Cya First Year

First off - MASSIVE thanks to Siobhan and Niall for teaching, guiding and helping us through our first year on the course. It's safe to say I can speak for the whole of the Level 3 first year class in saying that their guidance has proved very important to our progress.

Secondly, I miss college. Having the resources so close to hand (Macs, paper, printing press etc..) was such a vital part of the creative process. Nonetheless I have been making the most of my sketchbooks and spare time! Staying productive is important to me, slipping into a lazy routine of what I like to call 'easy' activities like listening to music, watching TV and playing my PS4 isn't what I want to do all summer..

I've found that my Kindle has came into good use regarding my productivity. After recently downloading and reading 'A Game of Thrones' I have found that my attention and energy are being focused on more important activities.

My A2 sketchbook is my main outlet for these occasional bouts of creativity. I am lucky enough to have a garden in which I can sit in and admire a view that on a sunny day makes me feel very positive about creating some work. I am able to take that sketchbook outside, sit, and draw away at my surroundings.

As of late, my artistic interests have moved onto the more design, and idea based areas. Sketching and drawing when I can is essential to my progress even if it isn't my favourite thing to do, and so perseverance also becomes very important.

Separately, as my desire for an Apple Mac grows and grows with every day, annoyingly, my bank balance doesn't... Though this hasn't altered my aim in saving money for one! Having access to them daily during first year was a blessing and I grew to love using Photoshop and learning how to create and alter pieces of work. Having such a device at my disposable would be a valuable tool when it came to progressing with my own stuff.

Lastly, I feel at somewhat of a loss on what 'theme' or possible 'area' to pursue in my second year on the course. Going down the personal route and exploring possible issues or problems I have with myself or the world around me - is definitely not what I want to do. Dissecting my secrets and laying bare my every thought and feeling doesn't feel right to me. I love how others are able to do this with themselves though. Plus who knows you better than yourself, right? I don't want to rule out any personal references in my future work altogether, but I do want to address that going down that road just isn't for me. Actually reading over that last part it kind of paints me as some sort of machine like, heartless sod - I assure you this isn't the case! I have feelings too...

I guess I just want to keep things a little more subtle and less obvious - and if that means either myself or my work coming under fire for being too mysterious...then so be it!

Dissapointment

Today I properly realized that time management is a huge problem of mine. Once I had presented my Botanics unit, I felt a sudden wave of reality hit me in the face.

I think it is normal to be interested in some units more than others. For me this has been a recurring theme since I begun the course. I can pinpoint 2 units at the moment that I feel I have thrown all of my creative energy into, and those are 'Viewpoint' and 'Typefaces and Letter forms'.

Keeping time and organizing my schedule to fit in college work hasn't been easy so far (can I just make this clear now, this blog post is not an opportunity for me to make up excuses for my lack of work haha). Having a reasonably busy social life and a part time job has definitely had a negative affect on my studies. Obviously I am still getting used to this new schedule and I hopefully will have tailored my time management by the time I enter my second year.

I feel if I had spent an equal amount of time on each unit in the course up to this point, they would all have been average. I believe that this first year has taught me a lot about how long practical work takes and where I should be doing it i.e College. I'm afraid that I may continue this disorganized behavior once I am in second year but hopefully not.

I remember Niall and Siobhan mentioning at different times that if we are indeed serious about pursuing a further education in Art and eventually a career - then we will no matter what make time for our studies. That made me think. It made me think - surely if I am serious (which I really am) I wouldn't have this problem with time management and lack of work?!

It's obviously down to my priorities. Right now what's most important is furthering my knowledge and understanding of Art and the Art world. But at the same time I need to make a living and support myself and my family.

I am waffling on too much haha. The point I'm making is, in a perfect world I'd come into college everyday, leave my job and commit all of my time to my studies. Now as much as I would LOVE to do that! - I just can't, or at least I can't right now.

I guess I'll just carry on and adjust my timetable the best I can.

It could be worse, after all.