TWELVE MONTHS // I survived

Today (well technically it was Sunday, but whatever) marks one full year in school. I'm actually sort of shocked that it went by so quickly. At times it felt like the months were dragging on. Other months flew by. (That month I had science, I SWEAR the month had 80 days.) I have increased my knowledge regarding design ten-fold. I still get excited about what a new month holds. It's a good thing, and a good sign I'm right where I'm supposed to be. I'm still worried about what I'll actually do when I get done, but I'm trying to enjoy the ride while it lasts.

In honor of my one year school anniversary, I thought  I'd share a few of my favorite things I've designed...

This is was the first thing I did in Photoshop. It was a tutorial that walked you
through re-creating your own Andy Warhol-ish composition. 

This was one of my first projects using Adobe Illustrator. We had to
illustrate a movie poster, using only 5 colors. This thing about
kicked my butt with all the stars, but I was pleased with my efforts in the
end. Illustrator is not for the faint of heart! 

I thought I was afraid of Photoshop & Illustrator, and then I had my first class
where I was expected to draw two objects found in my house. I read the class
assignment & immediately freaked out, & called my husband, who was
completely sweet & reassured me I COULD do this. His exact words were
that he has always had faith in my abilities, that it's me that doesn't.
Checked my attitude at the door & got to work.  (And now of course
Rance thinks I'm capable of drawing EVERY Toy Story character under
the sun!) 

Same class as the one that required the sketching. We learned
about hierarchy in design, etc. We were instructed to create
an advertisement using the color schemes, tag lines, and logos
provided to us, along with several design elements. I was
pretty excited about this design out of the three I did. (Looking
at it now, I would rather have a vector set of glasses vs. the
photo.. but ya live & learn right?)

Next up was Color Theory. We learned about how color
conveys mood, etc. Our month long project was to work on
re-branding a sports team. We had to pick a pro team, change
the city, redesign the mascot/logo, and the color scheme. I moved the
Chicago Bears to Tacoma, and recolored them as Polar Bears.
I choose the typeface, color scheme, and did the new mascot logo,
as well as the uniforms. It was a TON of work, but I have to
admit, I was really excited about the end package. 

December was Digital Story Telling, and MAN it was a busy
month. In addition to a weekly illustration, in conduction with
the prompts at illustrationfriday.com, we had another
multi-step project due. I spend most of December with
my butt planted in a computer chair & my family
doing there best to not disturb the angry bear. It was
a nightmare, but of the best kind. I really pushed myself, and
my skills. The first illustration prompt was "Shadow". 

The second prompt for December was "Refrain".  I had two
ideas, so I worked on both of them, and submitted my favorite
for grading, which you see above.  

This was my second submission for "Refrain", going on the music interpretation.
The birds are positioned in the fashion of a segment of music from the song
"Blackbird" by the Beatles. 

My fourth prompt was "Spirit". At this point in the month I was way
burnt out, and had no Christmas Spirit. I was grumpy, but pretty pleased
with how this guy turned out. He may have been my favorite the entire month.
Sorry for the poor quality. Obviously I have something to learn about saving
for optimal web-viewing. 

Our first project in December was to create an info graphic. I bit off way more
than I could chew, but I got it done, and I totally am in love with it. I won't tell you
how many times I had to stop & rewind Goonies to be sure I got all the numbers
right, the kids thought I was nuts. 

And here is my final project for my class last month, History of
Visual Communications. The object was to create a poster
inspired by a period in art history. I went with the Art Deco
period. Clean lines, exaggerated perspective, etc.

 So here's to another 12 months. Another year of pushing, and learning, crying & falling apart, then getting it together, and coming back stronger.

Thanks for hanging with me ;)

xo-k

my life: back to school

if you follow me on instagram, you may have already figured this one out..
but i'm going back to school.

actually, i started back to school on monday.
it seems a little like a whirlwind since the beginning of january.
honestly. it all happened so fast, it all just fell into place & before i knew it, there was this on my doorstep.

uhm, ya. that's a macbook pro.

part of my 'books' for school.

actually, it's ALL of my books for school.

that & the copy of windows for mac & adobe cs 6.

yes. adobe cs6.

i, who have never even played with photoshop.

only dreamed about it, now have the whole she-bang.

it's been my, pinch me i'm dreaming moment for about 2 weeks now. 

so, like i said, my first class started on monday.

it's all online, so i don't have to even leave the comfort of my own home for this.

which is great, cause, i have these two little people who need me too.

i am attending full sail online.

it's a private school here in central florida that my brother turned me on to.

they specialize in entertainment media & all that encompasses.

and before you think my sights are set on rubbing elbows with celebrities, i'm going for graphic design.

and had you asked me 2 years ago, or 5 years ago, or even 14 years ago what i would put my heart behind in school,

it wouldn't have been this.

but i am BEYOND excited.

seriously, giddy-school-girl EXCITED.

and feeling a little bit stupid for taking so long to come around to this conclusion!

i didn't take graphic arts/design in high school, but i have ALWAYS loved print advertising..

i've been obsessed with design period as it relates to print/graphics since i worked on yearbook in high school.

i wish someone would have hit me with the magic stick way back then to make me realize what i would love.

especially since when people asked me what i wanted to do, i could never really answer..

but i would always say, 'well if i could just do yearbook forever, i'd be happy'

DUH.

so ya, as someone obsessed with fonts & design.

someone who loves scrapbook design.

someone who just couldn't be happy with anything she thought about 'doing' because it didn't sound fulfilling or like a creative outlet.

this is huge.

i am 33 & i finally decided what i want to be when i grow up.

and honestly.... NOW it's a little scary! 

so school started on monday, and this week has been a little crazy.

the house has been a little bit messier, the dinner's a little later & haphazardly thrown together.

instagram has all but been abandoned.

i don't know how you ladies with jobs do it.

it's insane. and i have to tell myself constantly to put down the broom, i HAVE to do homework.

the dog hair can stay there another few hours.

cause when the babe is sleeping, it's all school, all the time.

and blogging will obviously be waay less..

(not that it could get much less than it was before, but at least now i have a REAL reason!)

so here's to going back to school, and following your heart.

x0-k

life: the if game

i'm sitting here, knowing good & well i should be doing something else... but not doing it.
we got home last night after spending 3 days at nana's & papa's, and i'm tired.
i'm working on my third load of laundry, with probably two more to go..
why does it feel like i come home with more dirty clothes than clean clothes i left with? is that just me?

anyways.. so back to what i was saying.
i had to rearrange some plans for our 'craft/project' today because apparently although we HAVE a drill in our possession, it lacks the ability to be charged.
uhm, why haven't we rectified that yet?
so we have to wait for the hubs to return home with his 'work' drill to help us out.

in the meantime i felt like blogging. about what?
our trip to nanas? i have plenty of pictures. nope. don't feel like downloading.
our bowling trip? nope. requires downloading pictures.
am i being lazy? yep.

but then this sweet new friend of mine wrote me a little message, & i decided to take a cue from one of her recent posts :)

do you play the if game? i play it with myself endlessly.
i use the word 'play' loosely, because sometimes it's an alternate word for the truth.
which is 'worry'.
see, now you know what i'm talking about, right?
you're not fooling me. worry-wart.
it's okay. i understand. i do it too.
i'd like to say it's a mama-thing.. but the truth is, i've been this way all my life.
maybe it's cause i'm a libra? although i'm not one for attributing actions to birth signs.
but i'm telling ya.. the scales works as a symbol for my thoughts process on more occasions than i can count.
i'm a pros & cons kinda girl.

but. i'm not here to talk about signs. or worrying.
i'm here to talk about the actually 'if...' game.

specifically.. 'if...' you could have any job, what would it be?

1. artist. i can still feel it itching there under my skin. i was always better with words than with lines. but i can't draw, and i can't paint. i look at pictures of artists, pouring their heart & soul into their work, and i know i'm not one. not in that sense that you give up eating to buy the tools to make your art. (ya, anyone who knows me would know i'd through over a paintbrush for a scoop of ice cream in a heartbeat) i want to be that semi-crazy, emotional, filled to the brim with inspiration kinda person. in some ways i am, i think.. or rather i hope. but i surely ain't no starving artist.

2. writer. words move me. every time i sit down and get into a good book i wish i had the drive, the determination to sit down and figure the whole thing out. i feel like to be considered a writer worthy of recognition you have to be someone who says something that changes people... that's what i'd like to be. i could care less about the hoards of money & fame. but sadly, i feel like often that follows the stigma of artist.. that you're not recognized as having been such until you are long gone. (well that & it seems that some of that genius comes in the form of mental illness, or extreme distress in life.. none of which i care to have, thankyouverymuch)

3. jewelry artisan. i see the ideas in my head, and for me, this one seems almost tangible. unfortunately the ideas don't always meet with funding, & it's more important to me to feed my children as well. (plus i have a total lack of confidence. i keep reciting to myself something along the lines of if you never try, you will never fail, but you'll also never succeed.)

4. cupcake baker. seriously. like as a full-time grown up job. i never really considered it before we went to nyc in 2009. we went to crumbs bakery & it was life changing. well, not really. but it was like a giant light bulb went off over my head. why couldn't we have one here? i felt like this thing would only take off if people were walking by, tempted by the smell of chocolate & sprinkles looming in the air. i worked with my aunt a few days many, many years ago in a cookie florist shop she worked at. it was SO much fun. maybe when i'm a withered old lady with lots of grandkids & blue hair on my head :) 

5. party planner. you saw the lego party... if i could do that kinda stuff all day everyday, i'd be in hog heaven. i really don't think there is anymore to be said about that!

6. museum curator. yes. this is all about 'if's' here. like IF i was willing to live in a big fancy city with big fancy museums. which, i'm not. but i could do it, and totally love it. this was what i started college with the hopes of being all those years ago. then reality set in. i'd have to move away from my family. that's never been something i've really wanted. i'm a small town girl at heart, even though the city excites me for awhile. i like knowing the person i run into at the gas station. i like remembering that my friends & i used to visit 'this' subway before band practice, every single day. i like how the memories surround me on any given day. i like roots. i like history. call me boring.

so. these are some of the ideas i've truly entertained in my life. what have you dreamt of doing? if you blog about it, leave me a link so i can come & visit and find out about you... i love making new friends ;)

xo-k