What vitamins or supplements do you take daily?

• Fish oil
• Calcium, Magnesium and Zinc
• High potency B
• Piracetam – this is a nootropic that helps with memory and cognitive enhancement
• Currently I’m also adding Echinacea, because there is a flu going around

Everything I’m about to take:

Do you retouch your skin in your photos or is it that beautiful naturally?

Though my skin is generally decent, it isn’t perfect and I do retouch it in some photos. After all, I’m a professional retoucher and have spent years editing pictures of other girls – it’s kind of compulsive at this point. Here is a completely unedited, makeup-free photo, where you can see the cat-inflicted scars on my left cheek!

Do you have sensitive skin? because I don’t, but I read on Biorequiem that you use Prestige liquid liner, and I’ve used it in the past and it burned my eye lids. And I have bad skin and saw your skin tips.. So I’m not sure if I should try it out.

Sounds highly unpleasant! I suggest you take the time to get checked out by a doc and figure out what it is in Prestige liquid liner you’re allergic to, so you can avoid it in the future. This will help you establish a safe, steady skin regimen! As far as my skin is concerned – no, it’s not especially sensitive.

What are your most indispensable concoctions and/or tools used in the decontamination chamber? (i.e., do you have a skincare regimen, or does your skin look like bionic porcelain thanks to glorious genetics?)

Alas, even bionic porcelain isn’t perfect! I mostly covered this here. Additionally, I use jojoba oil as eye make-up remover and wear sunscreen – my powder foundation has SPF 15, or I use Olay’s Complete daily moisturizer. Exfoliating with one of these every few days does wonders, as well:

Don’t think that this is a sleazy question, but have you ever been in porn? I thought I saw you in a fetish thing, so I looked it up and it lists a “Zoe” who has been in 2 other adult films… Is it you?

I’m not the adult industry”Zoe”. However! Back when I did a lot of extra work for film and TV, I was featured in Fetish: Are you Human [likely the film you saw] as a cyborg and an evil nurse – but not as a “performer”.  I’m not even sure they credited me, though they did put a shot of me on the back cover, which caused some confusion among my friends. Here is a picture of a gigantic polaroid from that set:

2002. Suck is, Lizbeth Salander.

This was a really fun, bacchanalian experience actually – I got to go behind the scenes of a high-budget SciFi porn production, see how it’s done on a gorgeous set, take pictures, make money and eat a fancy lunch while watching attractive professionals having sex in this glass pod just 20 feet away.

I also got to command miniature porn actor, Napoleon, as his evil nurse – all while keeping my clothes on.

You seem like a busy person, so what do you do with Micron when you’re out and about? I ask because my dog tends to fret when I go out for the day and I’m not sure what to do about it!

When I first adopted her, she was a fretter, and it took about a year and a half for her to feel confident that I would be back every time I left. These days, Micron is a fairly mellow beast and spends much of her alone time sleeping, save for the occasional romp through the garbage. I often work from home, so she isn’t left alone too often. When she is though, she manages with the sleeping and the romping, but is overjoyed when we come home. During trips, we’re lucky to have friends willing to watch her in our absence!

You don’t have to reply to this but I just wanted to say (even though you said you didn’t want to have children) that if you decided to, one day, I think you would make an incredible mother.

Thank you! I’m not sure what prompts you to say that, but hope to channel whatever it might be into all the work I do.

Tell me, in single words, only the good things that come into your mind when you think about your mother?

My mother? Let me tell you about my mother.

Not so much a question as a “thank you for not stepping on slash helping me find my glasses at The Protomen show.” My sister was awesomed by your hair, also.

Hey, you’re welcome! I hope you’re still having fun discovering LA.

                          

Interrogation Station is here to answer questions from YOU. To give it a go, just submit a question through my Formspring page. You can ask anything you like, it doesn’t have to be about style or art. All I request is that you check out my FAQ and previously asked questions beforehand. I can’t guarantee that I’ll get to every single question, but I will certainly try. You can see previous installments of I.S. here.

What perfume/bodyspray/lotion scents are your favorite to wear, and do they vary for different situations? (ie: daily casual, night out, formal, etc)?

I go between Viktor and Rolf’s Antidote, Viktor and Rolf’s Flowerbomb, Black Currant mixed with Bonfire from I Hate Perfume, Cherry Cordial from I Hate Perfume, and a variety of baked goods scents from all over – cookies, chocolate, vanilla, butterscotch – I love it all! I don’t consider any occasion more worthy of a scent than another, so there’s no real system in place. I’m at home in my pajamas at this very moment, and wearing Flowerbomb, just because.

Have you ever been accused of undergoing plastic surgery? Have you actually gone under the knife?

I’m not sure that plastic surgery is something one’s “accused of”, per se, but the answer is, not really. I’ve had a few people ask whether I’ve had breast implants, which, no, I have not. I’m terrified of cosmetic implants, actually, but would be up for all manner of electronic modules – camera eyes, UNF!

As far as having gone under the knife, the answer is never, which isn’t to say I wouldn’t later in life, if my financial situation was such that cosmetic surgery wouldn’t make a dent. As things are, however, there are so many other things I’d rather spend my money on, that it’s a non-issue. Also, I’m rather fond of aging naturally at this moment, because fighting age? Ultimately, you’re fighting a losing battle, no matter how wealthy. No grace in that.

Do you have a favorite country to visit/one you want to visit?

Favorite? Impossible. I have so much more to explore before I can even consider answering that. As far as current plans, I may be going to Rome in the spring, then my husband and I are planning a trip to Southwest India immediately after that, and a sort of mass exodus to Iceland the following year. I’m incredibly excited about our trip to India, because it’s so unlike anywhere either of us has traveled. Spending two weeks immersed in and exploring this culture together will be an unparalleled experience. More on that once we have our tickets and some idea of specifics.

How were you in school, particularly high school? Did you ever want to drop out? I understand that you went to a high school for the arts, was that your first high school?

I did want to drop out. In fact, I even took my state proficiency test my junior year, but, after passing, decided to stay in school anyway. LACHSA was certainly not my first high school, it was my fourth. I started at Pacific Palisades HS here in LA, then went through two different schools in Denver, CO before ending up back in LA to finish. I hate Denver, by the way.

How do you deal with the concept of morality?

Did you mean “mortality”? Because I’m undecided on that. Same goes for morality, though two key principles do apply: 1. Avoid lying 2. Don’t hurt the people I love unless absolutely necessary, or unless they say “please” real nice-like.

Do you sell any of your self portraits?

Right now, this collection of select 36FAIL images is available. They come in sets of three which is kind of odd, but if you have a couple of friends who might like them, it works out well.

Will I be able to take a picture with you or even ask for an autograph at this upcoming 2011 IMATS in which Amy’s Sugarpill line will be presented?

Certainly, but I have to admit to having no comprehension of the autograph concept itself. I do it from time to time, but why? WHYEEE??!!

I’m a girl who’s had short hair for years, and people give me a hard time about it, because it’s “not what girls are supposed to look like”. I was wondering if anyone has criticized you when you’ve opted for a boyish haircut, and how you dealt with it?

I’ve had people givin’ me lip about my aesthetic decisions my entire life, literally. It hasn’t been about having short hair though, aside from a few ooold boyfriends’ remarks, which I never placed much stock in. And that’s how I deal with it – it’s my head and, frankly, fuck the rest. It’s almost 2011, and if the people around you think short hair is “for boys”, I suggest you move.

Due to circumstances beyond my control I will be dropping out of college at the end of this semester, in the middle of my sophomore year. I will have no chance to return. I feel so lost and scared. I understand that you dropped out of college; any advice?

Don’t stress, and work. Spend a year [not longer] turning nothing down. Work like a rabid firemonkey, and your portfolio and/or resume will speak for themselves in no time.

Do you have a P.O. box or address where we can send you things?

Against better judgment, I do. Email me for instructions.

Do you have any recommendations for Red hair dye? My new job doesn’t approve of my N’Rage Crimson Red hair, do you know of any brands that aren’t natural looking but will pass as looking like a Professional?

Feria, but you’ll have to touch it up fairly often, as it fades rapidly.

How would you feel about somebody changing his/her/its name to a distant resemblance of yours (in form, not in essence), as a permanent sign of being inspired by you?

My purpose behind everything I do here is to inspire people to seek out their true selves and to pursue their own individuality with utmost ferocity. When I see folks imitating even with the purest of intentions, I think they missed the point.

Borscht. Yay or nay?

Hell yes! I have yet to make it myself, but perhaps this winter it shall finally be time.

                          

Interrogation Station is here to answer questions from YOU. To give it a go, just submit a question through my Formspring page. You can ask anything you like, it doesn’t have to be about style or art. All I request is that you check out my FAQ and previously asked questions beforehand. I can’t guarantee that I’ll get to every single question, but I will certainly try. You can see previous installments of I.S. here.

This I.S. is all about me. I get a megaton of personal questions on Formspring, but generally want this feature to be helpful rather than indulgent, so they get left behind. Also, some of the questions are creepy. I won’t be answering those. Anyway, it doesn’t feel fair to say “ask me anything” and then ignore such a large percentage of questions. Today in the mood, so feel free to skip this one if you’re not.

Where would you prefer to be at any moment?

Enroute to a grand adventure.

Are you a breakfast eater?

Absolutely.

How tall are you?

5’4.

Have you ever gone rock climbing?

I have! I’ve even climbed two glaciers back in Russia.

How much coffee do you drink every day?

I don’t drink much coffee anymore, actually, certainly not every day. When I do, no more than two cups.

Are you ticklish?

Not usually.

Will you marry me?

Nooop.

What is the correct pronunciation of your name?

Zoh-eh-tee-kah.

I hope this doesn’t sound silly, like maybe I should already know the answer, but is Zoetica your birthname?

It is not.

What is your favorite candy?

I’m actually not all that fond of candy, but I love super-fancy dark chocolate, Japanese lychee-flavored gummies, and Turkish Delights.

What is your biggest pet peeve?

Laziness, in all its manifestations.

How many languages do you speak?

Russian – fluent, English – fluent, French – lower-intermediate. I also understand Spanish fairly well.

Do you identify as bisexual?

Well, I guess so? Maybe? If you want? Honestly, I have never felt a need to identify as anything, be it sex or gender. I’ve always found women to be beautiful, and my first sexual experience was with a woman. That said, I’ve “seriously” dated maybe five women in my entire life, slept with a few more, and have been involved with way more men than that. I’m married to a man. I suppose if I was forced to pick a word, it would be “Pansexual“.

What was the reason for your move from Russia to the United States?

I didn’t have a reason, I had parents. It wasn’t my decision, but it’s a decision I’m grateful for every day. As much as I love and achingly miss Russia, I honestly don’t think I could have done half of what I’ve been able to do in the US. I love my life here. That said, I still have my Russian citizenship along with an American one, and Ales and I talk about moving in a couple of years at least once a week. I like having options.

What is your family background like? What did they do?

My mother teaches French and Russian here. In Russia, she was an interpreter, and worked with everything from book translation to diplomats. She also wrote a few children’s books. My father writes for a Russian-language paper here along with running a consulting business. In Russia he was a writer, a journalist, a Karate instructor, a security officer, a partner in a clothing company, and a strawberry-breeder, among other things. My grandmother on my mother’s side worked as a forensic pathologist. She’s 87 now, but up until just a few years ago, she spent most of her free time hiking in large groups and traveling. My grandfather on my father’s side was a physicist. He wrote textbooks and had an office I slept in during visits, that was covered in built-in bookshelves, wall to wall, with green ivy covering the entire ceiling. He gave me my first fancy German markers to draw with. He traveled a lot. It’s safe to say that I come from a long line of curious intellectuals.

“I did spend a night in a youth correctional facility, somewhere in the bowels of the deep South, when I was around fifteen.” you said, can we hear some details, please?

Saving that story for the memoirs. The short version: I ran away from home when I was 14. I was eventually caught and held until my family could retrieve me.

Do you like Type O Negative? I’m sad Peter Steele died.

I’m sad too, but probably for the wrong reasons. When I was about 16, I was carnally fascinated with Steele, yet turned down an invitation to go backstage at a Denver concert. Now I’ll never get to hit that. He wasn’t afraid be funny and stupid and to poke fun where it so sorely needed to be poked. I think we would have gotten along.

You always look really comfortable with your own skin. Is there anything you don’t like that much about your physical appearance?

That’s a thought process I don’t engage in. There are many ways in which I could be less like me, but I that’s just it. Then it wouldn’t be me, and I like me. In case, y’know, you couldn’t tell.

I know you met Ales in Paris, but, how exactly?

Ah, I’m so glad you asked! Initially, Ales and I met on Whitechapel – a message board belonging to brilliant writer and Notorious Love Swami, Warren Ellis. I saw his picture, and felt a distant sense of recognition. At the time, Ales lived in the Czech Republic, and I lived here in LA. I think at the moment of initial contact, we were both somewhat involved with people, so it was all strictly platonic. We maintained contact entirely though Twitter direct messages, i.e. 140 characters or less. After half a year, or maybe a little bit more, I found myself going to Paris, and Ales met me there. In person, that recognition was undeniable. I had rented an apartment for four days, and things were most certainly no longer platonic. That was that.

Out of curiosity, do Ales and you plan on procreating? I think you two would be doing the world a great favor by creating art/genius hybrids.

Thanks, but nooo. Neither of us has any interest in the childbearing process, and we both have way too much we want to do in this lifetime. We’re happy to have time to devote to work, each other, our friends, and our dog.

                          

Interrogation Station is here to answer questions from YOU. To give it a go, just submit a question through my Formspring page. You can ask anything you like, it doesn’t have to be about style or art. All I request is that you check out my FAQ and previously asked questions beforehand. I can’t guarantee that I’ll get to every single question, but I will certainly try. You can see previous installments of I.S. here.

First of all, a huge thanks to everyone who re-posted yesterday’s plea for help. A couple of people have gotten in touch so far, but nothing’s set in stone yet. I’ll keep you informed. Meanwhile, I’m home with a bit of a cold, guzzling honey tea and poppin’ pryaniki like it’s 1599. Clearly, this a good time to answer some of your questions. I’m just doing these in descending order, save for the “Do you shave your beaver?” question, which may get a dedicated post of its own, or get skipped entirely. This edition is built for speed.

Romero-esque zombies have risen and are currently feasting on the brains of your loved ones. What is your weapon of choice for dealing with this threat?

As I’m looking around my home, I see that I have a few options here:  a retractable steel baton for smashing skulls in [compact, virtually indestructible], a machete for chopping heads off, a pair of steel-heeled stilettos which could be OK for eye-socket-to-brain perforation. But, honestly? In a real zombie apocalypse I would much prefer to be armed with a nice hand-cannon. Wouldn’t have to get so close!

Indiana Jones or James Bond?

No. I refuse to pick. Perhaps a blend of both, equally apt at survival with or without gadgets.

Erm, this is totally random, but you remind me for some reason of the girl on Godsmack’s debut album cover… That wouldn’t be you by any chance, would it?

She’s lovely, but I wouldn’t do that to my eyebrows. No.

Could you please tell me/us about Noirland? I stumbled upon it on IMDB and was quite surprised to see your name!

Noirland is currently in post production. It’s a film by Ramzi Abed starring James Duval [Doom Generation]. The synopsis:

A catatonic serial killer (James Duval) is put under a deep hypnosis in order to free his last victim and revive him into coming to terms with the sadistic sexual acts he is responsible for. An amnesiac detective searching for a serial killer finds out he is the prime suspect. Criminal psychiatrists and psychologists watch the mysteries unfold.

Should be a fun B-flick! I only appear in one scene, but I do have a line and it was a ton of fun to shoot. Many fun photos from that day, which will be up a little closer to the film’s release date.

What’s the worst mistake you’ve ever made?

I don’t believe in mistakes, only life and lessons.

What excites you most?

It’s a toss up between tearing down barriers, travel, the creative high, debauchery, and toro sashimi.

Do you smoke?

Though I haven’t purchased a pack since the Master Cleanse, I do enjoy the occasional borrowed puff over drinks.

What are your guilty food pleasures? Just so some of us don’t feel so alone in being completely bad on occasion.

Being completely bad on occasion isn’t bad at all. I think eating what you want is important, just within reason! My mom gave me a package of pryaniki on Saturday. Though I’m generally un-stirred by sugar, sometimes It just needs to get in muh belleh. Like RIGHT NOW.  Other foods that I just gots to have sometimes are 1. Flamin’ Hot Cheetos 2. Japanese wasabi seaweed chips 3. Fried chicken. All of these cravings surface about three times a year, and I obey like a good girl.

You were my inspiration to move to L.A. & demand that life be interesting, but life disagrees as usual. I’m here, but it’s still pretty regular. Any advice on making a life where I can jaunt about with interesting clothes/hair, befriending unique people?

Art openings! Plays! Museums! Concerts! Clubs, if that’s your thing. Sign up for a few event mailing lists and get to it. There is always so much stuff going on, but without knowing about it this place can definitely seem like a big, empty sprawl of concrete. Also, make Yelp.com your friend. It’s really helpful at mentally preparing you for what places could be like before you go.

Top ten comics?

Impossible! However, I just discovered Tamburini and Liberatore’s RanXerox and am currently in the throes of big, mean cyborg-punk adoration.

                          

Interrogation Station is here to answer questions from YOU. To give it a go, just submit a question through my Formspring page. You can ask anything you like, it doesn’t have to be about style or art. All I request is that you check out my FAQ and previously asked questions beforehand. I can’t guarantee that I’ll get to every single question, but I will certainly try. You can see previous installments of I.S. here.

I´m intrigued by the glimpses of your living space. Any chance for more photos of your home?

Timely question! This space just might be done with very soon. It’s almost inconceivable. I lived here when I went to high school, and again for the past nine [!] years. It’s seen enough roommates, drama, and action for several lifetimes. This apartment is saturated with so, so many memories that it almost feels like a part of me. It is a part of me, really, except that it’s a “me” that existed and will continue to exist in another time. In the present, Ales and I want to make a home in a place that’s ours, not mine, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do. So, to answer your question, there will be moving photos and, eventually, photos of our new quarters.

Were you ever an angsty teenager with sub-par self confidence? If so, how did you get past it and what helped you grow into the person you are today? Any advice for some of us angsty teens?

1. Mhmm.

2. Hesitated to answer this one, because I don’t exactly want the mothers of the internet on my tail, but ultimately I’m not here to skim over the big stuff, so pull up a chair, and grampa Zo will tell you a little tale. See, I did it by putting myself through some deep, reckless, irresponsible shit. For years, at that. From the time I was a kid and until about the age of 20, I felt a compulsion to experience and understand things I knew no one would ever teach me at home, or in school, but I sensed were lurking just below the surface. Things I knew couldn’t be taught, and had to be lived, sonny! Having sufficiently traversed the aforementioned shit-mountain, I emerged aware of my capacity to endure, and thus self-assured.

3. Obviously, I do not advise anyone follow that route. Here is some advice I wish I was given, instead: do what you feel, as long as you maintain a balance and can be sure you’re not hurting anyone. That usually means a degree of openness and a lot of self-examination. Avoidance is the enemy.

Also, read more books and eat your greens. Grampa has spoken.

I’m pretty down in the dumps now, and you feel like a strong (emotionally) lady. Have you been heartbroken before? (If yes) How did you get over it?

I’m sorry to be answering this late. It’s been Coilhouse Issue 05 madness and I haven’t peeped at Formspring in a bit. But let me say now, BOY, have I. It’s tough to conceive the depths of the dumps of my past, dude. I’ve been in megadumps of such proportions that I couldn’t even begin to describe them here, nor should I, really. Suffice to say that I got over it because I had to, and not always in the most constructive ways. These days, I do have a specific way I get over things, and that’s by looking at the bigger picture, always. Living is all we humans get, and the less of it we spend being heartbroken, the better. It can be an exquisite, lovely pain, but indulging in it too much is just like any overindulgence – you end up missing the point.

How many hours do you sleep regularly?

At least 6, ideally 8. I love early mornings and have a hard time staying asleep once awake, and my husband wakes up at 5:30am, which generally springs me to life, too. On undersleepy days, I try to nap for an hour around 1 or 2pm. Often unsuccessfully.

What´s the idea or inspiration behind the “reflection” style photos?

I’m pasting my statement from the glorious fail of a contest that was The Power of Self, because it sums things up:

I try to pin down and preserve dream states, like the moment when you look at the warm sun through the red of your closed eyelids and drift. The ambiguous in-between minutes separating lucidity and sleep. The tricks our eyes play in dim light and then, the way we wonder if the world is quietly opening its shutters to grant us a peek at another side and then another. Often, the hours of friendly discourse over too much coffee on the subject of what might happen if every reflective surface was Lewis Caroll’s looking glass.

Were you planning on selling more clothing on Ebay any time soon?

As a matter of fact yes, NOW. I listed a bunch yesterday, though two sold already. Ch-ch-check it out!

Where did you learn the delicious make-up skills? Self-taught? I’m an avid fan of your “Blush Response” segment on your website. It gives me inspiration to do strange things to my face!

Nyarrf, thanks! Can we have some pictures of the strange things you’ve done to your face? Entirely self-taught when it comes to beauty make up, and apprenticed with an established artist in special effects make up, prosthetics, exploding heads and the like a few years ago, too.

A lightning-fast job I did for a W.A.S.T.E. photo shoot

Do you have a haircut you really regret?

Non, je ne regrette rien.

[P.S. Several questions about my camera set up and glasses this week. Naughty birdies didn't read my FAQ.]

                          

Interrogation Station is here to answer questions from YOU. To give it a go, just submit a question through my Formspring page. You can ask anything you like, it doesn’t have to be about style or art. All I request is that you check out my FAQ and previously asked questions beforehand. I can’t guarantee that I’ll get to every single question, but I will certainly try. You can see the first installment of I.S. here.

So, as it turns out you still have a lot of question. In the interest of keeping my answers interesting and more than one sentence long, I’m going to divide these into many small installments. There are over one hundred [srsly] questions in my inbox and attempting to answer too many at once would result in a whole lot of incoherent mishmash.

How did you learn to draw? How old were you?

I’ve always drawn and that’s the troof. Ever since my little fingers, sticky with black currant jam and rocket fuel, found their way to a my grandfather’s box of fancy European markers. Ever since my mother introduced me to the pre-Raphaelites and Dali and all that Moscow’s museums have to offer. As far back as I can remember, I’ve scribbled and doodled.

As far as the “how” goes, I suppose the timeline between the ages of two and ten went like this:

• Draw, draw draw.
• Be filled with hate at drawings not looking the way I want them to.

Tentacle love set in early on

• Receive book about basic anatomy in cartooning.
• Draw, draw, draw, draw.

• Get better. Slowly. Very, very slowly.

Vampire mermaid! In chains! Haunted by demon-hand!

I’m 18 years old. When I see all the incredible things you’ve accomplished I feel overwhelmed. What were your art skills like when you were 18? I’ve never had a chance to do creative things, but now that I do I just don’t know if it’s too late.

At 18 I was going to the LA County High School for the Arts. I had illustration classes, which I hated deeply but did alright in. A few examples from that time:

Everyone’s favorite moneygrub

Illustration for one of the final scenes of Oscar Wilde’s The Canterville Ghost

Poster concept for Edward Scissorhands

I believe that you already know what I’m going to say. It’s never too late! I’m 29 and you’re ONLY 18. Consider this: some people don’t decide what their Ultimate Destiny is until they’re well into the silver years, so really, you’re in luck.

If you think you want to make art, it might take a while to find your favorite medium, your style, whether you actually want to try and make a living at it, etc. My advice? Don’t burden yourself with all that anytime soon. Go to museums and art openings, look at art books and comics, soak up your favorite stuff and feed your budding art-brain. Spend some time at libraries and book stores if you don’t feel like shelling out dough just yet. The most important thing to remember is this: you cannot output without input. Get an anatomy book, look up a few tutorials online if need be, and once your brain is heavy with knowledge and power, get to making, constantly, as much as possible.

It is never, ever too late to learn and try new stuff! I didn’t even think about painting until I was 17 or 18.

Did you go to college? If so, what was your major? How important do you think a college major is to a career? I ask these things because I admire you. :D

Thank you, kind stranger! I did, indeed go to college and I majored in fine art with focus on painting. I dropped out after exactly one year. Let me preface the rest by saying that I can only speak with some certainty about careers in art. If you want to be an astrophysicist, or a doctor, or travel down any left-brain career path, the answer is yes. You need it, as a launch pad at the very least.

If you want to be a fine artist, the story changes drastically. College is good for building a portfolio, defining some of the ins and outs of your desired career path, meeting like-minded individuals and igniting a fire of competition under one’s ass, which, in turn lights a fire of creativity. All these things are important for a career. However, if you’re motivated enough, you can build a portfolio on your own, you can meet like-minded people at cultural functions, and you can feel competitive to hundreds of established peeps just by going online and researching whatever field you’re going into.

On the flipside, if you want to make films, be an animator, a photographer, etc., college is indispensable when it comes to resources – equipment, editing stations – all those things you might not have money or space for right now, but that you need to work with. The important aspect to understand in all of this is the kind of person you are, and whether you, right now, have the motivation and the resources and, most importantly, the proverbial balls to establish yourself as whatever it is you want to be on your own.

Another dull, but hideously important factor is money. If you live in the States and your family is anything less than loaded, school is really very expensive. You must think ahead, apply for as many scholarships as possible, and enlist your friends’ and relatives’ help if necessary. This is a massive pain in the ass, but check-a dis: I went to a 50k/year school and only owed maybe 3k for my one year there. That’s because my mom and I busted our determined butts applying for every grant and scholarship under the sun.

My tragic youth in Chicago, while at SAIC

I didn’t stay in college because mine only offered studio classes with almost no instruction when all I wanted was structure and for someone to actually teach me. At the time of my attendance, the painting department relied very heavily on windbaggery [the ability to convince people that your work is important] instead of skill, which, with me having already gone to an arts high school, was the opposite of what I wanted. However! I had access to one of the best museums in the country on a daly basis and got to do some incredibly fun stuff once I gave up on my actual department. I tried my hand at video and performance art, and I got to live in Chicago, which I love to this day.

Ultimately, there isn’t a magical definitive answer. Whether college will work for you depends entirely on you. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and if you’re able to give it a go, I say do it. Understand yourself, your work ethic, and the type of school you need, then research and find what works for you. But don’t be ever afraid to leave if it isn’t right.

                          

It’s International Women’s Day, and to celebrate, I’m introducing a new feature. Titled “Interrogation Station”, it’s here to answer questions from YOU. I got the idea after trying out Formspring – there were so many similar questions, it made sense to integrate them into Biorequiem, for all to see. To give Interrogation Station a go, just submit a question through my Fromspring page. You can ask anything you like, it doesn’t have to be about style or art. All I request is that you check out my FAQ and previously asked questions beforehand. I can’t guarantee that I’ll get to every single question, but I will certainly try. Onward!

How Do You Keep Your Skin Looking So Perfect?

Thank you – my skin isn’t perfect, in that I have scars from piercings and the neurotic cats of my childhood, but I do have a few tricks up my sleeve!

1. Sleep. Getting enough sleep is a crucial step to looking and feeling your best. As you all probably know, people who sleep enough and regularly [not too much, not too little] live longer, look younger and are generally healthier than those with erratic sleep patterns.
2. Water. You hear it everywhere and by Einstein’s balls it’s TRUE! Drink water whenever you can, literally.
3. Hyaluronic Serum. Whuhh? Oh yes, you heard it here first! Rejoice my squidlings, because this stuff will do things to your skin you didn’t know where possible! I’ve been wanting to tell everyone about it for months, but I wanted to give it a good test run before recommending it. And now – I recommend it. In my experience, this product is not so good under makeup so I try to use it before bed or on no makeup days [I have plenty of those, don't gasp at me that way]. This is the brand I’ve been using. You can thank me later. On make up days, I use Oil of Olay Deep Hydration Regenerating Cream.
4. Avoid processed food. You already know it’s bad for you, so just stop. Eating real food is good for every aspect of your being. If your insides are stuffed with frozen pizzas, gummy bears and hot pockets, your skin will show it.

Does your hair dye ever rub off on things, like pillowcases or clothing? I can never seem to keep my color really vibrant without it leaving it’s mark everywhere.

Honestly? Possibly, but I wouldn’t know it. My bedsheets are all dark and so are my towels. It does help to rinse your hair with ice-cold water  after shampoo and conditioner, to close those follicles god and proper. I’ve heard of people rinsing with vinegar to help keep the color stay put, but haven’t personally tried it.

Do you gravitate towards certain colors? I understand black is the ultimate color. Do you handle other colors (red, green, etc.) well and can you wear them?

Actually, I firmly believe that anyone can wear any color they want, as long as they do it with style and confidence. As for me, I currently prefer wearing mostly black and gray, but have handled color just fine in the past, as demonstrated by these old-school style photos:

What places do you typically purchase your make-up from, especially foundation? Your make-up and skin are flawless!

In my recent Blush Response, I said that I’ve been using Prestige’s Skin Loving Minerals powder foundation. It’s half the price of Bare Escentuals and more matte, too.  When I can, however, I go for Bare Escentuals, and I never-ever use liquid or non-mineral foundation. You can find Prestige at drug stores that carry the brand, and I buy Bare Escentuals at Sephora.

You mentioned that you sometimes curl your hair with a curling iron. How do you manage the shorter hair in the back with that a-line? I can’t ever get it right.

I curl it under, in rows, starting from the bottom up, then I make it a little messy and go. Looks better than leaving tight curls back there – those make me think of The Golden Girls.

I would love, if you have the time, to tell me how you did your hair, particularly in the Sugarpill post and Style Dispatch 008. Product, pointers, how you dried it, or an essential step. I would really appreciate any advice.

1. Air dry! Always air dry.
2. While wet, distribute a little bit of TiGi’s Curls Rock Curl Amplifier through hair. Scrunch.
3. Once dry, curl just a few pieces on top and around the face with a medium-barrel curling iron.
4. Once hair cools down, separate tight curls with fingers for a softer, fuller look.

And that wraps up this installment on Interrogation Station. More soon.