I'm just asking them questions...

I am filling out papers to study humans... never thought this day would come.

GRE revisited

I am taking the GRE again on May 28, 201l. I really do not think I did as well as I possibly could the first time. I really think it sucks that a test that has very little to do with how well you are going to do in grad school has any weight on your academic future. But since I want to eventually get my Phd and become a pretty big deal, I have to try and be as competitive as possible.

Checking In...art...grad school

 Hi, I hope everyone has has a good week so far. I've been having a good time. Recently, I started working on some linoleum block print carving. I have done the carving of three so far, no immediate plans to print them, the carving is a great way to focus my anxious mind on something. I did stab myself with a sharp tool though. I'll post pictures of the blocks themselves soon.
As far as my thesis is going, I now have three members of my committee. Professor Mindy McAdams has agreed to sit on my committee. I am so happy, I know she will be very helpful and want the best. The class she taught "New Media and Democracy" has to be one of the best classes I have ever taken. We need more classes where we examine new media the way Professor Mindy does in my department. Maybe one day she will teach an interdisciplinary class at Digital Worlds. The other members of my committee are Professor James Oliverio and Professor Ben DeVane. 

where do we go from here?

One of my professors is leaving to teach at another school. This is bittersweet. We will all miss him but it sounds like a great place for him to be. Bonne Chance!

I am wondering what to do next. Right now it seems like I want to do many things at once. I know this is impossible but their is a lot I want to achieve. I want to write more. I want to help others learn about computers and technology. I am strongly considering getting my PhD in Educational Technology because I think my creativity could be put to good use within teaching and education. More on that later!

I want to make more artwork. I would really like to go back to Penland. Penland was a great experience to have and gave me a lot of insight on what other artistic people's lives are like. I hope I can go back after I graduate. I would like to learn something within the field of textiles.

 I want to continue blogging. I really love blogging and am glad a lot more people have been visiting my site and commenting. I would love to travel more and write about that.

500th post

I don't really have a reason to post, this is more of a "state of the fran" type thing.  So, hi! I'm alive.

This week is the break week between spring classes and summer. I'm glad to have a chance to relax and not have to think about school quite so much.  I plan to go to the gym every day it is open. It's already getting too hot to play outside so maybe I will swim. Oh and catch up on my endless reading of various blogs. Right now I'm into you grow girl. Container gardening is something I'm into.

My birthday is this week.  Wednesday to be exact. I have no plans.

Thank you for reading!

I told him to stay off the juice

I wish I could say that these pictures were taken after a night of heavy drinking. The boyfriend and I are going stir crazy before final projects are due. I made the mistake of opening photobooth. Did you know caffeine induced psychosis is a real thing? Andyoucandrinktoomuchcoffee? Meh.

if only their were two of me....i could get all this work done faster

Apologies for not writing much, I have been in final project mode. April 30th cannot come fast enough! I'm looking forward to a little break.

oh no! I'm old.

I turn 25 on May 5th.  In some ways I feel very old, in other ways I feel so green. Mostly I'm thankful I have put my teenage years past me. I'm shocked most of us survive! Above is a detail from my backpack. I embroidered on the pattern and sewed on some beads. I guess you can't feel too old if you still have to carry a backpack to school.

suburban fantasies

I'm an academic. I didn't plan on it, it just seems to be the way things are going. To be gainfully employed doing things I would enjoy almost always requires degrees beyond an undergraduate one. Whether I want to paint or research the newest social media tools, the world listens (and pays) much better if you go to grad school. This is not a particularly disheartening thing to me because I happen to LOVE SCHOOL. I'm a dork about it. I love researching things. I love reading. I love class discussions. I'm happy to contribute. I even like going to the freaking computer lab. The idea of going on to getting a Phd gets me giddy.

But a part of me fantasizes about working on an organic farm or raising alpacas for their wool. Academia is a lot of things- stimulating, engrossing, challenging - but it doesn't have quite same romantic appeal as say beekeeper or weaver. And yes, I'm aware that these sort of occupations aren't glamorous and would literally work you to the bone but isn't it nice to think about an alternate life once in awhile?

In the mean time I'm working on my homework and growing a few herbs in pots. So far I have some small parsley and thyme plants. I just planted some basil and oregano. And I have some bee balm just in case some honeybees want to come visit. I'd welcome it.

keep going, take two lefts

I'm at school right now. I am sitting in Digital Worlds, at a table in the the REVE. I may or may not be descending into madness.

Apparently some event for the college of education is taking place. This is fine except that I'm supposed to be working right now. I'm graduate assistant, which is sort of like being an indentured servant. They give me a tuition waiver (actually a partial tuition waiver) and a pittance to live on. In exchange for this, I am supposed to give them work.  Simple concept right?

But, the higher ups are either too busy or do not care to give me any actual work.  I have had exactly one project this whole semester. I completed it and emailed about it - it's supposed to be reviewed for me to go on to the next step. That was two months ago.

The old me would have exploited this system to no end. Why should I care if their projects don't get done? But, I honestly feel bad that I am sitting here blogging and reading gawker. I want to contribute. I offer. I try to ask questions and help. I make cups of tea and wait. I stay here with my laptop and textbooks until my scheduled work time is over.

Hopefully soon I'll be given more challenging work. Until then I'll be resisting the urge to watch hulu or download more epsiodes of Law & Order:SVU.

rant

I'm really annoyed by school right now. I'm sort of angry and frustrated.

I feel like I am trying really hard to get good work done but am not getting there as fast as I would like to. I am also annoyed that I don't think others are putting in the work. If we are supposed to be working cooperatively and giving each other feedback we are only as strong as our weakest link. I don't know. It is really uninspiring.

I feal like maybe I made the wrong decision to pursue my MA in DAS. I like the things I'm learning but maybe this is the wrong program?

last day in paradise

I really love South Florida. More and more I'm thinking that it might be where I want to live and have a career.  The only drawback is that I cannot get my PhD here in what I want to, their doesnt seem to be any program that is what I want. New Media studies has a lot fewer programs around compared to other grad programs. But after that - who knows? I love Fort Lauderdale and I am obsessed with the beach.

GRE studying

This month I am studying for the GRE. The best part is reviewing the vocabulary.

So far my favorite words are:


antediluvian
craven
saturnine
amalgamate
arabesque

a work in progress

Hi all.

I'm deep in grad school applications. So I'm working on my statement, getting together my art, hounding my professors for letters of rec, and being a crazy person. The artwork is keeping me sane.

Still, I am loving this new series of paintings.

I've got more pictures up on flickr.

And I'm rocking out my Myspace.

What are you going to do with that?

Below is the first in a series of pieces I'm writing on my current development as an artist. Wow, that sounds very official. I'm going to write about the challenges as well as the triumphs.
I always get the same questions from people. The first is the title of this post. The second is:

How do you make money as an artist?

The short answer is: you don't.

But, I am never one for the short answer.

First, you have to have a short history lesson on me as an artist. I loved crayons as a child but my mom would not let me play with them inside the house. My parents also did not let me paint my room the crazy colors I wanted. This sparked an obsession with color. I did AP and IB art in high school. I graduated from the University of Florida with my BFA in Fine Arts this past May. For better or worse, I am forever a Gator. My concentration was Painting. I did a lot of crazy things that will be recounted later but it was mostly a great experience. I also went ahead and got minors in English and Art History. So, I am at the point where I am like, what now?

I knew I did not want to go straight into graduate school in the fall. The art grad students that I learned the most from all seemed to have taken off some time from school. Plus, I just did not feel ready. I decided to take a year off and live in Gainesville. The goal is to stay creative and not starve. It is mostly working out.

I know I'm facing a lot of challenges. I live in Gainesville, Florida. I love Gainesville. It's a city with real character. But it's not New York City, Los Angeles, or Miami. There are just less opportunities for a wide audience to see my artwork. Another challenge is one pretty much all artists will identify with- a lack of funding. I simply do not have the savings to just sit at home and paint.

But for all of the things stacked against me, I have some great things going. My parents are very supportive and encouraging. If you have that you are really lucky. The painting and drawing alumni in my school have a listserv. So, I hear about show openings, job offers, and other opportunities. I recommend everyone just about to go to school to make sure you have something similar. If you do not have it, set it up yourself! It's easy.

Well, you are probably wondering, what is she doing for money then? Well, art is not paying the bills yet. I have what most creative types have: a day job. Right now I work in an office. Soon I'm going to be doing some work for my family. That and working on graduate school applications is going to take up most of October. Stay tuned.

running amok

Okay, lots of people have been asking me exactly what I am up to these days. For the short answer please read the title of this post. For the long answer please keep reading. I'm writing this on my break and it's been a busy day so this is short!

My life now:
1. I have a real job. I work on campus for the Nanoscale Research Facility. My official title is Receptionist but I actually do a lot, closer to being Assistant Manager. I coordinate tours of the building and I am learning how to authorize spending. We are in the process of buying equipment and machines that can be a couple million dollars EACH so it's a big job. I like it.
2. I am still an artist. I still paint and am still incredibly serious. I am actually looking at the business side of art as well. Right now I am working on an embroidered art piece, it's the same one I mentioned a few days ago.
3. I'm looking at grad schools. I plan to apply this winter to hopefully get in somewhere that next fall.
4. I am moving to New York. I am really only interested in living in New York City. It's cliche, but I love that place. Unless I fall in love with a school that is not there. If I do not get into art school there I will be still moving there and working. So, I'm saving money and trying to establish connections there.