The method to this madness

Who is my favorite artist?
I don't know, I been meaning to address this question for some time now but I'm just so indecisive. I've been really interested in Andy Warhol lately, but not in his work necessarily, more of his persona and the processes and methods with which he creates his work- the method of his madness. Before Warhol, I was interested in Duane Michals, initiated by my obsession with the image "This Photograph is my Proof," which inspired a lot of thought about my own work. Annnnd, before that was Diane Arbus. But that ceased after the 13 page research paper I wrote about her and her work- damn you ArtH 301. So I will have to work on an answer for this question.

Other random thoughts: must learn how to cut out and place a new background on an image. Yes Miles, expect me to come bang on your office door next week.
Oh, and figure out how to upload an Illustrator image on here. It's beginning to limit the content of my blogs. Grrrr...

Argh

I created a to-scale image of the gallery space (the Meyer Memorial) I will be having my BFA show in, as well as a map out of how I plan to hang my Polaroids, Photobooth strips, and xerox copies. It helped me to figure out about how many images I'll be needing by the time it opens (on March 5th- be there!!!), as well as to give me an idea of what it will look like when it's hung. I wanted to make sure it wouldn't look too chaotic and seems to work out fine :) But I'm having trouble being able to upload it on here. Argh.

Where art thou gnome?

(photo by Jack Howlett)

On the walk home the other day I saw a garden gnome on someone's porch and I really really wanted to borrow it. A generic idea most definitely but I thought about the possibilities.... I could send pics of the gnome traveling around Ashland. The post office, the beanery, very unexciting places would be ideal. Still trying to decide...

It made sense to me..

[A visual metaphor of my thoughts at one point in time]
Created in Illustrator summer 2007.

My journey towards eternal starvation

As I will soon be graduating from this fine establishment, I thought I should do some research on how to maintain my place in society.  I have been a starving college student for the last uhhh, 7 years now, and am hoping to make a smooth transition into my new role in the world as a starving artist.  Here is the best advice I was able to find through my extensive Google research:

10 ways to remain a starving artist:

1. Don't set goals.

2. Never ever think about money.

3. Keep your artwork to yourself- don't show it, don't talk about it.

4. Don't tell anybody you're an artist.

5. Spend all of your time in your studio.  Don't bother marketing - let    your art stack up.

6. If people are buggin you to buy your artwork say it's not for sale-    it's not priced- that will deter them.

7. Go at it alone- don't get any help.

8. Stay away from artists earning money.

9. Expect instant success.

10. Wait to be discovered.

This list was compiled by Martha Zlater, Art Business Consultant at the Small Business Development Center of San Francisco.  

...And this list was stolen from this blog.

Bananas & buttons

I like bananas, I like randomness, I like celebrating, I like this picture:

If you too would like to celebrate randomness, click on the link below and play with the buttons.  Oooh... fancy.   (I especially like the white button).

http://www.ihatebananas.com

I tried to make the image link to the site but I couldn't.  Damn.

Making up for lost time

While I'm physically back in school, the creative portion of my brain is still apparently in Christmas vacation mode (work, ski park, party, sleep, repeat). I think it might be back with me now but I'm not making any promises.

I fooled around with Mac Photobooth for the first time ever a few weeks ago, which is (from what I've heard) generally the one of the first things most proud Mac owners do.  I felt I may be missing out... so I gave it a whirl.  I took a picture with my Polaroid of photobooth taking a picture of me with my polaroid.  Or something like that.  It didn't turn out quite as I'd hoped, but here they are.

Visualize, summarize..

My goals for the term summarized into one semi-longwinded sentence:

I will be experimenting with photo manipulation, expanding my photographs further into the digital realm, and creating a variety of means to promote my photographic work.

Timeline

1/22   The first task I should complete is to research how much time it takes to print and mail cards for my BFA show and add that date to my timeline accordingly.

1/27   Have a couple of digitally produced photobooth strips completed.

2/05  Experiment with Poladroid software.

2/12   Have more digitally produced photos ready for critique.

Have Exhibition cards ready to mail out.

2/19  Create logo for photography business

2/26  Business card design complete

3/05  Entire business identity package completed.

  

I collect cards from most of the exhibitions I go to.  Here are a few of my favorites.

rough ideas

My goals for this term are to experiment with a few ideas I've had but haven't yet had the time to pursue.  I think this class is going to be a fantastic opportunity for me to play around with these ideas, which are to:  

1. Complete an identity package for the promotion of my photography (business cards, poster, etc.)

2. Learn (at least) the basics of Photoshop, which is remedial, I know, but I've somehow completely evaded learning anything about the program.

3. Design a card/flyer/mailer/whatever to promote my BFA show.

4. Continue my photographic work in the digital realm.  Or more specifically, work on creating a digitally produced photobooth series to include in my exhibition this March, as well as to learn basic photo editing techniques.

As far as this blog goes, it will be interesting to view my own photographic work online, mostly because my work is largely about the tactile qualities of a photograph and the photo as an object.  This is why most of my work utilizes some form of virtually instant format.  Setting aside my digital camera, I have focused on photobooth, Polaroid, Xerox, and am hoping to soon expand to the new Polaroid Pogo (which produces near-instant tangible images via the bluetooth capabilities of a camera phone or digital camera while using a new inkless technology call Zink).  Did I just sound like an ad there or what?!

what to do, what to do??

i don't know yet.