FaBuLouS

ThE 3 R's!!

2008-09-05T07:58:00.001-07:00

What a trip! So I have to admit that I’ve never ridden a public bus before in my life. Only buses I have ever rode on are school buses and charter buses. Due to the stigma that goes along with the public transportation system, and hearing some of the horror stories from my sister (who had to ride them through New Jersey), I was less than thrilled to say the least. However, joining forces with some of the other girls in class (pictures below ☺) things seemed to look up. After cramming in my jeep and making our rounds to all the dorms, we finally snagged a parking spot in front of subway. We then proceeded to the nearby bus stop, snapped a few pictures (or attempted to), and after getting a bit of a tan saw our big, green bus heading our way! Scrambling to get our money and cards ready, we stepped up into our bus on route 2. People were scattered throughout the front and middle so we all claimed the back seats, which was good anyway because people probably thought we were crazy, or tourists. We had the seats we occupied and quite a few around us empty so it worked out well. Though, there was a man in front of me which showed up in some of my pictures, who probably thought I had a crush on him by all the pictures I was aiming his way. Along our way we laughed, dealt with a speeding, heavy footed (on the break) bus driver, and saw some pretty interesting things. The gum that I almost sat on, on the seat next to me, not being one of them!
Even though I had not been looking forward to riding the bus, it turned out to be quite a funny experience that I’m glad I was a part of. I can now say that I’ve ridden the bus and didn’t get robbed (which I would feel sorry for anyone if they would had tried!) and enjoyed myself along the way. However, I still will not be making a habit of riding the bus, I love driving my jeep too much!
Choosing to read the article second, it was interesting to think how things have changed. Where as in the past buses were segregated and certain groups of people sat in certain places, now people are all mixed up, just sitting where ever they desire. Also, the back of the bus had a reputation of being the worst choice and the most undesirable part of the bus. Opposite to what the back was viewed as in the past, it is now either the “cooler” spot for kids on school buses, or a refuge for a bunch of loud girls that want to sit together without interfering with other people. Although for some it may still be undesirable because they may want to get off early or feel better being closer to the driver. On the other hand, there are still large amounts of people who prefer the back, even if they had the option to sit in the front.
Apart from my actual experience and the correlation to the article, there was yet one more key moment for me. I believe it to be the funniest of all! The next morning as I was watching the local news with my mom, they started to talk about the GTA and the new installation of security cameras all throughout the buses. An image of the bus station appears on screen and in excitement I tell my mom “I was there yesterday!” As my mom somewhat acknowledges me in between sips of her coffee, the next image was a man talking. Then I realized “OMG that was our bus driver!!” Due to the fact they were talking about security cameras, I couldn’t help but laugh to think if they would show a video of us and our bus ride. It was a nice ending to a funny experience.

WhAt a wEeK!!

2008-09-02T09:51:00.000-07:00

Back to school! All traces of sleeping in and relaxing have become non existent! The stress ante has been upped and the schedule is booked! However, I cant say that I would have it any other way. Whenever there is an abundance of free time, I tend to add projects or fill up my schedule anyway, so it seems befitting to be extremely busy! I know it may sound silly, but I don't like being lazy (well at least not all the time!). Its almost a habit to be constantly doing something. I could do without the early mornings though!

Although it feels as if we've been in school for at least a month now, I don't feel as overwhelmed as I thought I would. Even with tasks beginning to pile up, work holding its spot on Saturdays, the gym calling my name, doctor appointments galore, and important social obligations (family in town, birthdays); I am feeling somewhat optimistic about it all. I just look at everything and have faith that somehow, someway I will get it all done. At this point, I've concluded that there is no room for failure, which I believe to be a good mindset going into this semester. By not allowing all of my daunting tasks to haunt me, I'll be less focused on how stressed I am and more on what needs to be done. I do have to admit that the long weekend might be the reason behind this newly founded optimism, either way I feel committed to making sure everything on my list is marked off. After proving to myself that I can be dedicated and motivated enough to lose weight I feel as if I can tackle whatever is thrown at me (as long as its not another kidney stone or surgery!!). Unsure of what I want my future career to be and teetering between 2 different paths, I have to admit that I'm glad I decided to stick it out at least for another semester. I still feel unsure about it all but I didn't feel right about just up and leaving Iarc. So far it has turned out to be rather pleasant.

The projects that were issued during the first week, were interesting and enjoyable. My mother and I had quite a time driving to W. Florida St. in the rain, with my mom randomly slowing in the middle of the road so I could capture a picture! Organizing a group of more than 50 people was too much even for someone as OCD as myself! Our new assignment of chair cards in history is quite appealing to me. I am very keen on organizing information and visuals together in a repetitive and timely manner. Also I was really pleased to find out that we were doing a grid drawing in shaded graphite of a photo in drawing class. In highschool, I use to do all my art assignments by gridding them. Therefore, my assignments were of much better quality and I felt very confidant doing them. Overall, week one has had its challenges, but being able to handle them is what stands out to me most about my first week in second year!

~wAyFinDinG~

2008-08-26T20:17:00.001-07:00

And we're off!!! (this one is my fave!)
Had to have a street sign to jump start our expedition. (my mom drove so i wouldn't crash all over the place trying to take pictures!) :)
The underpass bridge by uncg. the picture blurred as we started to drive away but i thought it gave it some character.
The coliseum digital sign.
Ok, so i had to throw some pink in here!!
The glare from the rain on the windshield caused a neat effect on the picture.
Prized Possesions. Although I thought it was a bit random to see a shopping cart full of blankets behind a library, i have to admit it was also quite heartbreaking.
The GlenWood Public Library. We made it!!! It was actually this cute little building tuck in between some run down shops.
Don't forget to return those books!!
Yet another street signed that marked our journey back home!

~HoUsePlaN~

2008-04-21T12:32:00.000-07:00

I have to say, although overall making this model in sketch up was quite simple, there were a few tricky parts. I was having trouble pushing the door through so it would make an opening and not a hallway. However, I finally got it!!

SleEpY??

2008-03-25T13:30:00.001-07:00

On a hammock.
In a car.
In a sleeping bag.
At a desk.
In a telephone booth.
On a bench.
There are endless numbers of places where a person could sleep when they aren't in their bed. A couch, a chair, a bus, a plane, a tent, class :), in a pool, on a cot, up a tree in a treehouse, or on the side of a mountain in a tent, and of course there is always the ground! I guess when you get the urge, it doesn't matter where you are (as long as your not driving!).

Baths of the Diocletian

2008-03-23T17:27:00.000-07:00

Baths of the diocletian

The Baths of Diocletian are known to be bigger than any other Roman baths. The stature of this structure was quite massive and had a little more than just a sense of grandeur. As several pictures show, the amount of space that filled in between the gigantic walls was vast. The similarity between the large walls that made up the bath and the large amount of space that was housed in it, really added to the “wow factor” of the building.

To cover the outside of the Baths of Diocletion, white stucco was carved to resemble that of marble blocks stacking up the lofty walls. However, the inside walls consisted of richly colored marble and painted stucco. Various statues were also carefully placed around the inside. The use of these materials was repeated throughout the building, although they were just used in different contexts.

The baths consisted of many different elements that worked together to ensure the satisfaction of all the local people. To accommodate them, there were more than just baths housed in the building. There were also changing, reading, lounging, and lecture rooms. You could even find a gymnasia and a theater! Talk about a one-stop shop! Aside from the extras, the Roman baths had several types of baths concentrated in the building. There was a warm-water, hot water, and cold-water bathing halls. Even an unheated swimming pool was present. All of these components were enclosed by gardens containing fountains and an exterior shield of stores and offices.

With a very symmetrical layout, I believe the flow of up to thousands of people was very smooth. With a space as large and frequented as this, if there wasn’t some form of order, the whole place would be a mess. As the plan and section views show, everything was perfectly place in a very symmetrical and neat order. There is also great emphasis on the entrance which helps guide the people in the right direction.

To start with the obvious, at least we know that the Roman people were clean and bathed on a regular basis! Being an important ritual, the Baths of the Diocletian were most likely a very important and frequently visited building in the community. Not only do I think that this was a place to restore everyone’s sanitation, it served as a place for socializing. With the presence of theaters, shops, and lounging rooms many people came here for fun to visit with friends and neighbors. A sense of community and unity at least among the higher status of people was important to the Romans. Although, I do believe in a way it is a bit contradictory if only a specific type of people were welcome into the doors of the Roman baths.
The purpose of the Baths of the Diocletian was similar to the ancient Roman theaters, they were built to bring people together to enjoy themselves. Also like that of many famous buildings in Rome, I believe that the size of the buildings was mainly devoted to that of the male ego, in which each ruler’s theater or bath had to be the most grand. Opposite to it’s low-lying geography the Baths of Diocletion was constructed to reach up towards the sky, making it very prominent in the region. Its construction was very similar to that of the Baths of Caracella.
Seeing that everyone in today’s world has their own bathroom equipped with both a shower and/or a bathtub, I don’t think the Roman baths would be as popular in that sense. However, the public pool, gym, theater, and stores all in one place would go over quite well in present day communities. Most people now a days are normally in a rush and tend to like going one place for everything. I think in today’s culture the building would be compared to that of a grand ballroom or concert hall. Today’s theaters are too commercial and not as detailed in the architectural terms. The functions may be different but the stigma for the two is the same.

2x4 PrOjeCt

2008-02-04T11:31:00.000-08:00

So right away when I was told we had to make a "self sustaining system" out of one 18 inch 2x4 I was totally confused! Right away my drawings were crazy and weren't really making any sense. However, out of all the craziness, I came up with some kind of stair step system. With the help from a teacher I decided on this. Although I do have to admit that it was a little scary and exciting to use the ban saw.

WoRksTatiOn LoOk AliKe

2008-01-30T11:05:00.000-08:00

So we had to make a scaled model of a multi functional workstation. I thought to keep mine simple, however I did tweak a few things in my design. Also the orthographic views from the top, north, south, east, and west are all drawn on vellum.

TuRnInG oVeR a NeW leAf

2007-12-10T13:22:00.000-08:00

So for the second part of our final assignment we had to draw a leaf 9 times. I actually thought this was a very appropriate assignment. Not only is it fall (or maybe its winter now i don't know) but all the leaves have fallen. We are not only ending a new chapter but we will be begining a new one, therefore we will be turning over a new leaf!

10 GrAphiC/mEdiA DeSiGns

2007-12-09T12:35:00.000-08:00

By: Lime Graphic Media
Stationary design for the development gallery.

By: Zeus Website Design
A logo design for MEG Financial.

By: Thailand Phuket Web Design
A website for Able Architects.

By: Scarab Media
A menu for TABU restaurant.

By: Scarab Media
Business card for Mobile Madness.

By: Inspired Graphics Media
Website design for the Miss Roanoke Valley Scholarship program.

By: MiVibe
An email marketing graphic templates for Samantha Chicago.

By: MiVibe
An email ad for Red Bull.

By: Performance Media
A brochure for Holiday Inn.

By: Coast Graphics Media
Christmas card from company.

10 BuiLdInGs

2007-12-09T08:46:00.000-08:00

~10 BuiLdInGs~

Name: Macy's
Location: 151 West 34th Street, New York City
Architect: Delemos & Cordes
1st Built: 1857
Function: Department Store

The NYC Macy's is the largest Macy's building out of any other buildings in the chain. It is also the first Macy's store that was created. Rowland Hussey Macy was the founder of this popular chain of department stores. However, back in his time it was just a little corner store. The stores emblem, a red star, was created to mimick a tattoo that Rowland H. Macy had. Macy's is also the proud location where an annual Thanksgiving parade is held.

Name: The Bellagio Hotel
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Architect: Deruyter Butler with Atlandia Design (Design), Jerde Partnership (Theme), Marnell Corrao Associates (Record)
1st Built: 1998
Function: Hotel

The Bellagio has 3,933 guest rooms and suites. It has also received the AAA five-diamond award. It has many features that surpass its status as a hotel. These include, shops, restaurants, a spa, casino, showroom, wedding chapel, convention and business rooms, pools, and a fabulous light show provided by fountains in the courtyard.

Name: Smithsonian Institution
Location: Washington D.C
Architect: James Renwick Jr.
1st Built: 1855
Funtion: Museum

This was the first building constructed for the Smithsonian Institution. It is also referred to as The Castle. The Smithsonian Institution was a gift to the United States by British scientist James Smithson. Today this building is used for the administers office spaces.

Name: FAO Schwarz
Location: 5th Avenue, New York City
Architect: Original Unknown
1st Built: 1870
Function: Toy Store

FAO Schwarz was founded by Frederick August Otto Shwarz and his brothers. The first store was located in Baltimore, Maryland. However, the New York store became the flagship store of the whole chain. The New York location was also redesigned by David Rockwell in 2004.

Name: Beverly Wilshire Hotel
Location: Beverly Hills, California
Architect: Walter G. McCarty
1st Built: 1928
Function: Hotel

The Beverly Wilshire Hotel is constructed up of an Italian Renaissance architectural style. It is located right next to Rodeo Drive, which is a street full of designer shops. The movie Pretty Woman actually filmed some of their scenes here because of the elegant surroundings.

Name: Carnegie Hall
Location: 7th Avenue, New York City
Architect: William B. Tuthill
1st Built: 1891
Function: Theater

Carnegie Hall is one of the most famous theaters around the globe. Actually, the reason I chose this building is because my grandmother is distantly related to Andrew Carnegie and she has traced him through her family tree. The reason it is called Carnegie Hall is because Andrew Carnegie funded it.

Name: Radio City Music Hall
Location: 6th Avenue, New York City
Architect: Edward Durell Stone
1st Built: 1932
Function: Theater

The Radio City Music Hall is built in an art deco style of architecture. It is the home of the Radio City Rocketts. Many award shows and other important events are held here regularly.

Name: The Trump Plaza
Location: Atlantic City, New Jersey
Architect: Martin Stern Jr.
1st Built: 1984
Function: Hotel and Casino

The Trump Plaza is located on the popular boardwalk on the beach of Atlantic City. Of course Atlantic City is known for its gambling so this hotel is also part casino. It is a four star hotel with many pleasing amenities.

Name: The Biltmore Estate
Location: Asheville, North Carolina
Architect: Richard Morris Hunt
1st Built: 1895
Function: Home

The Biltmore Estate is so large that it took about six years to build. It was constructed for George W. Vanderbilt. The Biltmore Estate is one of the biggest privately owned estates here in North Carolina. It is open to the public for tours, shopping and viewing its beautifully decorated rooms.

StRikE a pOsE

2007-11-27T10:41:00.001-08:00

So we had to create a 1 page layout with 4 different types of drawings of one model. I chose to do contour, blind contour, shading, and gesture!

PrOceSs zInE

2007-11-19T12:50:00.001-08:00

ShAdEd ReFlEctIoNs

2007-11-19T12:46:00.001-08:00

So we had to reflect what our time capsule models looked like by drawing them and shading them. I am quite pleased with how my drawings came out. In all honesty I think they might look a little better than my actual models!;)

MoRe sHadInG!!

2007-11-19T12:43:00.001-08:00

O.k so we had to replicate a picture in class by drawing and then shading it. To be honest I forgot what this was called, but I got some positive feedback on how I shaded the wall so I chose this one to post! Plus the other two were unfinished!

ExerCiSes 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4 & 2.5

2007-11-12T12:43:00.000-08:00

A little late, but I finally got them up here!! The took a little longer than I thought plus my time has been very limited these past couple weeks! If only there were more hours in a day ( or less things TO DO in a day!!) life would be fabulous! :)

sTRivInG FoR pErFeCtiOn

2007-10-30T09:11:00.000-07:00

Well you can tell from the photo that this box is anything but perfect! I dont mean to sound negative, just realistic. Now I know the homework assignment was to create a PERFECT 8 inch cube, although it is not perfect I am actually somewhat pleased with myself. My original plan was to score and fold some matte board, yet I heard from others that that definitely was not getting accepted. So instead of just being lazy and going with that plan anyway, I decided to try out the whole foam board idea (which I thought was a little confusing at first). As you can see I wasn't 100% successful in my attempt to perfection. Nevertheless, I do feel quite pleased with the absence of glue stains (for the most part). Not perfect yet, but its a step in the right direction, a first of many to come!! :)

NeEd SoMe sHaDe??

2007-10-25T10:06:00.001-07:00

So these are the 2 shading exercises we had to do. For my techniques I chose the diagonal lines, and crosshatching. I do have to say the cross hatching is the weaker of the two. However I never really been able to shade an object unless I was looking at a grayscale photo of it. So in the suitcase (which was brown and tan) to be able to get the gists of the natural shading it had on it was a bit of an accomplishment for me, even though the final product isnt that amazing.

My ZiNe!

2007-10-21T10:08:00.001-07:00

As you all know, I love pink so I wanted my zine to feature the color pink, yet in a more sophisticated way. To accomplish this I decided my color scheme would be light pink, black, cream/white, and some gray. I came up with Sitting Pretty as my title for the simple fact that my subject matter was chairs and the way I portrayed them in the zine was pretty!

~MaGaziNe LayOut~

2007-10-11T12:01:00.001-07:00

Here is my Iarc magazine layout! The scale isn't in direct relation to that of the magazines but the layout is very close! I like that mine is pink! :)

Here is the magazine layout I chose, I liked how it wasn't very plain and that the pictures were scattered randomly over the page. This layout was featured in Metropolis magazine, in the April 2007 issue, on pages 176-177.

~MeTamOrpHaSis~

2007-10-08T10:03:00.001-07:00

And last but not least, my final box! This one was made to resemble Ben's box the most. Also, this one is my favorite, I think it is pretty cool looking and still neat! But it was the biggest pain to do also!

In the middle of the middle mixes! This one is an equal combination of both Arntia's and Ben's boxes!

Here is my 1st out of 3 boxes, I made this one to resemble more of Arntia's box. I emphasized the box and only had the "x axis" as an accent!

Just figuring things out!! I promise this is not one of my final three boxes!! :)

This is Ben Adams egg container!

This is Arntia Smith's memory box!

So our new project is to combine two different projects from two different people on the iarcblog.folio. The two people that were above and below me on the list are Arntia Smith and Ben Adams. Of all their projects, I chose Arntia's memory box and Ben's egg container. Here are some drawings of the ideas I had in evolving their boxes into one!

EmeRgeNcE oF sELf

2007-10-01T05:52:00.001-07:00

I don't think I really achieved the goal with this assignment. I was a little confused with the instructions and a little rushed for time! And to be honest I totally forgot about the proportions! WoOps! Maybe I'll do better next time! :)

MeMoRy BoX-FiNaL AtTeMpT

2007-09-24T12:50:00.001-07:00

Instead of making my box just a cube and taking stuff to it, on this iteration I transformed the top and bottom to different shapes. Although, I did keep the sides of the box square. But with the contrasting top and bottom I think it works and adds more contrast and excitement!:)

MeMoRy BoX-FiRsT AtTeMpT

2007-09-24T12:39:00.001-07:00

The memory that I chose to hold within my box, was that of first receiving my puppy. His name is Giacomo and he is the very first puppy I've ever had of my own. I remember when I first saw him in my dining room. I was SO excited and it was definitely a crazy moment! Because excitement and happiness were the most overwhelming feelings of the moment, that is what I tried to convey with my box!

a PLacE fOr A peNciL

2007-09-24T12:23:00.000-07:00

So this is my original and final pencil box. I struggled with the glue and some aspects like measurements and angles. I wasn't planning on using this one as my final, however the final iteration I made was pretty questionable, so I ended up with this one!

2007-09-24T12:17:00.001-07:00

Making a pencil box was a lot more difficult then I had expected. As I was making my pencil boxes I realized I have a big issue with leaving glue stains on my boxes! No matter how many times I would wash my hands they still showed up. So this is actually my final iteration, however it came out worse than the original so I didn't choose it for my final box!

pOrtRAit #2

2007-09-20T09:57:00.001-07:00

OK so heres #2! I thought maybe by this second one my abilities would
improve...not really! I'm just not very good with these portraits, no matter how many times I measure I think I still get the measurements and the angles a little off!Ill just have to keep on trying! :)

PoRtrAiT #1

2007-09-20T09:44:00.001-07:00

So here is the 1st of the 2 portraits we had to do. I'm not very good at these so needless to say my cousin Frankie doesn't look much like this portrait.

2007-09-13T09:21:00.000-07:00

So here are my 4 people contour drawings. The only one that I was pretty happy with was the one I did in Chick-Fil-A. I believe that is because I actually took my time on it. However, I think some people might have thought I was crazy for staring at them! But thats ok!

~ScRaMbLEd EgGs~

2007-09-12T07:56:00.001-07:00

So here is my final egg project. Instead of scrambling eggs every morning, I figured I would save myself (and my mother) some time and eggs by using yellow construction paper. I realized that scrambled eggs probably wasn't the most practical ideas but I just went with it and improvised at the end!

DoWn ToWn CoNtouR #4

2007-09-11T10:01:00.000-07:00

O.K I was back on track with this one. There were no big distractions so I really tried to focus on my angles, however the thought of dinner was definately on my mind!

DowNtOWn cOntOuR #3

2007-09-11T09:57:00.001-07:00

So I have to admit, I was a little distracted on this one. A man who might have been a little off his rocker decided to come tell us his life story. Now I'm the type of person where I really talk to almost anyone, however this guy wasn't all there if you catch my drift. Although I was trying to look focused, I couldn't help to think when he would make his exit and be on his way!

downTOWN ConToUr #2

2007-09-11T09:54:00.001-07:00

So here's number 2! I really enjoyed doing this one, my favorite part was the pathway, however the bottom of the building got a little confusing!:)

DOwnToWn CoNtoUr #1

2007-09-11T09:50:00.001-07:00

So we had to do 4 contour drawings of downtown Greensboro. A few classmates and I ended up at some park off of Elm Street. It was really nice with a lot of views to choose from. There were actually a good amount of people there, which I will have to admit that I left them out of my drawing.

BiCycLe!

2007-09-11T09:40:00.001-07:00

Here is an upside down bike that we had to draw (it was upside down when we drew it). However it was supposed to be a negative space drawing which I didnt realize until I was done (or at least with what I had time to complete). I did get very off on the front wheel and the back wheel is a little small, but I was pleased with how the seat and the gear came out.

2007-09-11T09:36:00.000-07:00

This is the revised contour drawing of the same spot I was in, in front of college avenue. There were a few angles that I still couldn't quite get but I tried to focus more on detail and include some things that I had left out before.

2007-09-06T09:41:00.000-07:00

I believe this is the view of college avenue. It was very hot and our last stop on our contour tour around campus so its not my best. That is why I chose this one to redo!

coNtoUr DrAwiNg #2

2007-09-06T09:40:00.001-07:00

CoNtoUr DrAwiNg

2007-09-06T09:36:00.002-07:00

Here is the 1st of 3 contour drawings we had to do. This one is done from the view of the Mexican restaurant on campus.(I forget what its called!)

nEgaTiVe SpAcE dRaWinG #3

2007-09-06T09:36:00.001-07:00

nEgaTiVe SpAcE dRaWinG #2

2007-09-06T09:35:00.001-07:00

nEgaTiVe SpAcE dRaWinG

2007-09-06T09:33:00.000-07:00

BliNd CoNtOur

2007-09-06T09:21:00.000-07:00

This is the blind contour we had to do of or hand. And yes I did accidentally draw 6 fingers. :-) (I guess I lost track of how many fingers I had already drawn.)

First Post!

2007-08-29T14:26:00.000-07:00

Exploring the world of sketchblogs is very new to me! I didnt know that there even was such a thing to be honest. After searching for a little while I couldnt find anyone with a very vibrant layout like in hot pink or something. For me personally I like for things to be very flashy, so a hot pink polka-dotted background would have caught my eye and made their artwork stickout to me, not hide it. However, with my failure 2 find the gaudiest sketchblpg ever, I did find a sleek and simple one with amazing artwork.I have to admit, at first I thought some of the pieces were photographs and then realized they were not! This particular sketchblog is by Joan Yoshicka and her site is http://drawingonnature.blogspot.com/ . I really loved how realistic all of the pieces were. Just the perfection and accuracy really pulled me in to keep looking at it! Of all I looked at this one was my favorite!(Even with the lack of a hot pink background,which I guess I will have 2 just put one on mine!)

*FaBuLouS*