Can you tell us where you are from?

Hard to say where I’m from because I grew up in a military family and we moved around frequently. Simple answer, Southern California and the Philippines. So close, in proximity…..

How would you describe what you do? Your practice, your craft, your cash machine?

Talking about what I do is my least favorite thing to do. I prefer to just do the things I love, enjoy, and not really think about it while I’m doing it. I believe art is fluid when one is naturally intuned with their inner core. Art finds it’s way through different forms and mediums, so in a way, it’s been using me as a vessel to generate a lifestyle that one could say I am lucky enough to make a living off of. It surprises me every day that I’ve made it out as far away from the corporate box for this long, while also keeping myself somewhat close to it because I like to keep my enemies close (awkward confident smile). I’ve benefitted from a corporate structure and apply it to my rouge-like as-needed-basis world. And I’m grateful for that. I work as a freelance creative director, wardrobe stylist, and photographer. All of this has been self-taught and don’t ask me how I got to that point, I somehow got a few people here and there and their friend’s friends to believe in me. People either like you and your work, or they don’t. Convincing others that you’re awesome will only backfire. You attract who you become.

Film outtakes of Blake Hardy for Propaganda Agency FW2020 Campaign

What does your morning routine look like?

Having a morning routine is SO important. My life as of lately has been on an in-flux of sorts. Transitioning from one energetic flow to another. I think wherever I’ll be, I’ll usually wake up as the sun rises and make myself some coffee (or go in search of coffee), write in my journal, and meditate. I prefer quiet mornings. I’ve been staying with two of my nearest and dearest friends in Benedict Canyon, we’ll hug each other good-morning, have coffee together, talk about our dreams and the day ahead. They are both truly inspiring to be around … if I’m not alone … I think it’s important to surround myself around people that not only make each other feel better about wherever we are in our lives but to also encourage on another to be better human beings to one another as a whole. How we treat ourselves and our closest loved ones will play a role in how we operate in the world.

Where do you look for inspiration? A place, a person, a book, an action?

I find inspiration in quiet and serene moments, in the middle of no-where, during long drives to no particular anticipated destination, and being in any moving vehicle. I’m a person that can really enjoy the stillness in nature while also finding absolute peace in inertia. Quiet and uninterrupted moments is where I can really let my creativity come to life. My imagination can live many many lives and travel back to me quicker if I carve out time for myself to daydream, write, and allow myself to soak up the rays of life. A book I highly recommend is The Collected Letters of Alan Watts. It’s a variety of meals that is worth taking up some of that screen time.

Portrait of Hidemi on Koenji Street in Tokyo, Japan

“My cash machine is gratitude.”

What work are you most proud of?

Since I have a wide range of interests - the work I’m most proud of is how far along my journey I have come into becoming my full-time self. Which is learning to become comfortable in being a multi-disciplinary artist.

What has been the biggest challenge on your journey?

Experiencing that the more I fall in love with who I’m becoming by developing healthy and compassionate boundaries, the more feathers I’m going to ruffle.

How do you define success? What are the goalposts you look out for?

Success is defined by knowing that I can still love myself after a really long and hard grueling day in taking part of short-sighted decisions. Success is letting go, forgiving myself and others regardless of what was lost. Success is accepting failure and looking for the valuable lessons and blessings that come with it and applying it to your next round in getting back up on your feet. Success is knowing that nothing is perfect, but we’re doing just fine. Success is freedom in knowing that we know nothing at all and we are still learning, growing, and are courageous enough to change the things that aren’t serving our highest selves. The goalposts I look for is FREEDOM. I am aware that freedom comes with a responsibility, so I do what I need to do to keep myself unbound by any commitments that I sense will only stifle my creative or spiritual growth. If you feel that you are spending most of your days doing what you love and enjoy, you are already on the path of success.

Film of Woman and Baby burning garbage in the Bicol, Cagamanaba, The Philippines

Who is someone that has helped you get to where you are now? How were they impactful?

Dan Monick and Ayumi Shibata. These two people have been my creative backbone in helping me find self-worth within my authenticity. Dan, impacted me in ways I can't really explain in words, because it's all so overwhelming. His deep knowledge and curiosity for sub-culture, pop-culture, art and music, politics, civil rights, and social justice, kept my senses so engaged that it lit up a fire in me to dive and explore a world that wasn’t natural or accessible for me in my earlier influential years. He absorbed the role of my creative partner from when I began flying solo with work. Pushing me to practice photography by staying alert and aware of my surroundings and never mincing his words when it came to edits and critique. Ayumi - a Japanese-American Designer, is the reason why I took a deep dive into fashion in the way I did. Whether it be wardrobe styling, design, or branding. I took an off-beat route in following a path led by her lens. Her natural and generous creative side introduced me to an underworld of vintage collecting, design, and styling. We’d find ourselves spending lots of time in places that involved scouring piles of moth-ridden clothing to find the perfect silhouette or beadwork inspiration, using each other as muses, as well as sharing with me priceless life advice. She to this day, over 11 years of friendship, partnership, and mentorship, is someone who has the purest of hearts that I can trust without a doubt.

Favorite food in LA? Your go-to spot to get cravings satiated? (Tacos, pupusas, kbbq, sushi, thai, etc.)

I realize I am typing this while we are entering into a time that is most likely going to change the way we behave and effect the economy on a global scale. It is also beginning to create fear and isolation from our loved ones. I am currently doing my best to lay low and think about the possibility of having to more or less eat some rice and pistachios on a need to basis for a period of time. I also want to mention that this is a time for solidarity and union for those of us who are highly conscious of who we spend our time with, that we are not just doing this for ourselves, but for the current lifestyle of others. It’s a hard time to be awake because whose to say that when one light goes out, our health care system will be able to accommodate us in this time of crisis. So all this to say, I hope that the following restaurants where I find my cravings satiated are in a good and healthy position to overcome these challenging times…..BECAUSE I CANNOT WAIT TO FEED THIS RAVENOUS DRAGON….that also loves spending time in these vibe-conscious settings so that I can enjoy a full-length conversation in good company.

Hondai-Ya in Little Tokyo. Burger Lords in Chinatown. Ramen of York in Highland Park. Blossom and Bestia in Downtown. Guisados in Echo Park. Sage in Silverlake. Viet in Atwater Village. Noshi Sushi in K-town, but not? Lum-Ka-Naad Northern & Southern Thai Cuisines in Northridge. Home Thai Restaurant in Echo Park. Chloe in Silverlake