Lately I've been bored with IA and have been thinking about more creative efforts. In the real world, I've been thinking about returning to The Art Students League and in webspace, I've been thinking about learning more CSS.
The art thing... I've been thinking about breaking down and learning how to paint (the technical aspects), which is something I've always wanted to do since I was a wee little one. Somehow the fact that I always drew and started making little paper game booklets (with mazes, word finding games and jumbles) from about 2nd to 5th grade was missed on my parents. Art classes weren't encouraged, although Math and Science were. Somehow, the fact that I won 2 poetry awards in High School was also missed. Long story, short, I ended up becoming an Art History major rather than doing something creative like going to Art or Design school. Hours of therapy later, I realize how much that passion wasn't supported when it should have been. It's hard now to decide whether or not to take art classes, though, because the issue is attached to so much meaning and unfortunately also so much dissapointment and pain. But alas, I find myself thinking about it again. I've gone back and forth about learning to paint and have every time opted for taking courses that further my professional career (design classes, Flash, LIS classes, etc.) rather than one that satisfies my personal/life passions. So enough of that.
The CSS thing... Oddly enough, I really enjoy designing web sites. I am not really much of a designer (see above for reasons why), but I do enjoy pushing pixels around and eventually writing the markup and CSS that makes it work. So I've been trying to capture some of the basic CSS templates I have used that work and am thinking about experimenting/learning more CSS. First project I am going to undertake is re-doing Robin's site in table-less CSS. More on that soon...
Comments
05/08/03 @ 15:28
I can relate to your feelings.
I've been doing exactly the same - even though I WAS encouraged by some people, I simply didn't dare, and I didn't have the fighting spirit to go for it. I ALMOST did, but that doesn't make an artist. Now noone really knows - at least not in the professional circles - which pains me a little.
Well - I'm currently looking for a way to write a novel, while utilizing the web for it in some way. I have extensive experience with techical and instructional writing, I'm educated in screen writing, and my mother wrote childrens books - so I don't feel that is too far from my current skills.
However I always did drawing, painting and photography, and my way into computers was through computer graphics. My mother was originally trained as a commercial artist, and her grand father was a trained artist from the academy, but I guess it all was a little too much for me.
OK - I'm straying off topic.
I have often had thougts on how to utilize computers and the web for artistical purposes, but also I have had my doubts as to whether I would ever feel satisfied with doing digital art.
When I had a studio with a few other young amateurs, I always enjoyed the material aspect of the art - the physical stuff like LARGE canvasses, hand made photo paper, the smell of terpentine and chemicals, and such. Can't get that with digital.
Best
Gunnar
05/08/03 @ 17:18
funny that you are commenting here. i didn't think i really had any readers. thought it was just me scribbling in a dark corner.
yes, the connection to physical elements when art making is important as well to me, which is why i've strayed into craft making from time to time.
i've wondered about your novel writing. i think you may have mentioned that in the past.
05/08/03 @ 17:34
It's like a shadow following me all the time.....
;-)
Writing is a whole different thing. Only poetry is like painting. Novels are like cartoons and movies. Long. It is not a moment - it is time and development.
Sometimes I think there's too much structure in IA, and too little development and time. That's what frustrates me, and one of the reasons I'm moving my focus towards social networking and computing. I need change and development. Static structure is not fine with me. Which leads me to Steward Brands book on buildings designed to last forever, but eventually they all fall victim to use and are repurposed in different ways. That book is a must read.
Gunnar
05/08/03 @ 17:36
I actually still think you have one of the bravest site designs I've ever come across.
;-)
And I also borrowed a pattern from Squidfingers.
05/09/03 @ 15:31
thank you, g :)
05/09/03 @ 15:32
i like the notion that poetry is like painting. it can express a moment so efficiently and with such color and impact. haiku is like that.
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