Essay---- I wrote this for college applications.
Stray thoughts, environment, everyday life, and extraordinary situations inspire me. Friction, the main element for everything man does, that spark when two things first connect, when your stray thoughts rub up against your environment, or any possible combination. That little shot of light, that’s where I see the pictures that come out on my page.
Do you remember that one thing you saw, as a child, maybe, that affected you deeply, and as you grow you contemplate this thing. You go over it, and soon you’re adding to this memory. Probably not consciously, but you’re doing it. I contemplate the spark, and I add to it. As a child I couldn’t fully display to you what I saw, I didn’t have the vocabulary, if you will, to completely explain that bright light to you. Like a child telling you about what he saw on the news, I saw President Reagan, I saw him speak about Communism, but I didn’t know the word Communism, so I couldn’t explain to you what was happening, just that the president was on Channel 3.
As the years have passed, I’ve gained words, expanded my vocabulary. Now when I witness something, I can explain it easier. I’ve gained words to explain the spark, the little jump of electrons bouncing off each other. But my words are spoken through my hand, not my mouth. These words I’ve learned in art class. But my vocabulary isn’t complete. That’s why I’m applying to ______. To extend my vocabulary much farther than all these years of school I’ve gone through. Being in a new environment that will be much more conductive to give off the sparks. In this new environment, thousands of new words to be found; so not only will the sparks fly, I’ll be able to explain what I see better.
I’ve loved every moment of this final year of high school; I’ve had three art periods. This time has allowed me to expand far beyond the areas I’d ever thought I’d reach in such a short time. Art class once a day is just not enough. That’s why I desire to be a part of your school, to be in a learning environment completely dedicated to art. No need for chemistry or physics. I’ve got sparks to contemplate, this friction, these bright lights; they’re unique to every person. I must share mine, if I don’t no one else will see them. I believe _____ will help advance me to where I will be able to do this, I’ll be able to realize my ambition, share with the world what the spark looks like.
Vandals! Someone took the stuff off this page! Except for the picture. Or maybe the internet, she's a strange mistress like the sea.... something happened damnit. But at any rate, this page needs some words on it. I don't remember what I wrote on it before, besides the stuff with Jerry Garcia and Scarface. I'll put an excerpt from a conversation I had with my long time friend Jamie on here. It really explains my artistic style....
"With me, I can just guess that since I don't plan things out, it's all very sub-conscious, so it kinda runs through the gamut of what I'm feeling, the lack of female characters in my drawings (much like my love life), the twisted postures (alluding to my constant back pain from scoliosis), the laughing faces and bright colors (showing my general happiness contrasting with the crap)".
These are maybe the themes, but I mostly do stuff to push myself, heading into new directions, learning new techniques. All in a kind of trial by fire kind of way. I figure out techniques on such disparate materials from napkins to math notes. I take what I like and utilize it in my fully realized drawings. There are drawings where you can see me actually kind of improving on techniques as I go along, learning what needs to be done in the process.
I'm writing what I'm writing now maybe a month or more after I wrote the previous three paragraphs. Things have changed, so have my drawings, growing all the time, you just want to pinch my cheeks. There's a female character in my life now, so they're starting to creep into my drawings, nothing that I'm too good at yet, I'll show y'all once I get better with drawing girls. And lately, things that I expected to happen decided against happening. But it's cool, I'm just changing direction with the currents. Barrel out to the sea. Still haven't found a job, and I hope I don't. Not a job as in a regular one, if I can stumble upon a job that will keep me happy, then I'll jump for it. But I just can't bring myself to be a repeater, I can't say the same three things over and over again "how are you today?" "it'll be x amount of money" "allright, y'all have a nice day, come back to _____ soon." never again. Okay, one paragraph seems enough. Later, I'll put this really cool ass essay I wrote for college applications on here, check back for that in a few days.
I can't sleep tonight, so I thought I'd write some more personal stuff again. Highschool's been done 'n gone now. As I enter the strange new world of college an all whatnot, I don't know, I'm not really scared. It's probably gonna be just like everything else, but with a longer drive across Raleigh. Last paragraph, I was talking about how a woman had entered my life. Yeah, that didn't work out. I got pretty sad about it and I haven't sketched with as much voracity as I had before since. I managed to finish off the sketchbook though, so I'll put that up soon enough. Now I just concentrate on doing bigger projects. Maybe it's just the summer. That's what it probably is. I've never really done a whole lot of work over the summer. I tend to work the most during hockey season. Which is starting soon, so rock on. Maybe I've had it all wrong this whole time. Hockey season needs to be happening for me to work. Well, sorry to the girl then eh? I made her seem overly important there, having such an effect on me. Sorry darling, but it was just that hockey season was over.
that's enough for now... I'll write more at a later date, it's late tonight.
