White Rabbit Syndrome
Drawing Structure and Expression II:
We started and finished a two session drawing. Gabe allowed us to stray from pastels because the composition was so complex. Instead of drawing one model, we had two. I chose charcoal, which I hadn’t used since freshman year. It was a bit difficult to get started because we didn’t do any gesture drawing, and being a bit rusty with the charcoal didn’t help matters. I couldn’t be as methodical as usual and ended up just reacting more with the medium. While I have not yet been able to photograph my earlier drawings, I did take two shots to show process and will upload them as soon as I can.
Note: my photography skills are pretty bad, but well, here they are…
Advanced Painting:
Last week, I complained that I wasted six hours of my life. As per usual, my peers and professor disagreed. This time, I concur. A week provided some emotional distance. When I put it up, I found out my composition wasn’t as stiff as all my other paintings. I think they were stiff because I was planning them all out and being too methodical about it. With that one, it was completely improv and I had to work with whatever accident I created. Linda liked it. She said the piece was much fresher, though she said I should hold off forcing representations.
So, for last week, I used the acrylic to do an under painting. As I mentioned before, the Water Mixables I had weren’t doing what I wanted them to. I wanted to be able to drip and splatter my paint. The Acrylics mixed with mate medium, retarder, and the occasional use of water did. I sort of imitated Pollock a bit, just playing with the paint. I used a lot of red and water at first, picked up the entire board, and let the excess drip off the board. I let myself play with the paint and made an absolute mess. Starting thinking about fire and added a lot of yellow and orange. Then I strayed from fire and ended up imitating the pattern on one of the fluorescent lights above my head. Eventually, it turned into yet another cave interior. This one is much more dynamic than the last, though, and progress is progress, even if I’m not allowed to really have any control of it. As per usual, the right side of my brain just won’t conform to the desires of the left.
Ideas of Western Art II:
We had a museum trip this week. I was late (I hate being late) and missed the Rococo part of the lecture because I didn’t leave my English class early enough. I ended up choosing Courbet’s “The Quarry” and pumped the rough draft out the same day I took notes (this is unusual for me). However, I have seven papers total hanging over my head (the museum paper for this week, the museum paper for next week, rewriting the research paper statement, the research paper itself, my English essay, and my social ethics paper) before the end of the semester. So it’s pretty much Alice in Wonderland White Rabbit Syndrome.
English Literature II:
My English Professor was irritated I had to miss his class. I can’t blame him: I wanted to be there for the analysis of The Prophet’s Hair (it was really really cool; read like Arabian Nights and the ending is fantastic)-and now I’m stuck with second hand notes. Worse, with my luck, it will be on the final. Anyway, I fortunately have the luxury of going on the next museum trip on either Tuesday or Thursday of next week. Tuesday in English we’re going over outlines, and both of us agreed that would be the best day, attendance wise, so I (hopefully) won’t miss anything else important.
Social Ethics:
We discussed Capital Punishment a bit more and finished Nicomachean Ethics. I still have to use the text in my Aristotle Lab, but now I’m free to write about anything that strikes me instead of answering certain questions. As for the Presentation, I just barely managed to squeak mine into the 27th. If I hadn’t, I would have been presenting this coming Tuesday, and that would have meant trying to write three papers during the same weekend as my brother’s birthday (which is impossible, I never get work done when I go home to my family). I’m going to focus on Euthanasia as a topic. After discussing Capital Punishment, discussing mercy killings shouldn’t be too difficult and everyone will be in the right mind set for it. Plus, I’m honestly curious. Also, Professor Fried told us to treat the presentation like a work shop because the class will be discussing it and the paper should come after. Anyway, I’ve printed out about eight or nine articles to read over in preparation. I should have plenty of time if I’m careful.
Apartment Hunting:
After looking at one expensive apartment on Boylston, I finally had enough. I picked up the phone and finally called a realtor. I told him what I was looking for and asked to see everything they had to offer that fit that description. On Monday we spent most of the day on Beacon Hill. My roommate liked this; she’s not a Nesad student and would prefer to stay close to campus. I found it a complete waste of time. It was the same exact street I lived on during freshman year and I had no desire to go back to it. I left because the commute was too long and towards the end I had to start dealing with mice. Clearly, the mice were still an issue because I found a loaded mouse trap in one of the apartments we were looking at. Considering my roommates severe allergies, I doubt she’d want to live there either. Also, we only looked at one apartment in Back Bay; that one seemed nice but I wasn’t sold. The Saturday after next we’re going to head up to North end. Before that, I should call and ask if they had anything else in Back Bay. Things aren’t looking good from a time stand point. My roommate has to fly back to New York, so she needs to find something by the beginning of May before the term ends. So far, I haven’t seen anything I want and I don’t want to be pressured to settle.
Summer Classes:
I tried to order books for both my Chemistry class and the Art on the Silk Road (?). I found neither in the Suffolk Book store. This was extremely unusual. Luckily, I happen to have Afsan for the latter class. According to her, the books aren’t up because not enough people are enrolled in the class, meaning that it might get canceled. Which is bad. Very bad. I want to get these classes done with. I have to in order to obtain my creative writing minor. And I still have not set up an appointment to discuss it with an English advisor. Crap. I guess I should go talk to Audrey, see if she can do anything…
Mar
25
By kalemoine
Creative Writing Minor?
Category: Uncategorized Tags: creative writing, drawing, midterms, minor, oscar wilde, painting, paper, robert brown, voltaire, WAIT COMMENTS?! 6 Comments
Drawing Expression and Structure:
Monday’s class was an exploration day. Gabe decided it would be best to do something that wasn’t too taxing. This was good for me because I spent the previous night at a concert (Voltaire was in town, how could I resist?). I had debated coming in. When I woke up and found I plenty of time to get ready for class, I thought “what the heck” and came in. Completed a small pencil drawing and focused on changing my composition from my previous drawings. On Wednesday, when we set up for a two class session, it influenced the drawing I started. I also forced myself to pick my color palette. This had slightly disastrous results-I sketched in a very light color and couldn’t find a dark to compliment it. Gabe had me use black ink which salvaged it.
Advanced Painting:
My midterm is tomorrow. Last Friday I tried to fix my five paintings. Susan Nitcher came in and tried to help me since Linda was sick. It was one of those brick wall days and I couldn’t summon the energy to take any chances. Needless to say, I’m not enthusiastic about the midterm. I feel like I can’t paint.
Western Art II:
I thought our midterm was going to be today, so I had the shock of my life on Tuesday when I found I was mistaken. I took the thing without studying and didn’t do well. See? This is what I get for procrastinating. Luckily, I can raise my grade with an extra credit paper, so I plan on heading to the MFA (Museum of Fine Arts) and picking one of the Durer pieces that is currently being shown.
Also, we presented our themes and thesis statements for our research papers. Mine’s on violence, it honors or condemns, and if this changes chronologically. Perla and I are going to make a day trip on Sunday and visit both the MFA and the Gardner museum nearby.
English Literature II:
Just finished Robert Browning and moved onto Forester. The Victorian era segment is over and we’re moved into modern era. Forester was a satisfying read. Now I’ve got to deal with Virginia Wolf (her writing isn’t agreeing with me; too windy so far). Also-that paper I failed-I aced it. It’s a relief yet a curse. I won’t argue with a good grade, but seriously, I want to grab the man and shake him. I thought I contradicted everything he said! Gah!
Social Ethics:
Fun times with Aristotle. Turns out our labs aren’t due until next week. This good considering that gives me time to consider the feedback on the proposals he passed back. We also attended a lecture on political forgiveness. I was annoyed because there seemed to be way too many exceptions for the concept to work. Seems like it should also be apart of Justice: like a subcategory or something. Right now, I’m reading book eight which is on friendship. Interesting, though I’m sure he’s going to assign more than that. He still hasn’t sent us our homework yet. Getting homework via email two days after class is still ticking off, but hey what can you do?
Apartment Hunting:
I’ve acquired a roommate and she’s pretty much calling all the realtors. This makes me feel bad, but this has also been the worst week back ever. I keep trying to get ahead on assignments and end up falling backward. “We lay waste our powers”-it’s this line by one of the poems I read this year-I think Wordsworth-and I can’t get it out of my head. Anyway, it’s her first time looking (the girl I’m rooming with is a freshman trying to escape the dorms). I don’t like the fact that I’m not doing anything. I suggested we take a look at a place in Symphony but I’m not sure if she’ll bite. It might be too far away.
Minor:
Um-yeah, I’ve decided to declare a creative writing minor officially. I’ve decided to do this despite the fact that it might make me take an extra semester. I’m also going to take an art history class and Chem 101 in the summer (I’ve talked about this right?). I forgot to register for the Lab though and did it this morning. Worried for nothing. Piece of cake. Anyway, headed to Fenton and talked to Andrew in the English Department. He’s given me contact information, so I’ve got to shoot an email and see if this guy (Whitman? Something like that) will set up an appointment with me.
Part of me can’t believe this and thinks it’s a bonehead move (This is the same part that things going for an art major wasn’t a good idea. Yet here I am). I can’t agree with it. This feels like a necessary risk, and if I’m going to progress with my writing I need some training. However, I keep thinking I’m not going to be able to find a job. I mean, how much need does society have for a fine artist? Or a writer? Have you seen Barnes and Noble? We’re like a dime a dozen, and Oscar Wilde even states that “All art is useless”.
But do I need to be useful? Bread money would be fantastic and I’m freaking out thinking there won’t be any, yet, if I turn my back on this I feel like I’m going to be miserable. I’m terrible at math and proficient at science… I’d like to be useful. It would have been awesome if I had the potential to be a doctor or lawyer, but I don’t have that kind of ability. Nor does it entice me. This is what I’ve got, so I’ll run with it. If it turns out to be a mistake, it will have been a necessary one.
Edit: I just looked at my spam folder and found about fourteen comments that I didn’t even know existed. 0_o Holy crap! Um-sorry about that guys. Also, thanks for your feed back.