I have so many new artists backed up to share with you guys. Will I ever get them all posted? Who knows. Without school, I've had more time to look into current design again (the irony isn't lost on me), and it's been so inspiring! Call me a nerd, but I swear, there's nothing more relaxing or invigorating than discovering good design. It's for discoveries such as these that the internet becomes my most generous ally. I picked one of the lesser known artists to post first. I actually just bumped into his work a few weeks ago myself, so I'm as new as you.

Jonas Bruntenbruch stands out to me for two little words: daily design. This concept is beaten into us at SCAD, but very few learn to accept or follow it (if you're a SCAD reader: TAKE JOHN WATERS; he teaches this concept brilliantly). In the words of my Vector Raster professor this quarter, "being a designer is a twenty-four seven job; we never punch out, we never stop taking in concepts and ideas." I couldn't agree more. It's my belief that good design doesn't come from fancy degrees or expensive educations, but the lesson of learning how to view the world with a creative approach. Our art should be a reflection of everything we've learned, everything we know, everything we see. That's why it's so important that artists stay awake--truly awake--to take in the intricate world around them. We have to be aware of everything from Glaser's famous posters to wood grain to the color of the back of our eyelids when hit by direct light. It all adds up; it all counts.

( WHAT JONAS HAS NICKNAMED CREATIVE MASTURBATION )

Outside of kick-ass designers, Apple's running their "buy a Mac and get a free iPod" deal again. Guh, I want that new iMac (and the touch; oh, touch, how I would touch you all over) so bad, it keeps chanting wantwantwant in my brain... but I want my trip to Maine even more. Shiny gadgets will have to wait their turn. So will that third season of The 4400 and Newton Faulker's full CD.


p.s. Listening to Imogen's 'Just For Now' live version is my most cherished and common spiritual experience.

p.p.s. EDIT: I almost forgot the most awkward moment of my day today: There was an ADT guy at the apartment installing our new security system this afternoon. As I'm signing the twelve hundredth form so he can finally leave (he was there for FIVE hours), he looks up at the wall over our kitchen table and goes, "Who's that?" I follow his eyes to the 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper where Robert SexAss Pattinson is staring down at us in all his pixel-y, printed glory. My response: "Ah... ha ha ha... our celebrity crush..." This was followed by an extended period of silence while they both continued to stare me down. MY ADVICE TO YOU: do not hang a giant photo of RPattz in your kitchen unless you are prepared to be questioned and/or judged. Lesson learned.

Christmas is now officially gone at Apartment B. We've packed away the snowflakes, stuffed the tree back into a box, and stole all the hooks from the ornaments. I do realize we probably should have carried out this process, oh, you know, back in late December, but it doesn't matter. It's over now.

I've never been one to get on LJ the day of Christmas and make a gigantic inventory list of everything I received, but this year I can't help but brag about one of my lovely gifts (not that it is anymore lovely than the rest, they were all special (thank you, thank you!)).

( The Lost Key )

It's in a beautiful driftwood frame, hanging over my studio table.

I started all my new classes last week. This quarter I'm in History of Graphic Design, Typography I, and Fiction Writing I (yes, that's right, I've finally finished all the pre-req's and started my minor). It's nice to be back, but the studio work is already insane, and I'm only a week in. I'll be a busy bee, there's no doubting that...


p.s. Bet you can't beat this:

79 words

Touch Typing