Keep Working

In Chapter 10 of Steal Like an Artist I was reminded of the importance of working hard but still creatively. When creative work comes limitations mean freedom. There are no limitations. Do what you feel is right and what you like to do with the materials you are provided with. There shouldn't be excuses for not trying something out. Constraints can help you be creative by pushing you to develop something bigger starting with something smaller. For example, Dr. Seuss initially wrote The Cat and The Hat with 236 words. He was constrained by his editor to write it in 50 words and that lead to one of the most popular children's book of all time. Sometimes being constrained helps us get our point and work across better. 

Editing photography with cool effects has been something I wanted to do. This was a test shot for my project 4 collaboration. I was only given one photograph so I decided to add fire to each hand to give a surreal superhero look.

Be Active

In chapter 9 of Steal Like An Artist, the author Austin Kleon talks about the importance of staying active. He also talks about staying out of debt and enjoying the job you do. It also talks about the importance of marrying well. A good partner motivates you and believes that you can accomplish any goal you set your mind to. Throughout my routine I like to stay very active. Its also very repetitive but its also because I'm pursuing long term goals that I've set up. From the time I wake up at 5:30am I am already active. I head to my job at a large factory called Libman. Yes it isn't the greatest job because the pay isn't what I want but I am also a part-timer and it has its benefits. I like to look at the positives in every situation because in truth, it could always be worse. For example, the job works around my school schedule every semester so when I have class I can clock-out earlier. However, when I don't have class I am there until 3:30pm. As soon as I leave work I head home and change to gym apparel. At this point I'm very exhausted but I motivate myself at times by watching motivational videos, or looking at gym memes. I leave the gym around 6:30 and head home to eat, shower, and work on homework or projects. Usually the only free time that I have is the weekend, but even then I still try to maintain an active life. I don't like to stay in and nap all the time because I feel like once I start doing that I find it harder to go back to my routine. I think an active routine benefits greatly. It lets the mind be more active as well and its also better for your health. I don't currently have a calendar to keep organized but I think its something to explore from reading the book. I think being orderly helps being creative because it gives you time to think ahead at what coming and reminds you to keep an open mind. I think a log book can help be more creative by looking back on past events that occurred that helped your mind develop ideas. For example, if you found a book, site, or even a place that inspired you, it would be a good idea to write it in your logbook to look back on. I don't have a logbook currently but I will use it for the week and add it to my next homework assignment.

Make Friends Ignore Enemies

In chapter 8 of Steal Like An Artist I was reminded of the importance of surrounding yourself with positive people. The type of people that you look up to and want to learn from. It is important to surround yourself with these people in order to grow and become better. Many people find themselves getting hurt with negative comments and we should learn to ignore and erase those from our lives. Its important to use your energy on your work instead of trying to please someone else that feeds off of negativity. If you focus on the positive comments your work will benefit. You will develop more confidence and find yourself too busy to care about the negative comments. This chapter talks a lot about the difference between what people would say in person to online. Many people can be twice as hurtful online so it is important to be able to block out those naysayers. Following positive people can help your creativity. It can lead people to be inspired by what they have done. They will serve as role models to you and you will benefit from following them. I follow many positive people such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Will Smith, and Cristiano Ronaldo to name a few. These people share many positive stories of what hard work and dedication does. I think that is important when scrolling through a news feed on Facebook for example, coming across a positive post makes a big impact. It gets the mind thinking and sparks motivation.

Letter:

Dear Mr. Ronaldo,

I am writing this letter to thank you for the positive impact that you have had in my life. I greatly look up to you because of your hard work and determination. I strongly admire that you started from struggling in a small neighborhood to becoming the best soccer player in the world for 3 years. It shows great determination and inspires me. I appreciate all the good stories and posts you share. They are a good reminder of what you can become with hard work and dedication. Thank you for being a good role model and having a positive impact in my life.

Thanks,

Homero Garza

Cristiano Ronaldo

Go Out, Explore

In chapter 7 of Steal Like An Artist I was reminded of the importance of being out and doing things. I was reminded that what we choose to do and where we choose to be at has a huge impact on the work we do. Traveling and keeping an open mind is something designers need. You need to revolve yourself around new things, new ideas, new people, and new surroundings in order to get inspired. If you are stuck in one place all day you will find it difficult to develop inspiration or motivation to even do something. Although sometimes you can help it due to weather and you must stay inside your home it is still important to be productive when staying home. One of the good things nowadays is that you can communicate with people without even having to leave your home. It is still though important to go out and explore. When the author says, "the brain gets too comfortable in your everyday surroundings", he means that the brain gets too used to what you do and see everyday that you find it difficult to find creativity sometimes. It is good to make your brain uncomfortable, surround it with new things, that is the best way to develop new ideas. Surround yourself with old things and you'll only get reminded of old things. However if you surround yourself with innovation then your creativity will expand. Another good thing to surround yourself around is interesting people. It helps to live around people that are motivated and drive to succeed. If you surround yourself with people who aren't very interesting most of the time you aren't going to have such an interesting life. 

Pricing Estimating & Budgeting - Theo Stephan Williams

This book has great tips about charging for your work correctly. It is important to know what to do once you created a design or when you are about to start a job so analyzing what others charge and the amount of time and work you are going to be doing is important. This book is a great way to learn about how to handle hourly pay. The book also gives good tips on talking to clients about budgets and giving them and estimate that wont scare them away to another designer. I think if you are going to be a freelancer this book would be a great read!

Research

Barcelona Festival

Fitness banner

Motion Theatre Ad

Kinetic Fashion Festival

Share Good Work

In Chapter 6 of Steal Like An Artist I gathered many important points that the author brought up that I can agree with. First things first I agree that college is a great way to have a captive audience. Soon after college and depending on the job you take, we will be learn that we don't always have so many opinions and people to rely on when editing work. School is a great way to gather ideas from others and learn other peoples processes. I agree that sometimes its beneficial not to have such an audience after school until you develop great work. You want people to see your work and pay attention to you when you're developing things people are jealous of. Once you start sharing those good works your network will grow much more. Another point that I can agree with is that sharing your stuff on the internet is beneficial. The more you share your passions the more people will feel closer to your work and your name will become memorable. 

I think that the internet is a great place for ideas. The author Austin Kleon writes that it can be an incubator for ideas. I think that what the author is trying to say is that its okay to copy other peoples ideas. That the internet is a great source for developing work inspired by things people have shared in the past. When the author says that having a public online presence can be a kick in the pants I think he means that it can be a way of knowing if your designs have evolved based on peoples comments. These comments can sometimes be nice and sometimes be bad. Many times though, they serve as a way of finding what people prefer and what you still need to work on.

BLOG: Homero Design 

Other Work is Important

In Chapter 5 of Steal Like an Artist, the author states many important tips that I agree with regarding procrastination. I think for a designer it is important to procrastinate in order to develop ideas. When one pushes something aside they give themselves time to think things through, that is where ideas can spark. When I find myself being bored doing nothing, such as when I'm about to go to bed and I struggle to fall asleep, I find myself generating ideas. In that moment I find myself thinking of ways I could improve, which is also a reason I think I find it hard to fall asleep so quick. I think finding a time to do nothing and be just bored gives you the time to just focus on one thing. In the chapter the author mentions practicing productive procrastination. I think that doing nothing but thinking falls into that category. Another point that I got out of the chapter is the importance of having multiple hobbies. Hobbies are things that make you feel happy, its something that gives and doesn't take. Some of my hobbies that make me happy include playing soccer and lifting weights. I think if I didn't have these things in my life it wouldn't be as fun and exciting.  Everyone should have a hobby whether thats playing an instrument, exercising, or drawing, to name a few. 

Use Your Hands

After reading Chapter 4 of Steal Like An Artist I kept thinking of all the true points the author had. Austin Kleon is absolutely right when he says that computers are alienating us from using our body to create things. He is right when he says that you never really get to touch things until they are printed and all you ever really use when designing is your mind because you're stuck sitting on a desk. I think that getting away from a computer desk can help generate ideas and the main reason you should use your computer is to edit your ideas. I think that engaging more of your senses through things that are more physical such as sketching your ideas will save you time as well as help generate more ideas. When you also incorporate things like the sound of music you are more involved in your process and it doesn't feel as boring. The reason a computer is not good for generating ideas is because they aren't as easy to start over on. For example, with sketches you can simply just turn the page and start sketching again. On the other hand, with a computer, you have to be more detailed and it just simply works better for editing ideas you sketched out. 

PROCESS

FINISHED ART