Each and every time I start one of these blogs, I always start by saying how long it has been since my last post.. I'd like to say that this will change, but that would probably be a lie.

Sooo.. where to begin when it has been since January that I last posted?

I am on the last two weeks of my third semester at The University of Memphis and I am sooo ready for it all to be over. Right now I'm in Photography III, Digital Art, Cultural Anthropology, Art History and Foundations Art. Outside of the dreaded Art History class, all has gone quite well. Foundations Art especially has really made me break some of my own boundaries to hone in on some of my biggest interests, work with materials I am not used to handling and create pieces that are not only creative but also meaningful. For example, I created a mini concentration on the topic of recycling and reuse. I am not a big environmentalist by any means, but I've always loved the idea of creating art out of unconventional materials, all at no cost to the artist.

I got to make a dress out of my own photographs and weight loss advertisements (Yes, I wore it as the presentation), make spray painted origami butterflies to hang in an apple tree on campus that could be unfolded to reveal nifty ways to reuse trash around the house both as an artist and average person and paint a bad ass image of the ever so rare 9 tentacled octopus, haha. My upcoming project is the most exciting to me though, but hasn't been fully planned yet. I ran into some of my old cut out dolls from when I was a child and thought of combining some of those with Ugandan children dolls. I'd include cutouts of typical items a child should have and have one giant sniper riffle or machine gun to pose the question of "What doesn't belong?" I'm thinking of presenting a video from the Invisible Children organization along with fresh coffee for everyone to promote positive discussion. Perhaps the title should be Cut and Replace instead of Cut and Paste?

All that aside, photography is also going extremely well. I have developed my portfolio to the point of receiving large amounts of attention within my peers and professionally. I have now worked with all the top models within the vicinity and am ready for something new! A boutique downtown recently contacted me to make me the official photographer for their glamour packages, a hookah/fondue bar in midtown has a allowed me to post and sell my work on their walls and I've been making more moves to approach local businesses etc to shoot within their space.

I still have much to learn and have been networking as much as possible with those who have been in the business longer than me, but I must say.. I feel damn proud of my accomplishments as a 19 year old and hope the progression continues to grow at the same rate for as long as it can!

Much love to all who have supported me,

Kia Lola

Well, as the title says, I haven't posted a journal since March 4th of 2007, so I figured now is about time.

I just finished up my first semester at the University of Memphis which I am attending on a full scholarship to major in Art with a concentration on Photography. Overall I'd say I enjoyed the classes, but the excessive time consumption required was a bit overwhelming.

I ended up taking Drawing I which was very helpful, but the hardest of all due to my lack of experience in that department. My photography class was enjoyable, but somewhat repetative since I took the same course my senior year of high school. I think that the most positive thing I aquired during that class was my new friend, John, who I've grown quite close to over a very short time period. I enjoyed my English class (especially because of my hippy teacher), but to my surprise I got thoroughly engrossed in my World Art class where I studied European Christian, 18th and 19th century abstraction, environmental and contemporary art.

The grades for this semester haven't been posted yet, but I feel confident in my work and look forward to seeing the results. Oh and I finished signing up for next semester's classes: Drawing II, Photography II, Astronomy, The US since 1877 and Literary Heritage. I'm not entirely excited about Lit Heritage, but I'm itching to get started in the Astronomy class. I guess there's just something very fascinating about the universe that surrounds us and with all the studies done, how little we really know.

As for my personal photography career.. Well, I've finally finished the semester, so I have time now, but with all my classes and film assignments, I hardly had time to work on personal projects. The good news is that this extremelly interesting and well rounded model contacted me just a while ago about wanting to work together. I find here extremelly compelling because not only is she a model, but she has written a psychology based book, does therapy work, weight lifts and does health consultations. For her I think I'm going to figure out a fitness theme without being too commercial.

I was also contacted by a local hair stylist in Memphis who was hoping to collaborate. While viewing her portfolio I saw some really great things that she does with color, extensions and cutting that I think could really benefit my shoots and help fill her portfolio.

So, life right now is pretty great. I'm officially on Winter break, got all my Christmas shopping done, continue to have a strong relationship and did I mention that I've lost a decent amount of weight?

I'm not expecting too many comments on this because I know how people hate to read and all, but thankyou to those who have been supporting my work and thanks Steven for modeling for me so frequently, I'm not sure how I would have completed all those photography assignments without your participation.

Much love,

Kia Lola



Just Started Using the Prints, Check it Out: My Prints Store



Groups I am in:
Feature-Me and Photo-Chain And the group I run and love, PaleisPretty!

Greatest Hits in my gallery:
of my own.
(no stock)


My Prints: Support my art habbit.









Well, I've been quite the inspired one lately.
I've been engulfing myself in the study of
photography, digital art & Spanish.
[excelling in all]
I see these famous photographers with their
loads of makeup, collection of clothes & equiptment
and I somewhat envy that collection
because I know I cannot afford it.
I know for being self-taught, I'm doing wonderfully,
but I am extremelly excited about taking
my first photography class next year.
I want to have my own photoshoot room,
beautiful costumes & understanding of this art,
but I feel held back by money.
My digital camera is very low quality
[and damn do I want that new Cannon]
but my Nikon film camera is nice
& I just need to further study the art of lighting
and tune up on everything really.
I am only 16, so I think I've taught myself well thus far,
but now it's time to step it up a notch and move forward.

I've been requested by local bands to photograph them
& at school I am historian photographer for band
and my digital art teacher let me skip my first year
of the class since I'm already ahead,
so I feel like I'm preparing myself well...
There's just something missing....
Somehow I think I'll find that missing peice in college.