(+) & (-)

Insight into ones self is the hardest thing to do. But after some consideration, I've decided that the following best represent the positive and negative aspects of my personality...

POSITIVE

Motivated

-I set a goal and I have to reach that goal no matter what. 

Reliable

-I'll do anything for friends or family. If I'm asked to do something, it will get done.

Hardworking

-I don't like to delay on projects, I like to put my nose to the grind stone and get things done. Being active and working is better than sitting around being bored.

Problem Solving

-I found at an early age that I can solve problems easily. This comes in handy in a time of need. I can use my resources and get things done no matter what.

Adaptable

-I can work anywhere, I can pick up and go and it doesn't phase me. I don't mind where I'm working or where I am, I'll make it work for me.

NEGATIVE

Passive

-I stand back from situations and access before going in. I can sometimes be easily influenced by people when they want me to do things that they want instead of what I want and I won't defend myself.

Aloof

-I've always been shy and I stay to myself before I get to really know someone.

Flighty

-Sometimes I can act the compete opposite of what I'm usually like and act irresponsibly.

Apathetic

-I can get to a point where I just don't care anymore. I just want to get things done, no matter what.

Defensive

-I can usually avoid it, but sometimes I still let things upset me and I will get my back up.

"Don't think. Draw."

People come and go through my life, and each make an impact on how I grew up, whether I noticed it or not. But there are a special few who stand out the most, who helped push me in the right direction. 

The biggest influence on the way my life is shaping out would be my art teacher, Linda Carson. 

I started taking classes at her studio, The Big Black Pig, when I was young, and really fell in love with art. I took as many classes as I could and learned as much as I could. She was an amazing teacher and knew how each of us learned and in turn we all learned a lot. She taught me to keep a sketch book. I was taught that my sketch book was not a book of beautiful drawings, but my thoughts and ideas.  

At the beginning of each class we would start with warm up sketches and drawings, to get our hands loose. This is where I learned a lot as these exercises taught me to work quickly and to not be so perfect, to just get my ideas down.

Linda taught me that it was ok to make mistakes. She always had a way of showing me so that I understood what she was talking about. We used to take a blank piece of paper, then draw a picture on it, she would then make us do certain things such as paint over half of it with white paint, and then draw on top of that paint with a new material. I didn't realize it at the time, but she taught me to loosen up and to enjoy making mistakes and failing. I'm very grateful for that now.

She also got to know us all, had new things to teach us each week, made us all feel like amazing artists and was honest when something could be changed. I was taught to look at things a different way, see my world around me differently. Her studio was what I looked forward to each week. It was inspiring just to be standing in it. She pushed the boundaries and I loved her for it. She was truly an inspiration to each and every child that went through there.

I also wouldn't be at Humber if it weren't for another very special teacher, Mr. Waldeck. He introduced me to Graphic Design. I really had not heard of this profession while at school and it seemed too good to be true. Combining my two loves of art and computers for a job. I was shocked. But he taught me everything I needed to get into school. He encouraged me to do my best and to push my limits. He saw potential and knew I could do better. He too was a great teacher, knew how I learned and taught me so that I would get the most out of his lessons. 

Eventually I was pushed to where I thought I would never be in high school. I would never have guessed that in my final year I would be allowed to design the sets for the drama club. It was a great experience. I was taught new tricks and techniques and I was proud of the work I did. I was even more proud when he awarded me the Computer Art award in my grade 11 & 12 years. I was ecstatic and it helped me decide that I might just be good enough to go to school for Graphic Design. 

Without these two very important people in my life, I'm not sure where I would be. But I am glad that they touched my life and helped shaped who I am today. 

There are fewer rules than you think (by Linda Carson)

1. Don't put down anyone's work, especially your own.
2. Don't lick the brushes.
3. No adult slave labour.
4. You can quit but you can't whine. 

My Manifesto That I live My Life By

FAIL

You'll learn more than succeeding. You look at the world a different way. It changes you.

COLLECT THINGS THAT INSPIRE YOU

Art. Design. Posters. Photographs. Newspaper clippings. Magazine clippings. Furniture. Objects....etc.

THINK BEFORE YOU JUMP TO THE COMPUTER

Doodle. Draw. Write down words. You'll do better when you get to the computer.

PUSH YOUR LIMITS

Do something you normally wouldn't. Change things up. Pick another font/colour/picture/layout that you normally wouldn't. 

LISTEN TO OTHERS

Sit in on conversations without contributing. Listen to how other people think, talk, voice opinions. You learn so much.

JUST THINK

Let your mind wander. Stand in the shower and let the water hit you. Stare out the window. Sit in the dark. Your subconscious is fascinating. Then go backwards in events and see how you arrived at that idea!

TRAVEL

Go downtown, on walks, to other cities, provinces, states, countries. Take the public transit, walk, bike, run, take your car, see different perspectives.

OBSERVE YOUR SURROUNDINGS

Store front signs. Products. Displays. People. Architecture. Advertising. Nature. The world around you is amazing.

DO MORE THAN GRAPHIC DESIGN

Sports. Hobbies. Art. Cooking....you learn and experience more. Your view on the world expands.

DON'T BE AFRAID

You can't go through life afraid of everything. The world is an amazing place, so go discover it. Things aren't as terrifying as you think.

My Mood Board

What inspires me.

20 Words [Design]

Explanation

Understanding

Perception

Impact

Personal

Unique

Realization

Appreciate

Ignorant

Purpose

Creative

Subconscious

Amazing

Dull

Like

Dislike

Beauty

Junk

Message

Reason

Design is Statement Revised

Design is open to interpretation. 

Technology Consumption in a Week

Over the couse of a week, I recorded how much I use/rely on technology. I wasn't too surprised at my findings as I know that being a graphic designer that I'm ALWAYS online and I can't stand to be without my cell/ipod/computer. I love technology and Apple maybe a little too much. I knew I didn't read enough, and I miss that as I used to read all the time. Being in college doesn't help as I spend all my free time doing homework and by the end of the night/morning I just crash on my bed. I was aware of how much I use everything on this list, and you might say I'm a bit of a technology addict.

My Findings:

Amount of time reading (books, magazines, newspapers...)

6 hours 15 minutes

*I was lucky this week and took some time to read my book, but this number is usually quite low. This number does NOT take into account reading other things such as billboards, posters, misc words all around us. Of course, I read these all the time, either subconsciously or not. It is another way I get my inspiration.

Amount of time listening to the radio

0 hours

*I don't usually listen to the radio unless in my car, and being in Toronto on campus, I don't need it. I have my ipod, why listen to the radio?

Amount of time listening to music

4.5 hours

*I like to put on background noise while working on homework. I also like to listen to my ipod occasionally while walking to class. I'm not a huge music fan, so this number is a little low.

Amount of time watching TV/movies

24 hours 45 minutes

*Most of the time, I'm not even paying attention to what's on the TV, I just like it on for background noise. I only really watch 2-3 shows during the week to get away from homework. I love movies, so most of this number is from movie watching. 

Number of emails sent

8

*This is from Hotmail/Gmail only, it does NOT include Facebook messages.

Amount of time surfing the web

5 hours 30 minutes

*I don't usually surf around on websites. I mostly stick to my Facebook and Twitter. But I do use Google a lot, which is where most of the time is spent, usually looking up things for school projects. Occasionally if I have time I'll look for new design inspiration or even pictures to put on TCI

Amount of time talking on the phone

1 hour 13 minutes

*Weekly I'll call home and spent half an hour-45 minutes on the phone. The other numbers come from friends calling.

Number of texts SENT

311

Number of texts RECEIVED

339

*This number fluctuates. I'm mostly talking to my boyfriend back home. On the weekends he's away on course the number goes up even higher as he's bored and has a lot of free time.

Amount of time on MSN

168 hours

*I NEVER turn off my MSN, either out of laziness, or afraid that people can't reach me if I'm offline. Again, I'm mostly talking to my boyfriend. I also use it to keep in touch with friends back home, friends on res and friends from class.

Number of times I check Facebook & Twitter

70

*I'm constantly checking to see if anyones messaged me, or commented on something. But I think I like to check it so often is because I like to see what other people are up to. I have a lot of people from my high school and it's nice to see what they're doing in their lives. I also love to read the status updates. (Hence why I also love Twitter) I know it's kind of creepy, but I'm strangely inspired when I read them. Sometimes someone's said something funny or creative and it influences me to write something equally funny/creative.

I realize that some people may find these results sad. That I'm so dependant on my technology. But I can't help it. I love technology. It's why I'm in graphic design. There are so many more things that can be done with a computer and now a days, people can be reached that much easier! I love my apple products and I can't stand to not be around them. I guess they make me feel different from everyone else, because not many people have a mac and that makes me different. I like being different and I don't mind being addicted to my technology. I love it.

Quote of the week:

"If it keeps up, man will atrophy all his limbs but the push-button finger."  

~Frank Lloyd Wright