people we love: hattie watson

Some people just personify the word "arresting." Hattie Watson is one such being: a living doll, complete with a hauntingly delicate visage, freckles, and hair somewhere between red and blonde. Just one look at any photo of this drop-dead gorgeous lady tells you she's not a typical doll, however. Hattie adorns herself in visual art, with fascinating tattoos dotting her chest, arms, and stomach, all of which she is not the least bit shy about showing off. We interviewed this darling Texan-turned-nomad model and found she's somehow even more interesting than she looks!

Miss Watson by Lauren Peralta

Looking back, did you ever think you would be where you are now?
Two years ago, no I didn't think I would be where I am now. I was leading a completely different life then and heading in a direction I wasn't ready to go just yet. I think all along, I've wanted to be here or further, but just didn't know how to get there.

You have such a gorgeous, unique style, where do your fashion inspirations come from?
I've actually never really been that into fashion. I think over the last year I've started taking a bit more interest in it. I don't know if I really get inspiration from anywhere. I just grab things that I like and put them together. Which for the most part is the same thing everyday. Black pants, black shirt, leather or jean jacket, boots. I guess I've just always liked woman who dress in a more masculine way while keeping their femininity. It just appeals to me.

by Mariana Quevedo

We know you have a deep love of traveling... where is a place you've never been but dream of visiting?
Egypt, Greece are my two main places that I would love to go. Of course anywhere else in Europe would be wonderful. I would love to do a backpacking trip through Europe one day or hopefully live there.

Was there a singular event or reason you decided to start a modeling career?
I needed a creative outlet in my life and it was something I had thought about and had photographers tell me about doing so I decided to try it out. I had tried so many things to express myself and get the creative attention I needed, and nothing ever seemed to work except this. Working on another creative outlet right now though.

by Shayne Stroud

What did you think about before you fell asleep last night?
Seriously....everything! I couldn't begin to tell you the amount of thoughts that race through my head the second my head hits that pillow. It's overwhelming and leads me to never actually getting to sleep when I wanted or not sleeping at all.

What's your favorite mode of transportation? Why?
Car. I just love the fact that you can hop in a car and go anywhere. You don't have to rely on anyone else but yourself. It's all in your hands and your time is fully your time. Driving is a release for me and that time that I truly get by myself to think. Yes, we already covered I think too much. I suggest anyone in their early to mid twenties travel by car. Take a roadtrip alone. Everyone period should take a roadtrip alone. You have no idea how much you start figuring out.

by Tamara Lichtenstein

 Do you have some favorite themes for photoshoots? If so, what are they?
I really like doing more natural and pretty. Very Urban Outfitters editorial-like. I also like doing more drama-type black and white fashion sometimes. Also, doing shoots that are a little on the more different side are really fun and interesting to do and let me connect with my inner weird-artist side.

What do you like to do to pass the time during your travels?
I play a lot of video games when I am on break. I like to stay active with running, camping, hiking, biking, etc.. Maybe some reading if I can stay interested long enough. I enjoy sitting around watching random movies on netflix and hulu as well. Pretty basic normal lifestyle. When I am actually traveling, I try to sightsee as much as possible when I am not working.

by Shayne Stroud

Thank you so much to the wonderful Hattie!

Check out more of her work on her website and follow her Tumblr!
Facebook is always nice as well.

xx

The Pulp Girls

*Above photos are copyright their respective artists. Please credit if you use them in any way!

people we love: beckie-ann galentine

We have been in love with Beckie-Ann Galentine's bad-ass style and attitude for quite some time now! Her photos and vintage shop ooze a certain type of confidence and exude an air of witchy wonder. She's very into the occult and hangs out in graveyards fairly often... which we think more people should get into! She has this awesome, youth in revolt flame burning in her which is ultra evident whenever she happens to be in a photo! Miss Galentine hails from Pennsylvania and sells vintage in her Etsy shop, modeling the clothing with an edgy, feminine energy in every outfit, from velvet to lace.

Do you have any daily rituals?

Every morning starts with freshly brewed green tea, and by the end of the day I usually fall asleep painting, even if it is something small.

Your work seems to channel some otherworldly stuff! Describe the role of the occult in your images.

I have always been interested in the occult, mainly because my mother would take me to this little Pagan store hours away and I would be captivated. Although I do not identify myself to any one set religion, I am a spiritual person. Whenever I first saw “the Selma Blair Witch Project” editorial a few years back, I was greatly inspired. Popular fashion, photography and art always seemed to focus on ultra-poppy bubblegummy type stuff, and the darker side of things always got a negative and ugly view. The occult doesn’t necessarily mean scary or ugly just because it is different, and I try to show that through imagery. The props I use – such as the crystal ball, spell books or witch bottles – are all authentic.

Do you have a beloved camera or film type?

Even though it’s a pain, I will always have a soft spot for Polaroid instant film. It reminds me of sitting on Santa’s lap, bawling my eyes out as a child. The fact that instant was immortalized on the spot is just awesome to me – it can never be deleted or Photoshopped. It’s and raw, forever.

What is your favorite season to shoot in?

Autumn, hands down. The weather is perfect – not too cold or too warm and the warm tones in the leaves are enchanting to me.

What would be the five items you'd grab out of your room in an emergency?

Oh jeeze, I’d probably do the best I could to haul out my garbage bag full of My Little Ponies, my crystal ball, my camera, a deer skull my best friend gave me, and my book of shadows.

Is portrait photography your preferred format?

Absolutely. I love making people, especially ordinary people with no modeling experience, feel pretty! Everyone’s eyes tell a story; if you can capture that in a photograph, you know what you are doing.

What's your favorite vintage item you've come across? Why?

I have this black angora sweater I picked up at a local thrift shop that I couldn’t live without; it’s oversized and super warm and I can pretty much wear it with anything.

How did you decide to start selling vintage?

I’ve been hoarding vintage clothes for several years now. I remember picking up a floral mod mini dress at a Goodwill and it being my first vintage purchase. Ever since then, I’ve been trying to maintain a wardrobe that balances new, designer and vintage in a style that fits me. I always received a lot of compliments on my style, and had thought about getting into vintage retail (my mother had owned an antique store, this kind of stuff is in my blood), but I never had the motivation. When I visited my parent’s house after living away from home for a few years I realized the mass amounts of awesome vintage items I had hoarded and realized it was time to share my treasures with everyone.

What are your plans for the near future business-wise and photography-wise?

Bruised Black has a mens line in the works as well as a vintage revival line. I’ve been slaving over my sewing machine lately, working on one-of-a-kind pieces and accessories. I have been recruiting models outside of myself, as well as other photographers. It’s going to take some time, but I have much bigger plans than what’s going on now – perhaps even a physical store.

I’ve been contacted by several people who are models for larger companies that want to work together; it seems crazy. I started out fumbling around the industry not knowing what to do and it’s finally falling into place. I want to keep developing my own style and build my portfolio. I know that it takes years to finally mark your place and I’m willing to do so with a lot of work.

What band are you currently obsessing over?

I will never get enough of My Bloody Valentine – I’m a sucker for shoegaze.

 many thanks to beckie!

check out her photography and her etsy shop!

xx

The Pulp Girls

**all photos above are Beckie-Ann Galentine's, please credit her if you use them in any way!**

people we love: natalie kucken

An unearthly aura and quiet mystery exude from the fairytale photos of Natalie Kucken. Each story she shoots appears like a dream, separated from the waking world by a thin, misty haze. Despite this delicacy, her work has lasting impact on her audience; she creates a world of frozen time, in which you feel you could simply drift into. She hails from Michigan, with plans to move to our very own Brooklyn soon! In our interview, Natalie touches on the role of dreams in her work, her personal style, and her future.

You have such a beautiful, lo-fi look to your photographs, how did your vision come about?

Thank you, I think it came about because of what I want to convey through and use photographs for, which is to make another world and tell a story though them. The style I shoot in is my world and the story that I want to tell.

Are there any books that you wish you could live in? If so, why?

I of course would want to be a student at Hogwarts from Harry Potter, it would be a bit like living in my childhood and because I would be able to learn magic.

What's your favorite sight, sound, scent, taste, and texture?

There are too many things to see and that I have seen to have a favorite, and I wouldn't be able to explain it right anyway, sight has so much to do with other things. I like the sound of birds in the morning at the very beginning of spring. The smell of bleach, the taste of coffee, the texture of velvet.

Do remember your dreams? What was your most influential dream?

I remember most of my dreams, at least for the morning. They're never nightmares but always very pretty adventures in far away places with familiar little details throughout the story. I don't have a most influential dream that stands out to me, I think I try to suppress my really beautiful dreams to an extent because if I dwelled on them too much I think that I would have trouble staying in reality even more than I do now. Most of my photostories are based directly or loosely from my dreams though.

If you had to choose one place in the world to live where would it be? Why?

I have no idea! I have been no where compared to how much there is to have been, there is the whole world to experience and explore. Right now I want to live in Brooklyn more than anything, and I plan to very soon. I want to go everywhere and see every place I possibly can though, maybe after that I will be able to answer this how I want to.

What are your near future goals for your photography career?

Right now I want to be represented by an agency and start shooting campaigns and such.  I want to develop my vision too, which I think happens every day and I will never be happy with it or finished developing.

What is your star sign? Do you believe that it fits your personality?

I am a Pisces, I'm not so educated on my sign or linked traits but with a little research found this description of Pisces which I think fits me very well: You are most happy when you can follow your dreams, while intimately linking with other people’s dreams. As the dreamer your key phrase is: “I imagine”

You shoot a lot in digital, but do you have any film preferences when you use it? Favorite type of filter?

I shoot with primarily Kodak 35mm that expired in the 80's because I bought a ridiculous amount of it in bulk and am in love with it. I also use Illford black and white which I develop and print myself very often.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Then think further and where do you see yourself in 20 years?

Anything past a year for me is scary- I can't imagine myself over the age of 22 or so, no matter how hard I try to. I don't mind at all, why would I want to have my life planned out that far? I change and morph so much, especially lately, and most of my actions are based on my youth so my functioning as a non-youth is impossible to imagine. Anyway, in five years I hope that I am happy and travelling and experiencing and still exploring- I don't want to have any expected and wanted factors in my life past a certain point because what's the point other than to hold yourself back by them? In twenty years I want the same.

How would you describe your own personal fashion sense? Does it show up in your photos?

My clothes are very light and airy- fairy colors and endless florals. I never wear pants and it's usually simple layers and a high-waisted skirt or pretty dress with little boots. The colors that I like to dress in are the colors in my photos and in everything I do I feel, and I style most of my own photographs which I love to do and I think my fashion sense shows up very much.

thank you to natalie for this peek into her mind!
check out more of her work on her flickr and website!
xx
The Pulp Girls


**all photos above are by Natalie Kucken, please credit her if you use them in any way**

people we love: courtney brooke hall

        

       There is something so effortlessly dreamy about the photographs created by Courtney Brooke. Her photos tap into a different dimension full of magic, dark shadows, enchanted landscapes, and everlasting, ethereal beauty. We've admired her work for quite some time now and ever since we've first stumbled upon her photos we've been consistently in awe and wonder of her dreamy vision. Her bewitching aura shines through each photograph and instantly drew us into her wonderful world. She resides in the New England countryside, in a magical barn hidden amongst the hills of rolling green. Her location seems to cultivate a living, dreamy presence that is always so prominent in her work. Explore her lovely site Light Witch to find out more about Courtney. All in all we love this lady and all she does and were ultra excited to get this exclusive interview with her!

What happens within the first ten minutes of you waking up?  

     My goodness, waking up in my house is always sort of a blast. You see I live with three little dogs, and I mean little, two of them are smaller than my cats. We all sleep in one big, super cozy, hard to remove ones self from bed. However in the morning when I show even the slightest sign of being awake all three of these little puppy faces come barreling at me to snuggle up to me and try to kiss my face, it's a giant puppy tickle fest. It's hard to wake up that way and then have a bad day. Once I can pry them off of me and convince them that it's time to go play in the yard that's exactly what we do. That's a little more than my first ten minutes too. 

You and your photography are always so dreamy, have you always been such an ethereal being?
    Ethereal, you ladies are making me blush. I think when I look back at my youth I was always some place else, mentally speaking, constantly searching something out. At the beach  pretending to be a mermaid and I had imaginary friends that lived in my closet. I would get in trouble as a child for wandering to far and long into the the woods, I thought that if I stayed long enough, was quiet enough and tuned in enough to the forest I would actually see a unicorn. I never did see that unicorn or become a mermaid or a fairy, but I did manage to find a different sort of real magic in nature. 

What's the biggest source of inspiration for your shoots? 

    I get inspired by so many things, mostly though it's books. I read mostly folklore and fairy tales with a few sci-fi books thrown in. I just finished the last book in the Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin and those have certainly filled my head with images.  I am not sure if I would call this inspiration or not but a lot of the drive behind my shoots and ideas come from a place in side me trying to explain to the world what's going on inside my head. You see I am not a very eloquent person, the written and spoken language escape me. I try to use my photos as a conversation, to tell a story to say something that I wish I could say or write down with words.  I have to say though that I am also extremely inspired by all the amazing people I have in my life, all of them artists of some degree by there own right, they never cease to fail me when a creative fire needs to be stoked. 

Describe your favorite birthday party.. what year was it? Was there a theme? 

     Well I do love a good party, and I have had quite a few great ones. I remember having crazy theme parties when I was much younger, rollerskating, princess parties once a my little pony party. I don't think any of those where my favorite though. 30 it was a landmark year and the party that went with it was lush and filled with magical cookies, wine and fruit. I was decked out in velvet, the house was filled with ballons, flowers and the best of friends.

Which season is your favorite to shoot in? 

     Autumn, hands down. The air outside is always perfect, never too cold and never to hot. Living in New England means that it's also extremely colorful outside with the trees fluttering their leaves of gold and red. The last of the flowers are still in bloom and the grass is still green. In the morning the grass is twinkling with frost, as if little folk had coated it all with sugar. In the evenings the fog sits low and heavy on the ground, making me wish I could capture smell with my camera.  I wait for it every year, like a kid waiting for christmas. 

Do you have a favorite filter or film type? What is it and why? 

     Honestly I don't.  I have a pretty decent collection of cameras at this point in my life. Each one captures light and life in it's own peculiar way that it's extremely hard to pick an all time favorite.  I am currently having an artistic love affair with my Olympus om-1 though. It's a great camera and simple to use. I always keep experimenting with different films and lens and cameras, I think my favorite is having a variety. 

Do you have any reoccurring dream motifs? If so what are they? 

     I actually have this one reoccurring dream that I have had since I was young. It starts out with me being in a city, an old city, with brown stones and ivy and flowers, but it's grey and dark and falling. In the dream I can tell the world around me in ending and I grab my loved ones and friends and we get in a car and start driving far out of the city until we get to a huge clearing surrounded by forest. The world behind us is being engulfed by something but I can never tell what it is in my dream. In the center of the field there is a huge fire burning. Around it people are dancing,cooking, loving one another. We walk for what seems like forever to get to the fire and as I get there I notice that I know everyone there. I sit down by the fireside, and I start to speak but before I can say anything I always wake up. 

Oh no! You're being sent to live on a desert island! What five books will you take with you? 

     Oh Yes, I would love this adventure when can I go. I first would take a book on how to survive on a deserted island, that one is a no brainer. The other four, that's a hard choice. One I suppose should be a journal so I can keep a records of my days, leaving me with just three to read... The complete Grimms Fairy Tales would be one, so many lovely stories in there that I don't think I could ever get board with. A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway, I have read this book countless times in my life, I cry every time, and I don't think I could grow weary of it. I would also have to bring my other old stand by Dune by Frank Herbert, that might be the one a regret for not bringing something funny, but those Harkonnen's have their own unique comical value I suppose. 

Are you superstitious and do you have any sort of lucky charm?  

     I used to have a fox tooth charm from Lady Lavona and it was the closest I have ever had to a good luck charm. I lost it two halloweens ago and I swear I had bad luck for a whole year after it went missing. I still think about in fact and look for it time and again. I wish sometimes for a new one but can never find one in my travels. I am sure I am superstitious in other ways too but I am not sure how.. let me get back to you on that. 

What is the most stunning sight you've ever beheld? 

    This is a tie for me. I am torn between two glowing moments. One, is the time I first saw Joshua Tree National park. We arrived in the park at night, it was a moonless night in late summer. The stars where the brightest I have ever seen them, lighting the landscape. It was the most foreign thing my eyes had ever seen, the joshua trees with their leafy hands rushing up to the night sky, the rocks round and gentle almost crawling along the sand. It was as if I was on another planet and my breath was most certainly a hard thing to catch that evening.

 The second is something that happens annually here on the hill,  you see, I live in an old horse barn surrounded by acres of field and around that even more acres of pine and maples. And each year something happens here that leaves me speechless and immobilized. It happens on the first night of June when the fireflies sing their visual love song. The little fireflies dance in the tall grass flickers on and off and up the trees at the edge of the field and the way the hill rolls the seem to touch the stars above, the whole universe seems to be there in that moment of connection. 

check out the rest of her work here on her flickr.
she also sells lovely vintage clothing here!!
xx
The Pulp Girls


**all photos above are by Courtney Brooke Hall, please credit her if you use them**