Other schools...

I've all but handed in my resignation for NWCA, it just makes me so unhappy. It isn't offering me what I need, or what I want it doesn't have the proper facilities for the students and let's face it...most of the teachers are coming off either confused, lazy, or incompetent(there are exceptions to the rule of course). It's costing me too much, and I can barely make myself go. So at the end of the semester, I'm out. However, don't despair my minions! I'm not ending my education and my future in that one swoop! No worries, I have already started to shop around other schools, so far Pacific Northwest College of Art is the only school that I have looked at in any great detail... but it looks promising thus far. I could major in photography, which...it's what I love most. I'd be capable of getting a BFA in that or illustration....which are the ones I'd consider. They also have certificate programs in Graphic Design, but I don't think that's the route I would go, honestly. I want to build on my education someday, maybe even be a teacher...who knows. Probably, not a teacher...but I'd at least like that to be an option. Right now I'm headed towards a dead end, my credits are nontransferable. My school is a nobody amongst the faces of art schools, and I would like a bit of prestige. I'd also like to be in a bigger city. I find such inspiration in urban areas, and while I like Poulsbo, I need a faster pulse. That's why Portland is looking so promising, but I have so much information to gather so I don't make the same mistake again. I jumped head first, blindly, without even looking into other schools to any extent. I think I am now going to take a year and work, I know my need to succeed and be creative won't allow me to live beyond that without working towards my future goals. Apparently I am a bit conceited and egotistical, and it is unthinkable that I could not be something. I'm okay with that, whatever it takes...there is so much more for me to explore, and with this well paying job maybe and minimal payments, I will be able to afford to save up and be more financially prepared for my next move...maybe even afford to buy some equipment I've been wanting. I really think this is the best course of action, I'm happy with this decision. Now, I'm off to explore a bit more...this world is full of possibilities. I plan on finding myself a great deal of them to experience.

Razzle Dazzle

Title: Berries
Subject: Nature
Media: Photography
Location: Poulsbo
Completion Date: 10/15/07

Floating into the...

Title: Sky Lines
Subject: Machinery
Media: Photography
Location: Poulsbo
Completion Date: 10/15/07

October brings...

Title: Hauntings
Subject: Architecture
Media: Photography
Location: Poulsbo
Completion Date: 10/15/07

It's natural when...

Title: Trees have Eyes
Subject: Nature
Media: Photography
Location: Poulsbo
Completion Date: 10/15/07

Art school...

is for those with no vision. Or at least it seems to be made to be the arch nemesis of those with a uncompromising love for art, a style of their own, and an undeniable amount of self respect and pride. I don't think that this school was made for me. I don't plan on spending $60,000 on misery to end up with a degree from a school no one has even heard of. That doesn't work for me, I'm afraid. I'm 85% sure that I will not continue with this mess after first semester. I've been added to the ranks of the artists who are to haughty and inspired who found it impossible to continue in a wretched environment that wants nothing more then to carbon copy you...or perhaps that's what I keep telling myself. I need to find somewhere more suited to me. I'm convinced that there is a place like there somewhere.

What lies behind these...

Title: Keyholes
Subject: Nature
Media: Photography
Location: Poulsbo
Completion Date: 10/14/07

Twisted..

Title: On a Wire
Subject: Machinery
Media: Photography
Location: Poulsbo
Completion Date: 10/14/07

In autumn...

Title: October Leaves

Subject: Nature
Media: Photography
Location: Poulsbo
Completion Date: 10/14/07

Painting boxes...

If I have to paint one more freaking square in a disgusting pastel, I'm gonna have to go postal on my entire hippie, geek, street art school. I will! Damn it, I will. Okay, I don't blame my classmates at all... But damn, people, DAMN! I am terrible at painting...AWFUL. I know this, I've always known this...stick me in Design, I know what I'm doing, in Drawing I'm all good. All the other classes are know nothing jokes in relation to art...I mean, really. I do just fine. BUT HOLY HELL ON A TUESDAY!!! If I have to face the smirk of that instructor one more time, and have him tell me that I'm not doing something right without actually attempting to teach me anything...I'm throwing a hissy fit. Rage, rage....anger! I came to school to learn, not to be condescended to and glowered at by the king of sarcasm. Usually, I find anger to be a release...I rage and am better. It's good for my soul, but this mess of a situation is leaving me more bitter than anything else. It makes me want to immaturely pick up and leave, to start stupid arguments...the notion is enticing. I hold my tongue, of course, take the criticism as well as to be expected and then I stew in a disgusting mix of bitter spices. He says it's not technically a painting class. Oh, really? Then let's try some other medias! How about markers? Colored pencils? Pastels? Anything, this is a multifaceted world...let's try something else. I would be more willing to paint is someone would teach me how, as of now I am a blocky comic book artist...and that's about it. Don't mind me, I'm just wandering into the stage of the resentful, world hating art student. Why can't the world be better? You know what, let's boil it down to this, why can't my school be better?

Almost ready...

Ive decided that this is a very good way to keep me working...I actually find myself dropping everything to work on my art so I can share it...maybe that's what's always been missing for me. While creating art for your pleasure alone is very respectable and reasoning enough...I need to affect people, I suppose. I've done some shows and competition stuff, and I love how envigorating that is. I've always been obsessed with making change in my world, since I was a little one, the thing that has scared me most is not meaning anything. Not doing anything, not affecting anything. What is the point of being alive at all, if you are just a tiny blip and everything is just as you left it when you catch the train out of here? It's a terrifying thought...if I can change the world I will be ecstatic...if I can change a nation I will be pleased...if I can transform one person I will be content. After all isn't it all a ripple effect, change that person's point of view...and you mean something, to them at least? With one on your side....you are a step closer to affecting the world. Or perhaps you already have.

Contraptions

Human beings can be clever creatures.

Title: Machina
Subject: Machinery
Media: Photography
Location: Seattle
Completion Date: 10/6/07

Seated on...

these Seattle streets.

Title: Seattle Streets
Subject: People
Media: Photography
Location: Seattle
Completion Date: 10/6/07

Of heart and solace...

Perhaps nothing is more beautiful or as heartbreaking as being the bearer of faith, to be a shepherd, and to know in your heart that a greater being is leading you to your destiny.

What choice do you have but to follow? Is it destiny, or is it always you that leads you down the path you inevitably take? What powers do we have over our heart, mind, and beliefs? What can that mean for us?

Title: Solace
Subject: People
Media: Photography
Location: Unidentified
Completion Date: 10/6/07

On my way to...

Title: Wonderland
Subject: People
Media: Photography
Location: Poulsbo
Completion Date: 10/6/07

Yesterday...

is the greatest day, I've ever known. Muhahaha...not really, however, it was quite pleasant. Probably one of the best I've had in my entire run at NWCA, for one I had design fundamentals. Which is probably, no not probably, is my favorite class. It's a studio class, which means it goes on for 4 hours...which can seem like an eternity but, Finley, my instructor, makes time fly. He's relaxed and witty. He also brings me to something I need to get off my chest. Being taught in art college is a myth, everybody. Seriously...Finley is the only instructor who has really taught anything. I don't mean to say we aren't assigned work in any other class...because we are...but in the end we are generally faced with more criticism than construction...or shall I say instruction. My drawing instructor isn't so bad, she insightful so she does quite a bit herself. However other teachers who shall remain nameless, and while passionate and interesting people, have done nothing to better me as an artist. I'm a tad resentful. I didn't come with all my fellow students to be nitpicked at, I came to be taught, if criticism is necessary I am open to it, but I want something to back it up. I don't think that is so much to ask for. Anyway, off that soap box and back to my phantasmigorical day, we had to turn in our thumbnail sketches for our pre-1950 book designs yesterday, and I came in with my 20 designs as was required. Well, to make a long story short...Finley and I saw eye to eye on most everything I did...I was surprised, but completely and entirely pleased. In fact he was open to SO many of my designs I am left with trouble deciding which ones I should do for my three full size finals. I felt set apart because most people seemed to have issue with the assignment, and quite a bit of problem with composition. Not that I wish ill on my classmates, who I really love for the most part, but it was nice that I finally didn't feel like I melded and was just one of the many faces in the crowd. Yep, that made the day quite wonderful.

Red doors and futures...

Title: Doorways
Subject: Architecture
Media: Photography
Location: Poulsbo
Completion Date: 10/1/07

All you have to do is shout it out...

You could easily accuse me of being one of those sadly amateurish photographers who only photograph things they "know". Whether it be one of my closest and dearest friends, or a pet, or a family member's pet... Well, in all reality a lot of my subjects thus far have in fact been people and things I know but I am trying to look beyond that and capture the emotion and personality that exist in every one of their faces. If I were to ever become a pet photographer...you have full permission to destroy me at the source, which in my case would be the brain of course. No, I have a great many things I would like to post on here, I just don't have access to the files as of now, a move and a transition to a completely different computer has left me without some of my best work. I also plan on posting a great deal of things that exist in another media, but I have yet to make my scanner function. So it comes down to this my dearest and most beloved minions, please have heart and faith that this zombie would never let you down. There are good things on the horizon, trust me.

Zorelian...

Title: Kara Dog
Subject: Animals
Media: Photography
Location: Lakewood
Completion Date: 9/30/07

We're gonna lose forever...

Title: Black Rose Moon
Subject: People
Media: Photography
Location: Lakewood
Completion Date: 9/30/07

Green eyes...

Title: Puddy Tat
Subject: Animals
Media: Photography
Location: Lakewood
Completion Date: 9/30/07

One day this world's gotta end...

What will happen to the televisions...once man is gone?

Title: Futurevision
Subject: Technology
Media: Photography
Location: Seattle
Completion Date: 09/29/07

Explainations are in order...

I'm sure a great many of you are curious about my obsessive nature and how it leads me to reference zombies as much as I do. Perhaps you have written it off already as "just one of those things" or perhaps you have stereotyped me as one of those geeky zombie freaks...well either way you would be partially right, however, I feel that you should be ashamed of yourself! Stereotyping is a terrible thing to do! Tsk, tsk...but since you are right in the end, you shouldn't worry about it I suppose. I do have a defense though, if you are willing to venture into my brain for a short time. The correlation I draw between myself and the zombies is not completely without reason...I compare the zombie's constant need for sustenance through human flesh and brain to my own need for constant visual stimulation and creation. While I don't wander around muttering "arrrrt, arrrrrt" the need is there just the same, I've just learned to control these tendencies, you see. A stretch perhaps but my undeniable love for pop culture and the wandering undead, as well as my need for depth and meaning in basically all creative decisions, has lead me to this conclusion. So feast on the minions!

Strange days are coming...

This is the first post of the rest of my life. Wow...dramatic. No, here is the real deal: I'm one of the few, the proud, the starving art students. I decided this is a prime opportunity for me to record the happenings in my growth as an artist. If all goes to plan from now until the end of my tenure at Northwest College of Art there will be constant updates of assignments, projects, philosophies, complaints, ramblings etc., etc., etc.. There will be posts of my work with explanations and those without. In the end it will come down to this...the huge mess that is the right side of my brain and the journey to refine it's insane tendencies.

Why do this?, you ask?

Well it comes down to this...I love art. I love the world that allows me to create. I feed off the huge mosaic of culture, technology, and observations of the human beings that walk the world. I'm living my dream right here and now, I want a record of it and I believe it is something that could benefit anyone who gives it time.

This is our world, it is what we make it. I plan to make it mine and beautiful.