Hello there dear readers! Happy Easter to those of you who celebrate and Happy Eat-As-Many-Chocolate-Eggs-As-You-Can Day to those who don't.
So the first block of third year has already passed! And so quickly too. It has been a busy few weeks, and I have to say I am quite proud of some of the work I've already produced. If you haven't had a chance to look yet, you can check out some of my latest work here and here. I've also been trying to work on my online identity through Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook, posting more often and trying to have new work to post as well. But I will openly admit that it is a ton of work and a ton of effort that goes into doing these kinds of things.
And that brings me to the topic for today's post : Helping other people to succeed!
So, I can testify to the fact that building an identity for your own career is incredibly difficult. Especially when going into a creative field, such as the arts, music, drama, magic and the like. There are far fewer outlets to help young people make it in these fields as they aren't really seen as important or helpful to the economy. So unlike other careers that offer scholarships and internships (that actually pay), we are pretty much left to fend for ourselves.
Now I'm sure some of you are thinking, "But isn't that why you're going to university?". Ah yes, like most people who've gone the studying route, we choose to study in hopes that it will help us land a good job one day when we graduate. But as the unemployment rate of university graduates in South Africa alone, getting a degree isn't good enough anymore. So we have to find ways of making ourselves a career that we can be proud of.
This isn't easy to do alone however, With having to deal with access to specific materials, it can be almost impossible to help yourself with regards to your career. This is why I think it is so important that people, and not just budding creatives, actually make an effort to help each other out where they can. For example, I've been using social media and blogging to help market my work for a few years now, so while I wouldn't call myself a professional at it, I will say that I'm proficient at it. So my partner, Liam, is a budding magician. Writing is not his speciality as the the performing part of magic is his area of expertise. I know the blogging is a great form of exposure, so what did I do? I became a co-author of his blog so that I can help him on the advertising side while he is out there doing what he does best (P.S My Thoughts is the blog, check it out if you have a chance).
Another important part of helping your friends and family and people in general is being encouraging and supportive when things are going well.. and more importantly when they aren't. Help them with whatever resources and in whatever way you can. It could be as simple as lending someone a self-help book you have, or it could be helping them to print some business cards or pamphlets to give away. Any small thing helps, and it could be as simple as saying "I believe in you".
The world is a tough enough place as it is, but it doesn't mean that we can't do something to make it a little better, even if it's just for one person.
Until we meet again
Talia
Showing posts with label People. Show all posts
Showing posts with label People. Show all posts
Sunday, 27 March 2016
Sunday, 6 March 2016
Some Passion a Day to Keep the Blues at Bay
Hello again dear readers. So I've decided to get back to posting on a weekend again seeing as I have more time to play around with thoughts and ideas and it is easier to be a bit more consistent in posting times. So let's get started then!
So something that has been in the back of my mind since an argument had with my significant other was the idea of passion. And how I have tons of it in some ways and really not enough in other ways. And I guess you could say I was startled (to say the least), that it was thought that I throw so much passion into my artwork and very little into anything else. I liked to think that I was passionate about the things that matter to me, and not just art.
So what is passion exactly?
So something that has been in the back of my mind since an argument had with my significant other was the idea of passion. And how I have tons of it in some ways and really not enough in other ways. And I guess you could say I was startled (to say the least), that it was thought that I throw so much passion into my artwork and very little into anything else. I liked to think that I was passionate about the things that matter to me, and not just art.
So what is passion exactly?
Urban Dictionary : Passion is when you put more energy into something than is required to do it. It is more than just enthusiasm or excitement, passion is ambition that is materialized into action to put as much heart, mind body and soul into something as is possible.
That's a pretty good definition of it. Putting in a lot more effort than what is "required". So this is actually quite easy to measure with school and university and anything that distinctly measures your level of effort. For example, if 50% is the required mark to pass, but you want to put your all into it and you get 80%, then you technically put in 30% more effort than what is necessary. Now life is not that easy to measure, and no one is giving you that much feedback that is so easy to decipher.
I know that for me, being passionate about my career and art work isn't exactly difficult, it's second nature to me to do the best possible job I can, But I haven't ever put the equivalent amount of effort into anything else, just the thought of putting that much effort in exhausts me.
But the thing is that great results only come from hard work and passion. Nothing good has ever been achieved without a ton of extra effort and dedication, and ultimately love. I have been trying to apply a passionate and dedicated attitude to my life as a whole rather than just through art. Making time for the people that matter, and making time for the other aspects of life, such as reading, spending time relaxing and also making memories with the people you care about.
I've found, like with anything else really, that making goals is a good way to help be consistently and consciously more passionate in all the areas of your life. For example, making sure you stop your busy work schedule to have tea when your special person gets home from work. Taking the time to say "I love you" like its the only chance you'll have to say it again.
Passion is a consistent job, but the benefits I think will be so worth it.
Until we meet again
Talia
Thursday, 25 February 2016
Exhibition Review: The Sound of Silence
Hello again dear readers.
So today I thought I would try something else new to help me to stay motivated to see exhibitions throughout the year. So to start off my own Exhibitions Review, I will talk about the newly opened The Sound Of Silence exhibition by New York based artist, Alfredo Jaar.
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| The Sound of Silence 2006 Wood structure, aluminum, fluorescent tubes, LED lights, flash lights, tripods, video projection Software designed by Ravi Rajan Installation view at école des Beaux Arts, Paris 2011 Photographer: Charles Duprat Artist: Alfredo Jaar |
As most exhibitions start off, there were speeches of thanks and gratitude to the museum and the artist and all the people involved in the organisation of the exhibition. There were free drinks and a surprisingly upbeat DJ present, and a large crowd of students, art-lovers, hipsters and the like hovering around the drinks tables. After the (thankfully) short speeches, we made our way into the gallery space.
We were met with a shockingly bright wall of light facing the entrance of the main gallery, made up of rows of vertical fluorescent light bulbs, Not only was this a shock to the senses of each visitor to the gallery, but it also heightened the intrigue surrounding this exhibition. This wall of light was part of a rectangular structure in the center of the gallery, and formed the exterior back wall of this room within a room. A queue was formed alongside the wall of the gallery for people to view this installation.
About 20 people were let into the room at once, and we were asked to switch off our cellphones. We proceeded to walk around the room and walk in through a small entrance illuminated by a strip of green light. What was inside this room was essentially a small theatre, with both standing and room to sit. We positioned ourselves at the back corner. The lights, which were already dimmed, switched off completely as a small film began to play.
Now I am not going to ruin this artwork and explain every detail of the film, as it is best experienced within the artwork itself. But to simplify things, the film is about photographer Kevin Carter.
So now I will share with you some of my thoughts on this exhibition.
I felt like this was truly a remarkable piece and I would highly recommend that anyone who is able to get to the museum to view this work seizes the opportunity. While most of us are used to the shock appeal that most artworks generate, this installation is a refreshing depart from shock-appeal towards a more poignant need to create an impact on the audience. This impact is created from the moment the viewer enters the space and is affronted with this immediate bright, conflicting and intruding, wall of light. Viewers of the work are forced to face this light while waiting to view the artwork, and the light certainly creates an atmospheric tension surrounding the gallery.
The actual film is simple, poignant, tense and highly effective for the message it is trying to convey. I don't know about the other people who attended the exhibition, but I know that while watching this film I felt infuriated, and at the same time, hollowed by the content of the film. I left the exhibition with a profound sense of loss, and having experienced in the smallest of ways what it would have been like to be the "victim" of the photographer. This exhibition definitely made me consider photography as an act of violence and destruction, to both the photographed subject and the photographers themselves.
The exhibition closes on the 10th of April 2016 and the gallery hours are Wednesdays to Sundays from 10h00 until 16h00. The entrance to the gallery is free and the museum is situated on the corner of Jorissen Street and Jan Smuts.
Until we meet again
Talia
Monday, 1 February 2016
Get Up Again
Hi there again dear readers. I know, I went from a massive break from blog posts to a sudden flow of things to write about. I guess I've just had a ton on my mind lately, and I feel like talking about it with you, dear readers, is a good way to convey my thoughts and feel like someone out there is just listening to what I have to say.
So dear readers, something I've had on my mind lately is the idea of strength and self-empowerment. To me, I've always had a deep rooted fear of appearing weak to other people. I hate crying, being sick, being injured, being too emotional. Anything that knocks me off my A-game. To be honest, it doesn't take much to knock someone off their A-game. It can be feeling under the weather. feeling over-worked, upset about relationship or personal problems, or just having a bad day. I have been off my A-game more often than not recently. For me, it's been because of relationship and personal problems. I've been so emotional in the last few months I think I've had my share of negative emotions for a lifetime.
The problem with emotional turmoil is that I've developed the bad habit of moping over a negative situation. I can think of a lot of reasons why this has changed, but the biggest reason why it bugs me is that I feel excruciatingly weak.
As said before, it is the one thing I am most afraid of.
So as of today, I am done with this crappy feeling of being weak. Yeah sure, things get crappy in life. We all make bad decisions and sometimes it feels like the light at the end of the tunnel is just an illusion,
Life is hard,
We get knocked down.
We get winded.
We bleed.
We must get up again.
I am so sick and tired of waking up and feeling like getting through another day is going to be tough on me. I am 20 for God's sake, I should be changing the world every day, not sitting and moping about things that WILL NOT matter in the grand scheme of things. Here is where the importance of self-empowerment comes in. See dear readers, this is something I have realised over the last few years.
No one else will make your dreams come true for you.
No one else will fight harder for you than yourself.
No one else will ever be able to understand your life better than you,
Stop relying on other people to make things happen for you, they have their own lives to worry about. So at the start of every day, you are the one in charge of how it goes and how it ends. I won't lie, I've had a bit of a crappy day, and I have no one else to blame but myself (much as I would like to shift the blame I know I would be kidding myself), but here and now, typing this blog post - and listening to Pump It! by the Black Eyed Peas - I feel like I am doing something with my day. and something in me is stirring. A flicker of that inner strength that has been so stifled in the months past.
I am not backing down from life anymore. I will fight until my last breath. I will make every day count this year, and I will be damned if I let anything and anyone get in my way.
Fight for your dreams dear readers, make your days count for more than yesterday-filled-regrets.
Until we meet again
Talia
P.S. This was the inspiration behind my latest art positivity typography pages, you can check them out under the Art & Other Creative Items Page.
Friday, 11 December 2015
Motivating the World, One Person at a Time
Well...
It certainly has been long enough hasn't it dear readers?
Well, shall we say that some turbulence in my life and general busyness and such has kept me away for far too long. But all is not lost, I have made some art in my time away and had a good reassessment of my life. The sun is still shining. The birds are still singing. And there is still plenty of art to be made! So here I am, with my first blog post since September.
So as cheesy and corny as it sounds to mention it, I turned 20 on Wednesday. No longer the teenager of the nineties but now a young adult. And since I have started working at my Christmas job, I realised something quite powerful.
Do you ever feel defeated by the world? By the people that are supposed to care about you? Have you ever wondered what you're doing with your life at the moment? Well, maybe if we all just started believing in one another's dreams a bit more, maybe the world would be a better place. On my birthday, I bumped into one of my old friends from High school. She didn't know it was my birthday but was an avid follower of the artwork I posted on Instagram. She told me that she thought I was really making something of my life and that I need to post so much more often. When I started my training for my new job, I had to do a quick sketch for a teamwork activity. My teammates and other trainees were so impressed that they started interrogating me as to why I don't draw more.
Why have I not been drawing more?
I stopped believing in my ability to create my own success.
But.
When people tell you out of the goodness of their hearts, that they think you are special, that you have something unique to bring to the world, it is probably one of the most inspiring forms of motivation I have yet to witness. Total strangers telling me they think I could change the world with my art, if that isn't good enough motivation, I don't know what is.
So dear readers, tell someone today, a stranger, a friend, your partner, tell them you believe in their dreams and their goals and watch the transformation.
Until we meet again
Talia
It certainly has been long enough hasn't it dear readers?
Well, shall we say that some turbulence in my life and general busyness and such has kept me away for far too long. But all is not lost, I have made some art in my time away and had a good reassessment of my life. The sun is still shining. The birds are still singing. And there is still plenty of art to be made! So here I am, with my first blog post since September.
So as cheesy and corny as it sounds to mention it, I turned 20 on Wednesday. No longer the teenager of the nineties but now a young adult. And since I have started working at my Christmas job, I realised something quite powerful.
Do you ever feel defeated by the world? By the people that are supposed to care about you? Have you ever wondered what you're doing with your life at the moment? Well, maybe if we all just started believing in one another's dreams a bit more, maybe the world would be a better place. On my birthday, I bumped into one of my old friends from High school. She didn't know it was my birthday but was an avid follower of the artwork I posted on Instagram. She told me that she thought I was really making something of my life and that I need to post so much more often. When I started my training for my new job, I had to do a quick sketch for a teamwork activity. My teammates and other trainees were so impressed that they started interrogating me as to why I don't draw more.
Why have I not been drawing more?
I stopped believing in my ability to create my own success.
But.
When people tell you out of the goodness of their hearts, that they think you are special, that you have something unique to bring to the world, it is probably one of the most inspiring forms of motivation I have yet to witness. Total strangers telling me they think I could change the world with my art, if that isn't good enough motivation, I don't know what is.
So dear readers, tell someone today, a stranger, a friend, your partner, tell them you believe in their dreams and their goals and watch the transformation.
Until we meet again
Talia
Tuesday, 8 September 2015
Pondering Some Silver Linings
"Research Break".
So my dear readers, these last few months have probably been the WORST track record so far of keeping my blog up to date and I apologise to everyone who makes the effort of reading my blog post each time I post.
So this week, from the 5th of September to the 13th of September, varsity gives us what is known as the research break, which is essentially the midterm break that divides a semester into two pieces. Logically, a research break could be considered as a... well... a Break from research! But guess what (this goes out to all you high schoolers who can't wait to start varsity, and even more so if you want to study ART), the research break has been designed to...
Make you take a break from class to research more stuff.
For example, this first half of the semester has been absolutely exhausting. There have been deadlines almost every single week that involve lots of hours to produce a work that actually ends up being mediocre as opposed to great. But we push on and get it done, because what else are we supposed to do? Seems like more research crammed into one week is a good idea...
But I'm an optimist at heart and I always like to believe that there is a good side to this situation. SO let me share with you my silver linings of things I've learnt how to do (that are of course art and varsity related) this block:
I'm afraid to say I'm still busy as ever, but at least I can spend some quality time with the people I care about this week as well as getting stuff done. And at last I have time to share with the people who I will create memories with that I will cherish. Remember that success is nothing if you have no one left there to share it with.
Until we meet again
Talia
So my dear readers, these last few months have probably been the WORST track record so far of keeping my blog up to date and I apologise to everyone who makes the effort of reading my blog post each time I post.
So this week, from the 5th of September to the 13th of September, varsity gives us what is known as the research break, which is essentially the midterm break that divides a semester into two pieces. Logically, a research break could be considered as a... well... a Break from research! But guess what (this goes out to all you high schoolers who can't wait to start varsity, and even more so if you want to study ART), the research break has been designed to...
Make you take a break from class to research more stuff.
For example, this first half of the semester has been absolutely exhausting. There have been deadlines almost every single week that involve lots of hours to produce a work that actually ends up being mediocre as opposed to great. But we push on and get it done, because what else are we supposed to do? Seems like more research crammed into one week is a good idea...
But I'm an optimist at heart and I always like to believe that there is a good side to this situation. SO let me share with you my silver linings of things I've learnt how to do (that are of course art and varsity related) this block:
- How to use the Adobe Premier Suite (and edit in a professional way)
- How to make a 'zine (mini book or publication)
- How to make organized study notes without wasting time on the organizing bits
- How to make and use silkscreens....
And most excitingly...
5. How to make a stop motion animation (which you can check out here)
I'm afraid to say I'm still busy as ever, but at least I can spend some quality time with the people I care about this week as well as getting stuff done. And at last I have time to share with the people who I will create memories with that I will cherish. Remember that success is nothing if you have no one left there to share it with.
Until we meet again
Talia
Sunday, 23 August 2015
Fight Not Flight
FEAR. The stomach-sinking, heart-pounding, hand-shaking feeling that strikes everyone at least once in their lifetime. Fear doesn't necessarily have to be a phobia, and it doesn't always have to be something you can predict in advance. Sometimes fear strikes you on the spot in the heat of the moment.
Other than phobias and common little fears that most people experience every now and again. Today was the first time I had experienced the real fear of losing someone incredibly close to me. I've never experienced emotions like what I've experienced today. If you've watched Inside Out, you would know that the personified emotions of fear and sadness were separated. Today I felt like I had an insane mixture of the two that happened to be on some crazy steroids.
I won't share the whole story of how these emotions came about. But when I thought that I had lost that person forever, and not even by my own choice, I panicked. I had never felt emotions like this before, I had no idea how to react or how to get myself back together. I felt like a massive explosion of bottled up emotions had imploded through my veins. I felt like my blood had actually run cold, somehow icily still pumping through my heart into the rest of my body. I was defeated. More defeated than I can ever remember before. I pray that none of you have to go through that feeling, because it truly is a wretched experience to endure.
But.
All was not lost.
In some far corner of my petrified heart, a spark of adrenaline made my brain override the emotions and fight. If you've ever met me, you would know that I'm not a fighter. But dammit I fought today. I was not enduring this pain that was inflicted upon me. I fought and choked back those stifling tears. And I didn't become a victim of the battle. By some miracle I got the person I care about so dearly back. I don't know how this day turned around like it did. I still feel like I was in the battle of the century. But I survived. And more importantly than surviving, I managed to get my incredibly special person back.
I'll be damned if I get that close to losing you again.
Dear readers, don't EVER let it get this close. Don't neglect someone to the point that you can't get them back. Never take the people around you for granted, because I promise you you don't want to know what the world would be like without them. Love them like both of you could be gone tomorrow and there's no chance to show them you love them again.
Until we meet again
Talia
Other than phobias and common little fears that most people experience every now and again. Today was the first time I had experienced the real fear of losing someone incredibly close to me. I've never experienced emotions like what I've experienced today. If you've watched Inside Out, you would know that the personified emotions of fear and sadness were separated. Today I felt like I had an insane mixture of the two that happened to be on some crazy steroids.
I won't share the whole story of how these emotions came about. But when I thought that I had lost that person forever, and not even by my own choice, I panicked. I had never felt emotions like this before, I had no idea how to react or how to get myself back together. I felt like a massive explosion of bottled up emotions had imploded through my veins. I felt like my blood had actually run cold, somehow icily still pumping through my heart into the rest of my body. I was defeated. More defeated than I can ever remember before. I pray that none of you have to go through that feeling, because it truly is a wretched experience to endure.
But.
All was not lost.
In some far corner of my petrified heart, a spark of adrenaline made my brain override the emotions and fight. If you've ever met me, you would know that I'm not a fighter. But dammit I fought today. I was not enduring this pain that was inflicted upon me. I fought and choked back those stifling tears. And I didn't become a victim of the battle. By some miracle I got the person I care about so dearly back. I don't know how this day turned around like it did. I still feel like I was in the battle of the century. But I survived. And more importantly than surviving, I managed to get my incredibly special person back.
I'll be damned if I get that close to losing you again.
Dear readers, don't EVER let it get this close. Don't neglect someone to the point that you can't get them back. Never take the people around you for granted, because I promise you you don't want to know what the world would be like without them. Love them like both of you could be gone tomorrow and there's no chance to show them you love them again.
Until we meet again
Talia
Sunday, 2 August 2015
Colour-Coding My Way to Productivity
So dear readers, I know it has been two weeks without a post. I do apologise profusely, I blame faulty printer cables and fried laptops. But anyhow, we are now in August everyone! so that means there is officially only one third of the year left... and I still feel like I've accomplished so little art wise!
So I've been having a series of epiphanies over the last few months. They haven't been directly related to my art or my work at varsity but rather to my personal life, but they've helped me figure out some neat little tricks and tips to help me out (and looking up life hacks on Pinterest isn't a bad idea either!). So dear readers today I thought I would share my little tips and tricks to make your planning life a little easier, so you can fit in all the things that are important to you.
I personally have an awful memory, and unless I write down what I'm supposed to do... well most of the time it won't get done or it will be a half-hearted job... So I have a diary and lots of coloured pens and matching Post-Its. My personal code is this:
Turquoise = Fine Art/Video Art
Lime Green = History of Art
Orange = Design & Drawing/Book-Binding
Yellow = French
Oxblood = Relationship and Personal Life
This is how I colour code my diary, which is super tiny. I also update my calendar as well as my MyStudyLife App to remind me about tasks that need to be done. I also try to distribute my work out a bit better so that I can spend more time spread out over a few days and really get into the work rather than rushing it and messing it up completely.
Another useful thing I've found is prioritising my To-Do list before I start completing anything, because I find I tend to do all the little easy things first when I have the most energy and then I wonder why I have no energy left for all the important things on the list... which can be problematic at best. So I draw a square next to each To-Do Item:
Big Square = Most Important (as in get off your lazy butt and get this done!)
Medium Square = So So, would be useful to get done today
Little Square = Annoying but useful task, not a train smash if it doesn't get done today
So this is just a small part of my organising tips that should help you to get everything done in time and get it done well. I hope maybe it helps you just a tiny bit!
Until we meet again
Talia
So I've been having a series of epiphanies over the last few months. They haven't been directly related to my art or my work at varsity but rather to my personal life, but they've helped me figure out some neat little tricks and tips to help me out (and looking up life hacks on Pinterest isn't a bad idea either!). So dear readers today I thought I would share my little tips and tricks to make your planning life a little easier, so you can fit in all the things that are important to you.
I personally have an awful memory, and unless I write down what I'm supposed to do... well most of the time it won't get done or it will be a half-hearted job... So I have a diary and lots of coloured pens and matching Post-Its. My personal code is this:
Turquoise = Fine Art/Video Art
Lime Green = History of Art
Orange = Design & Drawing/Book-Binding
Yellow = French
Oxblood = Relationship and Personal Life
This is how I colour code my diary, which is super tiny. I also update my calendar as well as my MyStudyLife App to remind me about tasks that need to be done. I also try to distribute my work out a bit better so that I can spend more time spread out over a few days and really get into the work rather than rushing it and messing it up completely.
Another useful thing I've found is prioritising my To-Do list before I start completing anything, because I find I tend to do all the little easy things first when I have the most energy and then I wonder why I have no energy left for all the important things on the list... which can be problematic at best. So I draw a square next to each To-Do Item:
Big Square = Most Important (as in get off your lazy butt and get this done!)
Medium Square = So So, would be useful to get done today
Little Square = Annoying but useful task, not a train smash if it doesn't get done today
So this is just a small part of my organising tips that should help you to get everything done in time and get it done well. I hope maybe it helps you just a tiny bit!
Until we meet again
Talia
Sunday, 14 June 2015
LIGHTS, CAMERA... (INAPPROPRIATE GIGGLES)...ACTION!
Don't you just love it when you get a chance to watch a movie you've been wanting to see for ages? You get good seats, great snacks and most importantly great company... but then...
THE IDIOTS* IN THE SEATS NEXT TO YOU DON'T SHUT UP. FOR. THE. ENTIRE. FILM...
THE AIR-CONDITIONING HAS BEEN SWITCHED OFF EVEN THOUGH THE CINEMA IS FULL...
AND PEOPLE LAUGH AT THE MOST. INAPPROPRIATE. MOMENTS.
Okay, I'm done ranting now, and if you're wondering, today's post shall be on something completely unrelated to art, but related to the shocking lack of manners in society nowadays...
MOVIE ETIQUETTE 101
1. The most obvious because we're so frequently reminded: "Please put your [damn] cellphone on silent"... Nothing on Instagram can be that important whilst watching a movie.
2. If you have an attention span of 5 minutes, please do everyone in the cinema a favour and don't bother going. Cinemas don't have pause buttons. Go home.
3. You shall not put your feet on the seat in front of you if there is someone sitting in it! You shall not kick the seat either...
4. There is nothing wrong with talking in the movies... If you're whispering. Really people, it's not that hard to whisper, just talk softly.
5. And finally, don't spoil the movie by reacting like an idiot*. Laugh when it's appropriate, not during the heart wrenching scene of someone dying.
That's my share of movie etiquette... for now. Enjoy your movies and popcorn.
Until we meet again
Talia
*sorry, that was harsh. Shall we call them severely mentally incapacitated individuals?
Sunday, 3 May 2015
That Confusing Question
"Is being consistently inconsistent the same as being inconsistently consistent?" Chances are your brain just froze a little bit trying to decipher that question. Mine does the same thing even though I've thought about this question more than once. Whilst you're probably picking your brain trying to figure it out... I thought I'd pick my brain a bit on consistency and persistence.
Throughout my life, the one thing I've always been consistently good at is throwing myself into my art and putting in so much effort that what was required. I was so consistent at it that I made it a habit for myself. And last year when I was going through an especially rough phase in my life, my work and my art became my reason for existence for several months. Metaphorically my art became my significant other.
This is a good strategy when you're going through a rough time and feeling quite alone in the world. But for me, I suffered for a while and then the suffering stopped. I picked myself up and started living life again. I found someone I could actually talk to and touch and be held when I was feeling upset. Someone who makes me feel special, and someone who I can care about. I remember for a while when I was single I would actually miss caring for someone, but then I would distract myself by drawing and painting.
Now I have realised a flaw in my past strategy for beating loneliness through art. When you apply consistency to only one area of your life, and you apply a lot of it, chances are the consistency everywhere else in your life diminishes. There's the flaw you don't really see until other people point it out to you, and I realise that I have been a guilty party for quite a while. I guess you could say I'm both consistently inconsistent and inconsistently consistent in many other aspects of my life.
As various self-help books will probably tell you, admitting you have a problem is the first step to fixing it. Now my goal is to be consistently consistent in every other area of my life. I think posting once a week every week on this blog is a good motivation to be consistent.
Until we meet again dear readers
Talia
P.S. Being consistently inconsistent isn't the same as inconstantly consistent, just in case you were wondering. It took me an hour to figure it out, but I have an answer now at least!
Throughout my life, the one thing I've always been consistently good at is throwing myself into my art and putting in so much effort that what was required. I was so consistent at it that I made it a habit for myself. And last year when I was going through an especially rough phase in my life, my work and my art became my reason for existence for several months. Metaphorically my art became my significant other.
This is a good strategy when you're going through a rough time and feeling quite alone in the world. But for me, I suffered for a while and then the suffering stopped. I picked myself up and started living life again. I found someone I could actually talk to and touch and be held when I was feeling upset. Someone who makes me feel special, and someone who I can care about. I remember for a while when I was single I would actually miss caring for someone, but then I would distract myself by drawing and painting.
Now I have realised a flaw in my past strategy for beating loneliness through art. When you apply consistency to only one area of your life, and you apply a lot of it, chances are the consistency everywhere else in your life diminishes. There's the flaw you don't really see until other people point it out to you, and I realise that I have been a guilty party for quite a while. I guess you could say I'm both consistently inconsistent and inconsistently consistent in many other aspects of my life.
As various self-help books will probably tell you, admitting you have a problem is the first step to fixing it. Now my goal is to be consistently consistent in every other area of my life. I think posting once a week every week on this blog is a good motivation to be consistent.
Until we meet again dear readers
Talia
P.S. Being consistently inconsistent isn't the same as inconstantly consistent, just in case you were wondering. It took me an hour to figure it out, but I have an answer now at least!
Monday, 27 April 2015
The Work In Progress You Don't Always See
So Dear Readers, the end of April is almost upon us... and that means that one third of this year is already over. It still feels like the year is off to an extremely slow start, but I think that the reason is because we haven't been doing much work where the process can be seen.
At the moment, we're working on various forms of etching and sculpture in clay... which is messy work almost all the time... but the process that goes into both is really difficult to see. You can't really show all the work that went into drawing into the copper or all the clay you've put on and taken off. All you really see is the final outcome of a slow process, Which isn't a bad thing, it just feels like a lot less work to show at the end.
I feel like not being able to see the process also relates to a lot of things in life, you can't see all the effort it takes to build a relationship with someone, all you can actually see is the current work in progress. You can't see how much time it takes for someone to become the person that they currently are.
If you're lucky, in art, you may get to watch someone work and see how a work transforms from a blank page or an empty space into something more tangible. Life is very much the same, you only get to see the slow transformation when someone lets you get incredibly close to them. That comfort and trust is a privilege, not a right. It is earned by trust and care, But the thing to remember about works in progress is that they have ups and downs, and the negatives are just as important as the positives to see how things turn out. I guess that you have to remember that the bad parts about progress are sometimes more meaningful than the good, because they teach you so much more than reinforcing what you think you already know.
So dear readers, if someone you know or something you may be creating has hit a bit of a rough patch, that's okay. Just remember that sometimes you have to have a patch of darkness to understand the light.
Until we meet again
Talia
At the moment, we're working on various forms of etching and sculpture in clay... which is messy work almost all the time... but the process that goes into both is really difficult to see. You can't really show all the work that went into drawing into the copper or all the clay you've put on and taken off. All you really see is the final outcome of a slow process, Which isn't a bad thing, it just feels like a lot less work to show at the end.
I feel like not being able to see the process also relates to a lot of things in life, you can't see all the effort it takes to build a relationship with someone, all you can actually see is the current work in progress. You can't see how much time it takes for someone to become the person that they currently are.
If you're lucky, in art, you may get to watch someone work and see how a work transforms from a blank page or an empty space into something more tangible. Life is very much the same, you only get to see the slow transformation when someone lets you get incredibly close to them. That comfort and trust is a privilege, not a right. It is earned by trust and care, But the thing to remember about works in progress is that they have ups and downs, and the negatives are just as important as the positives to see how things turn out. I guess that you have to remember that the bad parts about progress are sometimes more meaningful than the good, because they teach you so much more than reinforcing what you think you already know.
So dear readers, if someone you know or something you may be creating has hit a bit of a rough patch, that's okay. Just remember that sometimes you have to have a patch of darkness to understand the light.
Until we meet again
Talia
Sunday, 19 April 2015
Who Needs That Many Fireworks Anyway?
I started thinking about all the things I'd been wanting to do, achieve, accomplish... Whatever you'd like to call it. There's a million thoughts buzzing through my head, crashing and bursting... I guess you could say like fireworks on a perfectly clear night... You know the stars that stay constant and shine in the distance, but the fireworks are so loud and bright that they distract you from the things that stay constantly beautiful... Even if they're light years away. I would say that all the fireworks are thoughts about today, tomorrow, next week even. My mind is so drawn to those that I've forgotten the stars in my mind, visible only on a clear night, the thoughts that are about things relatively far away.
The all knowing They say that right at this moment, time is a gift, and that's why it's called The Present... But the little clause they tend to leave out is that the present only means something when there's a future ahead... A goal you could say. I think I've been good with the present, but all those fireworks have made me forget that the present is always leading to the future. Once the bright colours and noises have faded away, the stars are what remain there no matter what.
Mental stars are different for everyone, some people focus on one constellation, others a single star... Some chase after a shooting star (only to figure out it was a plane). Some spend their whole lives searching for the star no one else has found. For me, I can say I've focused on one constellation my whole life... the one that kind of looks like an artist. But I had a moment of clarity... and there's a sky full of other stars out there... Ones that make you realise there is so much more to life than a single constellation. I guess you can say that from now on, there will always be a set of stars that shine brighter for me than all the others, the ones that will shine clearer even through the fireworks on a mental New Year's Eve.
Oh and dear readers, I know I talk about the sky a lot. It helps to think about the universe out there, that there is so much more to life than the little things that bug us every day. The one thing I love about load shedding (scheduled power outages due to strain on the grid, for those overseas), is that when the lights go out, if you stand outside, you can see the stars clearer than on any night in Johannesburg. I guess now I don't need the lights to go out or even for it to be night time to see my own stars.
When in doubt, find your own stars dear readers.
Until we meet again
Talia
Sunday, 12 April 2015
To Speak or Not To Speak, That Is The Question
Art History Class
10h15
Its cold outside, and its cold inside too. The cold helps me stay awake... mostly. We're talking about the art of the Mende People, and more specifically the Sowo Wei mask they use as part of a ritual that celebrates a girl becoming a woman.
To sum it up, the mask represents the features and characteristics of a woman that the women in this society see as ideal. One of those qualities that intrigued me was the idea of reserved speech. And considerate conversation. How interesting that one of the ideal qualities so long ago was consideration of what you say before you say it. It got me thinking about how this ideal should still be part of our lives now, even though its almost 200 years later.
If you think about it, in this day and age, freedom of expression has been taken to an almost extreme level of "I'll say whatever I want because I have the right to say it anyway". You can see it in the way people speak, in the way they act, but most clearly through social media. What happened to thinking before you speak? What happened to actually considering other people in conversation? I read a saying once that just about perfectly sums it up:
10h15
Its cold outside, and its cold inside too. The cold helps me stay awake... mostly. We're talking about the art of the Mende People, and more specifically the Sowo Wei mask they use as part of a ritual that celebrates a girl becoming a woman.
To sum it up, the mask represents the features and characteristics of a woman that the women in this society see as ideal. One of those qualities that intrigued me was the idea of reserved speech. And considerate conversation. How interesting that one of the ideal qualities so long ago was consideration of what you say before you say it. It got me thinking about how this ideal should still be part of our lives now, even though its almost 200 years later.
If you think about it, in this day and age, freedom of expression has been taken to an almost extreme level of "I'll say whatever I want because I have the right to say it anyway". You can see it in the way people speak, in the way they act, but most clearly through social media. What happened to thinking before you speak? What happened to actually considering other people in conversation? I read a saying once that just about perfectly sums it up:
"The ability to speak many languages is an asset, but the ability to keep your mouth shut in any language is priceless"
I think it's easy to talk a lot... babble and go off on a tangent. But I think being considerate when you speak is a skill to be taught alongside being able to speak. Because sometimes, things are better left unsaid, sometimes you need to be able to listen instead of speak and sometimes... just once in a while, silence isn't a bad thing.
So dear readers, think twice before saying something to someone because you can, silence can be golden once in a while.
Until we meet again
Talia
Sunday, 22 March 2015
Wanted
Is it a crime to want more than you already have? Is it wrong to want more, constantly?
The truth is, dear readers, I have no idea what the correct answer to that is... but I think that if your heart is in the right place, and maybe your mind too, wanting more can't be such a bad thing. I'm one of those people that has learnt to accept what is given, more by habit than by any particular rule or bad experience. I guess it's just something that has become a part of me over time. And I haven't really questioned that aspect of myself... until recently.
I've realised over the last few weeks that wanting more isn't a bad thing at all... It all depends on what that "more" means. If you're a billionaire and you want even more money, that's probably a bad thing. If you hypothetically control the entire world and then you want to control the Martians (if they exist)... then might be a problem.
But what if your heart wants more? There is already enough hatred in this cruel world of ours, so much pain and suffering that we've actually become numb to because we've learnt to not see it. I can't believe that there was ever a doubt in my mind that wanting care and love someone more could ever be a bad thing... I guess I just needed a hypothetical slap in the face to be reminded that caring more could never be a bad thing... Even if everyone is not that appreciative or reciprocating.
Just this little (or not so little) change in perspective has kinda changed my way of seeing the world... which admittedly hasn't been that great recently. But that's okay, sometimes you need a lot of rain to appreciate the sunshine again (or vice-versa for all you pluviophiles). I can actually feel my heart getting bigger and more loving everyday, now this introvert just has to work on showing it to the people that matter.
Keep those hearts going for the people you care about dear readers.
Until we meet again
Talia
P.S. If anyone happens to be a charitable billionaire this art student is always happy to get more art supplies too!
The truth is, dear readers, I have no idea what the correct answer to that is... but I think that if your heart is in the right place, and maybe your mind too, wanting more can't be such a bad thing. I'm one of those people that has learnt to accept what is given, more by habit than by any particular rule or bad experience. I guess it's just something that has become a part of me over time. And I haven't really questioned that aspect of myself... until recently.
I've realised over the last few weeks that wanting more isn't a bad thing at all... It all depends on what that "more" means. If you're a billionaire and you want even more money, that's probably a bad thing. If you hypothetically control the entire world and then you want to control the Martians (if they exist)... then might be a problem.
But what if your heart wants more? There is already enough hatred in this cruel world of ours, so much pain and suffering that we've actually become numb to because we've learnt to not see it. I can't believe that there was ever a doubt in my mind that wanting care and love someone more could ever be a bad thing... I guess I just needed a hypothetical slap in the face to be reminded that caring more could never be a bad thing... Even if everyone is not that appreciative or reciprocating.
Just this little (or not so little) change in perspective has kinda changed my way of seeing the world... which admittedly hasn't been that great recently. But that's okay, sometimes you need a lot of rain to appreciate the sunshine again (or vice-versa for all you pluviophiles). I can actually feel my heart getting bigger and more loving everyday, now this introvert just has to work on showing it to the people that matter.
Keep those hearts going for the people you care about dear readers.
Until we meet again
Talia
P.S. If anyone happens to be a charitable billionaire this art student is always happy to get more art supplies too!
Sunday, 8 March 2015
The Ultimate Aim of an Artist
Today marks the passing of the first week of March. As I'm sure you've noticed dear readers, Time seems quite important to me. And the truth is that it is. Time is the one thing that no human being can escape from, no matter how hard you try. Time can swallow you whole and never let you see the light of day again. But time can also remind you of how precious each and every moment of your life is. Time can be generous.
Time can be deadly.
Time is what you make of it.
That is what I've noticed this year. Even though I've spent each day of this year doing something meaningful to me, whether it's through work or pleasure, it still astounds me how quickly time seems to be going this year.
On Friday afternoon, for our Fine Arts lecture we had Francis McKee lecture us. He is a Scottish curator. I found him to be incredibly bubbly and cheerful considering the depth of the things he was telling us at times. One of the things he said really got to me.
Time can be deadly.
Time is what you make of it.
That is what I've noticed this year. Even though I've spent each day of this year doing something meaningful to me, whether it's through work or pleasure, it still astounds me how quickly time seems to be going this year.
On Friday afternoon, for our Fine Arts lecture we had Francis McKee lecture us. He is a Scottish curator. I found him to be incredibly bubbly and cheerful considering the depth of the things he was telling us at times. One of the things he said really got to me.
"Immortality is the artist's ultimate aim"
I have never heard it so plainly and profoundly worded. Time is what the artist ultimately aims to defy. Even though we only have a finite amount of time to make work, our main goal is for the art we make to outlive us, to become immortal. Our souls become immortal as artist's because they are entrenched in everything we do. And here I think it applies to so much more than just visual art, it applies to writing, poetry, music, anything that carries a small fragment of us.
I think these little profound gems that people share are so easily lost among the world, purely because the world doesn't pay enough attention, or take enough time to see it. People ask me how I always find something to write about (whether it's through my blog or in my daily journal), the truth is this. There will be more words than I will ever be able to write, all I have to do is pay attention. There is more inspiration in this world in each and every human being than I will ever be able to make art about. But if I can create one inspiring piece of writing or a work of art that lets people see a tiny bit of the magic in this world, and it becomes immortal, I think I have done my job as an artist.
It's time to start immortalising the important things in the world.
Until we meet again
Talia
Thursday, 5 March 2015
You Reap What You Sow
Hello There Dear Readers!
No this isn't an entirely proper post, but I thought I'd just share some of my work that was completed this week! For Art History, we are currently studying Landscapes In Art, with our main focus this being The Mined Landscape. As part of our lectures, we went on an excursion to the Krugersdorp Mine Fields (In Gauteng, South Africa). Our assignment is based on our interpretation of this landscape.
What stood out for me the most, was that the impoverished people in the area are trying to grow mielies (or corn for those abroad) didn't know that the soil and underground water beneath them had been contaminated by Acid Mine Drainage. In essence, the very thing that was keeping them alive was also killing them. This struck me quite profoundly, and this is the work I produced as a result of this realisation:
No this isn't an entirely proper post, but I thought I'd just share some of my work that was completed this week! For Art History, we are currently studying Landscapes In Art, with our main focus this being The Mined Landscape. As part of our lectures, we went on an excursion to the Krugersdorp Mine Fields (In Gauteng, South Africa). Our assignment is based on our interpretation of this landscape.
What stood out for me the most, was that the impoverished people in the area are trying to grow mielies (or corn for those abroad) didn't know that the soil and underground water beneath them had been contaminated by Acid Mine Drainage. In essence, the very thing that was keeping them alive was also killing them. This struck me quite profoundly, and this is the work I produced as a result of this realisation:
You Reap What You Sow
Watercolour and Red Ink on Paper
21cm x 29,7cm
2015
That's all for now dear readers, I'm off to get some creative things done!
Until We Meet Again
Talia
Sunday, 1 February 2015
Inspire me
Inspiration is difficult to come by... if you don't try and look for it. It's is a funny thing, although it seems like one of those miracles that just falls into our laps, most of the time we find it by actively looking.
During December of 2014 I was at a loss for inspiration, and now in February 2015, it feels like that inspiration is coming back in huge tidal waves at a time. And I have to admit, I absolutely love it! It feels good to get back into a mode of productivity before varsity has started... And now that I've found inspiration again, it feels like I wasn't looking properly before.
Well, now that I seem to have found the not-so-secret formula for inspiration, I thought I would share with you some of my findings:
During December of 2014 I was at a loss for inspiration, and now in February 2015, it feels like that inspiration is coming back in huge tidal waves at a time. And I have to admit, I absolutely love it! It feels good to get back into a mode of productivity before varsity has started... And now that I've found inspiration again, it feels like I wasn't looking properly before.
Well, now that I seem to have found the not-so-secret formula for inspiration, I thought I would share with you some of my findings:
- The Internet will either MAKE you or BREAK you! It's entirely your choice whether you feel inspired or demotivated by what you find online. Personally, when I find artists with incredible abilities, I find myself in awe, wanting to aspire to reach that level of mastery with my own art. Don't feel demotivated when people are better than you, the saying goes that if you're the most talented person in the room, you need to find another room!
- Never underestimate people! Sometimes, it's the people who give you your greatest inspiration... and surprisingly (not really), talking to people about what you love and WHY you love it is a great way to feel motivated!
- PLAY! As an artist, when you get creative block (Yes it's a real thing in your mind!), sometimes the best way to get out of it is to play around and experiment with things just for the fun of it! Not only will it release the stress and tension, but you might get "happy accidents" that inspire new work.
- Go outside (and bonus points for switching off your phone): Seriously, in this day and age we've forgotten the good that fresh air and grass between our toes does for our minds. Sometimes it can take ten minutes walking around the block, or a good few hours relaxing in the park... but when I get back home I feel rejuvenated and ready to work (or play) again.
- Just start something. Whether it's a doodle, a poem, a story or even chores, just do something to get your mind working as well as your body.
So far I've found all of the above, and good food, have helped me to feel constantly inspired. My mind is in such a good place at the moment that I can barely keep up between making work and thinking of new work! Hopefully at least a fraction of this buzzing mental energy will materialise on my blog and other pages in the weeks to come!
Until we meet again
Talia
P.S Check out artist Kerby Rosanes to get some inspiration!
 |
| A little outcome of going to the park |
Tuesday, 16 December 2014
Who needs juggling when you're not in the circus?
I have returned... unscathed dear readers! My meeting with X went quite differently to how I had expected, but that is probably a good thing considering how tragically my mental worst case scenario ended. I apologise for having vanished for two weeks without posting, it turns out that managing a social life and productive blog with load shedding (international readers, this is the concept of scheduled power outages due to strain the on the power grid of South Africa) is surprisingly frustrating.
Speaking of frustrations, today I have been pondering on the idea of balancing. Balancing here meaning the careful juggling (and logic-defying) act of trying to do everything at once. A close contact of mine who specialises in untangling the thoughts of the human mind has reminded me that human beings are not particularly built mentally to deal with multitasking. We are built to complete one task at a time, yet society tells us that "all-rounders" are the successful ones. The epiphany that most of us experience at one point or another is that trying to balance everything perfectly at once is damn near impossible to achieve.
I have this particular flop at balancing between my time at University and when I'm on holiday. When I'm at University I am the most productive I can ever be, and I stay that way until there is no more official work to be done. The productivity feels relatively effortless... until it becomes holiday time. Now with no more deadlines, my productivity immediately flounders like a fish caught out of water. With all the time on my hands, running between my fingers, I do all the things I don't have the time for in varsity. Examples would be savouring a cup of hot tea instead of gulping it down, reading the newspaper for more than the quick headlines, READING BOOKS, going hunting in second hand book stores... and I think most importantly, spending quality time with other people.
I've been so isolated by my work this year that I've truly forgotten what it feels like just to enjoy other peoples company. But I think that also has a great deal to do with the new friends I've made this year. Some of them I feel like I've known for many years as opposed to just under one year. I enjoy being with them, so much so that I actually have a social life that makes every outing worthwhile. So I ended up having another epiphany: sometimes dedicating all your balance to one area of your life isn't such a bad thing. If productivity is maintained the rest of the year, then I see no reason why it cannot take a backseat when you get to spend quality time with the people you care about.
So yes, I haven't been making much in the way of art, but I have been making memories that I doubt I'll forget anytime soon. Sometimes you have to make time for memories, your work will still be there when you get back.
Until we meet again
Talia
Speaking of frustrations, today I have been pondering on the idea of balancing. Balancing here meaning the careful juggling (and logic-defying) act of trying to do everything at once. A close contact of mine who specialises in untangling the thoughts of the human mind has reminded me that human beings are not particularly built mentally to deal with multitasking. We are built to complete one task at a time, yet society tells us that "all-rounders" are the successful ones. The epiphany that most of us experience at one point or another is that trying to balance everything perfectly at once is damn near impossible to achieve.
I have this particular flop at balancing between my time at University and when I'm on holiday. When I'm at University I am the most productive I can ever be, and I stay that way until there is no more official work to be done. The productivity feels relatively effortless... until it becomes holiday time. Now with no more deadlines, my productivity immediately flounders like a fish caught out of water. With all the time on my hands, running between my fingers, I do all the things I don't have the time for in varsity. Examples would be savouring a cup of hot tea instead of gulping it down, reading the newspaper for more than the quick headlines, READING BOOKS, going hunting in second hand book stores... and I think most importantly, spending quality time with other people.
I've been so isolated by my work this year that I've truly forgotten what it feels like just to enjoy other peoples company. But I think that also has a great deal to do with the new friends I've made this year. Some of them I feel like I've known for many years as opposed to just under one year. I enjoy being with them, so much so that I actually have a social life that makes every outing worthwhile. So I ended up having another epiphany: sometimes dedicating all your balance to one area of your life isn't such a bad thing. If productivity is maintained the rest of the year, then I see no reason why it cannot take a backseat when you get to spend quality time with the people you care about.
So yes, I haven't been making much in the way of art, but I have been making memories that I doubt I'll forget anytime soon. Sometimes you have to make time for memories, your work will still be there when you get back.
Until we meet again
Talia
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