A Bit More Than "Arts and Crafts"

I've always liked art. I have always thoroughly enjoyed art museums or galleries and seeing famous and local works of art. I went to Florence over the summer, the location of Renaissance art and fabulous Italian culture. So maybe you can imagine all the classic and modern artworks that surrounded the area. Plus this year I started getting back into art classes and putting some creativity of mine to use. I'm not saying I want to be a famous sculptor or painter, but perhaps I can do something just as meaningful. I aim to please, you see, and if I can't do that through birthday cards and gifts, maybe I could through designing logos and managing advertisements.

For my career project, I looked into graphic design, a very important field since we are constantly surrounded by various forms of graphic design and order. Recently my friend told me that he had met a graphic designer at his work, an he said that it was difficult finding a job after college, but I wasn't going to let that discourage me. After doing some research, I came to realize that many qualities that a graphic designer must have are such that I have admired and appreciated for a while. Graphic designers are hard working and flexible with their work. Now I wouldn't say that I am always hard working or flexible, but when it comes down to art I am.

As some of my sixth period peers already know, I mentioned that I used to make (and still do) elaborate birthday cards and decorated gifts. Every card I have made has been unique and different from the last, and I always put a ton of effort into it. I put in several hours of my time to sketching and writing out these cards and drawings, which would normally delay my sleeping schedule severely, but I wouldn't mind. I think that drawing with various typography styles as an outlet of my creativity really helped me mature, as well. All the hours spent alone in my room past midnight gave me much time to think and plan out my ideas and even my future (as ridiculous as that sounds). I was able to experiment with different artistic concepts, and I've discovered a few abilities I didn't know I had. The reason why I have always made a huge effort to satisfy others through my home-made and personalized cards is because I like to see what others think. I'd like to believe that I am open-minded, so I am always eager to hear what people have to say about my little presents once given to them. Especially when they are excited and express joy when they receive them; those reactions are the best types!

What many people don't realize is that a bunch of the cards have secret meanings behind them. Little details I add on either display inside jokes or fond memories. I am proud of myself for the ability to add more depth to drawings and doodles then what the eye can see. And I believe that reflects myself; I try to say or show certain things that would make others think twice and look beyond the surface of ideas. That is what a graphic designer is like. They work to advertise an idea or a product or even a company, in a creative yet memorable way, and in ways where you would look back and be surprised at what wasn't noticed before.

I've been in this corny little card-making habit for years, the earliest I can remember was being ten years old. I started creating posters and working the Paint program on the computer in celebration of my family's birthdays or my parents' anniversaries. As I got older and became immersed into different cultural ideas and styles, my little scrap drawings greatly improved (at least I like to think that they did). And since then I continue to make improvised illustrations and furthermore expand my creativity levels through drawing and sketching. Whether I do that through an art class project or an anniversary gift, I love to express myself by this unknowingly recognized form of art. I hope one day I can have a job maybe similar to this, so I can still be artsy yet maintain and improve my other abilities as well.