It's not what you look at that matters; it's what you see. - Henry David Thoreau
As the third week of school comes to an end, I am astonished at how time flies and how quickly and completely SCAD enchanted me. [Book plug: Guy Kawasaki's Enchantment] My first year here was this unbelievably fresh experience that felt like my finding what I never knew I was missing, and my excitement about my work and my joy derived from the stimulating environment are constantly growing richer.
I have been looking forward to my Fall 2011 classes for months. I chose to take classes back-to-back on Tuesdays and Thursdays to reduce commuting time, so two days of my week are filled with twentieth century art history, typography, and visual design systems. My art history professor resembles James Franco, and his dishevelment and absentmindedness border the line between endearing and irritating. That said, there is something perfect about dissecting the work of Matisse at eight o'clock in the morning. I can't remember the last time a topic interested me the way typography interests me. Somewhere in the world, five other people might get a tingly sensation from the phrase, "diagonal stress in the counter." Don't worry about what that means, but seriously, each lecture makes me want to go home and study the notes I took, and the recognition that I have an eye for it has made it all the more rewarding. Visual Design Systems is my last Foundations class, and we are currently learning about all of the golden ratios, root rectangles, Fibonacci sequence, etc. The more I learn, the more my past work horrifies me and makes me want to go "fix" everything, which is a blessing and a curse.
I wrestle with the best way to spend my time as my involvement in RUF has skyrocketed, I continue to receive design commissions, and I aim to focus on seeking jobs and internships while leaving time to do "my own" work. I removed music performance from my life in order to leave more time for these things, and I have to constantly remind myself of that.
The more I learn about art, the more differently I see the world. I try to explain to those who claim to lack talent or creativity that artistry is just a way of seeing. When I see an isolated word, I analyze the spacing between every two letters. When I see effective use of color, I consider the theory behind it. When I see a leaf, a cloud, a trickle of water -- anything -- I visualize a thousand compositions inspired by the line, the movement, the character. I'm learning to see for the first time, and the view is breathtaking.
As the third week of school comes to an end, I am astonished at how time flies and how quickly and completely SCAD enchanted me. [Book plug: Guy Kawasaki's Enchantment] My first year here was this unbelievably fresh experience that felt like my finding what I never knew I was missing, and my excitement about my work and my joy derived from the stimulating environment are constantly growing richer.
I have been looking forward to my Fall 2011 classes for months. I chose to take classes back-to-back on Tuesdays and Thursdays to reduce commuting time, so two days of my week are filled with twentieth century art history, typography, and visual design systems. My art history professor resembles James Franco, and his dishevelment and absentmindedness border the line between endearing and irritating. That said, there is something perfect about dissecting the work of Matisse at eight o'clock in the morning. I can't remember the last time a topic interested me the way typography interests me. Somewhere in the world, five other people might get a tingly sensation from the phrase, "diagonal stress in the counter." Don't worry about what that means, but seriously, each lecture makes me want to go home and study the notes I took, and the recognition that I have an eye for it has made it all the more rewarding. Visual Design Systems is my last Foundations class, and we are currently learning about all of the golden ratios, root rectangles, Fibonacci sequence, etc. The more I learn, the more my past work horrifies me and makes me want to go "fix" everything, which is a blessing and a curse.
I wrestle with the best way to spend my time as my involvement in RUF has skyrocketed, I continue to receive design commissions, and I aim to focus on seeking jobs and internships while leaving time to do "my own" work. I removed music performance from my life in order to leave more time for these things, and I have to constantly remind myself of that.
The more I learn about art, the more differently I see the world. I try to explain to those who claim to lack talent or creativity that artistry is just a way of seeing. When I see an isolated word, I analyze the spacing between every two letters. When I see effective use of color, I consider the theory behind it. When I see a leaf, a cloud, a trickle of water -- anything -- I visualize a thousand compositions inspired by the line, the movement, the character. I'm learning to see for the first time, and the view is breathtaking.
Girl. Have you ever read "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain"? You may be way too advanced for that, but it's amusing anyway. It's a great book for people who claim that they can't draw but are open-minded enough to give it a shot...because it's less about your fine motor skills and more about seeing things in a way that facilitates drawing.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read it yet, but it's on my wish list. My drawing professor at Michigan (among others) recommended it, and I know Aunt Lyn has it, but I have not yet!
ReplyDeleteI grimace at the rememberance of the name of Thoreau for it reminds me of "Walden" -- yet one more piece of English literature I was required to read -- and didn't understand either the point of the author or why I was required to read it.
ReplyDeleteYet, I am happy that you are using the gifts and talents God gave you. I'm especially glad you are learning about 3x5 cards, pine cones and Fibonacci. At least you and I have something in common.
Reading your post was like reading something in French (which I don't speak or read). But I'm so glad you're enjoying everything!!
ReplyDelete