I'm sick. Again. Grrrr... According to Mom, I haven't been sick twice in a row in twenty years. Though there was that time when I was twelve, and I got two colds, one on top of the other. I was sick for months. Oh, well. I'm in much better shape than I was thirty-six hours ago.
Monday: I've officially applied to university!
As a refresher, unless they are connected with a university, colleges don't grant degrees: the highest you can go is a two-year diploma. You can also get a certificate after one year (I have a certificate in Foundation Visual Arts, and I'm currently working my way toward my diploma in photography). If a college is a program within a university--like UNB's Renaissance College--then they can grant a degree. Universities, on the other hand, can grant a four-year degree.
Last week's drawing class was purely one of experimentation, with no real homework--just collect images for the next assignment, which we're starting today.
Tuesday: We did another stop-motion movie for Rod's class. This time, I took advantage of the fact that I now own a couple of camera remotes, and put myself in said movie. My movements were a bit stiff and jerky, but hey--I had to hold each one for about five shots! Overall, I'm happy with it.
Wednesday: My second research project is going to be on digital portfolio options. I found out yesterday that you can get a couple of free plug-ins for Photoshop CS4 that will allow you to make web galleries. The ability to make web galleries is pretty much the only reason why I would want to get Lightroom (when it comes to photo-editing, I'm a bit power-hungry, so Photoshop is right up my alley), so now that I've discovered these plug-ins, that makes buying Lightroom unnecessary. And I couldn't be happier. Thanks, Adobe!
The day before St. Pat's Day is the opening of the second-year Photogs' first show. We'll have two shows this year: that one, and then the grad show at the end of the year. As the first one is only about a month and a half away, we have to work our butts off in order to get the thing off the ground. However, as we've done this before, it should be easier--at least for me. I usually find stuff like that easier the second time around (I'm looking at you, ArtsNB scholarship application, and you, studio lighting class).
Because university is different from college, I decided to ask Karen about those differences, as she went to both NBCCD and Acadia University. We talked for a bit, and then she put me in contact with a guy from St. Stephen who actually went to both NBCCD and NSCAD.
Thursday: That morning, we had the dress-rehearsal for our presentation to PhotoFred. In other words, we presented to the first-year Photogs. I couldn't help but think back to last year when the Class of '11 presented to my class. The presentations went well, though we ended up not having time for a project critique that Peter wanted to do. We're going to do it this week.
As usual, I spent the rest of the day working on homework and my ArtsNB application, and then skyped with Helen in the evening.
Friday: More work: homework and scholarship application.
That morning, I made a point to sit down with a good book. As I was going through a period of nostalgia for the time when I applied to the diploma program, in all it's stress and excitement, I decided to watch the movie that Drew made, showing us FVAs how to document our work for our portfolios. After almost two years of photo courses, I found myself wanting to shout out, "HOT LIGHTS!," "SEAMLESS BACKDROP!," and say, "yep, that makes perfect sense."
Saturday: Sick. Once again. I managed to get a fair amount of work done, but by seven that evening, I was wiped. So I trudged back home through the snow.
Sunday: I can't remember the last time I had such a productive day. I'm usually fairly productive, but not this productive. I basically woke up, got brunch, sat down at my computer for several hours (Gallery homework: thisclose to being done), took a shower, sat down again (Imagery homework: done; Research proposal: done except for proofreading), got supper, sat down again (Photoshop homework: done). Whew! And I'm supposed to be sick, right?
The BSO played a concert yesterday, and The Planets was one of the pieces on the program. The orchestra's Facebook page has been hyping the concert, and has featured a movement from that work every day for the past week. My favourite movement was featured on Wednesday: "'Jupiter, the bringer of Jollity,' usually one of the favorite movements of Holst's 'The Planets.' It's one of ours, anyway!" Mine, too, BSO, mine, too. Click here to see that video.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
NSCAD, here I come!
I'm applying to NSCAD University! More on that later.
Monday: That day I had two meetings: one with Karen in the morning, one with Jane in the afternoon. The meeting with Karen was to discuss my ArtsNB application, as she's one of my references (Drew's the other one).
I met with Jane to discuss stuff for my independent project. I'd intended to talk with her about creative techniques, but I totally forgot the topic. However, it all worked out: she ended up giving me a whole bunch of "behind the scenes" stuff, which is just as important.
I also asked my drawing teacher, Linda, to have a look at the drawing part of my university application portfolio. Turns out, Linda is a graduate of NSCAD: "Linda holds a Master of Arts degree in Art Education and a Bachelor in Fine Art and Art Education from NSCAD University, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature (honours) from the University of New Brunswick" (from her bio on the NBCCD website).
And I started putting together the PowerPoint for Peter's class (the dress-rehearsal is this week--we get to present to the first-year Photogs!), and googling creative photography techniques.
Tuesday: That day, I decided that I'd try to have my NSCAD application in the mail by the next Monday--meaning today).
We're doing another stop-motion movie for Rod's class (we did one for Photographic Digital Imaging last year). But I couldn't be happier, as I love stop-motion. Mine is a take-off on another stop-motion movie, The Joy of Books. Except that in mine, it isn't a bookstore that I'm animating: it's the photo studio classroom.
And that evening, I started in on my drawing homework. It's a good thing I did, too: I just finished it yesterday evening. I would've been able to finish it earlier, though, if I hadn't taken two days off.
Just after I went to bed that night, the smoke alarm started ringing, and I fumbled out of bed. Even though I keep my shoes and coats in my room, I didn't even think about them. I then ran for the stairs, and ran down them so fast that I was basically sliding. I had a moment or two where I thought, "I hope I don't trip." I've never run down a flight of stairs that fast before. Then again, until that night, I'd never had to put what I know from fire drills (Kings Landing Visiting Cousins, NBCCD, the residence) into practice.
Because I hadn't stopped to get shoes or a coat (I just wanted to get out--hmm... Maybe I'm a bit too well-trained?), my feet were freezing within minutes of hitting the snow. That night was warmer than what we've been having, so although I was shivering a bit, from the ankles up the temperature was bearable. However, one of my residence-mates gave me a pair of (huge) hiking shoes that she'd found (her feet aren't as sensitive to the cold as mine are--jealous).
After what felt like forever, the fire truck arrived, and after another eternity, we were allowed back in.
The fire was a small one in someone's room.
Wednesday: We got another "contact someone at a gallery assignment". This time we were to contact a gallery that we're interested in showing at. We also talked about our show that will be happening this spring at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre, and Karen asked us to come up with at least one title. I came up with three.
Thursday: We had our PowerPoints critiqued in class that day. Mine was good, but Peter wanted me to make the images bigger so that they filled the screen.
Earlier in the week, I told him that I wanted to talk with him about my NSCAD/ArtsNB portfolio in addition to talking about my independent study project. So we did.
After that meeting, I grabbed my computer and external hard drive and headed up to Linda's office. I showed her the drawings that I wanted to put in my university application. Her suggestion: only show one of the copy exercises (I had two). I picked the one that was the most frustrating (while doing it) and the most rewarding (once I'd finished it). I'm still ridiculously happy with it.
And then I spent the rest of the day working on homework.
Helen (my mentor from last semester) and I had scheduled a Skype meeting for 6:00 that evening--but both of us forgot about it. We rescheduled for Saturday evening.
Friday: That day was an interesting one: in the morning, I called Ingrid Mueller Art + Concepts for my assignment for Karen, and Ingrid asked me to drop by the gallery.
On the way, I went to NBCCD to print off the list of questions, as I don't have a printer at my place, and I'm unable to get print creds for the residence printer (I tried once when I was in FVA year). Word was giving me hell that day, so I ended up typing the questions up in TextEdit, and then going back over to the gallery. In addition to answering my questions, Ingrid said that she's interested in seeing some of my work sometime. Yay!
I spent the rest of the day alternating between dashing around the school (transcript to send to NSCAD: check!) and staring intensely at my computer screen, working on homework.
That evening, I went to an opening at Gallery 78. And for once, I actually enjoyed the opening (I usually don't like their openings, due to the fact that they're so loud). Partly it's because another Photog went, and as she'd never been in that gallery before, I showed her around. And we talked the whole time: about the art in the gallery, art in general, and our lives.
Saturday: That afternoon the Met Opera performed their new Baroque pastiche, The Enchanted Island. I'm not usually a fan of Baroque opera (I like instrumental Baroque, like Vivaldi's The Four Seasons and L'Estro Armonico, Bach's Double Violin Concerto and Unaccompanied Cello Suites, and Handel's Music for the Royal Fireworks and Water Music), but I actually loved this one. The music was spectacular, and the story was thrilling.
I spent the day working on homework and my NSCAD portfolio, including trying to figure out the dates of my drawings from FVA, which are my most recent drawings from observation (although the drawings that I did in Adam's class started with observation, he had us morph and mold them into something completely different from what we started with). In addition to the year, NSCAD also wanted the month, so I was forced to make some educated guesses. I don't think I did too badly.
That evening, I finally connected with Helen. As we're also friends, our conversations usually go from mentor stuff to friend stuff, back to mentor stuff, and back again to friend stuff. As I was in the final stages of putting together my application package, we talked a lot about NSCAD (Helen lives in Nova Scotia), drawing (I was also in the final stages of that week's drawing assignment), and talked about NSCAD some more.
Sunday: Portfolio Assembly Day! I burned a CD-ROM of my images, making absolutely sure that it was readable on both Macs and PCs (thank you, Toast Titanium!), as I have no idea what NSCAD has for computers, and what the people who review portfolios view said portfolios on. I also Skyped with my parents, and we went 'round and 'round and 'round about the ins and outs of sending the application.
Afterward, I walked over to the college and put one of the black and white printers through it's paces. Application essay: done. List of portfolio contents: done. Letter from my parents stating that I was homeschooled from elementary to high school, and have fulfilled the requirements to graduate: done (NSCAD wanted both high school and college/university transcripts, and although I got one from NBCCD, as a homeschooler I've never had a transcript for anything below post-secondary): done. University application form: done (though I had to consult with my parents before filling out some of the questions).
Over the last couple days, it's really started to sink in: I'm applying to university! And, unlike when I applied to NBCCD for FVA, when my parents did most, if not all, of the work, I'm doing it all by myself, with minimal input from other adults (though my portfolio was critiqued by Karen, Drew and Peter, and I had questions for my parents, on which two of the older Photogs also weighed in). I even paid the application fee myself, in the form of a money order. Now I'm really starting to feel grown up. And what was that that Mom and Tom said on the last night of Christmas Break about taking charge and going after things like scholarships, education and jobs myself?
As I rarely talk about the Monday of the week on which I'm posting (i.e., today), I won't say much. I'll just say that my application is on it's merry way to Halifax, and that I read on the application form last night that the transcript has to be sent directly from the institution that issued it (i.e., NBCCD), so I gave said transcript back to the registrar, and explained that it had to be sent from the college.
Let's go get that BFA in photography!
Monday: That day I had two meetings: one with Karen in the morning, one with Jane in the afternoon. The meeting with Karen was to discuss my ArtsNB application, as she's one of my references (Drew's the other one).
I met with Jane to discuss stuff for my independent project. I'd intended to talk with her about creative techniques, but I totally forgot the topic. However, it all worked out: she ended up giving me a whole bunch of "behind the scenes" stuff, which is just as important.
I also asked my drawing teacher, Linda, to have a look at the drawing part of my university application portfolio. Turns out, Linda is a graduate of NSCAD: "Linda holds a Master of Arts degree in Art Education and a Bachelor in Fine Art and Art Education from NSCAD University, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature (honours) from the University of New Brunswick" (from her bio on the NBCCD website).
And I started putting together the PowerPoint for Peter's class (the dress-rehearsal is this week--we get to present to the first-year Photogs!), and googling creative photography techniques.
Tuesday: That day, I decided that I'd try to have my NSCAD application in the mail by the next Monday--meaning today).
We're doing another stop-motion movie for Rod's class (we did one for Photographic Digital Imaging last year). But I couldn't be happier, as I love stop-motion. Mine is a take-off on another stop-motion movie, The Joy of Books. Except that in mine, it isn't a bookstore that I'm animating: it's the photo studio classroom.
And that evening, I started in on my drawing homework. It's a good thing I did, too: I just finished it yesterday evening. I would've been able to finish it earlier, though, if I hadn't taken two days off.
Just after I went to bed that night, the smoke alarm started ringing, and I fumbled out of bed. Even though I keep my shoes and coats in my room, I didn't even think about them. I then ran for the stairs, and ran down them so fast that I was basically sliding. I had a moment or two where I thought, "I hope I don't trip." I've never run down a flight of stairs that fast before. Then again, until that night, I'd never had to put what I know from fire drills (Kings Landing Visiting Cousins, NBCCD, the residence) into practice.
Because I hadn't stopped to get shoes or a coat (I just wanted to get out--hmm... Maybe I'm a bit too well-trained?), my feet were freezing within minutes of hitting the snow. That night was warmer than what we've been having, so although I was shivering a bit, from the ankles up the temperature was bearable. However, one of my residence-mates gave me a pair of (huge) hiking shoes that she'd found (her feet aren't as sensitive to the cold as mine are--jealous).
After what felt like forever, the fire truck arrived, and after another eternity, we were allowed back in.
The fire was a small one in someone's room.
Wednesday: We got another "contact someone at a gallery assignment". This time we were to contact a gallery that we're interested in showing at. We also talked about our show that will be happening this spring at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre, and Karen asked us to come up with at least one title. I came up with three.
Thursday: We had our PowerPoints critiqued in class that day. Mine was good, but Peter wanted me to make the images bigger so that they filled the screen.
Earlier in the week, I told him that I wanted to talk with him about my NSCAD/ArtsNB portfolio in addition to talking about my independent study project. So we did.
After that meeting, I grabbed my computer and external hard drive and headed up to Linda's office. I showed her the drawings that I wanted to put in my university application. Her suggestion: only show one of the copy exercises (I had two). I picked the one that was the most frustrating (while doing it) and the most rewarding (once I'd finished it). I'm still ridiculously happy with it.
And then I spent the rest of the day working on homework.
Helen (my mentor from last semester) and I had scheduled a Skype meeting for 6:00 that evening--but both of us forgot about it. We rescheduled for Saturday evening.
Friday: That day was an interesting one: in the morning, I called Ingrid Mueller Art + Concepts for my assignment for Karen, and Ingrid asked me to drop by the gallery.
On the way, I went to NBCCD to print off the list of questions, as I don't have a printer at my place, and I'm unable to get print creds for the residence printer (I tried once when I was in FVA year). Word was giving me hell that day, so I ended up typing the questions up in TextEdit, and then going back over to the gallery. In addition to answering my questions, Ingrid said that she's interested in seeing some of my work sometime. Yay!
I spent the rest of the day alternating between dashing around the school (transcript to send to NSCAD: check!) and staring intensely at my computer screen, working on homework.
That evening, I went to an opening at Gallery 78. And for once, I actually enjoyed the opening (I usually don't like their openings, due to the fact that they're so loud). Partly it's because another Photog went, and as she'd never been in that gallery before, I showed her around. And we talked the whole time: about the art in the gallery, art in general, and our lives.
Saturday: That afternoon the Met Opera performed their new Baroque pastiche, The Enchanted Island. I'm not usually a fan of Baroque opera (I like instrumental Baroque, like Vivaldi's The Four Seasons and L'Estro Armonico, Bach's Double Violin Concerto and Unaccompanied Cello Suites, and Handel's Music for the Royal Fireworks and Water Music), but I actually loved this one. The music was spectacular, and the story was thrilling.
I spent the day working on homework and my NSCAD portfolio, including trying to figure out the dates of my drawings from FVA, which are my most recent drawings from observation (although the drawings that I did in Adam's class started with observation, he had us morph and mold them into something completely different from what we started with). In addition to the year, NSCAD also wanted the month, so I was forced to make some educated guesses. I don't think I did too badly.
That evening, I finally connected with Helen. As we're also friends, our conversations usually go from mentor stuff to friend stuff, back to mentor stuff, and back again to friend stuff. As I was in the final stages of putting together my application package, we talked a lot about NSCAD (Helen lives in Nova Scotia), drawing (I was also in the final stages of that week's drawing assignment), and talked about NSCAD some more.
Sunday: Portfolio Assembly Day! I burned a CD-ROM of my images, making absolutely sure that it was readable on both Macs and PCs (thank you, Toast Titanium!), as I have no idea what NSCAD has for computers, and what the people who review portfolios view said portfolios on. I also Skyped with my parents, and we went 'round and 'round and 'round about the ins and outs of sending the application.
Afterward, I walked over to the college and put one of the black and white printers through it's paces. Application essay: done. List of portfolio contents: done. Letter from my parents stating that I was homeschooled from elementary to high school, and have fulfilled the requirements to graduate: done (NSCAD wanted both high school and college/university transcripts, and although I got one from NBCCD, as a homeschooler I've never had a transcript for anything below post-secondary): done. University application form: done (though I had to consult with my parents before filling out some of the questions).
Over the last couple days, it's really started to sink in: I'm applying to university! And, unlike when I applied to NBCCD for FVA, when my parents did most, if not all, of the work, I'm doing it all by myself, with minimal input from other adults (though my portfolio was critiqued by Karen, Drew and Peter, and I had questions for my parents, on which two of the older Photogs also weighed in). I even paid the application fee myself, in the form of a money order. Now I'm really starting to feel grown up. And what was that that Mom and Tom said on the last night of Christmas Break about taking charge and going after things like scholarships, education and jobs myself?
As I rarely talk about the Monday of the week on which I'm posting (i.e., today), I won't say much. I'll just say that my application is on it's merry way to Halifax, and that I read on the application form last night that the transcript has to be sent directly from the institution that issued it (i.e., NBCCD), so I gave said transcript back to the registrar, and explained that it had to be sent from the college.
Let's go get that BFA in photography!
Labels:
Metropolitan Opera,
NSCAD,
opera,
the artistic life,
university
Monday, January 16, 2012
this is going to be one heck of a semester
I think I'm going to enjoy this semester. For one thing, Mondays are more relaxed, as I only have one class, and it's in the afternoon. And I think I'm going to really enjoy it.
Monday: The class in question is Imagery: Sources and Development. Although we're starting with observational drawing, the course goes beyond that form of drawing, using different sources, techniques and media. "Emphasis [is] on developing personally relevant imagery" (from the blurb about the course). In other words, it's the drawing course that I've been waiting for for three years.
By the way, that class is huge by NBCCD standards: twenty-two students, including me.
After class, I hung out in the photo studio and chatted with Peter before heading home.
Tuesday: This semester's Photoshop course is brand-new, so, as with Preparing for Professional Life last semester, my class gets to deal with the kinks and bugs in said course. However, I'm okay with that because I know that the course is new (I didn't know that Professional Life was new until the last week or two of the semester), and I know what my teacher (Drew) is like and what his expectations are, and he knows us students and what we're into--and whether or not we even like Photoshop.
And because this course is new, we students have a say in how things are going to go down this semester: our assignment this week was to come up with some techniques that we wanted to learn more about.
Still to Motion started with talking not about the visual aspect of creating movies, documentaries, etc., with DSLRs, but the audio aspect. And it reminded me just how interested I am in sound: how it behaves, how one can manipulate it, etc. (I'll happily blame it on my eight years of violin lessons). Our assignment this week was to record ourselves reading an excerpt of text--like a Wikipedia article--with music in the background (don't speak until after the first verse), using the built-in mic on our computers. We were to then decrease the volume of the music when we were speaking, bring the volume back up when we finished our speaking bit, and then decrease the volume again at the end. Simple, but so much fun! I did my homework that evening, and it was a good thing I did, because...
Wednesday: ...I woke up with the telltale sore throat of a cold. Ugh. And as I tend to do, I spent the first half of the day in denial: "please don't be a cold **swallow** please go away **gulp**." But by two that afternoon (one PM EST), I admitted that I was sick. I immediately went into recovery mode.
Oh, yeah: classes. That morning, I had Gallery as a Market Place--and I had Karen as a teacher again! Let's just say that, as with last semester's business class, I have much to learn about the ins and outs of galleries. But I actually want to take this course.
I'm applying for the ArtsNB scholarship again, so I asked Karen to be one of my references: she said yes.
That afternoon, I had another class with Drew, and, like Peter's second-year classes, it's devoted to independent study projects. But these are little projects: I think the biggest is about three weeks long. My first one is on model releases, and I want to have one that's readily modifiable based on the situation/project by the time I'm done.
I also asked Drew if he'd be my other reference (I need two): he said yes. And he reminded me to print out two copies of the form that the reference people fill out.
By that point, my throat was so sore that it hurt to speak, or even whisper, for longer than a few seconds at a time--which is a major blow to someone who's as talkative as I am.
Because Drew wanted a project proposal for the first project from each of us, he let us go after an hour. I spent the next hour-and-a-half writing mine, and then packed up my stuff and headed home as soon as I dropped the proposal in the assignment folder for that course.
When I got home, I was so tired that I decided to take a nap. Afterward, I felt a bit better, but I didn't do much for the rest of the evening.
Because I felt so crappy, I was more than a bit concerned that I might have to skip Peter's class the next day. And because I love Peter's classes so much and this week's class was the first of the semester, I did not want to have to miss that class.
Thursday: When I woke up that morning, I still felt like crap, but I was well enough to go to school. Yyyyyeesssssssssss!
Because Karen's history class was taking over the Photo Studio classroom (where Peter normally has his classes) that morning, he moved us to the Surface Design classroom. And starting the second week of term, his class will start not at 9:00 AM (8:00 EST), but 10:00 AM (9:00 EST)!!! As someone who's not exactly a morning person, I can't complain.
Like all the other classes this week, Peter talked about how the semester's going to go down: things like the fact that we each have to have a website by the end of the term, and that we're doing a presentation to the local photography club, Photo Fredericton, next month. And the fact that from now on, that class starts an hour later than what's posted on the schedule.
He also wanted us to take another look at the project proposals that we'd written and handed in at the end of last semester. We were to make any necessary adjustments, and then email them to him by this coming Thursday. Taking another look at the proposals also served to remind us exactly what we wanted to do.
I spent the rest of the day working on homework--except for when I had a meeting with Peter that afternoon.
Friday through Sunday: On Thursday I'd drawn up a to-do list of everything that I wanted to accomplish over the weekend, and although I worked on it a bit that day, it was on Friday that I really buckled down and started in on The List. I...
So I called back on Saturday afternoon. Because Peter ran a bit late, we didn't connect until after two. But once we did, he was happy to answer my questions (I typed up a summary of each of his answers in Word, having written down my questions earlier)--in fact, the guy was a perfect interviewee, and patiently waited for me to finish typing (at the beginning I told him that I'd be typing up his answers).
However, for me, this was more than just another school assignment: this interview marked a huge turning point for me. For as long as I can remember, although I'm an outgoing person, I've always been shy when I call someone for the first time. It was to the point that I had to force myself to dial the number. But something happened between the last time when I had to do that, which was in November, and Friday: I lost my shyness about calling someone out of the blue. When I called Peter, I just picked up the phone, dialed the number (making sure to dial 9 first, as it was on a school phone--Peter Gross' phone, to be exact, as he's one of the ones with long-distance. And yes, I asked him for permission.), explained that "I'm a student at NBCCD, I have an assignment to contact a gallery and ask for their mandate and submission guidelines. Is now a good time or is there another time that would be better?" Done. And it was no big deal: in fact, I'd say it was almost as easy as playing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.
Monday: The class in question is Imagery: Sources and Development. Although we're starting with observational drawing, the course goes beyond that form of drawing, using different sources, techniques and media. "Emphasis [is] on developing personally relevant imagery" (from the blurb about the course). In other words, it's the drawing course that I've been waiting for for three years.
By the way, that class is huge by NBCCD standards: twenty-two students, including me.
After class, I hung out in the photo studio and chatted with Peter before heading home.
Tuesday: This semester's Photoshop course is brand-new, so, as with Preparing for Professional Life last semester, my class gets to deal with the kinks and bugs in said course. However, I'm okay with that because I know that the course is new (I didn't know that Professional Life was new until the last week or two of the semester), and I know what my teacher (Drew) is like and what his expectations are, and he knows us students and what we're into--and whether or not we even like Photoshop.
And because this course is new, we students have a say in how things are going to go down this semester: our assignment this week was to come up with some techniques that we wanted to learn more about.
Still to Motion started with talking not about the visual aspect of creating movies, documentaries, etc., with DSLRs, but the audio aspect. And it reminded me just how interested I am in sound: how it behaves, how one can manipulate it, etc. (I'll happily blame it on my eight years of violin lessons). Our assignment this week was to record ourselves reading an excerpt of text--like a Wikipedia article--with music in the background (don't speak until after the first verse), using the built-in mic on our computers. We were to then decrease the volume of the music when we were speaking, bring the volume back up when we finished our speaking bit, and then decrease the volume again at the end. Simple, but so much fun! I did my homework that evening, and it was a good thing I did, because...
 |
| Because everyone knows me as a classical music-freak, I decided to shake things up. Although I'm crazy about classical, I'm also into a lot of other genres, including indie, punk/alternative and folk. This time, I went with one of my favourite Green Day tracks, 21st Century Breakdown, from the album of the same name. I read the first paragraph from Green Day's Wikipedia article. |
Wednesday: ...I woke up with the telltale sore throat of a cold. Ugh. And as I tend to do, I spent the first half of the day in denial: "please don't be a cold **swallow** please go away **gulp**." But by two that afternoon (one PM EST), I admitted that I was sick. I immediately went into recovery mode.
Oh, yeah: classes. That morning, I had Gallery as a Market Place--and I had Karen as a teacher again! Let's just say that, as with last semester's business class, I have much to learn about the ins and outs of galleries. But I actually want to take this course.
I'm applying for the ArtsNB scholarship again, so I asked Karen to be one of my references: she said yes.
That afternoon, I had another class with Drew, and, like Peter's second-year classes, it's devoted to independent study projects. But these are little projects: I think the biggest is about three weeks long. My first one is on model releases, and I want to have one that's readily modifiable based on the situation/project by the time I'm done.
I also asked Drew if he'd be my other reference (I need two): he said yes. And he reminded me to print out two copies of the form that the reference people fill out.
By that point, my throat was so sore that it hurt to speak, or even whisper, for longer than a few seconds at a time--which is a major blow to someone who's as talkative as I am.
Because Drew wanted a project proposal for the first project from each of us, he let us go after an hour. I spent the next hour-and-a-half writing mine, and then packed up my stuff and headed home as soon as I dropped the proposal in the assignment folder for that course.
When I got home, I was so tired that I decided to take a nap. Afterward, I felt a bit better, but I didn't do much for the rest of the evening.
Because I felt so crappy, I was more than a bit concerned that I might have to skip Peter's class the next day. And because I love Peter's classes so much and this week's class was the first of the semester, I did not want to have to miss that class.
Thursday: When I woke up that morning, I still felt like crap, but I was well enough to go to school. Yyyyyeesssssssssss!
Because Karen's history class was taking over the Photo Studio classroom (where Peter normally has his classes) that morning, he moved us to the Surface Design classroom. And starting the second week of term, his class will start not at 9:00 AM (8:00 EST), but 10:00 AM (9:00 EST)!!! As someone who's not exactly a morning person, I can't complain.
Like all the other classes this week, Peter talked about how the semester's going to go down: things like the fact that we each have to have a website by the end of the term, and that we're doing a presentation to the local photography club, Photo Fredericton, next month. And the fact that from now on, that class starts an hour later than what's posted on the schedule.
He also wanted us to take another look at the project proposals that we'd written and handed in at the end of last semester. We were to make any necessary adjustments, and then email them to him by this coming Thursday. Taking another look at the proposals also served to remind us exactly what we wanted to do.
I spent the rest of the day working on homework--except for when I had a meeting with Peter that afternoon.
Friday through Sunday: On Thursday I'd drawn up a to-do list of everything that I wanted to accomplish over the weekend, and although I worked on it a bit that day, it was on Friday that I really buckled down and started in on The List. I...
- Reworked the project proposal and emailed it to Peter.
- Did my Photoshop homework.
- Did my Gallery as a Market Place homework (more on that after the list).
- Researched model releases.
- Started putting together the PowerPoint presentation for Peter's class.
- Wrote notes for said PowerPoint.
- Photocopied some of my sheet music for Imagery.
- Wrote like crazy for my NSCAD application (250 - 500 words) and my ArtsNB scholarship application (one 8 1/2" x 11" page or less), and tweaked my RBC scholarship application (two questions, 600 words or less total).
- Skipped the Met's radio broadcast--though I did it in the name of Gallery as a Market Place, so I'm sure they'd understand (there's a gallery at the Met Opera House--**squeal**).
- Wondered where Sunday disappeared.
- Hung out with friends/fellow Photogs (there's never a dull moment in the studio).
So I called back on Saturday afternoon. Because Peter ran a bit late, we didn't connect until after two. But once we did, he was happy to answer my questions (I typed up a summary of each of his answers in Word, having written down my questions earlier)--in fact, the guy was a perfect interviewee, and patiently waited for me to finish typing (at the beginning I told him that I'd be typing up his answers).
However, for me, this was more than just another school assignment: this interview marked a huge turning point for me. For as long as I can remember, although I'm an outgoing person, I've always been shy when I call someone for the first time. It was to the point that I had to force myself to dial the number. But something happened between the last time when I had to do that, which was in November, and Friday: I lost my shyness about calling someone out of the blue. When I called Peter, I just picked up the phone, dialed the number (making sure to dial 9 first, as it was on a school phone--Peter Gross' phone, to be exact, as he's one of the ones with long-distance. And yes, I asked him for permission.), explained that "I'm a student at NBCCD, I have an assignment to contact a gallery and ask for their mandate and submission guidelines. Is now a good time or is there another time that would be better?" Done. And it was no big deal: in fact, I'd say it was almost as easy as playing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.
Labels:
drawing,
independent projects,
sick,
the artistic life
Sunday, January 8, 2012
flying the coop, bit by bit
Tomorrow, I start my final semester at NBCCD. **sniffle**
I thoroughly enjoyed my break. I photographed, stayed up late, slept in, danced (including celebrating twenty years of dancing), got high on music (who needs illegal drugs when music and other art will do just fine, and maybe even better?), hung out with my parents, cooked, cuddled the cats, watched movies, listened to opera, wrote, took an online typing course (I'm good--when I started the course, I could type forty-five words per minute, and I've improved by ten WPM--but I never finished my first typing course, and as a result I'm almost completely self-taught), finally put some photos up on my 500px account, read, and stayed up late and slept in some more.
Christmas was a bit weird in that after we opened presents, I spent the rest of the day wondering what to do next. I usually spend the day enjoying my presents, but this time I didn't know what to do (though Tom and I watched Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2, which he gave me).
Last night, my parents and I had what Tom called a "life perspective" talk. I have to admit that, although I'm a good person (I'm well-behaved most of the time, I try my darnedest to obey the law, I do my chores--most of the time--and I try to treat everyone the way I would like to be treated: with kindness and respect), every time my parents say that they want to talk with me, I assume the worst: have I done or said something that I shouldn't have?
Basically, as of last night my parents have officially begun to cut me loose and to remove those training wheels. Which in a way feels great, but at the same time it's a bit scary. You mean I now have to go after things myself?? **gulp** However, I've known for years that it would happen some day. And I'm actually ahead on at least one of the things that they mentioned: as of September sixth, 2011, I've started to try to figure out what I'd like to do as a career. I know that I want to do something in photography, but what, exactly? What do I want to do within the world of the medium known as photography?
They also talked about how far I've come: prior to starting at NBCCD, I'd never finished anything in my life, and, frankly, my parents were more than a little concerned--and for good reason. Actually (and this is from me), I had finished stuff: I knew when choreography that I was working on was where I wanted it. However, I never consider a dance completely finished: I may come back later and tweak it a bit. So does that exclude it from the "finished" category? Hmm...
I remember Christmas Break of my FVA year: I didn't want to go back. But my parents basically shoved me out the door with a "you're finishing this, kid. You're graduating with your certificate in Foundation Visual Arts" attitude. And I'm incredibly glad they did.
Thing is, until FVA, I didn't really take education seriously. I think that's one of the reasons why I didn't finish academic stuff--and why I procrastinated on my school work (Mom had to ground me once when I didn't finish a report on the RCMP--even then, it was weeks before I finished the darn thing).
When I got to NBCCD, all of a sudden I had to finish my projects--otherwise, I wouldn't get into Photo. Yikes. And I had to keep my GPA at 2.0 or higher. As it was, I graduated FVA with a 2.43 GPA. And I had to worry about grades.
Somehow, I managed to survive. And here I was, on the eve of my final semester at a school that I love dearly, being told, "you're thisclose from graduating from college, and it's time that you started pursuing what you want yourself (e.g., scholarships). You are the one who has to look for job openings, scholarships that you can apply for, etc."
So, with that in mind, here's to the next semester and whatever it brings. And I want to publicly thank my parents and my college: thanks for putting up with me, for teaching me, for supporting me. I am proud to know you (parents)/be affiliated with you (NBCCD). And to get this semester off to a wonderful start, I thought I'd pick out some festive music. This is the overture from Die Fledermaus (The Bat), by Johann Strauss, Jr., which the Met Opera broadcast on New Years' Eve day (an archive performance from January twentieth, 1951, which was sung and spoken in English, rather than the original German). There's a reason why I hummed along in the shower--and I never sing in the shower!
I thoroughly enjoyed my break. I photographed, stayed up late, slept in, danced (including celebrating twenty years of dancing), got high on music (who needs illegal drugs when music and other art will do just fine, and maybe even better?), hung out with my parents, cooked, cuddled the cats, watched movies, listened to opera, wrote, took an online typing course (I'm good--when I started the course, I could type forty-five words per minute, and I've improved by ten WPM--but I never finished my first typing course, and as a result I'm almost completely self-taught), finally put some photos up on my 500px account, read, and stayed up late and slept in some more.
Christmas was a bit weird in that after we opened presents, I spent the rest of the day wondering what to do next. I usually spend the day enjoying my presents, but this time I didn't know what to do (though Tom and I watched Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2, which he gave me).
Last night, my parents and I had what Tom called a "life perspective" talk. I have to admit that, although I'm a good person (I'm well-behaved most of the time, I try my darnedest to obey the law, I do my chores--most of the time--and I try to treat everyone the way I would like to be treated: with kindness and respect), every time my parents say that they want to talk with me, I assume the worst: have I done or said something that I shouldn't have?
Basically, as of last night my parents have officially begun to cut me loose and to remove those training wheels. Which in a way feels great, but at the same time it's a bit scary. You mean I now have to go after things myself?? **gulp** However, I've known for years that it would happen some day. And I'm actually ahead on at least one of the things that they mentioned: as of September sixth, 2011, I've started to try to figure out what I'd like to do as a career. I know that I want to do something in photography, but what, exactly? What do I want to do within the world of the medium known as photography?
They also talked about how far I've come: prior to starting at NBCCD, I'd never finished anything in my life, and, frankly, my parents were more than a little concerned--and for good reason. Actually (and this is from me), I had finished stuff: I knew when choreography that I was working on was where I wanted it. However, I never consider a dance completely finished: I may come back later and tweak it a bit. So does that exclude it from the "finished" category? Hmm...
I remember Christmas Break of my FVA year: I didn't want to go back. But my parents basically shoved me out the door with a "you're finishing this, kid. You're graduating with your certificate in Foundation Visual Arts" attitude. And I'm incredibly glad they did.
Thing is, until FVA, I didn't really take education seriously. I think that's one of the reasons why I didn't finish academic stuff--and why I procrastinated on my school work (Mom had to ground me once when I didn't finish a report on the RCMP--even then, it was weeks before I finished the darn thing).
When I got to NBCCD, all of a sudden I had to finish my projects--otherwise, I wouldn't get into Photo. Yikes. And I had to keep my GPA at 2.0 or higher. As it was, I graduated FVA with a 2.43 GPA. And I had to worry about grades.
Somehow, I managed to survive. And here I was, on the eve of my final semester at a school that I love dearly, being told, "you're thisclose from graduating from college, and it's time that you started pursuing what you want yourself (e.g., scholarships). You are the one who has to look for job openings, scholarships that you can apply for, etc."
So, with that in mind, here's to the next semester and whatever it brings. And I want to publicly thank my parents and my college: thanks for putting up with me, for teaching me, for supporting me. I am proud to know you (parents)/be affiliated with you (NBCCD). And to get this semester off to a wonderful start, I thought I'd pick out some festive music. This is the overture from Die Fledermaus (The Bat), by Johann Strauss, Jr., which the Met Opera broadcast on New Years' Eve day (an archive performance from January twentieth, 1951, which was sung and spoken in English, rather than the original German). There's a reason why I hummed along in the shower--and I never sing in the shower!
Labels:
art,
Christmas Break,
Metropolitan Opera,
music,
photography,
the artistic life,
the Met,
writing
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Hip-hip-hooray for Christamas Vacation
Welcome to the final post of the semester. Today is Day 3 of Christmas Break, though I've been on break since about 10:40 or so on Thursday.
Monday: All I had that day was an assessment for Preparing for Professional Life, otherwise I was free! And I couldn't have been happier. I liked all my classes, but having three of 'em in one day was way too much, and every faculty and staff member to whom I mentioned it--from Drew to Nancy (the registrar)--agreed that three classes was too much in one day.
My assessment went very well. Trudy said that she really noticed how far I'd come: in the beginning, she was concerned about me and my writing. But by the end, she was really happy with how much I'd improved.
After that, I had absolutely no plans, nowhere I needed to be, nothing I had to do--SO WHAT DO I DO NOW??? This always happens at the end of term: I'm so used to working with a deadline, and needing to have things done by a certain date that when that mindset is no longer needed, I become rather bored. I realize just how mentally tense I've become, and I have to unclench my brain.
I eventually went to the local public library and checked out some movies. I also did some Christmas shopping and cleaned out my drawer in the studio.
Tuesday: That day I did the last of my homework: putting my independent-study project in a portfolio. And once again I tried to fill in the time that would usually be taken up with homework.
In the afternoon, I went to the registrar's office and got my schedule for next semester--NO MORE THREE-CLASS DAYS!!!! I also signed up for the elective: I chose Imagery: Sources and Development.
I somehow managed to lose my keys (mailbox, residence, room and food-locker) that evening. I thoroughly searched my room, but had to give up. I asked the hall proctor, Aaron, about replacing them. Doing so meant a trip to the UNB campus, which I'm never thrilled about. I like UNB, it's a great university, but all my time is spent in the opposite direction, in downtown F'ton, and I only go up the hill when I need to.
Wednesday: Because Drew teaches three of the second-year classes, he lumped all three into one assessment. One of the great things about assessments is that they're a time when you can talk with your teacher one-on-one about any issues that you may be having. For me that means that next semester Drew is going to show me some more about how the slave mechanism in the Speedatrons works. NBCCD has a few cords that can be plugged into the power-pack to make slaving less finicky, which makes me very happy. As I said to him, I want to learn how to use those flashes: I don't want to be limited to just one system.
Next semester, one of my courses will be Photography Seminar: Research and Techniques, which will be two-week independent-study projects, and Drew suggested that I use the course to figure out what I want to do as a career (he asked me what I'm thinking of doing after graduation--I'm still trying to figure that out).
That evening, one of the first-year Photogs had a potluck/end-of-term party/Christmas party/housewarming party (she just moved into a new apartment a couple weeks ago). I went, and had an awesome time, talking and eating with some of her/our friends. As I wrote in a Facebook status update, I "felt not unlike an overstuffed couch by the time [I] left."
Thursday: Before my assessment I numbered all the .PSD files of the photos from my dance project.
The assessment itself was an interesting one: it was probably Peter's toughest critique of my work and his toughest discussion of my next independent study project (a two-day weekend course package for Sunbury Shores Arts and Nature Centre).
Afterward, I hung around, waiting for Mom, who was picking me up that day. In the meantime, I played around on one of the school computers and helped one of the first-year Photogs, who was having some issues with preparing photos that he wanted to print. When Mom finally arrived, I jumped out of my chair, skipped over to her, gave her a huge hug, and wished her a happy birthday. I then grabbed my stuff, and almost emptied my locker (there are still a few things in there).
We drove over to my dorm and grabbed my things there before heading home through the snowstorm that had started during my walk to school (meaning around nine that morning--eight EST). I drove part-way.
That night, I watched about half of Home Alone. I finished it Friday night.
Friday: That afternoon, I had an appointment to get my hair cut. Afterward, I did the last of my Christmas shopping in St. Stephen and Calais, including going to both the SuperStore and Sobeys in search of Swiss Knight gruyere (I found it at Sobeys). It just isn't Christmas without that cheese.
When I got back, Mom and I hauled the tree into the sunroom and put it up. We always need to secure the tree with lots of string, but this year's tree is definitely the stringiest: we had to use about double the usual amount of string.
Saturday: I spent the afternoon decorating the tree and listening to opera (Madama Butterfly, live at the Met Opera House). Getting the topper (a star) on was tricky, and made even trickier by my fear of heights. I eventually got it on. As usual, I was in charge of most of the decorating, though Mom pitched in in the evening. Mom is usually in charge of the lights, but this year it was my job.
Before the opera, I called Sunbury Shores and asked the director (Jamie Steel) what I would need to include in a course proposal, and what the Centre would need to know. I took notes and stuck them in the front pocket of my planner.
I watched National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation that evening.
Sunday: Today has been amazingly unproductive. In fact, the only thing that I've done that could qualify as "productive" is finalizing my Christmas Eve radio list (see below). Oh, and listening to CBC Radio 2's broadcast of the European Broadcasting Union's (EBU) Joy to the World Christmas music special.
Some point in the next few days, I plan to take photos of the tree, and also begin the process of documenting my collection of violin Christmas tree ornaments. I'm going to create a database with photos, descriptions and dates for each ornament. Yesterday, Mom gave me a box to put my collection in, instead of putting it in the usual boxes and bags. She also gave me an ornament that she'd commissioned for me and my collection.
One last treat before I end this post: here's the ad for the Bangor Symphony/Robinson Ballet production of The Nutcracker. Talk about thrilling! They're performing the ballet as I write this, and I'm listening to the Royal Philharmonic's 1992 recording of the complete ballet right now. Oh, the things the BSO makes me do (I've been listening to the ballet or playing the violin part at the same time as the BSO for several years)--especially you guys over there in the violin section!
See you back here around January seventh or fourteenth!
Monday: All I had that day was an assessment for Preparing for Professional Life, otherwise I was free! And I couldn't have been happier. I liked all my classes, but having three of 'em in one day was way too much, and every faculty and staff member to whom I mentioned it--from Drew to Nancy (the registrar)--agreed that three classes was too much in one day.
My assessment went very well. Trudy said that she really noticed how far I'd come: in the beginning, she was concerned about me and my writing. But by the end, she was really happy with how much I'd improved.
After that, I had absolutely no plans, nowhere I needed to be, nothing I had to do--SO WHAT DO I DO NOW??? This always happens at the end of term: I'm so used to working with a deadline, and needing to have things done by a certain date that when that mindset is no longer needed, I become rather bored. I realize just how mentally tense I've become, and I have to unclench my brain.
I eventually went to the local public library and checked out some movies. I also did some Christmas shopping and cleaned out my drawer in the studio.
Tuesday: That day I did the last of my homework: putting my independent-study project in a portfolio. And once again I tried to fill in the time that would usually be taken up with homework.
In the afternoon, I went to the registrar's office and got my schedule for next semester--NO MORE THREE-CLASS DAYS!!!! I also signed up for the elective: I chose Imagery: Sources and Development.
I somehow managed to lose my keys (mailbox, residence, room and food-locker) that evening. I thoroughly searched my room, but had to give up. I asked the hall proctor, Aaron, about replacing them. Doing so meant a trip to the UNB campus, which I'm never thrilled about. I like UNB, it's a great university, but all my time is spent in the opposite direction, in downtown F'ton, and I only go up the hill when I need to.
Wednesday: Because Drew teaches three of the second-year classes, he lumped all three into one assessment. One of the great things about assessments is that they're a time when you can talk with your teacher one-on-one about any issues that you may be having. For me that means that next semester Drew is going to show me some more about how the slave mechanism in the Speedatrons works. NBCCD has a few cords that can be plugged into the power-pack to make slaving less finicky, which makes me very happy. As I said to him, I want to learn how to use those flashes: I don't want to be limited to just one system.
Next semester, one of my courses will be Photography Seminar: Research and Techniques, which will be two-week independent-study projects, and Drew suggested that I use the course to figure out what I want to do as a career (he asked me what I'm thinking of doing after graduation--I'm still trying to figure that out).
That evening, one of the first-year Photogs had a potluck/end-of-term party/Christmas party/housewarming party (she just moved into a new apartment a couple weeks ago). I went, and had an awesome time, talking and eating with some of her/our friends. As I wrote in a Facebook status update, I "felt not unlike an overstuffed couch by the time [I] left."
Thursday: Before my assessment I numbered all the .PSD files of the photos from my dance project.
The assessment itself was an interesting one: it was probably Peter's toughest critique of my work and his toughest discussion of my next independent study project (a two-day weekend course package for Sunbury Shores Arts and Nature Centre).
Afterward, I hung around, waiting for Mom, who was picking me up that day. In the meantime, I played around on one of the school computers and helped one of the first-year Photogs, who was having some issues with preparing photos that he wanted to print. When Mom finally arrived, I jumped out of my chair, skipped over to her, gave her a huge hug, and wished her a happy birthday. I then grabbed my stuff, and almost emptied my locker (there are still a few things in there).
We drove over to my dorm and grabbed my things there before heading home through the snowstorm that had started during my walk to school (meaning around nine that morning--eight EST). I drove part-way.
That night, I watched about half of Home Alone. I finished it Friday night.
Friday: That afternoon, I had an appointment to get my hair cut. Afterward, I did the last of my Christmas shopping in St. Stephen and Calais, including going to both the SuperStore and Sobeys in search of Swiss Knight gruyere (I found it at Sobeys). It just isn't Christmas without that cheese.
When I got back, Mom and I hauled the tree into the sunroom and put it up. We always need to secure the tree with lots of string, but this year's tree is definitely the stringiest: we had to use about double the usual amount of string.
Saturday: I spent the afternoon decorating the tree and listening to opera (Madama Butterfly, live at the Met Opera House). Getting the topper (a star) on was tricky, and made even trickier by my fear of heights. I eventually got it on. As usual, I was in charge of most of the decorating, though Mom pitched in in the evening. Mom is usually in charge of the lights, but this year it was my job.
Before the opera, I called Sunbury Shores and asked the director (Jamie Steel) what I would need to include in a course proposal, and what the Centre would need to know. I took notes and stuck them in the front pocket of my planner.
I watched National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation that evening.
Sunday: Today has been amazingly unproductive. In fact, the only thing that I've done that could qualify as "productive" is finalizing my Christmas Eve radio list (see below). Oh, and listening to CBC Radio 2's broadcast of the European Broadcasting Union's (EBU) Joy to the World Christmas music special.
Some point in the next few days, I plan to take photos of the tree, and also begin the process of documenting my collection of violin Christmas tree ornaments. I'm going to create a database with photos, descriptions and dates for each ornament. Yesterday, Mom gave me a box to put my collection in, instead of putting it in the usual boxes and bags. She also gave me an ornament that she'd commissioned for me and my collection.
 | ||||
| My Christmas Eve plans: radio, radio and more radio! 89.7 is the local NPR station in Calais, Maine, and 101.5 is the local CBC Radio 2 station in Fredericton and Saint John, New Brunswick. All times are in Atlantic Time. |
See you back here around January seventh or fourteenth!
MERRY CHRISTMAS! HAPPY HANUKKAH! BLESSED YULE!
Labels:
assessment week,
Christmas,
Christmas Break,
the artistic life
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)