Interview with:Arre Lee [arrelee]
CREATIVITY
 | How and why did you begin to be creative? I've always been into art. ..Poetry, drawing, painting, and now hand crafting denim with an Arre Lee touch. {My dad was really good at drawing so maybe [maybe!] that's where I got that from.} I've always believed that the inner me was composed of sparkling red candy paint and fine haired paint brushes. My creativity is innate. & I enjoy what I do because it inspires me in other parts of my life. ..I'm not only passionate about designing, styling, and everything else mentioned. I think because I am able to release the colorful me through these things, ...I am able to flourish and still shine when and where things are dark. |
| Your mind is your work tool. How do you take care of it? I care for my mind by reading. Books, Blogs, Mags, ..whatever. They each provide a different kind of insight - which enables me to think. Thoughts produce emotion. & as my emotions build, I create. |
| How do you avoid repeating yourself, or falling into formula? How do you stay fresh? I hate to feel like a robot. So, to avoid repeating myself or falling into formula, I take breaks. Time off from my art allows me to refocus. When you do something for so long, over and over, it becomes all you know. I feel it's an easy way to stunt your growth. So my suggestion [if you experience this] is to take a break from that particular thing and give your energy to something else. Learn something new. Grow in another area. & when you're ready to get back to the original plan, you'll be a different [wo]man with a new game plan. |
| What cultural sources do you draw from the most? Music. & Movies. ..can't live without 'em. |
| Who have your teachers been? I'm honestly really blessed. During these past few months, I've met some really smart and genuinely helpful people. People who are also artsy fartsy's like myself who want to see me succeed just as much as I want it for them. They've taught me alot. ..They're teaching me well. ..I also look up to people like Kelly Cutrone, Shala Monroque, Solange Knowles, Amy Winehouse, and several other rebels. It's all about the rebels when it comes to inspiring me. My art, that's personal. I do what I want there. ...I just like to have those people who walk around with a "uhh yea -_- FUCK off! and Fork the Funds" attitude in my head to remind me that people will Love you AND hate you ..but they matter none. |
| When you accept a job, how much value do you place on each of the following? Money, creative liberty, visibility, and to work with the best. Creative Liberty trumps them all. Can I survive off of it? No. I need money. ..Can I survive without it? Double No! ..I need to be able to express myself. && getting paid while doing that totally rocks my boat. ..visibility? ..you'll see me. ..& I'm working to be the best so ..yea. |
| "To give birth to ideas." Is this only an expression, or are there really parallels between giving birth and creativity? That is sooo funny. I tweeted something re: this today. ...It went "Sharing insight can be soo bomb. ...when the objective is to birth a new perspective in another yet you both become pregnant with ideas". ...Conversation is often the sex before the mental implantation. For me, Music and Movies are as well. ...I think the sex is whatever you connect with passionately. The entanglement, what you get from it is most like pregnancy. & the birth of your idea is how you choose to execute it. |
| Does spirituality contribute to your creativity? I've found that if I am not sound in mind, body AND spirit. My creativity is stagnant. I suffer from writer's block. I'm not motivated to do anything. ..so there has to be balance between all three. |
| Must someone be the leader or boss in order for a creative team to function well? I think it can be healthy. Creative minds are erratic. They run off on tangents. They do what they want. and yadda yadda. ...It could be good to have someone who's going to add structure. [I'm a free spirit. I need to do what I want. sorry.] < see. lol |
| The armchair psychologist: Is creativity an act of rebellion for you? Hell Yea. |
| Do you work well under pressure? I work BEST under pressure. I want to get out of this habit though. I'm going to have an anxiety attack lol. I wait until the last minute to do EVERYTHING [most of the time]. ..and even though it comes out bomb ...It's a pointless beating. |
| What city in the world currently attracts you due to its creative environment? Dubai. It's CRAZY. Their architecture is unbelievable. |
| Ideas can come simultaneously to different people in different places with no connection to one another. How do you explain this phenomenon? Law of Attraction? ..lol. I mean, really. I just revamp jeans. |
STYLING
| What is your specialty as a stylist? fashion, salon, image, objects...? Fashion. |
| How did you begin to develop your talent? Have you possesed it since you were a child? I've possessed it since I was a child. I started picking out my own clothes in 1st grade. ...At times my mom would take over but for the most part, I was allowed to express myself. ..I entered private school in 3rd grade, wore a uniform and hated it. I couldn't wait to get home and change.
As I grew older, I would sort of glue my face to magazines. I never read them. I only purchased them for the editorials. I was always interested in seeing the new looks for the season. |
| Do you need to love what you do, or does professionalism suffice? Loving what you do is mandatory. Professionalism doesn't suffice for anyone. ..well, maybe those without passion. or a dream. ...I have an abundant amount of both, so to hell with professionalism. xo |
| Make a prediction: how long will the fashion of piercing and tattoos last? Forever. Tats and Piercings are a form of fashion for many of us. But for others its a form of tradition. ...This is learned in every generation. It's been popular for years now. It's here to stay. |
MODELING
| Do you see the profession as a springboard to something else, or something lasting? Modeling, for me, would be a springboard to something else. It's always been a dream of mine so it's definitely something that I'd love to do, just to say that I've done it. |
| Name three male and female models whose work you admire. Wendell Lissimore. [GORGEOUS!!] I don't know many male models.. that guy's CANDY! ..I love Anja Rubik. Ajak Deng. Liu Wen. Agyness Deyn. ...some more |
COOKING
| What is your favorite spice to cook with and why? Disclaimer: I'm no Betty Crocker.
..but I love garlic. I put a pinch [or more] of garlic powder in everything. |
| What is your signature dish or your favorite recipe? Since this is the first meal that I've ever made. && it turned out great. ..I'll say, Penne Pasta with one minced onion, 2 cloves of garlic, 1 large can of tomatoes, oregano, Mozzarella, and shrimp. ...BOMB.
you fry the shrimp [lightly, no flour]. mince the cloves and onion ...add it with the shrimp. once the noodles are done, you layer everything into a casserole bowl as you would lasagna. It should be cheesy through out. [I didn't do it that way the first time, I'm learning]. ..Put it in the oven, let the cheese melt and YA DONE. |
BLOGGING
| What is your blog address? What subjects do you deal with? I have two, actually.
1. www.erraofarre.com
2.www.thecollectiv.tumblr.com
Fashion and Style. Writing. Music. Poetry. && More. |
IDEAS
| Do you believe many illnesses can be caused by the mind? I do. People fail to realize how powerful the mind really is.
...Fear? I think fear's a mind trick. Tell yourself that you can't, enough, and you'll believe it. ...enough that when you're approached with an opportunity to do something that you've been dying to do but you're too afraid to do ..you'll get the butterflies, the sick stomach, all the symptoms that Fear creates because you told yourself that that "something" wasn't ok. ...could've been the best thing in your life. you'd never know. Because your AFRAIIIID. [I'm talking to myself btw]. |
| Using the subway without paying, shoplifting: is there excessive tolerance to these small offenses? Apparently not. I definitely got fined last mth for not paying my fare. (-_- [the train was coming, I had no time to wait] ...or so I thought. |
| Do you think tipping is a good custom? If you're providing a service, and your DAMN good. You deserve a handsome tip. ...skimp on the service and I will skimp on the change. ...I mean really, I'm tipping for the experience. Let's make it great. |
| What is your opinion of the rise in popularity of plastic surgery and implants? soon, the entire world will be plastic. #GoGreen |
| Do extraterrestrials exist? If there's life on earth, why not? ..I don't think ET was simply a product of someone's colorful imagination. ...& I've seen The Fourth Kind. Uncool. |
CULTURE
| What do you use: Mac or PC and why? P.C.. (-_- ..go on. take your shot. I'm tough. lol |
LOVE
| What do women want from men? Contrary to popular belief we don't share the same brain. ...I want love. genuine love. passion & support. laughter. loyalty. I want that tight knit [best] friendship that more often read about than exhibited. SPACE when necessary. & full blow consumption of one another [when necessary]. CONSISTENCY. ..an actual MAN. one with Integrity. Ambition. Dreams. Love for children. Love for Life. |
MEMOIRS
| What toys do you recall most fondly? Speak & Spell, it was a word game. My aunt bought it for me one Christmas. ..I was big on words as a kid. I'd ride the train and pronounce every word I saw. Wouldn't know its meaning, half the time, but I knew how to say it. I was soo good that I could simply hear a word and know how to spell it. ..& later I learned more about it. ..I was also a sucka for SEGA. Barbies too. |
| What can you tell us about your discovery of sex? lol, ..got in trouble alot. |
| What was your first job? How did your first work experience turn out? My first job was at the YMCA in flatbush. ..I tutored 3rd and 4th grade kids. Helped them with their homework. Allowed them to drive me crazy until their parents came. ...quick change. It was cool. |
| In the lowest moments, what kept you afloat? Falling. ..Being Low and having no choice BUT to go through it, kept me afloat. Knowing that I wanted more for myself kept me afloat. ...Eventually I began sailing. |
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Arre Lee
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