If you know me, you might say I'm a quitter. I'm not [that] ashamed to admit that you're probably a little right. I'm the least competitive person that I know, so when something isn't working out for me... well... I tend to quit (if only that applied in my relationships, but I guess that's another post). According to my track record, my failure in art should've been the end of my dream of being a designer, but I'm happy to report that I'm still just as determined as I was back in my high school yearbook editor days. This must mean I'm onto something... even if it's taking a little longer than expected.
I've been really lucky to have had the opportunity to flex my creativity in my job lately (reports, infographics, what-have-you). It's been fun and it feels really good to be creative again. Better yet, I've been finding it to be a good release in this semi-muddled time in my life.
So, I've decided to make it a point to turn this design thing into a distraction from other less desirable things happening around me right now. I signed up for online Skillshare classes, hoping to get a little more formal training in things like InDesign, Illustrator, typography, and the general process of creating. I'm making it a goal to do at least two classes every week. Tonight was my first.
It was a class on creating visual narratives with designer Debbie Millman. She was explaining the process of turning written word (i.e. journal passages) into pieces of art through things like collage and other fun, simple mediums. There was a section in her class called "Editing Your Story". I was taking little notes here and there - mostly jotting down artists to look up, books to read - and I found myself surprised to just start naturally jotting down her steps to editing. As I was writing them, I was struck by how perfectly these steps to editing pieces of art fit into editing and rearranging parts of life. Maybe I sound like I've been hanging out in Portland too long... Maybe. But seriously. Check it out:
- "Edit out the first paragraph" - This one is my favorite step. She's talking about journaling, and how your first paragraph is honestly, probably, pretty lame. It gives the story away. If you're creating art, you want to be left with a little bit of mystery, question. By taking out the introduction, the explanation of the who/what/where/when/how, you jump into the why. I think I've been lingering in the "first paragraph" for a little too long, acknowledging what's happening, but just brushing the surface of it and making snap judgments. I think it's time to dive into those meaty middle paragraphs (I promise this is not turning into a 50 Shades of Grey scene...what?).
- "Don't make excuses for yourself in your writing" - I do this a lot in my journaling. It's like I have to justify my actions to the person reading it - which, fingers crossed, is just me. This shouldn't happen in life, either. You are behind every decision you make. Own up to it.
- "Tell the truth" - Your art should be relatable to others. You don't want a piece of art that you can't feel a connection with. I fear the truth a lot, afraid I'll hurt somebody mostly. But you can't be a real human by constantly avoiding the truth. And no one wants to be friends with a not real human.
- "Find humor in the absurd" - Yes. Yes yes yes.
- "Don't be so hard on yourself" - If you're being truthful, then you're relating to others, and chances are that your reader has gone through the same thing you're vulnerably saying in your piece. Don't be ashamed of your experiences; we're all going through it together.
Maybe this won't make sense to anyone but me, but that's alright. Maybe I'm being a little selfish here. It was something that made me smile after a long, hard day, and heyhey - that's the reason I come here. To remind myself of moments like that. And to reflect. And if all goes well, maybe make sense to one or two of you out there. Here's to design!
As promised: welp g2g
