a pretty saturday

It's a lovely day today, nice warm weather and I have been fortunate enough to get outside and enjoy it. I got to sleep in a little this morning, made breakfast and then went to Centennial park with my boyfriend for a nice walk to enjoy the day. Today is one of those days where life seems effortless and there are no reasons to be unhappy. I've been working on a freelance project this afternoon, a logo for a a comic book store that operates online. Last week I went to a book store than was nearby to look at comics since I am personally not familiar with them other than knowing the popular superheroes, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and so on. But I was looking at all the books and sketching in the little coffee shop inside the book store when I guy approaches me and points to one of the books I am looking at, and said, "My work is in that book," and from there I learned he was a comic artist working for DC Comics and who graduated from SCAD. He told me a lot about comics and the opportunities he had been given. He showed me other artist's work and even pictures of his wife and son. It was one of those chance meetings where you meet someone new and have a really nice, genuine conversation, and this one was particularly helpful for me in developing ideas for my logo project. I love meeting other creatives who are open, and easy to talk to. It's just so nice.
Anyways, I'm going to head outdoors again, this day is just too pretty.

experimenting

Lately I've been trying to experiment... stretch myself, try new things, etc. Sometimes it is good and sometimes its not so good. Today it has been a little of both. One of the other students in the design program had the idea to put together a design potluck which I arranged. We met together for the first time with students and professors from Watkins in the design department. We ate, caught up...talked about design. The other purpose of the potluck is to work on design projects together, to get one another's input and feedback. We didn't do much work today, but I kind of expected it to be more social. It was fun though, I always enjoy spending time with friends. Nest time we meet it will be more work oriented.
Tonight, I've been trying to experiment. And like I said it has been good and bad. Good because I finally beat my thoughts and just did it already, grabbed some old canvases I purchased months ago and just started putting random stuff on them. I collect things constantly thinking I can use them and then I don't want to cut them up. But then it was bad because I began to feel pressure for a project that has no rhyme or reason other than to help me not to feel pressure. I suppose this is only natural when you're trying new things and trying to break mental habits of pressuring yourself. It doesn't matter what I make, all that matters is that I made it and benefited in even the smallest way, most likely that I tried something new and found out if I like it or not.

Bulletproof methods to get over creativity block

I am obsessed with SmashingMagazine.com. I discovered it this past semester and it is a blog I check every day because it is filled with incredible design goodness or every imaginable kind. I came across an article today where they interviewed 50 designers and asked them all the same questions. I liked these suggestions that they offered for getting past those blocks where creative thoughts won't seem to come to be.

1. Change the perspective: go away.
   Go someplace “different” from your usual haunts, away from places where you take every object, interaction or decoration for granted. Step away from the computer. Go for a walk, head to the gym, or just sleep on the problem. You’ll come back refreshed and with a new outlook on the task at hand.
2. Get inspired.
   Be a continuous feedback loop. That means continuous input: reading books and blogs, attending talks and conferences, using the medium you design for. It also means continuous output: writing books and blogs, speaking at conferences, designing.
3. Listen to music.
   Listen to music. Music is an equal blend of emotion and analysis. If you let yourself be inspired by it, you’ll often be astonished at the results.
4. Observe the world.
   Take a deep breath, stand up from your computer, and go somewhere you’ve never been before — a cafe, an exhibition … Prague. Go lie down in the park and just stare at the world. Let your mind truly relax and forget about things like the bills, and the rest of it all — suddenly your creativity will kick into overdrive.
5. Do something entirely different.Do something else entirely. Look at things that have nothing necessarily to do with web design. Get inspiration off-screen.
6. Seek for a new approach.
   Sketch as you go, start over, beat favourite sites in simplicity, consider what would other designers do, refresh your canvas, observe other people using a similar service you’re designing.
7. Put creative work on hold.
   Put the task or project down and either take a break from work altogether or perform some tasks that require no creativity (like bookkeeping or organization tasks) and distract your conscious mind from the challenges.
8. Communicate.
   Go off the grid. Talk to human beings. In person. Do something out of the ordinary, out of character. Give your brain a chance to regroup and hit it with some fresh stimuli.
9. Train your creativity.Force yourself to *do* something creative every day. It can be anything: writing, drawing, shooting photos, etc. The idea is to get into the habit of being creative every day.

late...

It seems I got behind on my blog posts in May, so to make up for that I will post a lot more in June. Tomorrow I begin my Fine Art Book Making class at 8:30 am. I was trying to go to sleep early but my mind is active tonight, as it so often is. I've been working on a few freelance projects for friends who have their own businesses/projects. Last week I completed a business card for Eric Night Films. They are going to the Staten Island Film Festival this coming weekend because their short film "The Bell & the Hammer" was accepted. It was written, directed and produced by Julian Vaca. The cinematography was done by Allen Laseter and also came to life through the hard work of the other ENF guys, Jayson Wall, Hart Hoppe, Jourdan Lees, and Nick Rau (as well as other film students in the production I class this past fall). This is a great accomplishment for them as filmmakers and also for the Watkins Film School to have students who are already getting films into festivals when these guys are only halfway through the program. You can watch the film on their website, www.ericnightfilms.com.
Also, I've been working on a logo for a friend who sells comic books online (he makes serious money doing it, he supports himself and his wife...I wonder if I could do something like that to bring in the bucks?). He's been wanting a logo and eventually a website. He's given me free reign on the logo, which is exciting but also a bit nerve racking. Sometimes it's hard to come up with ideas without any restrictions or boundaries. But I'm working on that and trying to treat it as a blessing. I sketched out some ideas tonight and was happy with what I came up with. But now my mind won't stop thinking and brainstorming even though I really want it to. I don't want to feel tired tomorrow. But it may take me awhile to get into a regular sleeping schedule again...
For tonight, I may as well jot down my ideas and let my brain win the fight tonight. Body, you lose. And tomorrow morning you will feel it.

Sweet Carolina

I am visiting home for awhile, making my way through South Carolina, visiting family and friends. Since I've come to the age where I and many of my friends have moved away from our home town it has become more and more difficult to see people and try to be in town at the same time. So I made a goal to try and visit as many old friends as I could as I trek through my home state. It's been good so far, spending time with my dad in Greenville and seeing old friends. Tomorrow I'm going to be driving to Winthrop to visit one of my best friends from high school and then heading to Aiken to visit my mom. I'm also planning on stopping in a few cities to meet up with other friends as I drive. So my trip home has been lovely so far and I'm glad to have so many great people in my life. I'll head back to Nashville at the week's end and then start my summer class (Book Arts) next week. Hope all is well with whoever happens to read this. Enjoy your memorial day!

Summer is off to a good start

Hello, hello. It is almost two weeks into May and I have been wonderfully busy and enjoying my summer so far. It has been wonderful being able to stay on as an intern at redpepper, and I continue to be grateful for my time there. Spending time with friends has been nice, and also a little time with my brother who is a student at MTSU. It was certainly nice to have him move to TN at the same time as me, and it was certainly a small world that we both ended up so close to one another. He just left to go back to South Carolina for the summer and I will soon travel there too for a brief visit with family and friends. I'll be starting my summer class in June and I'm looking forward to that too.
I've also been brainstorming about some personal projects I'd like to complete this summer. I always have ideas but with my free time, I'd really like to follow through with them. I've been thinking a lot about personal growth lately, and it's actually a focus at redpepper right now for everyone at the company. I've been thinking about my strengths and weaknesses and setting goals for myself. I'm trying to be totally honest with myself and truly working on parts of myself that could use improvement and achieving things that I've often talked about but haven't brought to fruition yet. This is the time to do those things. I'll plan on posting my personal work as it progresses.

DONE! DONE! DONE!

I am officially done with the semester! I am so freaking glad. Now I am looking forward to some relaxation and new things. Some exciting things to share is that I completed my website for Eric Night Films (6 talented film students at Watkins who work together) and I'm pleased with it. You can check it out here. You should watch some of their videos and see how awesome they are. Speaking of them and the entire film school, the film screenings are tomorrow at Green Hills Theater which I am super excited about. It's a long day, but filled with awesome short films by my wonderful friends. Plus, it will be a new experience for them to be screening at Green Hills as the screenings are normally held at the Belcourt in Hillsboro village.
Life is wonderful!