Tag Archives: school

december is here

bike rides! IMG_6305

IMG_6306

Jason and I went on a bike ride along the San Francisco Bay Trail. The weather here so far has been warm one day and cool the next. Very unpredictable but as long as its not raining I can ride my bike. I plan on riding my bicycle daily when school is out (crossing my fingers that it doesn’t rain the whole time).

finals! I am in the process of completing three books, three chinese boxes, a chopsticks holder, a gift bag, and studying for two tests. I did not travel during the Thanksgiving break so I actually got a lot of work done and am feeling on top of everything. I always experience mixed feelings as semesters end. I want to have a break but at the same time know that in a week I will want to be back in school. I will really post everything when I am done. I know that I keep saying that but this time I mean it. *_*

my Amazon wish list! Just for fun. I am not expecting any gifts this Christmas because I am staying home. I am totally okay with that because I don’t need anything—but I can always buy myself a new art book.

vacation! After the first of the year maiki and I are planning to visit Santa Cruz, Los Angeles, and Oceanside. I am really looking forward to the trip, and am especially relieved to not be traveling during the holidays. There are so many fun things that I want to do.

holiday

I was so happy to discover that due to Thanksgiving I would be missing two classes this week. I had made the decision to stay home in Berkley for the holidays this year rather than visiting my family in L.A. so I was gonna have a week off from school and not be traveling anywhere. Awesome. Kimi and Justin made lots of food for Thanksgiving and all of Cloud 9th was home to celebrate together by playing Quiddler and watching movies. I felt so much happiness being at home with my dear friends and having lots of food that I could eat.

This week I have been watching the Lord of the Rings movies on the projector. I read the Hobbit for the first time a few months ago and then began the Fellowship of the Ring shortly after. Unfortunately due to school I didn’t not get very far into before I decided to jump into the re-screening of the movies. It has been a much more enriching experience watching them for a second time since I have read some of Tolkien’s writing. Also a few of my friends play LOTRO online and seeing the game and hearing about their adventures in Tolkien’s world has also gotten me more excited about the story.

I do have some homework that I am working on. In all of my classes I have made or am making process books. They range in quality from bound notes and sketches to mini portfolios. Also in my comping class I have been creating books, boxes and next shopping bags. It is an exciting time and I finally feel like I have leveled up in my usage of my exacto knife. All of the projects are enjoyable and I actually only have three weeks left in the semester. Time flies when you are crazy stressed huh. But for now I am on holiday and doing my best to enjoy every moment of it. *_*

making the most of my time

Everyday I have a list of what absolutely needs to get done to get through this semester (and hopefully pass). The great thing is that I am learning new things everyday and am enjoying myself even if it may not always seem like it. I am very fortunate that maiki is so supportive and making time to work around my hectic schedule because he is the comic relief that is so very important in my life! Ah, he is a best friend that I cannot imagine living without! _ Cloud Ninth is also continuously supportive and I know that I could not do this without them. My life is so very fun and filled with friends that really inspire me.

Luckily I have had some cool adventures squeezed into my down time. Justin and I made a trip to the Samovar Tea Lounge and it was so wonderful. I got their signature smokey black russian tea and it was strong but I enjoyed the flavor. We sat in the sun overlooking Yerba Buena gardens and spent a couple hours out of our busy school day just relaxing and sipping tea. I also have gone to the movies a few times and saw Bottle Shock, Burn After Reading, and Religulous at the California Theatre here in Berkeley. It is an old independent theatre like the ones I loved in Santa Cruz. Last Saturday maiki and I walked to a Utrecht that I had never been to in the city on Van Ness and then wandered to Japantown. I picked up an art book from Makoto Shinkai. I am always so inspired when ever I go to Kinokuniya. I always want to either move in or bring all the books home with me. It is hard to not purchase art books and I have such an amazing library now full of design and art books of all kind.

busy days

I have been so busy lately getting accustomed to my new school and work schedule. Plus it’s the beginning of the semester so I feel extra frantic to pick up supplies and be prepared for the class that I am going to. It has been interesting and at first a bit stressful, but once I admitted that I was stressed out and that was okay I got over it. The trouble is that I care more about how I perform now that I am so focused on Graphic Design. I want to be so good and have to admit that this is just the beginning. I am happy though because I am starting to get the fundamentals down. This semester is all about the materials and producing my designs by hand. It can be overwhelming because my hand skills are not yet up to par but I am taking it slow. My work is improving and so is my confidence that I can master the tricks of the trade.

The wonderful thing about taking classes at the Academy of Art is that my instructors have shared a lot of real world information pertaining to the work that we are doing. They explain the industry standards and what is expected from design professionals. One of my instructors has worked with non-profits and smaller companys and another in design firms with big name clients. I feel that their input is so valuable and its neat that I am recieving a well-rounded view. Also it is great how all of my professors teach similar concepts and programs but each offer new insight to the material. I am getting excited for what is to come. There is logo work, print design, and some package design.

I am going to continue to work at the Pasta Shop on the weekends. It pays the bills and I get free food so that makes it worth my time. The funny thing is that it doesn’t leave me much time to do my homework and then there’s the laundry and grocery shopping, etc. that I have defintiely been neglecting. I guess I will just have to live on fresh pasta and raviolis until I get the hang of my new schedule. And I surely will not run out of clothes. *_*