"People who draw learned to draw by drawing."

I was trying to cut this message down to the Tweet limit, but my personal history and attitude towards this subject would not allow it.

How to improve upon the average public school kid: Make the art class just as important as every other subject— and treat it as such. The general idea of art is that you're born with it. It's a one time deal. If the kid doesn't take, just allow them to keep producing crap on their own and give them an A for making marks on paper. It wasn't until I hit college did I truly learn to do anything. I was a Fine Art AP class high school student-thing. My figure drawings were mutant people. No one spoke about form or colour... it was just, here's a brush, water colour set— go.

School:
I have taken countless math courses. Every year, in fact, until junior year of high school. My brain and I just wouldn't have it. No absorption there, with the exception of a bit of geometry (Ooh, shapes) and a bit of 3rd grade (flash cards, ooh printed material, 80lb paper with a glossy finish).

I can eat, walk in a straight line, comb my hair and a number of human activities.
This is what my public school has done to me. They made me think I would be a useless hooligan, wandering the suburban streets if I had not taken my future as an accountant seriously. But hell, I wasn't a great student anyway. I actually became a dedicated cheater. Whether the smart kid next to me knew about it, I would get those answers on my sheet.
And this is where art forced my eyes to my own paper.
You can't copy art. Well, you can, but you say that you've been inspired by Picasso or Vermeer, not the person sitting at your table. You also copy the masters to learn how to make art.

You can't copy personal experience, brushstroke or the emotion put into it. My eyes kept to my canvas, and I owe it to art to where I am today. Lucky, compared to the majority of my high school graduating class, who have been pregnant, are pregnant or are going to be pregnant soon. Who feel that they have to exploit their bodies to survive or feed their over-indulgent financial habits. And to those who considered themselves recreational drug users in school, now, haven't lifted a finger to rehabilitate or better their lives. Also, I am fortunate to realize their education system hindered my skills that could have been nurtured, crushed my self-esteem and showed that sport deserved more attention and financial aid. I'm sure that television screen in the football stadium changed lives, and I'm certain those athletes will all become professionals with an expiration date around 34 years old.

A Good Friday, Indeed

I've decided to take a break from panic mode to write about how grateful I am today.

A Friday morning that started with a sun was extremely welcomed after weeks of dreary, cold, windy and down right muggy crap weather. But the sun alone did not single out this glorious day.

Since I still remain confused about my career, a friend and I decided to get as many creative directors and copywriters in front of us. Thus far, two wonderful people from local agencies and one freelance copywriter was kind enough to offer answers to our notebooks beaming with questions.

Along with the questions, we would offer each person a packet of portfolio samples with a casual staple in the top left corner. As I slid my mini portfolio across the desk today, I couldn't help but feel more anxious than usual. It's not an interview, what have I to worry about? I spent 5 minutes throwing the campaigns together, I've been through plenty of critiques.
My skin is thick.

After a grin or two, he flipped to the cover page once more and looked up at me.
I bit my tongue.

"This is impressive."

"This is the same caliber as people who have been in the business for years."

"Thank you." I bit my tongue again to keep my legs from springing up.


As for current gratefulness, I am grateful for grateful clients.
It is an intoxicating feeling when a client emails you about the great job you're doing. Considering about 78.5% of the time, clients don't like a certain blue, keep changing their minds and ideas. Good news reassures that you are, in fact, not a design impostor and should be cast out.

A word on keeping your foot down

It's not my nature to allow (mentally) abusive friendships to go further than a few insults. I've had a boyfriend to teach me that valuable lesson several years ago. So when I hear gruesome tales of unfortunate conversation or interaction, I can't help but feel the need to strap on my boxing gloves and have a go at the perpetrator's face. One doesn't need to surround themselves with crap to feel fulfilled. It seems obvious that you'll just become full of shit yourself. All the while, you may have an occasional laugh or a jolly ol' time watching the mall walkers, the exaggerated judgements passed upon your music taste or the color of your hair should not be tolerated.

1. Back out of the room slowly, but firmly.Breaking up with a friend is awkward. Though you didn't see each other naked, running into them might be worse than seeing an ex.
Shit, I'm starting to sound like cosmavogue.

2. Communication BreakdownNot that anyone calls anymore— but just don't do that. And texting, hell no. The problem with texting is that it's too damn simple. You can compose a text on the toilet, in your sleep, the shower, driving, eating, drinking...
Let's just get that contact out of the phone altogether.
Oh and social media, what a disaster. You can concoct a dossier based on your grandma's facebook page. Although it is amusing to watch people over-expose themselves to the internet.

3. The Last StandListen, I don't think we should hang out anymore. I've sent this through facebook before. I wasn't especially fond of the person, so I didn't feel a scrap of indignity.