Photo lab Saturday

I decided today was as good a day as any to catch up on my B/W photo stuff.  Thankfully my replacement film arrived yesterday in the mail.  I successfully turned my bathroom into a dark room so that I could load the film without ruining it this time.  Hooray!  After that I went out and shot at Cox Arboretum in Miamisburg.  Wonderful venue, beautiful scenery.  I was not the only one who thought so.  There had to have been about 20 people getting pictures taken, let alone taking pictures.  There were senior photos going on, family portraits, engagement pictures and anything else you could think of.  For about 10 minutes I tried to make sure that I was keeping my set up out of their shots, but then I realized that was impossible.  With that kind of venue comes the inherit risk of other people being in your shots, so I ignored the people and got my shots.

Came back to the lab to develop which was actually quite nice.  No one else was here, I had the lab all to myself.  It was nice and quiet and dark and soothing.  Developing 4x5 film in complete darkness is fairly meditative and I have to admit it was  refreshing.  I'm not sure how but it appears that all my film is a bit overexposed.  I find this odd because I always underexpose my film because its ISO 125 and my light meter is reading things at ISO100.  I know, a lot of photo shop talk, but for those of you who understand film speed you'll be right there with me.  I'll have to talk to my professor to see what I'm doing wrong.  I even tried to counteract the over exposure by under developing as much film as I could.  Didn't really make a difference.  We'll see.

And unfortunately just as I was finishing my last round of negatives people started showing up at the lab.  Thankfully I was finished with the dark dark room and only need the printing dark room, but my reverie has been broken.  It was peaceful and quiet and serene...and now my serenity is gone.  I'm going to try to make my contact sheets as fast as possible and then get the hell out.  I'm not angry yet, but I am already starting to get annoyed.  I hate being that hermit, but when the other people in the lab don't leave me alone and act as if their problems are my fault...yeah, I'm gonna get irritated.  I'm discovering that in the photo lab, too.  People just can't let you do anything in peace.  They always have to comment on something.  Even if its just telling you what you're doing.  That happened to me last week.  I was developing FB paper which is much more sensitive to developer than RC.  I'm watching the time so I know when to pull it out of the chemicals and not over develop.  As I'm doing this a complete stranger leans over my station and asks me "fiber or RC?"  I didn't want to be rude so I said "fiber".  She then replies with "make sure you don't leave it in that developer too long.  Fiber paper is prone to overdeveloping".  I responded with "yeah, I know, its got another minute left".  And then she kept talking about the dangers of overdeveloping and how I needed to avoid it.  What about me staring at a clock and quietly developing paper makes you think that I have no clue what I'm doing?!  I think that was rude.  She didn't stop there.  She followed me around the dark room for an hour telling me thins I was already doing and fixing.  It got to the point were I just had to leave and come back later.  Its ridiculous.  And lame.  People are ridiculous and lame.

I think I'll finish shooting my next assignment tomorrow so that I can develop next week.  Its a zone assignment so I don't really want to develop without consulting my professor first.  We are manipulating the amount of light we let into the camera in regards to the light meter and also the length of developing to get the best quality negative.  Lots of math and adjustments, I'd really hate to do it wrong.  Let's pray this awesome weather holds out just one more day!

Art History Midterm

If you haven't figured it out, I tend to complain.  It burdens me, and venting helps me cope in a more healthy way.  At least that's how I feel, but then again I'm not the one being vented to, so I really don't know.

I have an art history midterm this afternoon.  Its actually in about 3 hours.  This final lasts 2 hours and contains roughly 10 slides of major artwork to identify, compare/contrast, whatever.  I just finished making myself a study guide.  The guide itself was 13 pages.  While this does contain the artwork involved, thats still roughly 40 works to learn.  That means the title of the piece, the artist, the medium used, the date it was produced and the movement it belongs to.  Please tell me why she narrowed our study selection down to 40 when all she's going to quiz us on is 10?  I have other classes.  I hope to have a life (clearly don't have one now, I have been studying).  I have friends and a boyfriend and 2 different jobs as well as all my other homework and heaven forbid a little free time.  This is a midterm.  Its not even the final!  I'd kind of understand for the final.  But here's the kicker: for the actual final in her classes she tells you exactly which pieces she's going to test you on.  Learn all of them and you'll be quizzed on all of them.  How is it that the final is easier and more straight forward than the midterm?  It just doesn't make sense to me.

That being said, I need to go back to studying because I have 5 different art movements to memorize and keep straight.  BTW, memorizing dates does not sit well with my brain structure.  I personally feel that if the movement lasts a certain time frame and doesn't deviate from that time frame, and I can identify the movement but not the date...shouldn't that still be peachy keen?  I get the whole "this work influenced this work within the movement because it came first" thing.  Doesn't mean I'm great at remembering it for a test.

Lame.

Mid terms

I'm gonna keep this fairly short, but I felt as though I should update.  Its officially week 5...half way done actually.  I have taken 1.5 midterms.  One of them has a take home portion so I can't really call that one done yet.  I have another 2 tomorrow.  And for the first time since BMZ all those ages ago at Miami I have a real live practical midterm.  I'm pretty excited about it.  For digital photo my prof is having us go take pictures during the exam, come back and edit them as the grade.  I think its a great idea and I'm pumped.  The other is art history.  I think my first one went pretty well, and that was a 400 level class while this one is only a 200, but its still an exam so we'll see.  I have a paper due Friday as well, technically 2 with a presentation attatched to the first one.  Now you will understand why I haven't really posted.  All that on top of shooting assignments and starting 2 new jobs has put a little bit of strain on my time.  Cuts had to be made and sorry, this blog is low man on the totem pole.  Things should ease up next week, hopefully.

On the plus side of things I got a decent sized scholarship for next year which will defnitely help my loan situation.  Yay!  I got accepted into the Pari/London trip, though I'm still waiting to hear about the scholarship.  They hope to announce Friday, keep the prayers coming.  I think I actually did really well on my portraiture assignment for digital, yay again.  That will boost things a bit after the first assignment of B.  I'm pretty sure I'm gonna resubmit it for a better grade.  Just not until things calm down.  May.  Things will be calm in May, I'm sure.

I'm getting slightly behind in my B/W class which is disheartening as it is my favorite.  I ruined roughly $30 worth of film and need to buy more.  I also need to start preparing for my final assignment which means paper, film, etc.  The new job should help a bit.  If you know someone who needs a tutor at Wright State, highly encourage them to go lol.  I need more appointments (primarily math, if you'd believe that from an art major). 

So I have a busy weekend of shooting and developing to get caught up after I grab some more film, hopefully cheap.  Thank God I had left over RC paper from photo 1 and didn't have to buy more.  That will help a lot.  I am going to need more fiber though.  Big printing assignment due the 11th.  She is providing a good chunk of paper though, so thats nice.

And I failed at short, but I think I hit all the major bullet points. 

Case of the Tuesdays

Holy crap, its week 4.  When the quarter is only 10 weeks long things tend to sneak up on you.  Like how next week is mid-terms.  I haven't even begun to study (big big problem) on top of my projects to do.  Granted, I have a very meticulous schedule, so I'm not actually behind.  I just keep waking up in the middle of the night thinking I have forgotten to do something.  I stop hanging out with friends because I'm convinced that there was something huge and epic I had to do so I don't have time for fun.  I'm stressed to the max, I haven't had an appetite in nearly a week (food isn't fun when its forced, just fyi), and I feel as though my newly adorable haircut is going to turn prematurely grey.  And not that cool artistic streaks of white, but that heinous nasty homeless guy drab grey color.  White I could handle.  Not necessarily with the world's best grace, but I could definitely handle it.

Oh well.  I just have to keep reminding myself that I'm not behind, I am organized, I haven't missed any classes or readings so I do actually know my material.  I have no tests for over a week still.  I have the whole weekend to study.  And its Holy week!  God is with me.  Deep breath.

On a happier note I am incredibly ahead on my portraiture assignment for digital photo.  I took nearly 200 pictures at my friend's rehearsal.  So thank you to Gateway Percussion for letting me invade your finals day rehearsal.  You all looked amazing and I couldn't have asked for better shots.  I have the lovely task of editing them, but it doesn't even feel like work.  They were such great performers that I keep getting wrapped up in every little facial expression made.  Absolutely fantastic.  I must have spent an hour and a half the other day just looking at them.  I'm hoping to get them copies to put on their facebook page or website.  Look them up, I know they'd love the company.  My only regret is that I didn't get any shots in uniform.  Oh well, they didn't need them.  Seriously, AMAZING performers.  Great job guys!

But I did get fairly involved with taking pictures of other people and forgot that I need pictures of myself.  I need to get on that pretty soon.  I only need 4, and I don't plan on taking flattering pictures.  Let's face it, we're only truly flattering a very small fraction of the time.  God made me the way I am when I wake up in the morning, or when I tanked a quiz, or when I pulled an all nighter writing an essay.  Those are the shots I want.  Since they're of me I'll probably be able to post those on here.  And I know I haven't posted a lot of pics, but the files are large and it takes awhile to organize that kind of post.  I tend to write these posts in my spare time between (sometimes during class breaks) classes.  That means random school computers and no time.  So maybe this summer I'll be more diligent.  Or start a flickr page or something.  We'll see.

Also, keep the prayers going, I just had my interview for the Paris/London trip this winter.  I left my portfolio for a scholarship possibility.  fingers crossed!

And back to studying for my many mid-terms next week. 

End of Week 3

Negative Nancy got tired and went back to sleep, sorry for the pessimism.  This week wasn't that bad.  Humbling, yes, but not bad.  I didn't do as well as I'd hoped on my first digital photo critique.  I haven't gotten a grade back yet, so I also don't know how poorly I did.  He also seems like a professor who isn't very fond of positive feedback, so maybe I didn't tank it too badly.  I fulfilled the requirements except for one (I definitely misunderstood what he was looking for).  We'll have to see.

I developed my film for my first 4x5 shooting assignment.  I think they turned out pretty good.  Two of them were slightly overexposed, but I had troubles with my light meter.  It doesn't have a setting for 125 speed film, which I'm shooting at.  So there's an element of guestimating going on that didn't work in my favor every time.  Oh well.  We are now printing a technical comparison between RC and FB paper.  I've never printed on fiber based paper before so I'm kind of excited.  My RC print turned out pretty good.  If it wasn't for simple comparison I'd have to do a lot more adjustments with burning and dodging, but seeing how that isn't the purpose of the assignment I'm not going to waste expensive paper yet.  I'll save that for later in the quarter.

My history classes are going well.  Other than me being really busy this past week, things have gone decent.  I can't complain.  I am still waiting to hear back about my financial aid package to see if I can afford to take summer classes.  There are 2 studio classes I could get out of the way that would tremendously help my efforts to graduate sooner and not die of an aneurysm at the same time.  I'm also submitting my application and deposit for the 2 week study abroad program for this December today (would have already had it turned in except the office was unexpectedly closed until my class starts, poo) so that's one other thing to get going.  I have half of my fees saved already.  I need the other half by October, and any spending money for souvenirs and trips (or festive beverages) by the time I leave in December.  That means my torrent of prayers began yesterday when I officially made the final decision to do this (the deposit is non refundable).  I'll keep you posted on developments to that end.

This weekend I'll be working on my portraiture assignment for digital class, probably spending a lot of time at the WGI finals lot.  Its the best place I know to take pictures of people in their natural environment.  Percussionists at WGI finals.  Its like indoor band Mecca, we all flock to it once a year without fail.  Now I live down the street from it, so there's not even guilt in going.  I'm pretty excited about that.  I also need to come back to the photo lab over the weekend to develop my contact sheets because I cleaned out my car and forgot my negatives when I drove to class today, like a dope.  Like I said, this week has been humbling in very small but effective ways.

So here's to a better more productive weekend!

Weather

Ok, kids.  First lesson in doing big kid assignments starts with making sure you have a reliable source.  We all learned this in probably 3rd grade, roughly, give or take a few grades.  Writing a paper?  Don't use the National Enquirer for your source.  Its also ill advised to research something like the Lock Ness monster or Bigfoot because there's not a lot of verifiable evidence for these topics.  As a science major I was drilled over and over again about sources.  Not only citing them so that someone else can say that you're a viable source, but meticulously checking and double checking and cross referencing information to make sure its credible.  If one person says it, its a story.  If 5 people say it, its worth looking into.  If 100 people say it, you can probably take it to the bank.  Even new scientific discoveries aren't believed for decades simply because there was no one else to say "I conquer!".

So why the big monologue?  Because I broke the cardinal rule of checking my sources.  I had planned on going out Saturday and Sunday this weekend to shoot for both my photo classes.  I actually have a weekend off, first one in almost 7 months.  I checked the weather and it said it was supposed to be partly cloudy and warm.  Yay! 

Wrong.  My source was not credible.  I did not verify my findings with 3 other weather forecast websites.  I didn't check the news.  I used one source.  The same source that after I was out trying to get some shots, waiting for the clouds to pass that suddenly opened up and poured on me and my equipment, wishing I wasn't back back in the woods on a nature trail when the thunder and lightning happened...yes, that source then changed from partly cloudy to thunderstorms.  And when I got home and checked again, it shows ugly nasty lighting rain for the next 3 days. 

Moral of the story?  Check your source.  Its never a bad idea and can save you a lot of heartache in the long run.  Pray for some bright weather, though?  I still need shots with variable light, not just all overcast and rainy.

Expenditures

I am realizing a new cost in the wonderful world of photography.  Besides all the film, the paper, the negative carriers, the matting, the everything that makes my budget a living hell I now understand that even pixels aren't that cheap.  I have to shoot 100 shots of roughly 15 different color situations.  This means that I will be unable to accomplish my homework assignment in my apartment or on campus.  Not a big deal, right?  I love going out and photographing nature and cityscapes and such.  What I never fully took into account is the amount of gas that I have to use to drive to all of these wonderful places to shoot my homework assignments.  Especially for my B/W class.  I may only have to take 6 pictures, but they still have to be good pictures.  I'm not going to waste film on pictures of my laundry basket or my parking lot.  That means going somewhere.  And when you live in the city or suburbia, that usually means driving to that location, probably 20 minutes or so.  Gas prices are going to kill my education simply because I can't afford to drive someplace to shoot!  Its just not something you plan for until it slaps you in the face.  I don't know, maybe I'm just naive.  Guess its time to start looking for another job.  I'll sleep when I'm dead, right?

Digital Media

We live in a digital age.  I accept that.  For the most part I embrace it.  While I still love the tactile relationship with actual film and paper books, I understand why technology is good and why we should embrace it.

That being said, I have 3 classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  I start the day with a 3.5 hour digital photography class (where I look at a computer screen), followed by 2 art history classes that last 2 hours each (where I stare at Powerpoints on the wall and take notes on my computer).  This means that for roughly 7.5 hours I am required to look at a computer screen.  This doesn't include what I do outside of class (like blogging or checking facebook, sending emails and netflix, etc).  I realized today that I truly live on my computer.

I realize this as I chug caffeinated beverages to fight back the headache I get from looking at a computer screen all day.  So I will sum up today with that note.  Technology good.  Now its time to make technology to combat our technology.  This much soda can't be good for me.

Spring Quarter

Sorry!  I completely fail at life and I admit that.  I haven't posted and I've been back from spring break for nearly 2 weeks.  I also didn't post about the photo field trip I went on to the zoo or the drawings that I attempted.  On that particular note, drawing things that move is a new challenge for me.

So its the second week of the quarter.  Haven't really gotten into the assignments yet.  This is the part of the quarter where things are still pretty slow.  I can watch TV at night and still not feel guilty about it.  My digital photography class has been overwhelming me with techno speak that I barely understand.  It's going to be a challenge taking pictures for that class.  Besides the added volume of pictures I'm not used to (pixels are cheap, right?) there's the added fuss of calculating for computer error whenever I take a picture.  So instead of just worrying about my aperture and shutter speed, I have to worry about how my camera is going to interpret about 20 different things besides aperture and shutter speed.  Its a new element that will definitely take some getting used to.  The shooting in color thing is different as well.  I'm used to setting up a composition and completely disregarding the color because it would be turned to grey scale anyway.  I'm very glad that I took intro to color last quarter.  Diane's class will definitely help me in this class.  Even though I complain, I'm still very much looking forward to it.  I'll finally be able to use a digital camera like a pro, not just hoping for the best.  Also, Ben will turn me into a Photoshop pro by the end, I'm certain of that.

Intermediate B/W photo is going to be challenging to say the least.  We will be shooting with a large format camera.  My instructor said that taking a single shot with this camera takes about 20 minutes, and she was not joking at all.  I'm seriously debating buying an external light meter because trying to use my digital camera is slightly difficult.  It requires a lot of mental math that quite frankly I don't trust myself to do.  We took 2 experimental shots on Monday and I'm going to develop them in about 15 minutes, so we'll see exactly how much work I'll be needing to do this quarter.  I already have a lot of ideas for projects though, so I'm hoping Tracy will go along with them.  My partner unfortunately dropped the class, but that does mean that I'm the only person in the class with their own camera, so I have the freedom to do just about any project I need to without restriction of time.  I have a feeling I'll be doing a lot of shots down by the gorge out in yellow springs.  Thank God the weather is finally improving.  Its about time Ohio!

Those are my only 2 studio classes this quarter.  I feel pretty good about that.  I am still taking 5 classes, though, so that leaves me with 3 art history classes.  My professor is extremely understanding and letting me take one without all the required pre-reqs so that I can still attempt to graduate on time.  It's going to take a little bit of added effort, but I'm willing to do the leg work.  I am a little behind in my reading for her 2 classes though because I was waiting on my books to arrive.  I will still wait and order my books the first week of class if it will save me heartache and money, though, so I'm definitely not complaining.  My job just quieted down a lot so I'll have time on the weekends to get caught up.  My third history class is a survey of museums.  It only meets once a week on Fridays which was a bummer until I found out we only meet the first 5 weeks, then go on 3 museum field trips and we're done.  There's also no quizzes or exams!  Just written homework and a term paper.  I love taking upper level classes!!!

So while this was a brief introduction to my new and amazing quarter, hopefully that will keep you from getting confused when I actually start being responsible about posting regularly.  I definitely have more time, I need to use it to fulfill my own commitments, right?

P.S. thank you mevins for reminding me I have a blog and should post ;-)

Spring Break

Today officially began my Spring Break.  And it couldn't have happened on a better day.  Its actually warm outside, its nice and sunny, and I have absolutely nothing to do but enjoy it.

This morning I had my last critique for Photo 1.  I think it went very well.  We were all very tired and over finals week, so we didn't talk a lot.  Still, its nice being done with it.  I'm looking forward to next quarter.  My project turned out very nice.  I did a lot of cropping, which is extremely unusual for me.  I'm pretty much a full frame kind of gal.  If I can't get the image I want when I take the picture I feel as though I missed something along the way.  I think all of my choices were for the best though.  Also, for the first time ever, I turned in 5 prints without a single speck of dust on them.  It only took me all quarter but I printed flawlessly!  Didn't even mess anything up when matting.  Honestly, this final could not have gone better.  When I get them back they are completely going to be decorating my walls next year.  Using my own photos for wall art, one dream accomplished.

After our critique was done I had to run over to the sculpture studio to pick up my sculpture before they trashed it.  I cannot tell you what I'm going to do with it, but I put in so much time and effort I didn't want her to just get thrown away.  I have titled her "Broken Dancer" as she has a very visible knee injury.  I think it's very appropriate.  The biggest problem was trying to fit her into my car.  As a plaster construction she isn't very flexible, and as a full time college student and worker, I tend to keep essentials in my car making it difficult to find room in my back seat.  She is currently nestled half in my trunk and balanced on a large crate in my backseat.  I hope to resolve this issue over break.  Especially considering that my front seat is occupied by a small bronze pregnant woman seat belted in to avoid hard breaking incidents.  My car is turning into a sculpture garden, and this cannot keep up.

In case anyone was interested, I have begun the process of spring cleaning my life, though I have miles to go.  The pizza box I used as a paint pallet for my color final has been thrown away, though the color aid paper is still lumped in a small mound at the foot of my bed.  My drawing supplies have been tucked away into their respective packages, but my drawing paper and board are still leaning against my bookshelf.  Its a process, you see?  It can't be rushed.  Definitely cannot be rushed when the weather outside is so lovely.  I did finally put the tripod away though.  It was getting difficult to maneuver around my room.  I'm sure that once I start to tackle the laundry issue that things will happen more quickly.

I actually plan on doing some projects over break so hopefully I won't be too wrapped up in having fun to forget to post.  I am about to start a 6 month personal drawing class.  I talked to my professor about ways to keep up with it without taking the class until September and she recommended a few things.  So as of Monday that project begins.  I've never drawn anything that wasn't assigned to me, and I'm really looking forward to it.  We'll see what becomes of it.

Done!

I have just completed my final project for the only class I have left this quarter!!!  It feels so good to be finished.  Seriously, a ginormous weight has been lifted off my chest.  Its easier to breathe and smile and think.  Lovin it!  To make things even better, I had an interview this morning that required my "unofficial" college transcript (essentially just a list of all the classes I've ever taken and what grades I recieved) and discovered that 3 of my professors posted final grades already.  Factoring in the 98% chance I get an A in photo, I will get 3 As and 2 Bs for this quarter.  Infinitesimally better than I thought I would.  In the interest of full disclosure, I totally deserved those Bs, too.  I was missing homework assignments in both of them.  Again, be realistic with your expectations.  I hate the fact that something as idiotic as not doing homework lowered my grade.  I will strive to do better at that in the future.

Today is a beautiful day though, and I'm FINISHED with classes until March 28th so I'll be leaving my apartment for  at least the next few hours.  I'm in way too good a mood to waste the day.  I'll clean tomorrow, seeing as my busy schedule has left piles of art projects lying around drowning in dirty laundry.  The quarter system helps me to understand spring cleaning.  Its what you do between Winter and Spring quarters to reassemble your life after finals.  I will most definitely be participating this year.

Finals Week

Lets start with a huge I'm sorry for not posting in 2 weeks.  Final projects for 4 studios while crunch time at work and personal life issues does not add up to a good blogging schedule. 

However, today I had 3 of my 4 critiques and I am officially done with Drawing 2, Sculpture, and Color.  All I have left is Photo, which I worked on for about 3 hours today and I will be returning to work on tomorrow.  Final critique is Friday, but lab is only open tomorrow, so its finish or bust.  All I have to do is mount my photos so I'm not terribly concerned.  I actually had pretty good luck printing today.  I got 6 done in 2 hours, a new personal record.  No dust or anything, even I'm impressed with myself.  I'm thinking someone upstairs saw how manically stressed I was and threw me a rope, even if only a short one.  It definitely helped.  Thanks!

Guesstimating my grades for this quarter leaves me a little disappointed.  They tell you not to take 4 studios, but you never realize why until too late.  You don't really feel the pressure until about 3 weeks left in the quarter.  Then you feel compelled to drop large objects off of buildings just to see what you can break (normally trying to hit one of your projects that's taking too much time to not turn out how you wanted it to).  I know understand.  If I can avoid it I think I'll stick to 3 and no more.  They say 2 but...yeah, as always we'll see what I can take when my aneurysm splatters the wall.

All in all a very stressful two weeks filled with panic induced comas, fits of hysterics and crying, and resolving with lots of praying and apathy.  I made it through alive.  I wouldn't say intact, but as we all know, coming home with a purple heart beats the hell out of not coming home at all.  So I'll take the mediocre grades and what shreds of my sanity remain and hobble onto the next quarter.  At least that contains only photo classes and art history.  Yay!

Scholarship

Didn't do a whole lot today, unfortunately.  I got caught up in the nice weather and was slightly less than productive.  I finished my project in color, actually managing to get the paint to cooperate with me for once.  After that I rushed around and quickly put together a very rough portfolio of my best works...that were in my car to submit for a scholarship through the art department.  I'm not sure I'll get it, actually I'm pretty much banking on not, but it never hurts to try and at least I can say I know for certain, right?  After that it was back to the Air Force Museum to work on my 2-panel drawing that even after today is an unfinished 1 panel.  I'm planning on going back Friday to finish it up.  I'm almost positive that I won't be able to finish it by the end of our class Thursday.  After that there was a brief pause for dinner with my bestie, and then to the photo lab to reprint my homework assignment due tomorrow because I turned them in with my scholarship portfolio.  Over all it was a fast but good day.  I'm looking forward to sculpture tomorrow because I should be able to get my sculpture nearly complete.  I need to shave down the back a little more and round out the belly (this will make more sense when I post pictures after finals week) but considering I have 2 class days left to work on it before critique as well as an entire weekend, I'm pretty excited about where I'm at with it.

So to end an incredibly long and boring paragraph, I'm gonna say hopefully tomorrow is more interesting.

Final Projects

As of noon today I know what every single one of my final projects are.  I'm actually extremely excited about my photo final.  It has to do with light.  How it bends, how it reflects, how it casts shadows.  I'm very amenable to this concept.  Its the entire reason why I became interested in photography in the first place.  Light fascinates me.  Drawing final is a 2 panel combining 2 projects from this quarter.  Still not sure what I'm doing yet, but I should get started on that sooner rather than later.  I only have a few more projects to do in color class, and those I should be able to finish in class.  Solid.  Still working diligently on my sculpture final which is shaping up nicely.  Besides being strenuous and extremely tedious, I'm confident that I will have it done in spectacular fashion by the final critique next wed.

Now I need to wrap up all of my homework assignments and notebooks and 2 tests to study for and I'll be home free.  For some reason week 8 is the worst.  Week 9, when I should be freaking out about everything that's due, all I'm doing is getting excited about being done.  I have 4 classes left of each class.  I cannot wait to be finished and on spring break! 

I'll take pictures when everything is done.  Til then I'm just going to enjoy the ride :-)

Weekend activities

Alright, so I lied a little.  While I am still firmly committed to not working on school work, I am technically still doing work from school.  Basically I'm taking this wonderful Friday off to...do laundry.  And involved in that laundry is working on getting all the paint and plaster out of my clothes that either didn't come out the first time or have yet to be treated.  I love being busy, I love being busy, I love being busy...

Other than that I don't foresee myself doing anything else art related this weekend.  I do have actual work to deal with so I'm sure that will consume my time.  I may post pictures of my final projects when they're finished, but I haven't decided yet.  Let me know if you wanna see them!  Just remember I'm still in my first year of art studies, even if I am a senior.

Weekend!

Miracles do happen!  Today at the Air Force Museum, using charcoal, I managed to keep all of it on the paper and not on me!  This has never happened before.  I can barely walk into the drawing studio on a graphite day and not get charcoal all over my face.  But in broad indoor lighting and public atmosphere I kept all of my charcoal to three fingers, all of them being used in the drawing process.  I am so totally excited!

Ok, so back to some semblance of professionalism.  I picked a spot in the Cold War Gallery as it tends to have a special place for my family.  We normally spend a lot of time in that gallery anyway so I figured since I knew it so well I could get right to work.  I chose a spot up on the overlook for a good vantage point.  Lately I've been an extreme rebel and have been breaking the rules of art a lot.  Well, there aren't really rules, but as a student I'm not supposed to center my subject in the middle of my paper.  Not in drawing, not in photo, not in any composition.  They say that once I've graduated I'll understand why we don't do this and how to use it effectively, but not until then.  While I think they are very right about all of these reasons, I have had a compulsion that I can't resist.  Its come out in nearly every class.  Today, I centered a giant plane right in the middle of my paper, splitting it directly in half.  I'm in love with it, and technically it won't always be in the center as this will be a 2 panel drawing.  She seemed to be ok with it.  I'm working on a new technique using compressed charcoal, a medium I've always had difficulty using.  Now I actually know what I'm doing and the end result is turning out quite nicely.  Granted, it looks better from far away, but the point is the texture, not the details.  That's something I've always had difficulty letting go of.

So thus ends my week and begins my weekend.  As I said earlier I'm taking the weekend off and not going to school.  Probably won't post again til Monday.  Yay weekend!

Drawing

Today is fairly centered around drawing.  I finished 2 projects fairly quickly today in color class (only because we'd already spent 2 days working on them and I got stuck on my paint project, the medium and I don't get along) so I took the opportunity to run down to the tunnels and try a more creative angle for my drawing homework.  I left 3 hours before it was due and was still afraid that I wouldn't be able to finish it in time.  Normally my drawing homework takes me about 4 hours to do and I'm still never fully satisfied with the results.  But today must be a good day as I finished in only an hour.  I'm going to take a break and go back to look at it.  It probably will need a lot of work with that fresh eye.

Later today though our drawing class will be traveling to the Air Force Museum to do some sketches out there.  I'm not sure exactly what we're doing, but actually going to the museum for class is something I'm looking forward to.  I mean, I've only been there about...oh a 100 times.  Being the daughter of a retired Air Force guy kinda makes you more inclined to visit.  Not a problem, I still find it fascinating.  And without my dad there I'm pretty sure I'll get to linger on whatever plane I want to.

My carving in sculpture class is actually going really well.  Its hard and tiring, but I can actually see my little model start to emerge from the plaster.  I gotta be doing something right.  I really just want it to be done.  I'm going to make a bold choice to take the weekend off from studio.  I'm not going to go to lab over the weekend.  This may mean that I will have to double time is next week to get everything done before finals really set in, but I'm going to have faith that I need this break and it won't be in vain.  I'm really starting to feel the stress of everything and I'm getting a little concerned.  I feel like I'm a giant burden to everyone around me and that I'm constantly in the way.  I just need to make it through this quarter and I'll be fine, I know it. 

The end of the quarter can't come fast enough.

Just as a side note, I went back and reprinted my contact sheets.  There was no way I could turn in those other ones.  And I made 2 prints in class yesterday and they look great!  Even the panning shot turned out decent.  I'm very excited.  One more photo project and I can move on to bigger and better things next quarter!

Contact Sheets

Sorry I  didn't post this yesterday, it got late fast.  I went into the photo lab after I was finished with my drawing class at 5:45.  I just finished the 3rd panel on my panoramic, which I think turned out very nicely.  When I say finished I mean for in class work.  It is no where near showable, something I need to work on before I put it in my portfolio for scholarship applications in a week.

So it was already pretty late when  I went to the photo lab to develop.  Thankfully my good friend was there with me to keep me company... and sane.  We developed and made our contact sheets and stared in wonder at how little can come out of a motion shot.  They are much trickier than I had hoped.  While many of my blur and panning shots turned out not so great, I do feel that I took some pretty nifty stop action shots.  I especially like a short series of them that I did with water.  Those turned out great.

I did have some trouble with the enlarger that I couldn't figure out, so there is a pale stripe down each page of my contact sheets.  Even after I printed them twice I couldn't figure out what was causing the issue.  I changed the filter and even the contact carrier.  But by that point the lab aide was trying to close up shop so    I had to skiddadle out of there, meaning I went home after 9 leaving my wet contact sheets in the drying rack for this morning.  Hopefully it won't affect my grade too badly, but I guess we'll see.

I think I need to do a digital study with motion to figure out a less expensive way to get the shots I want without wasting film.  Although I did see a flyer in the lab yesterday about a dark room facility in Kettering I may want to check out.  Looks expensive if I don't have a Kettering address, but maybe they have a student discount or something.  Anyways, I won't be going there until the summer as I'll still have access to the dark room on campus next quarter in my 2 photo classes.  I am rather looking forward to only taking photography studios next quarter.  I need a break from all this running around.  And that extra time will make it easier to find an after school job (which I have begun applying for, here's hoping).  Need something to pay for all those art supplies.  Being an artist is not cheap.  I'm fairly positive that artists didn't starve for their work on purpose but out of necessity.  Like the man who used his pillow and blanket to paint on because he ran out of paper and canvas.  Yeah, supplies are expensive.

Today I return to the photo lab to make prints from those last 2 rolls and then over to the sculpture studio to hammer away at a big block of plaster.  That assignment is turning out to be not as fun as I thought.  Maybe I'm just getting burnt on final projects.  They do seem to pile up quickly.

Photo Homework

Yesterday I got to spend a lot of time with my 2 favorite people who were gracious enough to help me with my latest photo assignment.  Its a shutter speed project, so entirely dealing with motion.  I've never really done motion shots effectively, and this time I have the disadvantage of working with film.  So there is a pretty good chance that out of 72 exposures not a thing will turn out.  I'm really hoping that this doesn't happen.

But my 2 willing (if resistant) companions helped me along.  They staged fight scenes and break ups and all sorts of things.  My boyfriend did take the cake though as he allowed my friend to throw a glass full of water straight in his face all for my grade.  I don't think I've had a lot of people that dedicated to helping me around before.  That act alone was better than flowers and chocolate and anything else he's ever gotten me.  What can I say?  I definitely don't deserve him.

Unfortunately for this assignment the weather turned horrible again, thank you Ohio.  I wanted to get more outdoors shots and things like animals or something.  I had a great idea for the swing set at a park actually.  But when it drops down to the lower 40s and is raining...you don't have a lot of options.  My friend came to my rescue again today and let me steal into her guard rehearsal so I could take some pictures of her writing the work and teaching it to the group.  If they turn out I'll make it into a present for their guard.  They were really good sports about it.

Tomorrow I will finish my last roll of film, whether the weather works with me or not.  Then I get to develop and make my contact sheet, praying the entire time that there will be some usable images amongst the mayhem.  Here's hopin'!

Sculpture Studio Friday

Getting ready to mix the plaster

So, Friday's are the best because there are no classes scheduled. And while you may think that this means every week has a three day weekend, you may also be mistaken. They actually give us this day off so that we can get caught up on all of our work. In some way, they know inherently that for a 3.5 hour class, there is not enough time outside to do the proper amount of homework. In addition to just the college class time:homework ratio, there is the fact that we are making art projects and everything has to be just right. There is no project that you do it once and everything turns out perfect. We're just not that lucky.

This past Friday I went into the sculpture studio to get caught up on my work. We're prepping for our final project which is a carved item directly out of plaster. This meant I had to mix enough plaster to fill a box that is 18in x 10in x 15in. So me and a few other friends who were behind in studio took time out of our beautiful Friday afternoon to mix plaster. And when I say time I mean 2 hours on our hands and knees, elbow deep in plaster.

Getting into the fun

While it was a nice day out with the temperature above 50, we had just finished our last project, and we wanted to be anywhere but stuck inside the studio, it was actually a really fun afternoon. Spending time with great people just talking and enjoying the process. Even though a lot of our bonding was complaining about critiques and due dates and horrible assignment foils, it was extremely nice experience. When I was a science major I barely got to know my fellow classmates. We were all very focused on studying and passing our classes that we acted more like horses with blinders on than people with the same general interests and purposes. It was very refreshing having a conversation while getting homework done. Very cathartic even.

After a couple hours, we're starting to get a little loopy...

 As you should be able to see from the photos, this was an extremely messy process.  I, for one, am horrible about staying clean while working and ended up a slightly mobile plaster cast myself.  I'm pretty sure its going to take a week to get the plaster out of my jeans alone.  When I left I not only had dried plaster bits all down my front and shoes, but I also had plaster dust particles glued to my arms and hands which in turn transferred over to my black jacket.  And then my car keys.  And purse.  And eventually scared a fellow classmate in the photo lab who thought I was a reptile shedding a layer of skin.  If you couldn't guess I went straight home and showered.

Monday I will begin the process of turning my tiny little clay model into a full sized sculpture.  I have roughly 2.5 weeks to finish this project and get it ready for final critique, plus finishing all the rest of my homework for this class which is considerable.  Especially considering I have to fix my other sculpture that broke last week ten minutes before critique.  Oh well, cest la vie.  Needless to say, I'll be very busy the next few weeks.  That'll teach me for taking 4 studio classes in 1 quarter.  Not that I won't do it again, but I can definitely see why they tell you not to :-)

Opening Statement

Well, I feel as though I should have started this last September, but better late than never, right? Seems to be my general trend in life. Better late than never.

I transferred to Wright State in September of last year. I am currently in the 7th week of classes of my 2nd quarter as an Arts major. I am working on my B.F.A. concentration in photography and planning on graduating next March (God willing). I am a non-traditional student, going to school when I can find money. I have essentially spent 6 years in college, though I haven't put in 6 years of classes. I am by far ready to graduate and start an actual career.

My first degree program was zoology. I have been geared towards zoology since I was in the 6th grade. Everything I have done has been to prepare me for a career as a scientist. While things like music and photography interested me in high school, I never really thought I could make a living with them. I pushed everything to the back burner to focus on zoology. This is what carried me to Ohio after high school.

I tell you this so that you can understand where I'm coming from and how I think. I approach things first and foremost like a scientist. This makes things very interesting for me as an art student now. For example, when learning new techniques in printmaking, I didn't ask "What can I make with this process?", I asked, "What chemical reactions allow this process to be possible?!". Agreed, this is quirky and unusual, but I feel in a way it makes me a stronger artist. Unusual is the name of the game, right?

So I started this blog to chronicle my times, and my struggles, as an art student. Hopefully I'll be diligent and post daily. You should keep on me about that.