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All responses Most smiled responses
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Yes and no.
"Hipster" is essentially a (derogatory!) catch-all term used to label a certain target market of young, fashion-conscious, culture-conscious consumers that are focused on remaining on the cutting edge of their consumption, but just far enough to stay within the bounds of social acceptability.
As an artist, yes, I do have a keen interest in keeping up with the "cutting edge" (in it's various forms) and I take pride in finding new art and media to share. I find it inspiring and I look to inspire others. And yes, I love fashion! So, perhaps that make me a "hipster"?
I just do what I do, and love what I love, regardless. Without labels. -
Subversive, scintillating, space-traveller.
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Oh, totally.
Here's the thing:
I'm not "liking" myself or my status, in the literal way you might assume it to mean. Besides serving as a social signifier of appreciation, there's also a technical value in "liking" content online.
I use Facebook as a tool to promote my design and illustration business, and as a denizen of the internet, I've learned to use social networks to my advantage, for greater visibility. It's called internet marketing, if you're unfamiliar with the term. And, having used Facebook since it's inception, I've figured out a few tricks to manipulate the content I post so people will see it, comment on it, or interact with it.
Facebook's News Feed algorithm gives priority to statuses or posts with more "likes" or comments. I've found that if I add a "like" and add a comment, I have a higher rate of response and visibility in the News Feed.
So, yeah, I'm aware that it may make me look like a "narcissitic tool" but I'm also pretty damn good at promotion and marketing, and it's part of running my business, just like posting my artwork and updating with new blog posts.
If you can't respect it, you don't have to be friends with me on Facebook. It's cool. -
The first thing to ask yourself is this: "Do I believe that I deserve love?"
One of hardest things you can do, is accept the fact that you deserve to be loved, by yourself (or anyone else).
You do. And if you don't believe it just yet, trust in me, just this once.
You deserve to be loved.
Self-loathing can be based in so many, many things, but I've found, most significantly, it is rooted in fear.
The fear of being yourself, of being your one-hundred percent, of not being accepted for who you truly are.
We're afraid of our bodies being far from perfect, that our clothes are ugly and outmoded, that our teeth are not white enough, our hair not straight enough, our laugh too loud, our voice too shy. Growing up, it's all too easy to learn from peers, lovers, family, media, that we are Just Not Good Enough and that we will never be Perfect.
Take a deep breath and listen.
You will never be perfect.
And it is in your imperfections that lay your greatest beauty.
Over the years, I've found my best path to self-acceptance lies in accepting those imperfections. Instead of trying to hide the things about myself that weren't quite in the realm of "normalcy", I learned to put them in the best light. Understanding yourself and indulging your inner eccentricities will make you happier than you will ever know.
Now, I could tell you a lot of really hokey things that I've read in therapy packets, you know, things like "write 'I am a beautiful and unique snowflake' on your mirror, or to give yourself compliments everyday, but that's silly and won't work if you don't believe it.
And hell, a little bit of self-awareness and self-criticism is a good thing. Honest.
Being realistically aware of where you are at in your life, and where you need to be (and want to be) is how you grow as a human being. Problems develop when your expectations or evaluations for yourself are unrealistic, and there is a significant gap between the two. Know that where you are today, who you are, right now, is exactly where you need to be. There are lessons you are (or should be) learning, and tomorrow you will be one step closer to your one hundred percent self.
You have some idea of who you are, what you love, what your values are, what's important to you.
Act on them. What can you do to be one hundred percent you?
What are you afraid of? Why do you feel incomplete? What don't you like about yourself? How could you begin to change these things in a healthy way? How do you imagine your ideal self? (And NO, it does not include wearing a size zero or having a boyfriend/girlfriend.) What can you do each day, to step closer to that image?
One thing that I've found to help me focus myself, is to write often, in a private space. Question yourself, push yourself to answer honestly even if's uncomfortable. Go beyond your comfort zone, because that's where change lies. Strength cannot come from standing still, but from running just a little bit further every time. Even if it's hard.
Surround yourself with friends that love you. They are out there, and they think you are amazing as-is.
Don't be afraid to ask them for support or reminders, when you're feeling low.
It's a little bit of a process, don't get me wrong. It takes time and tears and practice but more authentic and true to yourself you are, the happier you will be, and the more you can love yourself, and share that love with others.
(I know, I know. This is totally an essay. I hope there's something useful in here, for you.) -
One of my biggest short-term goals is to get my design career going steady, possibly (ideally?) working at an ad agency, in order for me to have some extra money to put into building my own business. I'd like to get back into fashion design and start experimenting with illustration-based clothing and accessories. In the far-off future, I'd really like to own a gallery or studio, in order to implement programs to especially encourage cross-disciplinary collaboration and support unknowns.
Other than that, I really don't know. I'd like to have a house somewhere, someday, in a sunny climate. I don't plan on living in New York forever and really wish I had the luxury of traveling more, since I've never been outside of the US (besides Canada).
I don't really have goals for others around me, as that's not my choice, but I do try to push them out of their comfort zone and encourage those I love to follow their dreams. I'm always glad to do what I can to help them achieve that happiness. -
The first unnatural color I did was pink (a bunch of chunky streaks), at age 13. Other rainbow colors I've done are: red, orange, violet, turquoise, blue, and pretty much every shade of pink imaginable, from pastel pink to dark magenta. And then of course, bleached blonde, a strawberry peach color, natural red, etc. I've never done black.
And I was actually just thinking about the longevity of the crazy hair. I've had pink hair on and off for the past ten years, and it complements my skin coloring well, so it feels more "natural" to me, than my real color, which is a medium blond. As I get older, I do experience a little more discrimination and dismissal from some close-minded people, but for the most part, reactions are positive. Also, I've found, it gives others an excuse to come up and talk to me, which definitely helps me to make new friends!
I'll definitely keep it as long as it makes me happy, and as long as I have a job that doesn't mind my weirdness.
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Loading...Lenora Jayne’s Bio
I'm a Brooklyn based, pink-haired space cadet in pursuit of a more visually delicious universe. I do illustration, design, fine art, photography, modeling, makeup and party-throwing. It's awesome.
