Always wanted to write for a magazine...

I couldn’t give an “Alty” to everyone individually, but I had to give special mention to everyone that has been a part of this blog in 2011. The year is coming to an end, and we’re all eager to see what 2012 brings. For me I want to take a moment to reflect on those I have been lucky enough to talk to for this blog, and say thank you to them all for being so fabulous. So here goes:

GDG Tattoos & Apparel: My first ever blog interview. Grahame was a true gent, and so generous with his time. I really like his company, and hope the business is thriving. Thank you!

Kerosene Deluxe: My first ever muse, and someone that truly inspires me. I always look out for her work, and she never fails to be extraordinary. Thank you!

Julie Kennedy: A THOROUGHLY impressive woman. Her physical appearance is truly mesmeric, and her attitude and persona via tumblr is intoxicating. Thank you!

Misty Miller: My first musical interview with the help of her agent, a talented individual and an interesting lady. Thank you!

Jenn Martin: A flamboyant artist in everything she does. Provided stunning imagery, and a frenetic interview. Thank you!

Elle Richie: A massive “get” for my blog. A thoroughly sweet and kind individual. I wish her nothing but success in the future, lots of happiness and fun. Would love to work with her again on anything. Thank you!

Grill ‘em all: Finding my feet with my blog on this one. Two guys I wanted to interview as soon as I became aware of their business. Creative and funny individuals. Thank you!

Nathen S. Atia: Generous with his time and talents. A fantastic photographer who spoke with such knowledge about his industry. Thank you!

Kate Lynch: I don’t think I can put into words just how nice a person Kate is. She is eager to help anyone, and everything she gets involved in is to an incredible standard. I loved working with her, and would dream up 100 new projects to do so again. Thank you!

Missy Malone: A true performer. She introduced me to so many things. We worked together on the interview through illness and international commitments, but she never lost her positivity. Thank you!

Rachy: A lovely lady that I must admit intimidated me a little at first. Not through any personality clash, just by the immense quality of her work, and her seemingly laid back approach. When I got to know her a little more I discovered a fascinating woman, with a tremendous sense of humour, and a real passion for what she does. I have worked with her twice now, and am eager to do so again. Thank you!

Small Victory Clothing: A company that I personally adore. Quality designs and garments, with a personal touch you don’t get everywhere. I hope I can work on them to promote some items soon. Thank you!

Chelsea Belflower: I didn’t think this interview was going to happen at one point. But I was delighted when Chelsea found the time and we could complete the collaboration. I powerful model and person. Thank you!

Kato from Steampunk Couture: Very fascinating and gorgeous woman. Introduced me to Steampunk and her incredible work. Would love to be around her every day. Thank you!

Violeteyes: Extremely sexy individual, with a portfolio that could bring me to my knees. So commanding yet so unassuming. Thank you!

Carmin Conner: The most narrative driven interview I’ve done, and with a real sense of biography. Carmin is a remarkably interesting woman, and someone who encourages creativity wherever she comes into contact with it. Gave me some terrific opportunities. Thank you!

Shona van Beers: With a passion for a bygone era, Shona was a joy to talk with, and so knowledgeable about her products and their history. Thank you!

Dahlia: A model I discovered through tumblr. A true treat to interview, and someone with a passion that will see her shine. I’d like to delve deeper into her creativity and inspirations. Thank you!

Kezia: A model and photographer that I relished interviewing. Someone with a drive and determination to succeed like no other. Constantly saucing and developing contacts, and doing everything in her power to push herself. Beautiful and interesting in front of the camera, creative and unfettered behind it. A star I hope I can work with again. Thank you!

Tahlia: A force to be reckoned with in absolutely a good way. A mind full of creativity and expression looking for its outlet. Supremely talented, and more stunning inside and out than she gives herself credit for. A remarkable woman and someone I’d be eager to work with/for in the future, if such a situation could come along. Thank you!

Lady Chips: She’s one of those individuals you just want to smother in praise, and aspire to be. Effortlessly cool and instantly likable. Laid back but always switched on. Tremendous woman who I feel lucky to have interviewed for sure. Thank you!

Kristie California: Generous and so talented. Kristie gave so much to me in our interview without me uttering one word. Willing to help in any way she can regardless of her own workload and circumstance. A real gem. Thank you!

Brianne: An open book, eager to talk about her creative side, and expressions through tattoos. I contacted Brianne totally out of the blue, and she was so fantastic with her time and energies. Always helpful and a great support. Thank you!

Katt Wade: Surprising and so very talented. Was over the moon to feature her on the blog, and really think she’ll go places in 2012. A beautiful person inside and out, with flair and elegance in spades. Born to be extraordinary. Thank you!

http://natashabobasha.tumblr.com: Special mention for this fantastic female. I haven’t interviewed her YET, but think I will at some point in 2012 if she’s interested. She’s become a mate recently, and she’s such a positive person, easy to talk to and thoughtful. I hope she reaches every goal she sets for herself next year. It’s been a pleasure getting to know her, and I think she’s a dark horse for 2012 people. You read it here first. Thank you!

FRONT: You’re a constant source of delight and discussion for me FRONT. You gave us yet another year of terrific writing and pictures. Fingers crossed I get to work for you in 2012. You know where I am when you come to your senses. I’ll be bothering you again no doubt. Thank you!

Followers: Thank you to everyone that decided to follow my blog. I hope you enjoyed what I’ve posted in 2011. It always being a smile to my face when a new name pops up having followed me. I promise I get to every single blog that follows eventually. If you ever have any suggestions I’m all ears. Thank you all very much for your time.

 

So there you have it. My role of honour for 2011. I tried to be thorough, but if I left someone out in this post or my individual posts I’m so sorry.

Those were the first ever Alty awards. Hopefully they’ll be back, I had fun compiling them, and loved the opportunity to say thanks to everyone involved with the blog. Bring on 2012!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Rich.

ALYSHA NETT!

It’s funny that my “woman of the year” is having somewhat of a boom in the UK of late. Recently featuring in multiple issues of FRONT, and gracing the cover of the current issue. When I look at the work Alysha has done this year I can’t help but be amazed she agreed to feature on my blog a few months ago. I guess that tells you something about the lady herself, and her willingness to help out people trying to pursue their own creative aspirations. Before contacting her about an interview I was very well aware of Alysha and already admired her work ethic and approach to what she does. I wasn’t exactly intimidated by Alysha when I interviewed her, she was much too charming and kind when I enquired about an interview. But when you’re dealing with a larger than life character that you respect a whole lot, it’s hard to stay focussed and not just fawn all over them. On reflection I was immensely proud of the interview we produced together, and it will always be a badge of honour having Miss Nett feature on my blog. I learnt a lot from talking with Alysha, and I feel I have taken those lessons forward with me into my subsequent interviews. That’s one of many things I’ll always be grateful to this wonderful lady for.

Alysha has made terrific strides in her career this year, and while I’m sure she doesn’t give much credence to my “woman of the year” accolade, her work has made a profound impact on my life. The main trait Alysha has that I am always in awe of, is her chameleonic nature in front of the camera. The time and effort that goes into making sure no two shots are the same must be highlighted and applauded. It’s not easy to stay so fresh and dynamic with so many photo shoots in a calendar year, but Alysha manages it with some aplomb. Her very recent command of FRONT magazine shows how much she is appreciated, and how much people are realising what a mercurial talent she is.

Alysha is a woman that wears her creativity on her sleeve, both figuratively and literally. I am a regular exponent of her virtues, however she does not need one. Her photographs speak for themselves, and if anyone is in any doubt, she can herself vocalise so very eloquently about modelling and her passions. She impresses and inspires me a lot with her standards and general demeanour. Her work continues to shine, and the momentum she’s building seems to be leading towards a fantastic 2012 to follow a fantastic 2011. A deserving woman of the year in anyone’s estimations.

To see my interview with Alysha please follow the link below. It was a pleasure, an experience, and is a source of great pride for me.

 http://altgirlbotherer.tumblr.com/post/12418021884/alysha-nett

 

The image atop this post was used in my original interview with Alysha, and was taken from her tumblr at the time, with her permission.

STRIPEY!

What can I say about Stripey? Regular readers of my blog will notice I’m quite the fan of this lady. She’s one of the two names I had on my MUST interview list when I first started this tumblr adventure. Being a moderator for the FRONT forum, she was one of the first ladies I became acquainted with when I joined up. What followed was a period of catching up with Stripey posts on the forum, and learning about her career and previous work. I’m not sure what it was that first attracted me to Stripey and her work. There were many people posting on the forum when I first joined (unfortunately not the case currently), but Stripey was the character that jumped out and held my attention unceasingly. It wasn’t all about her stunning beauty and oh so interesting pictures, although those are an intense draw for me and many others. It was the personality that shone through also, a carefree attitude and equality with which she introduced and carried herself. She made you feel welcome, and often offered to help in any way she could. Those were my first notions of Stripey, and they were only enhanced the more I got to know her.

I interviewed Stripey pretty early on in my tumblr’s existence. She was my first two part interview due to the sheer number of questions I wanted to include. Throughout the entire process Stripey was a total joy, accommodating and modest. It was such a pleasure to work with her on the article, and I was so happy that someone I had admired from afar previously, was so down to earth when it came to collaborating. Ever since our interview I have kept in touch with Stripey, and so enjoy hearing about her up-coming projects and opportunities. It’s a crusade of mine to get her into FRONT magazine in a big way. I feel it’s crazy how they have such a stunning and intelligent woman looking after their forum, but have yet to utilise her to the fullest extent. I’m hopeful that Stripey’s latest outing in the FRONT Christmas advent calendar means future involvement in the magazine for her. I know it won’t be my pleas that get her into the pages, but the merit of her work and the person she is. But it is a pleasure to campaign for Stripey’s inclusion, and hope that FRONT finally listen to us all in 2012.

I’ve awarded the Alty of “one to watch in 2012” to Stripey because I really hope this is a terrific year for her. She’s had a few setbacks in 2011, but with the best of luck hopefully she can put those behind her and look forward to a productive next twelve months. I’ll always be interested in future Stripey work, and always on hand for support and cheerleading along the way. Here’s to a sensationally Stripey 2012!

For both parts of my original Stripey interview please click below:

Part 1: http://altgirlbotherer.tumblr.com/post/10986517039/stripey-interview-part-one

Part 2: http://altgirlbotherer.tumblr.com/post/11060148418/stripey-interview-part-two

 

The image used here was provided by Stripey for our previous interview, to which links are posted above.

YAZ!

Yaz was a very recent interviewee for me. In fact she was my Christmas special interview. She’s someone I have been wanting to talk with and welcome to my blog from the very beginning, and one of the sweetest individuals I’ve had the pleasure of chatting with. “Coolest customer” I’m sure she’d have a problem with mind you. I’m sure she’s much too modest to call herself cool, and in love with too many icons of geekdom to be automatically considered as such. But for me there is nothing cooler than a genuine, honest, passionate and thoroughly hilarious cosplay-tastic lady. When you’re cool but you don’t know it, then that makes you super cool right?!

My Christmas chat with Yaz was the culmination of an approach I made a month or so before the big day. I had a list of two names that I HAD to interview when I first began this tumblr venture, and Yaz was one of them. Since then I have met some astounding people, and been amazed at the individuals that have been willing to feature on my tumblr. Each and every one of them is so cool to me, and some I have actually been moved to ask “how are you so cool?” Frequently the response to such a questions is; “I’m not, I’m a complete dork”. I guess cool is all relative, and something people measure differently. For me the idea of someone being “cool” comes from their attitude towards different aspects of life. It’s not necessarily about clothes or tattoos. It’s about having passion, and having that passion for your own reasons and nothing else. Yaz talked so vividly about what she is passionate about, and I’ll always be grateful for that. When she talked about cosplay, art, FRONT, photography, modelling etc. She did so with such conviction and a forthright attitude (it’s been a long time since I used the word “forthright” so you know I mean it). I couldn’t help thinking “what a cool lady”, as well as admiring the hell out of her.

Cool is such a bastardised word I know, but I use it with the best intensions throughout this post. Yaz made me want to be as passionate about something as she is about so many things. She also made me laugh and educated me about a few things during our interview. “Coolest customer” might sound a tad twee in this context, but I stand by it. Yaz taught me a lot about a lot. She gave me such an enjoyable experience during our collaboration, and I’d do anything to do it again. Hopefully early on in 2012.

If you missed my Christmas interview post with Yaz, by all means check out both parts below:

Part 1: http://altgirlbotherer.tumblr.com/post/14767305566/christmas-special-the-gift-of-yaz-part-1

Part 2: http://altgirlbotherer.tumblr.com/post/14767622543/christmas-special-the-gift-of-yaz-part-2

 

The above image featured in the Christmas post and was originally provided by Yaz.

CALA ROSE!

The idea for a “tumblr titan” Alty award came to me when thinking back to my first impressions of tumblr. When I began this project I had no idea what tumblr was, or who used it. Quickly I became aware that there is a certain status that can be achieved on tumblr, through a person’s output and consideration of their audience. Let’s face it, the “follow” system does create an instant audience for every blogger. We’d all like lots of followers, because we’d all like to reach as many people as we can. This Alty doesn’t go to the person with the most followers however, as that is distinctly crass and really not worth celebrating. It is definitely worth acknowledging though, and I am always blown away by the attention and support some bloggers have amassed. Hopefully my very own blog will achieve such heights one day, but for now I am very grateful for every follower that graces my pages with their inquisitive eyes. But back to the Alty at hand.

Cala Rose was a model I was introduced to through one of my own followers. A suggestion I had to follow up after the merest glimpse of her blog. I was instantly reminded of Cala’s appearance for FRONT, and her frequent mentions on the FRONT forum. I had to get in touch, and crossed my fingers that she would accept my offer of an interview. When she accepted the offer my research (as it always does) began in earnest. I looked into her blog as was suggested, and couldn’t help but notice the regularity of posts. Then I came across a post thanking all Cala’s followers, the number of which was unbelievable! I won’t divulge such a massive, and I’m sure vastly increased number here now. Numbers are not the reason behind this award.

My Alty award of “tumblr titan” for Cala comes from her devotion to her followers. There may be an entire army of them out there, but Cala takes the time to thank them all, and constantly repays such loyalty with regular updates, pictures and videos. I think it’s important that when a personality generates such intense interest, they are humbled and very conscious of it. When I talked with Cala I became aware that her followers mean a lot to her, and she was so thankful and as mentioned, humbled, by all the attention. I think she must be applauded for such humility in the face of what is an immense fan base. There may be people out there with more followers, but there aren’t many that show the kind of reciprocation of affection that Cala does.

As I mention in our interview, all this tumblr notoriety must not detract from the work and individual behind it. Cala is a hard working model, and student. She has lofty goals and ambitions that she talks about with a fantastic passion. It would be easy for someone to rest on their laurels with so much support behind them already. But Cala still strives for better, and that’s the very reason so much of tumblr gives her their support gladly. Go and see what all the fuss is about for yourself, and check out our interview from a few weeks ago:

http://altgirlbotherer.tumblr.com/post/14403865123/cala-rose

 

The image used above was provided by Cala for our original interview. It is my immense pleasure to share it with you again here.

SOPHIE BUTCHER!

My interview with Sophie Butcher was a big deal for me. I actually got to interview her just before her Alt Girl feature for FRONT in issue 161 was released. I saw it as a bit of a coup if I’m honest, as I was first drawn to Sophie after her appearance on the FRONT website. I had no idea she had graduated to a full feature in the magazine, but I could totally understand why it had happened. Sophie’s pictures had a myriad of qualities that endeared her to the audience. Speaking personally, I saw a girl that didn’t take herself too seriously, and enjoyed being in front of the camera. Her work on the shoot with Scarlett studios harked back to what FRONT was all about when I first became a fan. It was this issue and FRONT’s decision to include a woman like Sophie Butcher that reaffirmed my faith in the magazine. It was such a classic FRONT spread, and I don’t mean that in any negative way. Though the spirit and character of the shoot was nostalgic, Sophie’s look and decisions in front of the lens kept it fresh and unique.

I must admit, that my waxing lyrical about Sophie and her qualities is not only due to her wonderful work in the guise of model. It is also due to her overwhelming character and personality. From the moment I began working with Sophie I found her committed and enthusiastic. She wanted to make our interview the best piece she could, and put in so much effort to make it so. I will always be grateful to Sophie for taking part in my blog. I’ll also always be thankful for her continued support for my other projects away from tumblr. I look forward to working with her again in the very near future, and will always find an excuse to revisit our dynamic and try to include her in as many projects as I can. She’s an incredibly creative and bubbly person, whose flair and ideas are being channelled through her advancing tattooing career. I’ve seen some quite recent work she has posted, and it’s clear to see her skills reach far beyond the modelling realm. I hope 2012 is a remarkable year for Sophie. She’ll always have a collaborator in me as long as she needs one. I hope FRONT revisit Miss Butcher in upcoming issues, and I wish her all the very best as always.

I hope you’ll check out or reacquaint yourself with our original interview collaboration, and follow the lovely Sophie to learn more:

http://altgirlbotherer.tumblr.com/post/11112820718/sophie-butcher

 

The image used in this post was originally provided by Sophie for use in our interview. An interview that’s well worth reading again.

EL WOOD!

I haven’t interviewed El Wood I’m afraid. I’d love to though, and maybe one day soon she’ll have some free time for a little chat for my blog. I will continue to message her and bother her incessantly I assure you. The first Alty of the night goes to El for her outstanding work on the cover of Bizarre magazine from September 2011.

There was only one winner of this award from the moment I saw El’s appearance on the front cover of Bizarre magazine issue 181. I said back then that this would become an iconic cover, and for me it already is. I see this cover every day, as my copy of the issue is framed in my office. It’s an achievement that really speaks to me, and a real thing of beauty in so many ways. It’s work like this that just makes us fans smile.

Photographer Christian Saint has a remarkable gift of making his subjects the centre of the universe when he takes their picture. I guess that’s a photographer’s job to some extent. In many other examples of Christian’s work, he has the uncanny ability to make his models “pop” for want of a better word. His choices with El’s cover image are sublime, from composition to colouring. I strive through my blog to learn more about the photographic process from a wide range of photographers at different stages in their careers. I’m no expert, but I know what I like, and I adore Christian’s work on this issue of Bizarre.

El of course looks amazing. Her alabaster skin against the pale blue background makes her leap off the page, and the hue of the blue mirrors her gorgeously colourful ink perfectly. I’m not sure how much post production magic was used to get such vibrancy, but for me everything works in this cover image. The pose from El is a microcosm of sexuality and attitude. The playful yet rough tug on her hair, the sultry way she sucks a finger, and what finger is it? The “fuck you” finger. Her make-up and her eyes invite you into the magazine, and I for one couldn’t turn to her feature quickly enough.

The entire set is wonderful, and there is a fluidity and sense of story that pulled me through the pages, and made me return again and again. I’m not surprised there is a clamour for pints from the shoot, as in every picture El looks shockingly dazzling. I say shockingly not because I’m shocked by El’s beauty. I’ve know El is an elegantly edgy goddess for a long time now. But I’m shocked at how mesmerized I am by the imagery she and Christian have produce in this issue of Bizarre. It’s a watershed picture for me in my admiration of artistic expression in publications. I’ll remember it for a very long time, and it will resonate with me into next year and beyond.

The Alty for best cover of the year goes to El Wood for this sparkling showing, and I can’t wait to see what she produces in 2012. Thanks El and Christian, and everyone involved in the shoot. Very well done!

Still working on my posts for the “Altys” (really not going to come up with a better name i fear). It’s tough to choose as there are some many fantastic people out there.

Also got interviews lined up right the way into 2012, and i’m looking forward to hopefully continuing the work i’ve been doing with my blog. Fingers crossed the fabulous contributors keep coming, and people continue to support what i’m trying to do. Will be posting the Altys tomorrow. Not sure how they’ll be presented, but it’ll be interesting putting them together.

All the very best to everyone today, hope you’ve all got something positive to remember about 2011, and if not don’t worry, there’s not much of it left :)

Thanks.