Mikenna reminded me that I really don’t take the time to post any of my design… I am sure its because my design at the moment is pretty limited to what the professors tell me to create. This is a self portrait project that I was assigned in my Illustrator class. All of it was concocted in illustrator by yours truly, quite time consuming and of course, I’m not totally happy with it but… it is what it is.
the city makes aliens of us all. every bustling, hustling street creeks the same as the empty allies. a forceful disconnect pushes your eyes down to the cracked concrete. i am not a person here, merely feet to fill their consumer shoes. no one has neighbors when the doors must remain locked. i see the sights but no longer look longingly. the eyes don’t bat, don’t flinch, don’t contact mine. every eye is an island here.
The “campus” of my school is in the loop of Chicago and thus has a absolutely opposite feel than that of the universities I’ve lived around before. Forget walking a mile between classes, its a mere elevator ride away. It’s a matter of 1st floor versus 6th floor and so on. Likewise the community it creates is weak, unless you happen to run into a friend coming or going from the bathroom or entering the elevators at the same time as you, its quite socially minimal. Right now, I’m sitting at one of the computers in the hallway of the fourth floor… and its dead silent in every direction. It actually quite creepy….
but there’s nothing like taking in a gorgeous view of the city from the floor to ceiling windows. I’m quite content atop my little perch.
I see you in all of us. In the way our round noses sit on our faces, and in the way each of us approaches a new day. I see you the oldest. In the very way he makes a living and in his creative, distracted genius. I hear you in his voice, and in his increasingly corny humor. I see you in the quiet, creative middle child. I see you in his self taught guitar played behind closed doors, his mysterious intelligence, and his gracious, giving heart. I see you in the youngest as she tries to find her place in the world. I see you in her unquenchable thirst for laughter, and the way she tackles every hurdle with confidence and color.
I see you in every word I type, and every picture I take. You are the creativity and passion that pulses through my veins. I see you in this colossal city, and feel a little less alone. I find courage in the very idea of the person you are, and all the places you have been. I am inspired by the notes you play, the pictures you take, and all the things I don’t even know about you.
I see you in all of us and could not be more proud of the family you created. Each of us is prepared to conquer the world, each of us brilliant and brave in the security of your love. In the wars that all four of us have fought, and even in the battles we have yet to fight, you’re the strength in all our triumphs, the grace in all our defeats, and the voice of reason in the conflicts we choose not to engage. Most importantly, you’re the loving finger that points us back to the Father who provides where you cannot.
Thank you Daddy, you’re in my thoughts on this far away kind of Father’s Day.
Taken on Christmas, from the car that carried my remaining belongings from Michigan to the street I now live on.
When walking side by side with a friend on the sidewalk and another pedestrian approaches (in either direction) it is common courtesy to then walk single file to let them pass. It’s the same basic principle as only driving in the left lane on the freeway when you’re passing another car.
I try not to get “sidewalk rage” but come on, learn some city walking etiquette, people! Some of us have trains to catch!
I thought I’d share some links with you that turned my mood on its head. These are a few of my professors at Harrington. They inspire me.
My newest illustrator assignment has my head spinning in the best way possible. I have high hopes for it, perhaps in two weeks I’ll share it with you.
Lying on the floor, I face upward at the small pinkie print of an impression I’ve made on the world. My apartment houses more than just a cluttered landscape of books, paints, and snacks. It speaks volumes about the person I am here, or the person I have time to be. An empty skittles bag, an array of study materials, and the ac unit that I can’t lift into the window to cool me are of just a few things that keep my tired body company on this rug that desperately needs to be vacuumed. Since the sun fell from its illuminating perch, I have yet to leave my nest and the closet light casts shadows on my attempt to cram for the upcoming exam. I find myself dazed by the view of my hanging clothes from such an awkward angle, and my thoughts drift to the looming pile of laundry that hasn’t hung there in far too long. I wonder if I’ll make the deadlines or if, as I dreamt the night prior, my young heart will suffer the attacks of the old and I’ll finally be given a reason to slow down. I can see the misplaced stool in the kitchen that I kicked over earlier when it refused to pose for a simple india ink drawing I was assigned. Perhaps my professor is right… perhaps I would put the Renoirs and the Dickens of the world to shame if I could just harness this stress into something other than rage. One can only hope that this clutter and chaos amounts to something… someday.
Brett inspired me. I always look forward to his friday photo and so… I thought, “Why not?” So as I settle in for a night with my homework and a lovely glass of Chianti, I thought I’d share a good moment with you. This is at Jen’s house… I love the colors, books and argyle sweater she’s wearing. It was dubbed our artsy photo of an evening long photo shoot that sprung from how much we all love argyle.
So I had to design a paper doll, and a few outfits for her to wear for school. I had my first lesson in saving often when after creating killer Chuck Taylors with elaborate laces and dirt stains (cause what kind of poser wears clean chucks?) Adobe Ilustrator shut down and gave me an error message indicating it had “crashed.”
Harrington teaches me great things about design, but one thing that is becoming increasingly clear is that I am not too good to sob over my homework… especially when it disappears.
Anyway, I’d say they turned out well for having designed them twice. It’s a pretty amazing program, with clipping masks, gradient fills, and pattern creations I can make a pretty sweet wardrobe. Now onto my next project.. anyone need a brochure designed?