Saturday, August 27, 2011
Portfolio Time
Monday, August 15, 2011
Significance of Two
Two years ago this month I landed in the great neat state of California to begin basic art classes and build myself up to eventually apply to Art Center. Initially thinking it would take a year of preparation and classes, ended up leading to two years, 17 classes and some sort of headache.
I say headache because theres no gradual increase of 'standards in art' from the time you start to 2 years in. One day you're sort of taking it day by day then all of the sudden you are holding yourself accountable 2-4 weeks at a time when it comes to managing time with anything (working on assignments, laundry, eating, showering, sleeping, socializing). I have to say that this becomes overwhelming at times and quite frankly exhausting. Speaking from my life everyday for 600 some-odd days now, you hold yourself to a certain standard with every project and you work hard to progress and the key is to progress quickly and if the talent isn't growing at the rate to which you would like or expect (which it usually never does) I personally get really pissed off. I get mad that I don't quite understand yet or my patience for formality in forming a great piece of art/design work isn't up to MY standards.
This summer is one of those shining examples as to why I feel like taking on the challenge of three classes ended up blowing up in my face by way of stretching myself too thin. I want to create substantial work for every class but there came a point and time when I just honestly didn't care how it turned out as long as the deliverables were met. So think of it as an almost point-of-regression where I am sitting there mad as hell looking down at my paper wondering where I drew such awful lines! Like many students (if not all of them), I love getting recognition for technique, ingenuity, and neat problem solving but it seriously fell off once I picked up Transportainment. I was unbelievably exhausted artistically and it was because I was too worried about making everyone happy and being perfect. If I was perfect I wouldn't be here. Thats what I need to remember. I just get frustrated, I feel, more than most.
SO-
this is the last week for summer ACN classes and I'm sitting at school wrangling these last few loose ends up. Wish me luck, because as soon as thats over I must assemble my entire portfolio for submission on October 1.
(ill let you in on a little secret)
I have never been so scared for my personal future and yet so confident in knowing that this is what I want to do for the rest of my life, in my entire life. I feel so lucky. I feel very blessed. I don't thank my friends and family enough, but I love them and I really wish my grandfather were still here to be as excited as me and wish me luck. I know he is with me in sprit though.
At the end of the day though I am scared. Im scared because I want success and I want that to be exemplified by my actions and my words. I want to be as happy where I AM on the way to where I am going.
talk to you soon
-B
I say headache because theres no gradual increase of 'standards in art' from the time you start to 2 years in. One day you're sort of taking it day by day then all of the sudden you are holding yourself accountable 2-4 weeks at a time when it comes to managing time with anything (working on assignments, laundry, eating, showering, sleeping, socializing). I have to say that this becomes overwhelming at times and quite frankly exhausting. Speaking from my life everyday for 600 some-odd days now, you hold yourself to a certain standard with every project and you work hard to progress and the key is to progress quickly and if the talent isn't growing at the rate to which you would like or expect (which it usually never does) I personally get really pissed off. I get mad that I don't quite understand yet or my patience for formality in forming a great piece of art/design work isn't up to MY standards.
This summer is one of those shining examples as to why I feel like taking on the challenge of three classes ended up blowing up in my face by way of stretching myself too thin. I want to create substantial work for every class but there came a point and time when I just honestly didn't care how it turned out as long as the deliverables were met. So think of it as an almost point-of-regression where I am sitting there mad as hell looking down at my paper wondering where I drew such awful lines! Like many students (if not all of them), I love getting recognition for technique, ingenuity, and neat problem solving but it seriously fell off once I picked up Transportainment. I was unbelievably exhausted artistically and it was because I was too worried about making everyone happy and being perfect. If I was perfect I wouldn't be here. Thats what I need to remember. I just get frustrated, I feel, more than most.
SO-
this is the last week for summer ACN classes and I'm sitting at school wrangling these last few loose ends up. Wish me luck, because as soon as thats over I must assemble my entire portfolio for submission on October 1.
(ill let you in on a little secret)
I have never been so scared for my personal future and yet so confident in knowing that this is what I want to do for the rest of my life, in my entire life. I feel so lucky. I feel very blessed. I don't thank my friends and family enough, but I love them and I really wish my grandfather were still here to be as excited as me and wish me luck. I know he is with me in sprit though.
At the end of the day though I am scared. Im scared because I want success and I want that to be exemplified by my actions and my words. I want to be as happy where I AM on the way to where I am going.
talk to you soon
Friday, August 12, 2011
2 years. what can you learn?
Trust no one but yourself because at the end of the day that is all you have. You have to be confident and in control because this is your future. No anyone else's.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Summer In California feels like 9 months long...
Since I last posted there has been a significant amount of stuff happening this summer. None like last summer but I opted to of course take classes and stay in Pasadena versus driving/traveling back to Nashville. To refresh, I am taking three classes at AC at Night. Visual Communications, Intermediate Transportation, and Transpor-tainment. It has been a real exercise in personal time management plus prioritization to oversee that all work for all classes gets done ASAP every week-into-weekend so that I am not overwhelming myself last-minute (which I have been prone to do often before) there was no room for errors this summer. I have actually done some 'mind management' in the way of trying to explore what I am willing to learn on a daily basis. Wether that be remaining up to date with current events or reading extensive literature on design and business in the background when my mind just can't be creative. I have been digesting a lot of music this summer too because I felt that the guidelines of summer still applied regardless if i was in class or not. I made sure to listen to music often, play on the weekends when time permitted and maybe even have a little romance mixed in. All of which are (and let me emphasize this) very difficult to do.
Nevertheless I will start with the meat of this by saying I just completed reading a book called 'Car Guys vs. Bean Counters' by Bob Lutz. For those who are unaware of who he is just google him. The book is incredible. I suddenly feel a commonality with him and I. He knows decades of the automotive business more than I but I still feel that a lot of his core values and his type-A personality traits are what I am proud to say have somehow made it to me since my grandfather passed in 2007, when I opted to change directions and go directly to work at a Honda dealer. Things I have learned from then until now have assisted in the molding of a personality that I can only claim is mine. The book, though, highlights the automotive business-particularly GM and his influence from 2001-2010. The highs and lows are what he discusses and the most striking thing that stuck with me was the quote by maximum Bob himself;
"Dont do the right thing the first time. Do the right thing RIGHT the first time. "
I just sat there thinking PREACH IT because that is unbelievably true and I finally had the correct words to attribute to how I did my everyday business back at Honda to today. Never had I before been able to explain why I did things the way I did, when my bosses would ask where I had a good idea for processes. However now (2 years too late) I had it. But that does not mean I can't carry it with me. I hope you do too.
Now other tidbits were new friends that joined the group that I am with that comes to Art Center every day early and stays late. I love the friends I have made and nothing is greater in my life than the networking I have done and the relationships I have made, only a great new group to add to the already amazing set of friends that I have. Hopefully you're one :)
A slight event that happened about a week and a half ago was ( I believe on a Monday) when we received notice that as a collective of student body, we would not be allowed to stay after hours at school (because it is open 24 hours) due to significant messes that were being created by a myriad of factors. From the summer high programs to day program students coming down from hillside to work late, with so many people, messes were inevitable. To receive an official notice though kicking us out (night program mainly) was appalling. I expressed my discontent with this abrupt measure to my friends and to security and no one really had a solid solution or answer as what to do. So I decided to message the persons who were on the letter to get a better clarification into this matter and in all real reality I wanted it resolved as soon as possible. The problem was, the individuals whom I emailed.....were department chairs of the very major I am wanting to graduate with. Luckily enough I approached this is a very calm way and didn't blow up or bitch or whine. I just wanted to inform everyone that Art center at night students are not to blame for this incident, let alone myself or the group I work with (with whom I hound and they hound me if messes need to be cleaned in the rooms which we work). So within one day and a set of email correspondence with the powers that be I had successfully restored the after-hours permission for us. I felt very proud of myself because I opted to take charge in a situation otherwise I would have left alone until the 'until further notice' had been dropped, for all I know could have lasted longer than we all think. Long story short I acted like an adult and was treated like one and it didn't feel too bad! hahaha
I also signed my lease in my apt, to continue for the next three years! woah!
I also DID have a brief and exhaustive chance to go home to nashville and see Mom, Dad and Mamaw. I missed them the most. :'/
Ill make a conscious effort to scan my work the next few weeks to show you my progress.
The rest just needs to be played out in pictures so you'll see :)
Love ya
Nevertheless I will start with the meat of this by saying I just completed reading a book called 'Car Guys vs. Bean Counters' by Bob Lutz. For those who are unaware of who he is just google him. The book is incredible. I suddenly feel a commonality with him and I. He knows decades of the automotive business more than I but I still feel that a lot of his core values and his type-A personality traits are what I am proud to say have somehow made it to me since my grandfather passed in 2007, when I opted to change directions and go directly to work at a Honda dealer. Things I have learned from then until now have assisted in the molding of a personality that I can only claim is mine. The book, though, highlights the automotive business-particularly GM and his influence from 2001-2010. The highs and lows are what he discusses and the most striking thing that stuck with me was the quote by maximum Bob himself;
"Dont do the right thing the first time. Do the right thing RIGHT the first time. "
I just sat there thinking PREACH IT because that is unbelievably true and I finally had the correct words to attribute to how I did my everyday business back at Honda to today. Never had I before been able to explain why I did things the way I did, when my bosses would ask where I had a good idea for processes. However now (2 years too late) I had it. But that does not mean I can't carry it with me. I hope you do too.
Now other tidbits were new friends that joined the group that I am with that comes to Art Center every day early and stays late. I love the friends I have made and nothing is greater in my life than the networking I have done and the relationships I have made, only a great new group to add to the already amazing set of friends that I have. Hopefully you're one :)
A slight event that happened about a week and a half ago was ( I believe on a Monday) when we received notice that as a collective of student body, we would not be allowed to stay after hours at school (because it is open 24 hours) due to significant messes that were being created by a myriad of factors. From the summer high programs to day program students coming down from hillside to work late, with so many people, messes were inevitable. To receive an official notice though kicking us out (night program mainly) was appalling. I expressed my discontent with this abrupt measure to my friends and to security and no one really had a solid solution or answer as what to do. So I decided to message the persons who were on the letter to get a better clarification into this matter and in all real reality I wanted it resolved as soon as possible. The problem was, the individuals whom I emailed.....were department chairs of the very major I am wanting to graduate with. Luckily enough I approached this is a very calm way and didn't blow up or bitch or whine. I just wanted to inform everyone that Art center at night students are not to blame for this incident, let alone myself or the group I work with (with whom I hound and they hound me if messes need to be cleaned in the rooms which we work). So within one day and a set of email correspondence with the powers that be I had successfully restored the after-hours permission for us. I felt very proud of myself because I opted to take charge in a situation otherwise I would have left alone until the 'until further notice' had been dropped, for all I know could have lasted longer than we all think. Long story short I acted like an adult and was treated like one and it didn't feel too bad! hahaha
I also signed my lease in my apt, to continue for the next three years! woah!
I also DID have a brief and exhaustive chance to go home to nashville and see Mom, Dad and Mamaw. I missed them the most. :'/
Ill make a conscious effort to scan my work the next few weeks to show you my progress.
The rest just needs to be played out in pictures so you'll see :)
Love ya
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