Procrastination

Often times, the "staring into the fire" activities prevent me from starting an art project. I don't literally mean I stare into a fire. These activities usually entail various social media websites, watching television, playing a video game, watching YouTube videos, watching Netflix, etc etc. The mind numbing nature of these activities pulls me into a trap and will prevent me from working on an art project. As far as why I avoid starting an art project, I usually over think whatever the project is, think it will involve an immense amount of work, and decide that the "staring into the fire" activity is the easier activity to do, which it is but it's no where near as productive nor fun. "Staring into the fire" activities are not "fun." They're numbing. They prevent you from feeling and you're essentially locked in a trance. After a long day, there's really nothing better to do than one of these activities. The art projects are productive and fun but requires some work. Overall, the product at the end is much more enjoyable than the "product" at the end of the mind numbing activity. I put the word product in quotes because these activities don't yield any product.
The way I get around this is simply the "suck it up" attitude and I get whatever activity I need to do done. I force myself to start working on whatever the project may be and after a little nudge, I start to enjoy myself and it no longer feels like work. The mentality of the art project being work only seems like it when I think about the project. When I'm actually working on the project, it doesn't feel like work. It's interesting that my mind works that way although I'm sure others think like this as well.

Fear

Let's face it. We all have fear, whether we know it or not. Whether it's fear of failure, fear of criticism, or a fear of being misunderstood, it's all fear. We may not go right out and say, "I'm afraid of failing!" It would probably come out as "This is going to come out awful" and the "this" could be almost anything. Fear plays a major role in our lives and can often times restrict us from doing great things or experiencing great things because we let it control us. 

I'm no different. Sometimes my fear gets the best of me. Over the years, I've realized I have a large fear of doing something "wrong." I'd constantly worry about the perfect way to perform a monologue or perform scenes in a show but there's no "perfect way." There's no such thing as perfection in any field of work and when it comes to art, there is no right and wrong. There's only what is. While preparing for a monologue or for scenes in a show, each time I say the lines, I try to say them in different ways, that way there is no settled "correct" way to say it. If you memorize a way to say something, chances are it would come out stiff and unnatural. As an actor, there's almost nothing worse than that. While on stage, I try to place essentially all my attention on my scene partner. That way, I'm not thinking about "Did I say that right? Does my arm look weird? Did my voice just crack?" and a bunch of other distracting thoughts that have no use in the scene. I've been improving this habit over the years but I'm not entirely sure if it will go away completely. I guess I'll find that out. 

Always remember, "there's nothing to fear but fear itself," just like FDR said. 

The Art of Collecting Lightbulbs

Before reading this chapter, I did not think that having a collection could be considered art. It never struck me as a form of art. But art, "for some is making, for other it is having." Immediately after reading this chapter, I started to think if there was anything I collected. The first thing that came into my mind was snow globes. I love collecting snow globes. Any time a family member, distant relative, or friend goes somewhere I have not, been I always ask them to pick up a snow globe for me. Right now, I have over 45 snow globes. I don't think that I would be a "snow globe enthusiast" as Hugh Francis Hicks was with lightbulbs, and I certainly don't think I would go and steal snow globes as he stole light bulbs. Before this chapter, it was a simple hobby, but calling it an art brings a different light to it. Maybe it's not really art. I'm not putting them on public display, at least not now. Who knows what the future might bring?

The Art of Making Art Without Lifting a Finger

This chapter brings a very question important to my attention and to all that read it. What is art and what should we consider art? It's a coincidence that I read this chapter shortly after STAC discussed if Pollock should be considered an artist. Art doesn't necessarily need to have a particular meaning behind it but there should be some meaning behind it or a specific intention by the artist. Ray Johnson's constant love, for the lack of a better word, of the number 13 most likely has a meaning behind it. It's not known to us, his friends, and maybe not even to himself. We won't find out now because he's no longer living but chances are if asked why he loved the number 13 so much, he could justify it. A lot of the process of considering what is art is the artist being able to justify it being a work of art. If you can justify it, then perhaps it is art. Sometimes even a work justified as art may not be a work of art. The "process" of what we consider art is very complicated and not set in stone because there are so many different forms of art, it's impossible to create a universal system to call a work art.

The Art of Having a Lofty Perspective

"So how to define the beautiful?" How does one really describe what beauty is? This chapter obviously speaks a lot about beauty, both in life and art. People have attempted to create a rational answer, like the Greeks, but is there really one? Who is to say what is beautiful and what isn't? Beauty is really a social construct. Beauty changes over time and it changes depending on where you are in the world. Society could easily change the meaning of the word beauty. What is beautiful now probably wasn't considered beautiful a hundred years ago. Our version of beauty, as far as fashion goes, leans more on the scandalous side a hundred years ago. As far as beauty in nature goes, it depends on the person and the time. Some aspects of nature are lovely to some and atrocious to others. But then again, who is one to decide what in nature is or is not beautiful?

The Accidental Masterpiece: The Art of Being Artless

One line stuck out to me as I was reading this chapter. "Painting will change your life." I was never really fond of painting. I was always told that I was never much of an artist and that stuck to me in a sense. I never bothered to paint or draw or anything in the fine arts field. But then I was introduced to splatter painting and that changed my life. I had finally understood the joy of fine arts and I was really into it. I wouldn't consider pursuing it but it's a nice hobby. It numbs my mind, I stop thinking. I'm the type of person who constantly thinks and this is the one and only fine art that does that to me.

Bonnard's Life Script

Pierre Bonnard

 I like the piece to the left because it has a serene feel to it. The way the sky is painted is interesting to me, I like the way the colors blend together. The blue water also stands out to me. The water to the right is distinctly blue but the farther left it is, the clearer it gets. Water is also something that fascinates me. I've always enjoyed water fountains and the ocean so it's no surprise to me that my eyes are drawn to the water.

The piece to the right is to my liking because it has a very child-like feel to it. It reminds me of a child's fantasy world. I believe it depicts an actual place. I wonder if the painting is of a place Bonnard was fond of at some point in his life, maybe even his childhood if he intentionally instilled this piece with a child-like feeling. All the vibrant colors reminds me of a fantasy world where everything is fun and nice. There's something comforting about it, something very warm and inviting.

I've noticed a common theme: every piece that I have chosen of Bonnard's work has water in it. I did not intentionally pick them for this reason though. The piece to the left is to my liking because I like the way the ocean is drawn. It looks almost as if two oceans are mixing together as the ocean is painted two different colors. There's so much more going on in this painting but I can't stop focusing on the water. The way the waves are drawn also fascinate me. I couldn't explain why even if I tried.

The Accidental Masterpiece: Intro

There was one part of the introduction that stuck out to me in particular. "One of his [Dr. Hick's] daughters recalled patients abandoned in the dental chair with peroxide still bubbling in their mouths." Dr. Hick was a dentist who had his own little museum full of lightbulbs. I find it absolutely amazing how someone can be so excited about their art that they completely forget everything that's going on around them, like his/her patient for example. Everyone should be just as invested in their art for this scenario to occur. That strong of a passion is something everyone should have about something. It doesn't have to be art related. Everyone should have something that they're that passionate about that they'll forget their patient in their dental chair with peroxide in their mouth or some other extreme variation of that scenario.

Myths

I find myths to be extremely interesting. Listening to two men talk about it for an hour and a half, not so interesting. Everything the two said was very insightful and true but I simply cannot engage into a film that's an interview or Q & A with monotone voices. It was pure torture especially since I like myths. The one thing that I found truly interesting was how we shouldn't merely read myths but we should experience them. That is truly powerful as anyone can read something but if you put yourself in the hero's position and imagine that's you in the same situation, suddenly everything becomes alive and it's a lot more interesting. Reading something is looking at words and not retaining them. Putting yourself inside the myth is engaging in another world and that's absolutely fascinating.

Crowdsourcing Research

Branding: Part I http://www.nbcnews.com/science/wildfires-expected-double-2050-west-warms-8C11122981?ocid=msnhp&pos=1

Each logo is very distinct from other companies’ logos yet all the logos under Google have a very similar style so they all “Google-like.” They are all kept very simple, modern, and quirky which makes the logo appealing, recognizable, and memorable. Some logos are symbolic and some are literal. So, based on this, the STAC logo should be simple and visually appealing.

http://www.behance.net/gallery/Google-Visual-Assets-Guidelines-Part-2/9084309

The icons should represent what their purpose is. For example, “liking” something would be a thumbs up, saving something would be a floppy disk, etc. This will allow the user to know what the icon is without having to scroll over it and wait for it to say what its purpose is. Ultimately, this link says that things should be easily navigable.

Branding: Part II http://www.palantir.com

“Engineering Culture”

This is very visually appealing to people, it’s colorful, friendly looking, full of pictures, both of drawings and of smiling employees so it makes you want to delve into what the program is all about and what each person does. The colors are all bright and fun. They talk about their mottos and use inspiring quotes. People aren’t exactly into reading about work but when it looks colorful, fun, and adds a hint of inspiration to keep you wondering about what life is like there, they’ll be reading.

“Life at Palantir”

They make everything sound very adventurous as they say you will make your own adventure. They describe Palantir life as very relaxed and laid back. They mention gym memberships, three luxurious meals by executive chefs, doctors, chiropractors, and showers all on the site. They mention special guest speakers for Palantir Live Night events. They don’t actually mention much about the actual JOB at Palantir. They ony mention the fun, relaxing, beneficial, interesting things. Basically whatever people want to hear/read, is there, and what they don’t, isn’t. Everything is extremely colorful, once again, the logos and texture of the page, very distinct and filled with happy faces of employees at these special relaxing events.

“What We Do”

They make their job sound like the most important one in the world. They exaggerate everything, how building their software will change the world forever, how they combat crime, stop hackers, and a bunch of other things that may or may not actually be happening. They do not mention a single negative thing they do, for one, and they make everything on this page, colorful and fun as well. It gives the effect that what they do is important, but really fun at the same time. They make everything seem really amazing and really important is the main thing I get from this page.

Crowdfunding: Part I http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/11-tips-for-crowdfunding-how-to-raise-money-from-strangers/

This website makes crowdsourcing seem very simple, easy, and fun. It gives helpful tips and out of them all, I feel knowing your target audience is the most important (besides actually pitching your idea). You can pitch your ideas all you want but if you pitch it the wrong way, no one will like it. If you’re trying to pitch something to children, it’s going to be fun, colorful, and friendly. If it’s adults you’re pitching to, it’s going to be a totally different animal. All of the other tips I feel are common sense. Pitch passionately, plan ahead, etc are things that you should know instantly but pitching appropriate to age group is something that is commonly forgotten.

http://gogetfunding.com

You don’t even have to click on a link to start feeling something on this website. The pictures and they’re little captions immediately catch you. A picture of a baby that has some disease and needs help funding an operation, an old person that needs help funding an operation, someone needs money for an abroad education program, etc. This entire page is about getting to your emotions, making you feel bad or making you feel happy and you want to help give them that happiness.

http://gogetfunding.com/project/fund-s-for-beautiful-miracle-emily

I decided to actually click on a link from the gogetfunding.com and as I predicted, was an immediate appeal to your emotions. The idea is to try to get you to feel sad or sorry for the person, and make you feel like you can do so much by donating and helping. Of course, I picked on something sadder and more serious but the other links are full of aspiring students who need an education or someone who wants to make a major movie but the point is, they make you feel powerful and that your donation will go into something productive.

Crowdfunding: Part II http://www.kickstarter.com

Colorful, full of pictures and near success kickstarter events. Each event has a picture, of course, colorful and a little caption pitching their idea. It’s not too much information so people won’t get bored, and it’s not too little that they don’t get the purpose of the event.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1835178575/the-will-of-captain-crown-a-hardboiled-pirate-comi?ref=home_spotlight

This gives you every single aspect of what your money is going into. Not a single detail of the project is left unsaid. It’s full of pictures of the project, videos of the starters and the project itself, etc. It’s essentially every way you could sell your idea all on one page.

Crowdfunding: Part III http://www.gofundme.com

I’m not very fond of this website set up. It gives you a bunch of links to click on but very little information on all of them. It tells you the project, and how many have people have raised the amount of money listed. It doesn’t make me want to click on anything. It leaves me hanging in a sense, almost as if I am going in blind, searching for a worthy cause.