Living the Creative Life

Here's what my campus looks like after dark. So pretty! I got a lot of work done yesterday when I went into the lab. In fact, didn't get home until 7pm! But I feel like I'm learning the programs a lot better, which is awesome! 1/2 a term down, 8 1/2 to go (three terms per year)! ;P

I've been designing up a storm this week. Midterm projects are due next so everyone has been staying in the lab an extra lot. It's fun... lots of camaraderie. :) One of my classes has an actual midterm exam. It's a Composition for Designers class, so we are studying things like texture, line, color, placement of objects on a page, etc. The definitions that always stump me are the difference between value and intensity, as it refers to color. They're both lightening and darkening of color hues but in different ways. I think I better research that more before the test. Lol. The picture above demonstrates the relationship between hue, value, and intensity. Hue is the actual color in it's base form (red, blue, green). Value are the up and down variations. Intensity is measured out from the center. Clear as mud?

 It's that time again! I am now accepting sponsorship for November!  I'm offering two options, one paid and one free, so there should be something for everyone! Each spot comes with the opportunity to guest post &/or do an Etsy giveaway contest. If you want to get something in, just get it to me and I'll work it in. :) I won't be reminding people, so don't forget! Please send any inquiries, buttons, or guest posts to: desertrose0601 {at} gmail {dot} com  

Maybe it's just me, but college students these days seem to be cautious about an awful lot. I realize some classes are harder than others, but the overall concept of college is not that difficult. Go to class. Read your textbook. Do your assignments. If something is unclear, go ahead and ask about it, but it's safe to assume that you'll learn a lot just by jumping in and trying. I get the feeling that that's where the breakdown is for a lot of students. They don't want to try something until they're sure that they are doing it right. I can certainly appreciate this attitude, although I wonder what it says about a person's life experience. Try and fail. Then learn from your mistake and try again. In "real" life, that's how things get done. There's generally no teacher to ask for life's lessons so you learn by trial and error. Lessons learned by the worst trials are usually also the ones remembered best. I'm sure I was as cautio...

Carlita says hi. :)

Draw every day. Stop. Look. Admire God's creation. Use every type of pen, pencil, and cutting tool known to man. Learn to draw perfectly straight lines and 90 degree angles. Leaf through lots of magazines and study the ads. Get lost in creative thought. Read a lot... Design books. Software manuals. Illustrator biographies. Practice. Practice. Practice. Never give up!

I have a feeling that a lot of my fellow graphic design students are introverts. It's interesting how easy it is to slip into a creative zone in my classes. Normally that's something that the average extrovert will become alarmed when they encounter, feeling the need to fill the silence, make a comment, ask you if I'm alright, etc. All of which makes focusing on a creative problem very difficult! I don't know if it's just that we're all creatives here or if we actually are all introverts, but it's nice to not feel like I have to apologize for zoning. Everyone understands because they're doing it too! If you've never experienced a "zone", doing something creative can put you into a mental state of concentration that blocks out outside noises and distractions. This is a huge reason I dislike photographing family events that I attend; once I go into the creative zone, I'm pretty much not mentally present at the event anymore! Lol. Whe...