Since I last wrote. I can tell you that the final month of school is right about when final projects and exams start rearing their ugly faces. I have to admit that not since my first quarter at school have I been overwhelmed with final projects. My first quarter I think it was larger due to my inexperience. Being out of school for so long and then going back in and studying something completely "foreign" and in a manner to which I am not accustomed (the quarter system). This time I think it had more to do with the high expectations I placed on myself and that I really wanted to produce some good work. It some way I succeeded and in some ways I failed. Hemingway used to talk about his writing process by saying he would file everything down to a fine polished gem (or something like that). Essentially he would write a book and then edit it until he felt it was perfect. The old adage why use two words when one will do applies appropriately. I feel this quarter saw the start of a lot of good ideas, a lot of exploration in both graphic design and sequential art. Alternative materials and new techniques were definitely used in a lot of my projects. But what didn't happen was the filing down to a polished gem bit. I still feel like a lot of my work was/is very rough and I still have miles to go before my drawing is anywhere near professional. But I guess you have to crawl before you can run...In this case the gap is more like I need to be born before I can fly!
All in all I had a great quarter, the craziness of finals aside, this was my best quarter yet. I got a 4.0 for the first time in my life at the college level. Now there are always those who talk about grade inflation and easier graders and all that nonsense. My response is "piss off!" I got a 4.0 and I freaking earned it. I did it while working at a job that has started to become a real grind and eats up a lot of my weekend time. Not my going out on the town partying time (I don't have ANY of that), no I am referring to get my work done during the weekend time for the next week time. This of course means that as soon as the quarter ends I go nuts, drink myself into oblivion and spend lots of money on food and video games and DVD's. I don't really buy books anymore (which is really depressing) because I never finish them fast enough and then the quarter starts and I never pick them up again.
Aside from schoolwork and grades though this quarter has made me realize that I really need to start exercising on a regular basis. I am getting freaking fat! Not entirely my fault though. During finals you eat whatever isn't moving and is cheap and you sit your ass in a seat for hours on end. My buddy Kelsey was in building for a full 24 hours without sleep. I came close to that a few times. My problem usually stems from me trying to do something new like scan in my artwork and mess with it digitally. Of course that means I have to find a scanner big enough, provided no one else is on it. Oh, and that it works! So things like that, that should only take 45 minutes end up taking several hours.
This short vacation that is rapidly coming to end has seen me procrastinate on cleaning my house and do nothing but stuff my face and play video games (I finally broke down and bought a PS2). So tonight, instead of going out...Or maybe before going out, I will clean this house from top to bottom. Mind you it won't be Martha Steward clean, but I won't feel like I am in a cess pool.
Look for artwork to make it's way up on this blog. I know I keep saying that but I also foresee a lot more of my work ending in a digital format, which will make it easier.
M.
PS. I saw V for Vendetta over the break. While it wasn't as good as the book but it was definitely worth seeing. If I ever go crazy again I want to go crazy like V.
