Okay, so we know it's super old news now but Leah Tinari first came on our radar when we saw her
on "The Apprentice" last spring. She was one of the artists being considered for that kooky gallery
exhibition challenge… So anyway, she shows up on the TV and we were instantly crushed out!!!! We
had to meet her so that’s exactly what we did. Learn more about Leah at
mixedgreens.com.

Hi Leah!!! So, tell us what was it like seeing yourself and your work on TV?
It was fun, especially after a few glasses of champagne! The truth is I couldn't even hear what I was saying because my friends and I were being really rowdy and laughing throughout my thirty seconds of airtime. I did enjoy seeing my work on TV and thought it read pretty well.

Did you always know you wanted to be an artist? How did you express yourself as a kid?

For as long as I can remember I’ve loved to draw and paint. Lucky for me, my parents recognized my enthusiasm and signed me up for art lessons!

We know many of your paintings are based on snapshots. What kind of camera do you use? How does a kooky pic of a pal turn into a painting?
I use a Kyocera, Yashica T4 zoom with Carl Zeiss lens. It is an awesome camera you can basically just point and shoot without much fussing. It seems as if all the pictures come out excellent! Usually in a roll of 36 I may find four or so pictures that I instantly know I want to adapt into a painting… That means everyone is pink in the face and looks really happy and uninhibited!

We love a lot of the same things: polka dots, cake & dollhouses! What else inspires you?
Stickers, ribbons, taxidermy (especially jackalopes), candy, packaging, photos, postcards, pins…

We know you also love knick-knacks! Do you collect anything?
My jackalope, old photos… Gosh, I collect a lot of stuff. I wouldn't even know where to begin!

What was your first experience of success as an artist?
Maybe my first published illustration in “The New Yorker”? I was so thrilled to be a contributor to that magazine. It also made me feel like a true New Yorker, even though I did grow up in the Bronx...

You also dabble in fashion too, making some cute looks for yourself... Do you think you'd ever pursue that direction more seriously? You'd be an amazing fashion designer!
I don't know. Maybe if there were about ten more hours in each day! I do like being able to whip something up on the sewing machine if I am bored with my closet… I am also crazy about silkscreening.

We saw a pic of you in ELLE mag... Tell us about that cute lil' tattoo on your left arm.
The tattoo is of a cherry with wings and a blue cloud. I drew it first in pen on my arm and then went into the tattoo parlor… The tattoo on my wrist has a heart and says "Mom". That one I did myself and I think it’s referred to as a hand poke tattoo.

So we heard your fiancé's in a band... What are some of your fave love songs?
"Our Love Will Still Be There" by the Troggs and "Watching my Baby Get Ready" by Greg Oblivian.

You live in Brooklyn, right? What are some of your fave local places to hang out?
Marlow and Sons on Broadway and Berry has great oysters and food and amazing cocktails. Our friends work there, too!

Can you give advice to the creative kids out there who dream of pursuing an art career?

Make stuff all the time with whatever you can get your hands on!

Okay, Leah... speed round!!!
FAVE COLOR: red
FAVE CANDY: Is chocolate considered candy? I freak out over it. I also love Twizzlers!
FAVE TUNES: Lately I have to be able to dance to it for me to get really psyched!
FAVE FOOD: seafood, raw fish, Italian, Japanese, my mom's cooking…
FAVE MOVIE: I love Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, Deer Hunter, Blue Crush, Mostly Martha

08/09/04


DIARY ARCHIVES: fred friends next BIG thing! 2008, Jesse McCartney, Jonas Brothers, Top Model's Sarah Vonderhaar, Jack Mackenroth, Think Pink writer Lisa Clark, Kit Pistol, Au Revoir Simone, Supayana, What the Buck, Peter Bjorn and John, Ratatat, next BIG thing! 2007, shoe designer Jeffrey Campbell, Erika Forster of Au Revoir Simone, heartist Chris Uphues, Alison Kelly of Dahl, Stephanie Deleau of Noisette, Marilyn Patrizio of M.Partizio, Liam Sullivan of Kelly "Shoes", Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy, next BIG thing! 2006, Jill Bliss, next BIG thing! 2005, Loop NYC's China Young, Sukie, The Donnas, Vinnie's Tampon Case, Leah Tinari, Peach Berzerk, The Sperber twins, Jennifer Worick, Cody, Patch NYC 2, Chip Wass, Angela Adams, Venue, Jack and Lulu 2, All Girl Summer Fun Band, 31 Corn Lane, Charlotte Ronson, Three by Three Seattle, Princess Tina, Imperial Teen, Built by Wendy 2, Dana Carlson, Sweden, Jack and Lulu 1, Bob's Your Uncle, Mary Ping & Jonathan Adler, E-Z Living, Built by Wendy 1, Endicott Five, Patch NYC 1, media blitz Mod*Mom, Aya Kanai from Nylon, Grace Bonney of Design Sponge, Samantha Moeller of Missbehave, Marie Kare of The Sampler, Pink Is The New Blog's Trent Vanegas, Martha Stewart Kids' Jodi Levine, BUST's Debbie Stoller, YM's Elizabeth Kiester, Cargo's Ariel Foxman, teeter on tour back to brooklyn, she's so rad, double handsome, wild pony, enchanted treehouse, beanz-n- rice, wide open road, crush Teeter Sperber, Kelis, Jennifer Garner, Kylie Minogue, Charlie Brown, Scarlett Johansson, employee of the month Julie, Jen, Sammy Joe & Joe Sammy, Amy, Vanessa, Tim, Anne, Chanel, Josh, Lauren, Diane, Charles, Lillian, nancy drew review the haunted bridge, the whispering statue, the mystery of the ivory charm, the message in the hollow oak, the clue of the broken locket, password to larkspur lane, the sign of the twisted candles, nancy's mysterious letter, the clue in the diary, the secret of red gate farm, the secret of shadow ranch, the mystery at lilac inn, the bungalow mystery, the hidden staircase, the secret of the old clock, lulu in the city lulu luvs, extra! extra! read all about it!, pink Christmas, thanks, new york!, single in the city, spooky lulu, roller girl, jersey girl, no lights, big city, it was a "red hot" summer!, miss independence, billyburg shopping guide, lulu and the kitty, in like a lion, out like a lamb, my best friend joe, hotpants!, the queen of brooklyn, summer in the city, the anniversary party, garbage & neighbors & mice...oh my!, lulu in the city, cheap & cheerful give thanks, hula hoops, a piece of pi, cupcakes, fred fleur, tommy: mini mode happy summer days, it's a mod, mod world, good night, sweet dreams, my girl, keep on marching, one fine day, supermodels Dana's Lucky magazine shoot, hi-fi holiday honeys, supermodel Hillary's Warhol, fallfabulous, supermodel challenge, covergirls, fred on tour Paris Dispatch: Eiffel Awesomeness, Paris Dispatch: Just Strollin', Paris Dispatch: From Colette w/ Love, Paris Dispatch: Marie & The Moulin, Paris Dispatch: Bonjour, Peeps!, behind the music, San Fredcisco, LA Flare, chartoppers: the 80's 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, chartoppers: madonna Hard Candy, Confessions on a Dance Floor, reinvention tour recap, reinvention contest winners, Madonna, Like a Virgin, True Blue, Like a Prayer, I'm Breathless, Erotica, Bedtime Stories, Ray of Light, Music, American Life, top 50 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, window shopping 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, sales and events Carnival of Cute: Holiday 2006, Fall Sample Sale 2006, Pool Party 2006, Holiday Sale 2003, let's skate, Holiday Sale 2002, Holiday Sale 2001, Holiday Sale 2000, Spring Sale 2000