Christmas

Christmas has been a blur of flu, infections and work. When I've not been ill I've been working. I'm still not fully recovered and I'm still working. Much looking forward to getting back into some graphics work though, as I have an elusive day off tomorrow and so far as I can see no terrible illness to strike!

Work

I was sent home from work the other day because I was ill. But on the up side I have handed in my digital art work (Thursday) I was quite pleased with the finished product.

I also finished my typography/illustration poster, which has been improved many times but I am happy with the finished product.

I think my work has improved in the little time that I have been on this course, I still think there is lots of room for improvement, I am really enjoying my work.

Mac

I am writing this from my very own brand new Mac. Exciting times.

Up to date

I have just completed as far as possible my digital art. I have also completed my final typography poster all ready to get it printed off. This weekend I went down south, more specifically Canterbury, Folkestone and London. I went to vist old friends from The University of Kent and went to go for a day out round London. The main place I visited in London was the Design Museum - I did intend to visit a few more places then I did but because I had spent so much time in the Design Museum there was little time left for anything else. I was fascinated by the exhibition on Terence Conran - who founded the Design Museum where it started out in the boiler house (The basement in The V&A) and is helping take it right though to its new location - The former Commonwealth Institute, which is three times bigger then its current location. He has done a large variety of projects from starting the chain stores Habitat to opening restaurants and Publishing books. After seeing this exhibition I decided to use Conran as the subject for my essay for FD102.

Live music

Just been watching some live music. Feel much better about things, it always lifts my mood. Won't be able to speak tomorrow though. Off to bed because it's been a long day. Will reflect upon my southern trip tomorrow, and the experience of the gig - electrifying.

No Sleep

I've been away since friday - a lot of travelling and a little sleep. I've been to Canterbury visiting friends and picking up old work, and I've been to London visiting the Design Museum, The Natural history Museum and The V&A. I would of liked to visit more places but alas I spent so long in the Design Museum that there was little time for much else - I even had to be picky with what I looked at in The Natural History Museum and The V&A, choosing only a few exhibitions to look at. It was all very amazing and each deserves its own post. However my sleepless brain would not yet do them justice as I have little ability to look back yet as I am catching up on work I would of done in the past few days so my mind is set firmly in the present. Tomorrow I shall look back on the experiences and document them here, which I very much look forward to, at this point I can say I very much enjoyed it and gained a lot of inspiration and the highlight of the past few days was The Design Museum. More to follow.

Old friends

Spoke to a friend yesterday - someone from my old course - Architecture. I asked how finding her placement year was going (she's in her final year now - of the part 1 - and needs to find a year placement to do part 2). She told me she doesn't want to do Architecture, it's funny how things turn out. I'm glad I'm on the course I'm on now I couldn't of done 3 years of the subject and find I didn't want to do it. At least she wants to stay within the field though (a property developer) there's some that have decided to do different things all together.

Reading really does pay

I received my feedback for my second review. I was very pleased. I felt like reading reviews has really helped - not only for the way I write and the structure, but also for inspiration on what to write next. If I read a review I find interesting and it inspires me I know that's a good subject to look at. Looking towards my next review - I'm off to London! Tickets booked - just! Very excited!

Reflection

Reflection on the week - can do better. I guess this will never change. I supose I can always do better. I wish I could improve faster I'm not sure I'm up to the same standard as everyone else. I always feel a little behind. Not enough to produce major problems but enough to make me feel as though I'm always playing catch up. I don't know if I feel this way because I am behind or because it's in my head. I know for certain I have not yet managed to plan correctly nor have I managed to document my actions correctly. I'm still not 100% on how to go about it.

Presenting

Ok, I've left it a while after the presentation because, well, I wasn't in the right mood afterwards. My hands where still shaking when I got home. I'm still not sure I'm confident with presentations. I knew a lot about the movement however I forgot some things with my nerves. I struggled to answer one of the questions which related to writings at the time and I wasn't sure what was being asked then on my way home I remembered that they where referring to the writings of Freud that the Abstract Expressionists based their ideas of getting to a higher state though doing work straight from the unconscious mind. Well safe to say I felt a little silly when I realised that I'd answered it in completely the wrong way talking about a manifesto that Rothko had written. I am not looking forward to receiving my mark, I can not even be completely sure that there was any improvement from my last presentation.