you lie? To potentially save feelings or when I'm too cowardly.
19. What do you dislike most about your appearance? Oddly, it's the thing I often like most and that's my ethnic look.
20. When and where were you happiest? Please see # 11
21. If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?  To be more practical...but then I wouldn't be me- at all.
22. If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be? That I had a real one.
23. What do you consider your greatest achievement? My 2 kids definitely, its not that making them was difficult ;), but raising them alone after getting divorced when they were just a little over 1 year and the other 3 months old, that was/is hard. And I like who they are as people, I like to think I have something to do with that :)
24. If you died and came back as a person or thing what do you think it would be? Someone privileged and with a heart of an artist.
25. What is your most treasured possession? My childhood photos.
26. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Unrequited love
27. Who are your heroes in real life? Strangers who say "bless you" to other strangers when someone sneezes.
28. How would you like to die? I am afraid to die, if I knew I was dying, I would prefer to take my own life. I wouldn't do it gory style, I would just OD on a boat load of feel good drugs. 
29. What is your motto"Its just the atmospheric pressure"

Thank you Valya.  I hope our paths cross again.

Getting to Know You... Mrs

One of the first blogs I started following was Any Fucking Day.  I could spend all day praising its quality writing and photography.  Both are deeply personal and deeply... deep.  Both can be said for the two creators of it, Z and Mrs.

They are a married couple living in a small US city in the east.  If you read it for awhile, you get to know the two creators as intensely private (for very legitimate reasons) observers and thinkers.  They are a unique team.  Z writes, publishes books, and photographs.  Mrs models and provides a complex presence to the writing, images, and overall existence of the blog .   Together, they make an interesting balance of passion, love, pain, happiness, frustration,  and lust as they work together to create art.

Mrs has always been an intelligent, beautiful, erotic and strong-willed enigma for me as I've followed this excellent blog. While it is easy to recognize Z's influence on the blog through his writing and images he shares, it is a deeply rewarding endeavor to get to know and feel Mrs' aesthetic breath shared in the life of their art.  Through her modeling, mood and visceral presence in every post, I feel their collaboration become a complex mosaic of two very strong minds.

Mrs' modeling is complex.  The first thing I noticed was her erotic beauty of course, but after seeing her modeling in so many different environs, you can feel the silent solitude and private world these two artists share.  You can also sense her emotions, feelings and beliefs, though appearing subtle, are strong and formidable.  Through Z's writing and these images you get to appreciate their never-easy, but damn rewarding, relationship filled with every lustful, creative reward and challenge thrown at them.

I was both honored and excited when Z emailed me telling me Mrs wanted to answer my questionnaire.  I feel it is like getting to touch a rich abstraction that I've started to know through digesting and reflecting on all of their photos and writing.

Here are Mrs' answers to my questionnaire.  I love her direct answers and appreciate her sharing a bit of herself here.

1. What is your favorite word? Amsterdam
2. What is your least favorite word? Networking
3. What turns you on? horses
4. What turns you off? crowds
5. What sound or noise do you love? a far away train whistle
6. What sound or noise do you hate? motorcycle
7. What is your favorite curse word? fucking asshole
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? thoroughbred horse industry
9. What profession would you not like to do? sales
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the
11. Pearly Gates? You can return to earth and this time you can have your horse.
12. What is your idea of perfect happiness? life on a small farm with horses and dogs
13. What is your greatest fear? death of loved one
14. Which historical figure do you most identify with? hmmm?
15. Which living person do you most admire? Barack Obama
16. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? fear
17. What is the trait you most deplore in others? self - admiration
18. What is your greatest extravagance? I once spent way too much on a pair of shoes
19. On what occasion do you lie? sick days 
20. What do you dislike most about your appearance? my scowl
21. When and where were you happiest? on vacations
22. If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be? I wish I had the courage not to care what others think
23. If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be? I always wanted a brother
24. What do you consider your greatest achievement? my marriage
25. What is your most treasured possession? our cabin
26. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? serious illness
27. Who are your heroes in real life? people whose life work is to make the world better for everyone
28. What is it that you most dislike? self-centeredness
29. How would you like to die? with gratitude
30. What is your motto? I hate mottos

Any Fucking Day is a private blog.  Contact Z at mycapote@gmail.com to request an invitation if you are interested in learning more about it.

Getting to know you... um... I mean me.

 41

To paraphrase the Beatles, "I heard it was my birthday."  41.  It is a quiet birthday filled with warm wishes from many friends.  Thanks to all in blog world and Facebook who sent birthday messages.  I also want to thank UL from What We Saw Today for her birthday wishes on that fine blog.

Candace - 030910

A birthday gift to me with this photo... I love it

In honor of me, (feels kind of selfish, but its my birthday so I don't feel too bad)  here are my answers to my questionnaire. 

1. What is your favorite word? Sensual
2. What is your least favorite word? Hopeless
3. What turns you on? Getting to use all five senses.
4. What turns you off? Arrogance - nobody is that good.
5. What sound or noise do you love? A romantic moan or the wind rushing through trees. They are equal. Interesting how both involve the movement of air in a special way.
6. What sound or noise do you hate? Mosquito buzzing by my ear while trying to sleep in my tent.
7. What is your favorite curse word? Ah fuck me...
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Photography teacher
9. What profession would you not like to do? Crime scene clean up.
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? "Surprised?"
11. What is your idea of perfect happiness? A simple trip (anywhere in the world) with a sensual beauty who loves being on both sides of a camera.
12. What is your greatest fear? Not doing what I need to do in this life.
13. Which historical figure do you most identify with? The composer Percy Granger. Everybody thought one thing about him based on his public life, but he lived a completely separate one in private.
14. Which living person do you most admire? Virgin empire founder, Richard Branson. He has grabbed life by the balls and is living a rich life that is pretty damn responsible as well.
15. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Starting too many things and not finishing enough of them.
16. What is the trait you most deplore in others? People who only see complex issues in black and white or right and wrong.
17. What is your greatest extravagance? Cameras, a Hasselblad and a Nikon D700 and all their peripheral equipment are my latest ones, but I do use them heavily.
18. On what occasion do you lie? When it would spare someone's feelings or when the lie will not hurt anyone and is more expedient than dealing with the truth.
19. What do you dislike most about your appearance? I am not fixated on it too much, maybe a little less weight, a little more hair... actually I would like a better wardrobe.
20. When and where were you happiest? Watching the aurora borealis outside of my Billings, MT home when I was a kid. They usually appeared early on the coldest mornings. My mom would wake everyone up to go see them. The silence of them dancing in the northern sky with their green shimmers still gives me peace.
21. If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be? I'd be a bit more determined on the harder things.
22. If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be? Instilling the desire to go for it and to appreciate that desire in others.
23. What do you consider your greatest achievement? Haven't created it yet and don't give a damn if I do. Once you have created that, what else is there to do with life.
24. If you died and came back as a person or thing what do you think it would be? As either a woman or a tree in a park. Both would give me enlightenment on what life means.
25. What is your most treasured possession? My senses.
26. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Hopelessness induced by other humans.
27. Who are your heroes in real life? Dr. L, Z, Mrs, Joe, Beth, Terrell, my wife, and Renee.
28. What is it that you most dislike? Having to entertain large groups that I don't really have an interest in for multiple days.
29. How would you like to die? Without knowing it happened.
30. What is your motto? Heh... how about that. (As a statement, not a questions). NOTE I typed this a few weeks ago. Since that time, my new motto is, "In 100 years there will be all new people." We need to live our lives with keeping that in mind.

Getting to Know You... M Sarki

 

M Sarki

 

There are artists who are one-trick ponies like me that create works in one artistic medium or genre.  On the rare occasion, I get to enjoy the works of an artist who creates amazing pieces in multiple areas.  M Sarki is one of those rare creative talents with strong branches into multiple artistic outlets.

Sarki is a photographer, poet, screenwriter, and a painter (I am probably missing a few others).  The thing I appreciate most about his works is the complexity wrapped up in each one.  Whether it is a photo or piece of writing, you can't just stop at the surface interpretation.  Each one sucks you in as you try to figure out how each element connects to the next.  It took me three weeks to properly read and digest his book, Diary of the Modern God which is filled with his photos and poetry.  Do not take Sarki's work at face-value, you will be missing his genius.

One of the first pieces of Sarki's that I learned about was the movie he wrote, Alphonso Bow.  I've watched a few trailers for this movie and am anxious for its West Coast premier.  Below is the trailer.



Below are Sarki's answers to my thirty questions.  I highly recommend you go to his hub page site and learn more about him. 

1. What is your favorite word? Beverly
2. What is your least favorite word? hopefully
   
3. What turns you on? well, for one, an extremely good book
4. What turns you off? anything mediocre
5. What sound or noise do you love? the soft, warm wind through the trees
6. What sound or noise do you hate? high shrill sounds
7. What is your favorite curse word? probably fuck, although if I am mad and want to fight I love to use the word cocksucker.
   
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? short order cook
9. What profession would you not like to do? anything that demands the wearing of a uniform.
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? You're in the wrong place, son.
    
11. What is your idea of perfect happiness? being blissfully lost in play.
12. What is your greatest fear? not being able to breathe.
13. Which historical figure do you most identify with? daniel boone.
14. Which living person do you most admire? barack obama
15. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? my resistance to change
    
16. What is the trait you most deplore in others? self-righteous intolerance of others
17. What is your greatest extravagance? fine hardcover collectible books
18. On what occasion do you lie? the most frequent lie would occur in order to protect ones feelings. but i am not above lying to protect my person either.
    
19. What do you dislike most about your appearance? the extra pounds I gained since I stopped swinging a hammer.
20. When and where were you happiest? at the great Lake Huron on vacation with my true love.
    
21. If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be? to rid myself of fear; become totally fearless
22. If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be? their unwillingness to communicate honestly with each other.
23. What do you consider your greatest achievement? my assembling of things, most particularly my words.
    
24. If you died and came back as a person or thing what do you think it would be? a riverboat captain.
25. What is your most treasured possession? a Gordon Lish lavishly inscribed one-of-a kind handmade boxed hardcover edition of his novel Dear Mr. Capote.
26. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? the loss of ones child.
    
27. Who are your heroes in real life? still living? Jack Gilbert, Cormac McCarthy, and Gordon Lish
28. What is it that you most dislike? murderous child molesters.
29. How would you like to die? in my sleep peacefully.
    
30. What is your motto? I do what needs to be done.

Getting to Know You... Joseph Crachiola

Uncle Lionel's Birthday Party

A few weeks ago I introduced this little questionnaire and had the honor of introducing Dr. L. from the blog What We Saw Today.   Today I have the honor to present Joe Crachiola, another writer for WWST. 

Joe is a top-level photographer.  He's spent many years living as a photojournalist, art photographer, musician, sailor and sailing boat captain, father, and recent addition to the life of New Orleans.  Every time Joe posts photos from his life in New Orleans, I intentionally put on some good music and take the time to see his photos and read his accounts.  Both are very important to the complete post.  Joe inspires me through his fine art, his openness to following his dreams, but mostly from his kind spirit he shares with all he comes in contact with.  I highly recommend you got to WWST and read of his life and the photos he shares. 

Here are Joe's answers:

1. What is your favorite word? I don't have a favorite word.
2. What is your least favorite word? See above.
3. What turns you on? intelligence, beauty
4. What turns you off? ignorance, narrow mindedness
5. What sound or noise do you love? Canadian Geese in the morning
6. What sound or noise do you hate? a loud car stereo playing hip hop
7. What is your favorite curse word? I don't have a favorite.
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Grand Prix race car driver
9. What profession would you not like to do? Accountant
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? Welcome home.
11. What is your idea of perfect happiness? Doing the things that I love with the people I love
12. What is your greatest fear? senility
13. Which historical figure do you most identify with? I can't think of just one that I identify with. I'm fascinated by Vincent Van Gogh, but I also have a great interest in the American revolutionaries, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Ben Franklin, in particular
14. Which living person do you most admire? Can't think of one off the top of my head.
15. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Being disorganized
16. What is the trait you most deplore in others? Manipulative behavior
17. What is your greatest extravagance? Spending 500.00 for dinner on New Year's Eve in Paris
18. On what occasion do you lie? I try not to do that, but I will withhold speaking the truth to avoid hurting someone.
19. What do you dislike most about your appearance? I'm not sure. I don't look at myself very often.
20. When and where were you happiest? Right now. Right here.
21. If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be? I wish I were a better sax player.
22. If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be? I don't know. I love my family.
23. What do you consider your greatest achievement? I've survived this long and I'm not in jail.
24. If you died and came back as a person or thing what do you think it would be? I have no idea.
25. What is your most treasured possession? My mental and physical health
26. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Being in a state of hopelessness
27. Who are your heroes in real life? My grandparents (They're all deceased now.)
28. What is it that you most dislike? See number 4
29. How would you like to die? at the ripe old age of one hundred, in my sleep
30. What is your motto? If you're not living on the edge you're taking up too much space.

PHOTO NOTE FROM JOE - This picture was taken last week at Uncle Lionel Batiste's seventy-ninth birthday party. He is a New Orleans Icon and co-founder of the Treme´ Brass Band. I had the distinct honor of being invited to sit in with the band at the party. Lionel is the guy in the right. On the left is Roger Lewis, one of the best sax players I've ever heard, and without question the best I have ever played with.

Getting to Know You... Terrell Neasley

I often find great blogs by looking at the one's  recommended by other blog friends.  One such found treasure is Photo Anthems Blog created by Terrell Neasley.  I greatly appreciate his blog for its blend of art, photography, great writing and humor.

Terrell is the closest (geographically)blogger to me.  He lives in Las Vegas, NV.  That may sound like a trivial fact, but  I feel a western US bond to his work, stories, and history.   As I read others' writings about the art scene, weather, and stories of the northern mid-west, east, and south, I learn about their special corner of the country.  When I read Terrell's camping stories, see his photos of  women and the the scenery, I get a feeling of familiarity and home since I've shared similar experiences.

Terrell's life is an interesting story and shows in his life beliefs and art.  I highly recommend you go to his blog and website (photoanthems.com) to learn more about him.  It is well worth it.  His photography is beautiful and a highlight of my online perusing.  I hope one day to get to meet him on a trip to LV.

Here are the questions.  Thanks for the answers.  They are greatly appreciated.

1. What is your favorite word? Altruism
2. What is your least favorite word? Normal
3. What turns you on? A naked woman
4. What turns you off? Clothes!....kidding...People who don't take responsibility for themselves and pass the blame.
5. What sound or noise do you love? Bacon sizzling in the morning would be the least crass answer
6. What sound or noise do you hate? Its a tie between a high-pitched nagging voice and an alarm clock
7. What is your favorite curse word? Fuck
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Probably acting, but I used to dream about playing football
9. What profession would you not like to do? There are plenty but I'm going with Nursing. I've got much respect for them, but its not my gift.
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? Come on....Get your butt on in here!
11. What is your idea of perfect happiness? Traveling the world with boundless resources and a model that I photograph everywhere, all the time
12. What is your greatest fear? I honestly can't say I have one. I mean, I certainly don't want to be eaten by an alligator or fall from the empire state building but they are not fears of mine that I think about all the time. 
13. Which historical figure do you most identify with? Galileo Galilei, just because he's the only person I can think of who was also misunderstood.
14. Which living person do you most admire? Other than family....Billy Graham, Chris St. James, and Bill Cosby (How can you stick with just one?)
    
15. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Procrastination
16. What is the trait you most deplore in others? Lack of integrity
17. What is your greatest extravagance? I spent $400 on comic books once, but I've since sold my collection and not bought another since 1994, I think.
18. On what occasion do you lie? When I have to take into account someone else's feelings and the truth is not worth the heartache or when I need to be polite because I need the business.
19. What do you dislike most about your appearance? I'm actually cool with myself. If I had to say any one thing its that I look mean when I am not smiling.
20. When and where were you happiest? Christmas at Mama Carrie's as a kid
21. If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be? I'd be kinder to people and more understanding
22. If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be? Me. That's all I have control over.
23. What do you consider your greatest achievement? Jeremy and Cassie
24. If you died and came back as a person or thing what do you think it would be? As a person: A white female, just so I could experience the opposite of my current self. As far as a thing, I'd want to be a star just for the billions of years galactic experience 
25. What is your most treasured possession? My faith
26. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? A disapproval of yourself because of someone else's opinion
27. Who are your heroes in real life? My Mother, 
28. What is it that you most dislike? A coward
29. How would you like to die? Old age preferably, but if not, then on my feet in a way that makes it count
30. What is your motto? Stay alert, Stay alive! Hooooah!

Getting to Know You... Dr. L.

Unbearable Lightness

by Jim Young

On Inside the Actors Studio at the end of the interview the host James Lipton asks the guest actor ten questions.  In Vanity Fair, they ask famous people a series of questions as well.  Both of these are a take on Proust Questionnaire names after the French writer Marcel Proust.

The Sensual 7 Seconds has decided to "borrow" both of these sets of questions and pose them to readers, fellow bloggers, artists, models and anyone interested in completing them.  My goal for this series is for me and the readers to get to know some important people a little better.  Today is the first installment of this new series.

Let me introduce the ever elegant, gracious and graceful, intelligent, artistic, and truly sexy beauty, Dr. L.  She was one of the first to post a comment on this blog and is a valued commenter, artist, social and artistic commentator, academic, advocate for the sensual,  friend, and all around great lady.   She co-writes the blog, What We Saw Today, contributes to many other online and print publications such as Carrie Leigh Nudes and has written a book or two or three as well.  I highly recommend you visit her blog to flesh out the answers she provided.

Here are the thirty questions and her answers.

1. What is your favorite word?  dog
2. What is your least favorite word? rejection
3. What turns you on?  the light
4. What turns you off?  The Seven Deadlies
5. What sound or noise do you love?  car traffic on a brick street
6. What sound or noise do you hate?  rap music
7. What is your favorite curse word?  f--- you
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?  acting
9. What profession would you not like to do?  anything corporate
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?  You've got some great gams, girl.
11. What is your idea of perfect happiness?  swimming in a spring-fed lake on a hot August day
12. What is your greatest fear?  people obsessed with control
13. Which historical figure do you most identify with?  Anne Boleyn
14. Which living person do you most admire?  my 93-year-old uncle
15. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?  None.  I've accepted them all.
16. What is the trait you most deplore in others?  superficiality
17. What is your greatest extravagance?  Great coffees
18. On what occasion do you lie?  When other people's feelings are at risk
19. What do you dislike most about your appearance?  The effects of gravity on a masterpiece (each human body is a masterpiece, by the way)
20. When and where were you happiest?  In the present moment which changes quite often
21. If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?  Nothing.  I've accepted it all.
22. If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be?  My father would still be here in this world with us
23. What do you consider your greatest achievement?  My self knowledge and self acceptance
24. If you died and came back as a person or thing what do you think it would be?  A prima ballerina
25. What is your most treasured possession?  My dog
26. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?  Losing your freedom
27. Who are your heroes in real life?  All people who fight for rights and risk their lives for others
28. What is it that you most dislike?  People who never fight for anything that matters
29. How would you like to die?  I wouldn't
30. What is your motto?  What's the victory of a cat on a hot tin roof?  Just staying on, I guess.

Gracias Dr. L.  Your honest and interesting answers are greatly appreciated.

If you are interested in answering these questions, email me at sidebphotography@gmail.com.