Dorothy Young draws stuff.

Invade NOLA

2011-10-18T06:07:00.000-07:00

Hey, you know what's cool? This is cool. I'm featured in the new/first issue of Invade NOLA's online magazine as a model in a spread about stylin' teachers (whaaa) and an illustrated piece on Halloween costumes. I'm a goof but check it out anyway.

xo,

Bubblegum bubblegum

2011-03-19T07:50:00.000-07:00

Tiger/spider paradox

2011-02-22T18:46:00.000-08:00

Recent illustrations for BIG CLASS, a project from a friend's classroom.

The Tiger Ate the Spider
By Donnelle Roberts

Once upon a time there was a little spider and a tiger. The tiger played football. He wanted someone to play with him. Then the spider came. But the spider got mad because he couldn’t score. Then, the tiger was mad because the spider was going to quit. Then the tiger ate the spider.

The end.

Prison / Freedom

2011-02-01T06:41:00.000-08:00

I listen to NPR every morning and evening these days, WWNO 89.9, and now that I'm older I find that I don't hate hearing the news like I did when I was a kid and my dad would alternately play classical music (lots of opera) and trying to hear the traffic one minute after the hour. Events in Egypt and Tunisia have me constantly tearing up on my commute to and from school and I wonder what kind of world my future kids could/will have. Does overthrowing a repressive government and ousting a dictator make you free? When will we be free?

And I think about the world that my students live in. This insular space that is being poor and living in New Orleans and being an immigrant or black or Honduran or Chinese or Vietnamese and not having family structures or personal discipline and I think sometimes, what does it matter where or how you live if you are not free? I think about my own life and how so often I feel trapped and enclosed by my own personal faults and failures, my narrow mind, my ever sadness and deep loneliness.

I've been struggling the last few days thinking about how to present these beautiful events of community power and love for country and people in a way to my kindergarten class that does not evoke the violence they see in their home and neighborhood, or revive past traumas of disaster and looting (mental and emotional memories of Katrina and aftermath as they were just being born and shuffled from trailer to city to apartment to school). Being 5 years old is so different from being 23 and not so different at all.

Freedom and then I want to say free/doom and then I think to myself that no, I can't believe that free will be disaster, chaos, I want freedom and I want it to mean something joyful and kind and sweet. I want a freedom that is not guilty about tears (regardless of emotion). I want a freedom that is uncoaxed smiles and unfearful silences and having friends that I can love and not be afraid to show it. I want it for my children and my students and my own self.

Consume, destroy, rinse, repeat

2011-01-23T19:25:00.000-08:00

Welcome to 2011.

Thus far,

We've moved again, this time to Versailles, New Orleans East. We live next door to a blighted two-story red brick house with broken windows for eyes. Inside our little house is piles of clothing, tangled electronics wires, and the constant smell of candles burning.
I changed schools and grade levels again and I'm finally happy with it. Teaching kindergarten, back where I started, and I've grown so much. I know what I'm doing and I'm finally enjoying it, even with projectiles and curse words directed towards me. I'm an adult, dudesies. I can crush you with my monstrous feet in Ferragamo pumps.
Going to the gym and exercising with a trainer. Trying to cook more and eat better. Learning to budget, although I failed again this month at putting money in my savings account. It's going to happen though. Soon. Grown-up endeavors.
Daniel's building a garden farm and I helped him shovel compost. That's dirt and poop, just so you know. With a real shovel that (almost) gave me real blisters. My palms are sore at least.

Something Daniel and I wrote and photographed is coming out soon in a zine. I'll let you know about it but here's some of it:

Also, I've been bloggin srsly and consistently at NO(la) MORE CHAINS. It's mostly just clothes and food. I'm going to try and work on doing both now again. Doot doot do it do it do it.

New endeavor

2010-12-17T13:42:00.000-08:00

NOLA MORE CHAINS. BLOGSPOT. COM

Favoritestests

2010-10-08T06:48:00.000-07:00

Mega stoked to spend my weekend with the two people I love most in the whole world.

I'm back 2

2010-10-08T06:36:00.000-07:00

Do you ever think about what sides mean? Most of my picture show people's profiles from their right side, which is because I unconsciously am usually on people's right sides. But in bed, I sleep on the left side. Last night I tried to move to the right side and Daniel got sad and made a whiney sound so I moved back over.

Maybe this is why I can't sleep well lately. My body wants to be on the right side.

The scientifical explanation, therefore, is that I must always be right.

I'm back 1

2010-10-08T06:34:00.000-07:00

Sketches from a failed July.

Replayed

2010-06-30T10:18:00.001-07:00

For you to know

2010-06-29T14:29:00.000-07:00

and me to find out: I'm writing and drawing every day for the next 31 days. Starting yesterday. I'll post some once there are more than 2.

Photographs

2010-06-28T09:42:00.000-07:00

Life snippets.

Sketches

2010-06-28T09:29:00.000-07:00

Babies! (I'm alive)

2010-05-07T14:54:00.000-07:00

No posts for a month because I haven't drawn at all. Your boyfriend moving across the country into your apartment will do that. However, I have returned to announce a very important occurance in my life, and thus, yours. The premiere of Babies: The Movie.

In honor of this monumentous moment, I have combined two of my great loves: the most famous baby of all time (Lil Wayne on the cover of Tha Carter III), and Tekkonkinkreet (one of White's hats).

See the trailer here.

In other important life news, see the music video for Beyonce's new song "Why Don't You Love Me", here.

C'mon rude boy boy are you big enough

2010-03-28T14:04:00.000-07:00

You are my winter's day,

2010-03-21T13:55:00.000-07:00

You are my summer's eve.

(10 days)

Ja(y)son Magabo Perez

2010-03-09T19:39:00.001-08:00

I miss and hate who I used to be.

Nas

2010-02-20T08:35:00.000-08:00

I was food poisoned at the end of Mardi Gras holiday. Also, I've been awake since 6:30 AM.

(B)erica

2010-02-20T08:34:00.000-08:00

I wish Rory would leave Logan for the New Jess.

Mariah

2010-02-07T13:21:00.002-08:00

OJ

2010-02-07T13:21:00.001-08:00

Blake

2010-02-07T13:20:00.000-08:00

Nicki

2010-02-07T13:19:00.001-08:00

I was on the plane with the Wayne

Couchsurfing the ATL

2010-01-19T17:42:00.000-08:00

My buddy Ethan and our host, Anthony.

Newly created Couchsurfing profile.

SF Trip 2009

2010-01-07T15:26:00.000-08:00

Falling down the rabbit hole

2009-12-16T15:23:00.000-08:00

NOLA sketchbook dump

2009-12-07T15:44:00.000-08:00

Beautiful

2009-12-03T15:37:00.001-08:00

silla-viento-peces from nick dangerfield on Vimeo.

From someone's blog on Hypebeast.

NOLA Tattoos

2009-12-02T04:46:00.000-08:00

Befores and afters shower.

Walt Clark @ NOLA Tattoo & Piercing.
8120 Hampson St.
Uptown NOLA

In progress

2009-11-17T04:46:00.000-08:00

Love 洛杉矶

2009-11-08T22:26:00.000-08:00

This jerkin' comp is the best. Mad love, Mawkus. Antlers are another birthday present to self, $22 at the Magazine Antique Mall.

In all seriousness

2009-11-08T04:36:00.000-08:00

Reasons why I love living alone
aka why I will never have roommates again in my life

I spend like 85% of my time naked or just wearing underwear because after a shower I'm too lazy to dress. No one can judge me because my shades are shut.
I can sleep at 8 PM and wake up at 5 AM to do laundry and sew.
I can sleep at 4 AM and wake up at 6 AM to do yoga.
If I feel like leaving my dishes in the sink for a week (with the food scraped out duh), I do.
If I feel like cooking a huge meal and then slowly dishing leftovers into small containers, I do.
If I want to leave my dirty clothes in color-coordinated stacks on the ground, I do.
I can blast Nicki Minaj and jerk and Trey Songz at all hours. No headphones, suckaz.
Dancing all over the apartment with a hairbrush is never not an option.
Nobody gets on my ass to do chores but me.
When I'm alone, I read. When I'm sad, I write or draw. When I feel lonely, I learn to deal. I'm learning ME!

Lauryn

2009-11-07T12:11:00.001-08:00

For your eyes only

2009-11-07T12:10:00.000-08:00

School uniform

2009-11-07T12:09:00.000-08:00

Birthday presents to self

2009-11-07T06:34:00.000-08:00

Birthday week, it's birthday week

2009-11-06T04:45:00.001-08:00

Lived by the sea

2009-10-31T17:11:00.001-07:00

Introducing Puff.

Puff the magic dragon costume made by me! (I just made some horns that I'm going to attach when I see Tiana).

All Hallow's Eve 2009

2009-10-31T17:08:00.000-07:00

Oct. 30
Dorothy costume: Buffalo Exchange, altered by me
Heels: Feet First

Oct. 31
Bjork costume: Everthanks to Kim Nguyen!
Cardigan: Urban Outfitters
Scarf: Funky Monkey
Lipstick: Russian Red, M.A.C.

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-30T05:03:00.000-07:00

Aka return of the strawberry.

She is inspiration

2009-10-29T20:07:00.000-07:00

Coat: Salvation army
Tee: Upper Playground via Bowls
Jeans: Express, sewn in by me
Boots: Buffalo Exchange
Lipstick: Caved into Russian Red, M.A.C.
Earrings: H&M, Hong Kong

VOMIT

2009-10-29T19:44:00.000-07:00

lazy string pole words
on a page
never
meet
i

sit in front of a window
blowing the smell of
leather

my legs stick

sky leaves window screen
gold
chokes each fingertip
nights are so long

i ask richard
i wonder what he would say

Homesweethome

2009-10-29T19:42:00.000-07:00

Party party en francais

2009-10-25T13:12:00.000-07:00

Hat: Salvation Army, thanks Grace Young
Dress: This store that only sold clothes in black and white, Hong Kong
Boots: Buffalo Exchange

They don't care about us

2009-10-25T12:47:00.000-07:00

Channelling Michael.

Cardigan: St. John by Marie Grey, Salvation Army
Tee: Forever 21
Leggings: Target
Boots: Buffalo Exchange
Hoops: Forever 21

I made a Weardrobe.

Boring boring school school

2009-10-23T19:38:00.000-07:00

Sunglasses: From Grace Young
Shirt: Target
Jeans: Express, sewn in by me
Boots: Salvation Army

New shoes

2009-10-23T19:32:00.000-07:00

40% off at Feet First.

Extra terrestrial

2009-10-23T19:24:00.000-07:00

Forever twenty one am I.

Dress: Forever 21
Hat: Forever 21, purchased years and years ago.
Cardigan: H&M Hong Kong
Purse: Coach
Sunglasses: Thanks, Grace Young!
Shoes: Navy oxfords, Postlapsaria
Lipstick: Shu Uemura

But now I'm gold

2009-10-15T20:00:00.000-07:00

NOLA Tattoo & Piercing

Parts 3 and 4 of 12

2009-10-15T19:59:00.000-07:00

I am the champion my friend

2009-10-15T19:57:00.002-07:00

Sarah Kang: Unicorn and cupcake
Dorothy Young: Cupcake monster
Sarah Kang: Monster bear
Dorothy Young: Giant fat girl
Sarah Kang: Bear with fishing reel and hook (1,000 kg)
Dorothy Young: More giant cousin of cupcake monster

I'm posting chronologically

2009-10-15T19:57:00.001-07:00

My free green umbrella matches the band of this hat

2009-10-15T19:52:00.001-07:00

I like when gay men compliment my outfits because I know they're neither secretly hating nor trying to get in my pants.

Dress: Handpainted, Mommy's closet
Shoes: Banana Republic
Earrings: H&M, Hong Kong
Ivory Toyo Safari Fedora: Village Hat Shop (note: I never thought I would miss selling hats...)

2 parts of 12

2009-10-10T07:59:00.000-07:00

I don't understand "business casual"

2009-10-10T07:55:00.000-07:00

Teach For America Professional Development Day

Slip worn as shirt: Yard sale
Leggings: Target
Cardigan: Target
Bandage-strap wedges: BCBG
Hat: Salvation Army
Bullet necklace: Made by Grace Young
Lipstick: M.A.C.

Faculty meetings

2009-10-10T07:54:00.000-07:00

Just as boring as org meetings.

Day off

2009-10-10T07:52:00.000-07:00

Dress: Flashback (Hillcrest)
Slip: Yard Sale
Belt: Salvation Army
Shoes: BCBG
Earrings: Made by Grace Young
Lipstick: M.A.C.

Cute

2009-10-09T04:46:00.001-07:00

Me: What day of the week is it?
Isiah: (Raises hand) I don't like eggs.
Me: Huh?
Isiah: They make my tongue itch.
Me: (not laughing)
Isiah: I don't like any kind of eggs.

Yesterday was also the first day someone pooped their pants in class. I knew it was coming.

MMMMMMMM

2009-10-04T21:54:00.000-07:00

Rainy day

2009-09-01T17:24:00.000-07:00

Take 1/Sunny.
T-shirt: Daddy's
Jeans: Express
Toms: Warehouse sample sale
Necklace: Self-made
Qi Pao jacket: Mommy's
Lipstick: M.A.C.

Take 2/Pouring Rain.
Cardigan: Heritage 81
Rainboots: Hong Kong

Yesterday was my first day with my students. I have 16 beautiful, terrible, exhausting, little babies in my kindergarten class. I would never have imagined that I could be so frustrated, exhausted, angry, and delighted, in the span of 10 minutes.

Lord Jesus, help me.

2 outfits

2009-08-11T21:01:00.001-07:00

Running errands.

Dress: Taiwan
Socks: Costco
Oxfords: Keiko Lynn of Postlapsaria

Out and about (errands again)

Dress: Pelican Thrift
Hat: Salvation Army, gift from Grace Young
Flats: Taiwan

Nightstand

2009-08-05T21:17:00.000-07:00

I sanded this by hand, for the record.

(Salvation Army table, sandpaper and spray paint from Loewe's)

Knobs

2009-08-05T21:16:00.000-07:00

The second

2009-08-02T21:12:00.001-07:00

From top left, clockwise: Black leather vintage bag (formerly my grandmother's); White Linen Night fan; extra strength Tiger Balm; Mr. Price flats, from South Africa via Grace Young; vintage jewelry box (I think I bought it in the 3rd grade at a garage sale); brand-new clip-on bow tie; Coach "Maggie" bag (graduation present from Mommy), filled with notebooks, pens, planner, 2 books (Assata: An Autobiography and Eat, Pray, Love), topped off with my keys.

Moving is like having a baby--it sucks your life away. It breaks it. It's also very expensive. I'm so tired. I've spent so much money at Target this week because, and this is no exaggeration, I cannot bring myself to save a little bit at Wal-Mart. It's ridiculous. I've literally been to Wal-Mart 3 or 4 times with other people, and been about to pick up something, and have to put it back because. I. Can't. I'm getting poorer and I still need furniture (a table, a dresser), pots and pans, knives, maybe even a chair, and a futon for Grace Young when she comes to visit next month.

As with new babies, I am enamored and thrilled and exhausted. With my new life. With my new place. With my new life.

DISAPPEA(RING)

2009-08-01T07:34:00.000-07:00

becoming a memory
is no fun

60s soul
lightning morning
where were we last night?

first you take some string
white twine
$2

take some shears
snip
and tie

ring finger means a promise
tied at the tip
a whisper
"don't forget"

have i been hanging on too

Donna Bean making me feel better

2009-07-15T20:46:00.000-07:00

and i know you can do it--you have done amazing things and will continue to do amazing things
you fuckin yell at cops and shit dorothy
you can fuckin take over new orleans ok?

Tomorrow's my last day teaching here. Friday, it's back to Los Angeles for a little over 24 hours, before driving to New Orleans.

I'm scared dudes. I'm worried. It is lonely and far and scared and you know what, my friends, teaching is really really hard.

I don't want to lose my art time. Writing time. I see it slipping away already and I have to remind myself how important it is to me. (Note to self: Get the Pocketbrush pen to work, somehow!)

Getting ready

2009-07-04T18:05:00.000-07:00

I'm at home and my family is rewatching He's Just Not That Into You. I think I'm making the conscious decision to collect used terrible romcom DVDS (that's romantic comedy in shorthand, for those of you not in the know). I'm boiling potatoes to get ready for the grill, and I just finished dry rubbing some steak and seasoning halibut fillets with thyme. Happy America Day?

Tomorrow I go back to Phoenix for two more weeks before heading to NOLA for my new life. A new blog's coming up for that one; details soon?

It wouldn't be very grateful of you to break my heart

2009-06-25T19:13:00.001-07:00

Today ended my first week (only four days) of teaching. Here are anecdotes (I believe that is why I was asked to be here):

1) Our first day, my co-teachers and I introduced a racecar theme for our classroom of entering first-graders, complete with chant: Teacher says, "Racecars Go!" Students say, "Work hard, get smart, ZOOM ZOOM!" We try to review it half an hour later; I say, "What happens when RACECARS GO!?" A student raises his hand. "They drive."

2) During a community meeting this morning, when we were going in a circle saying what animal we would like to be and why, a student answers, "A CHORK." "Do you mean a shark?" "Yes. A chork." So. Cute.

3) Kittens, Part I.
Today, I saved a kitten from drowning. I'm not kidding. In the desert, to make grass grow, they flood an entire lawn and let the water soak in over several hours. At my school, I was walking past a group of other TFA Corps Members clustering near a custodian. He had on a sheet of metal, a tiny gray kitten, soaking wet, mewing for dear life, shivering and small. The girls said awww for a minute and then walked away. I asked what he was going to do and he said he had to go back to work, and put the kitten down on the grass, turned on its back, tiny pink feet waving in the air as it cried.

I put down my stuff in my classroom, took an empty plastic box, ran to the nurse's office and stole an extra uniform t-shirt. I picked up the kitten, wrapped it up, and rubbed it to warm it, looking around for milk. Eventually, I had to go to my session, so I gave it to some staff members, one of whom called a bunch of her friends in the area until one wonderful soul agreed to take in a baby kitten.

Its eyes weren't even open yet. Now it is going to a home with a mommy who will care for it, since all the shelters we called said they would euthanize it.

Part 2.
I'm leaving school at the end of the day. I get outside the gate when I hear the person right behind me say, is that another kitten? I turn to see a tiny patch of black and white fur, floating in one of the aforementioned pools of water on the lawn (can I just state for a fact how fucking stupid and wasteful growing LAWNS in the DESERT is?!!?!!). I pray under my breath, automatically, that my eyes are playing tricks on me. Someone walks back in through the gate, splashing his dress shoes through the puddle to check.

"It's gone."

I feel my heart clench.

Daniel and I, Oil on wood

2009-06-20T09:00:00.001-07:00

Hehe, Daniel's mom took this from him to put in their house. Mama Nguyen is funny.

Thanks Lai Lai for doing the quick sketch of my face.

Hehe, this is the 123rd post on this blog!

Pushing Daisies painting

2009-06-20T08:58:00.000-07:00

The most beautiful, original, quirky, clever, and Doro-favorite show is now cancelled. Man. I need to touch up Ned's sneakers and legs, but otherwise I'm pretty happy with it. I got an A in my painting class (drawing, too!).

Daniel sleeping

2009-06-20T08:53:00.000-07:00

I'm awake early early on a Saturday, in a dorm room at Arizona State, waiting to get food and energize to study and read and make lesson plans for my first week of teaching kindergarten entering first-grade summer school. I'm feeling the weight of everything I've left behind. I'm going home July 4th weekend, though, so that will be lovely. Plans: Pack what I need for Louisiana and get it ready, spend time with family, Grace Young back from Africa, (dim sum, niu rou mian, vegan food), relax, yet continue with lesson planning. Oh life. Short, but wide.

Girl at CLICS

2009-06-20T08:52:00.000-07:00

2009-06-08T00:07:00.001-07:00

“Because love is an act of courage, not of fear, love is commitment to others. No matter where the oppressed are found, the act of love is commitment to their cause—the cause of liberation. And this commitment, because it is loving, is dialogical. As an act of bravery, love cannot be sentimental; as an act of freedom, it must not serve as a pretext for manipulation. It must generate other acts of freedom; otherwise, it is not love.”
Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed, 1970.

Spring is endings

2009-05-24T17:29:00.001-07:00

Spring Celebration of the Arts Reading and Reception
Wednesday, May 27th, 2009, 4:00-6:00 p.m.
Literature Building, Room 155 (deCerteau)

Please join us for an afternoon of undergraduate student
readings at the Spring Celebration of the Arts Reading and
Reception, where the winners of the Stewart Prize in Poetry
and the Dr. Milton H. Saier Memorial Award in Fiction will be
announced. A reception with light refreshments will follow in
the Lettau Lounge. We look forward to seeing you there!

Reblogged. As Jayinee states, I'm excited to read and listen and snack.

Not art

2009-05-17T21:19:00.001-07:00

As important, but certainly not more so...

Food.

100 Good Things to Eat and Drink in San Diego.

Before I leave. Let's hit em up?

Self portrait: Daria Werbowy

2009-05-12T18:48:00.000-07:00

MAMMAL

2009-04-30T18:31:00.001-07:00

a response to DICTIONARY 2 by richard chiem

surviving is water and gorgeous and
the selfish girl
walking away
true poetry
hail Mary

the afternoon glimmers
red and chrome
imagine
crushed square jaw
shattering
along its california faultline
unconscious

ochre coast
set the story
new american dysfunction
interracial families will breed
new savior

performance theory
you say nonsense
beauty
i say
i'm glad you're alive

Now it is summer

2009-04-30T18:20:00.000-07:00

Original video and text. Thanks, Richard.

Self portrait: Kara Walker

2009-04-30T18:18:00.000-07:00

Tracing paper, found fabric, thread

Deep like Atlantis

2009-04-30T18:17:00.002-07:00

“Don’t think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide whether it’s good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they’re deciding, make even more art.”

- Andy Warhol

Vivan

2009-04-30T18:17:00.001-07:00

Daniel blushing

2009-04-30T18:16:00.000-07:00

Sketchbook

2009-04-30T18:13:00.000-07:00

Clearly awesome

2009-04-30T18:10:00.000-07:00

Blank

2009-04-25T08:44:00.000-07:00

Grandma is gone.

I'm moving to New Orleans.

Freaks and Geeks on DVD arrived yesterday.

There is no more time.

(I love you.)

Self portrait: lipstick

2009-04-19T20:11:00.000-07:00

Ichiban

2009-04-04T22:37:00.000-07:00

Untitled 3/22/09

2009-04-02T22:51:00.000-07:00

i think it's called
longing
a whisper
high school at
midnight

my flesh on end
static hush
of
(voice)
(sound)
(tone)

i press
the back of my hand
willing mine to
be
your
touch

long
in

April is National Poetry Month so I'm going to try and post a poem or two of mine when I get the chance.

Self portrait: train station

2009-04-02T22:32:00.001-07:00

This quarter I'm taking portfolio drawing, beginning oil painting, and comic book-making classes. It's looking to be the best quarter ever. Maybe? Bittersweet, certainly.

Daniel drinking a beer

2009-04-02T22:31:00.000-07:00

Daniel talking about family

2009-04-02T22:29:00.000-07:00

I'm home now after 5 (at least) hours of travel and 3 (or so) hours at the hospital. My grandmother's eyes are so frightened. Her mouth moves and I lean in to hear but I understand nothing. Muffled. Everything is softened and I remember earlier softnesses, her fully white head, her round stomach and several chins. Now her grip is like steel, clamping my palm; her arms willowy and silken. So much air padding the skin. My dad has to tie her arms to the bedrail when we leave so she doesn't tear out her IV like she managed to last night. I'm proud and afraid.

Mostly, I am sad. Sad like expectant, like relief and fear and weight. A weight that grows and shrinks simultaneously.

Yesenia on the bus

2009-04-02T22:28:00.001-07:00

This is my 100th post.

New chapters

2009-03-23T23:08:00.000-07:00

Everything everywhere is crazy and beautiful and so damn hard.

Brocabulary

2009-03-09T12:21:00.000-07:00

Adoption photo

2009-03-09T12:18:00.000-07:00

See here and here.

Self Portrait: Sad Zombie

2009-03-05T10:26:00.000-08:00

Christina

2009-03-05T10:25:00.002-08:00

Richard eating

2009-03-05T10:25:00.001-08:00

Sam Jung

2009-03-05T10:23:00.000-08:00

Part 2

2009-03-04T08:54:00.001-08:00