Social (?) Networking

I had an interesting event that happened over the weekend that made me question the idea of "social networking". Without going into a lot of details about the event, I'll provide my thoughts on what I've been thinking about....

Social networking was to bring people of similar interests together in a new way...no matter what the city, province or country...people could connect. As an example I have 850+ contacts in facebook...many are not "really" my friends. But since I play one of facebooks many online games...we band together for a personal army. Something interesting happened since I've been in college, I've posted some work that I've completed to a photo album in an effort to let my "real" friends see what I've been doing and have my work seen. What happened was I received comments not only by the people I know well, but from people whom we've never even said hello. Helpful comments, small tips, and insights in an attempt to make my work better or to give some encouragement to keep studying and stay focused. For this I can be so grateful.

In an effort to expand my social network, I joined Twitter and Empire Avenue (a game where you have personal shares that others buy so that your stock rises - or falls). I found this to be a bit more odd...sure I cared about my share worth and was encouraged to follow people on twitter and start a blog (which I am happy for...). I suppose what is so easy to forget is that social networking is like online dating...they are individuals that are out living there lives that spend a few min, or hours a day connecting with people. Some of these connections become "friends", and I have several from facebook.

The things that bug me are the release of information about me to third party companies just they can market to me better, and the reality of by connecting with others this way - you only know what they tell you...Just like in my travels to other countries, there are many different people good and bad, who also act good or bad - the difference is that for many - there is a loss of the idea that there is a real person connected to the posted photo, chat, or message. In it's attempt to connect people...hasn't it made that connection a bit thinner? It seems so easy to rant off a message and feel no consequences until forced to, many can feel free by doing so anonymously...others are not so lucky and must face themselves eventually.

For some others, it is the only form of escape for a thin attempt of socialization that they can deal with...For me, I am finding it difficult to chat on Twitter, MSN messenger and Facebook chat AND get my school work completed (well I always complete mine done...but still!). It is time consuming...

As for me, and my recent exposure to a concentrated dose intense of social networking...I think I'll remove myself from Empire Avenue, remove the people I don't really know from twitter, and stick with those that at least have the common interest on facebook. I'm not sure what the difference is really, but at least I've "known" many of them for a while...as for the others I don't know on facebook...at least we have castle age!

TGIF!

I missed my blog entry for yesterday, however I'm not sure if it would have made much sense.

I usually have problems sleeping, to overcome this I usually go to the gym since the added work load seems to level things out and actually make me tired at night. These days, working on projects seems to tire me out enough so that when I go home, I have no distractions and I just go to bed at a reasonable time. Wednesday night I had about 2 hours sleep (I'll go through why in a minute), still I went to college and attended all my classes (I hate to miss anything). Struggling through the day I went home, didn't stay late after school like usual, and fell asleep around 8 pm. This of course was a bad thing since I woke up wide awake at 1 am. On the upside I can come to school and get things done without anyone else around.

Anyway I know the reason why I don't sleep properly is due to worries about money. I would never, ever talk to anyone about these kinds of problems since I have always been pretty independent. I'm even hesitant to write this out here except I decided that I would use this blog to practice my writing and to get the things out that need to be said...only a few people read this anyway ;-)

However! Tonight when I wok up my mind started to go again and I think I have a direction (finally!). Part of my issue with working is that it doesn't advance my goals of working as a digital artist. I've been offered to work as a door guy in a bar (not my style or personality), I had thought to work at Sobey's grocery (but the money is so low that it hardly seems worth it). So I've been the "struggling student/artist" for a few months...

So the plan is to now try to do some things that combine my experience...start a company with a friend of mine. This company produce digital print banners, mostly it will be used for advertising anything from real estate, birthday celebrations, and billboards. However I think that this could also be perfect for artists to showcase their work in a reasonably priced, large format. This is an exciting prospect and I really need it to work out. Especially since this fulfills my idea of "working from anywhere" since most things can be done via the internet.

The next thing I decided what to make a book. Not really to "publish" but I can see the potential of understanding a product like InDesign, the best would be to make a magazine. I was toying with the theme...but I think it's going to be a book/magazine about me and my interests, plus I can put my work in there and use it as a portfolio...that must be good!

So that's the end of my 4am ramblings...hope it wasn't too painful for you ;-)

Mid-Week

I am pretty happy today...just posted an unfinished version of my first pinup to facebook. Had to stamp it with "Sample" so the facebook police wouldn't "own" my work. I'll be making a Flickr account soon for my final images...still with a watermark. I think I'll have her finished today and I'll add the background done today/tomorrow depending on how detailed it will be.

I've been learning some basic html so let's see if I can add the image here...

[Fail]

Not sure if it's my coding or this blog website...? More investigation is needed.

Today we are moving towards "making" actual websites. We have to make a mock up in photoshop, then tomorrow we'll code it...should be interesting!

Highly Productive!

I feel pretty good! I have the first pinup near completion...should be done tomorrow if all goes well. Then I'll start another, I'll only make 3 or 4 and not one per month (for the calendar project we have. I find this all very interesting and cool, drawing but with the computer...exactly what I wanted...now to get it to pay for me!

I think I'll be going home soon, I've been feeling tired and although feeling good - I don't want to get sick or something crazy and have to miss school.

Also I think I need to look at getting a flickr account to post my work on. Facebook is ok for tutorial stuff that I've finished but for work that I've spent hours and hours on...I'd like to control that a bit better. With any luck, maybe I can be a not-so-starving-artist someday!

Back to Monday

Funny I feel so tired this morning...but I got more off-time that I usually take while in college? Maybe it's the cloud cover and slight rain, but I feel tired. One of the good things though is I'm making good progress for my pinup calendar :-)

New Project!

Well I have to day I feel I did a lot of good work this weekend...and I'm pretty happy about it!

Finished some projects, got a good start on a new one. I've met and chatted with cool new people through EA (Empire Avenue) - though my stock has been dropping all day...not sure what's up with that??). I had a nice coffee and conversation with someone. Then after coming back did some more work. Now I plan to go home soon and take a break...I don't want one, but I'll come in early tomorrow...don't want to get burned out after all ;-) Not sure if my Mac Crazy Eye Syndrome was burn out or not...

So here is my "in-my-head" song for the day...Heroes by Bowie of course! Although he is totally strung out, can't really lip-sync the song, and apparently doesn't remember shooting the video...I love the song and find it very inspirational.

Anyway...enjoy your night/weekend!

Sunday Bloody Sunday

Not too bloody, actually quite good. I essentially finished my huge image image (I say essentially since I will most likely need another 5-10 hours but the main image is now done). So I started a new one, this one is the calendar, to be done Using Illustrator. I have the actually calendar written out in the program - did that Friday. After a ton of looking around at different calendars, Aztec, zodiac, celestial, etc...I decided in Dano style to do a pinup calendar. Those who are reading this and not "subscribed" will not find this unusual of course. However it has it's own challenges...

I think I want to do 4 different images, and to make sure I don't suffer my White Pixel Retinal Burn Syndrome. So this means I'll have to lower the amount of detail while still getting it done well...tough for me since I would want to add every single shade and detail. However I'm glad to report that I've been doing this for only a few (3) hours and its working pretty well...even getting the sense of when I'm getting too nutty about detail! See and old dog can learn new tricks! Ha!

Ch..Ch..Cha..Changes

Well ok things aren't changing at the moment...but it's my song of the day. You know those days where you could hear the same song 20 times...that kind of day :-) So today is Bowie's - Changes. Really the whole Ziggy era is doing it for me today...

I like these times of day the best...early/late at night...working on stuff I like and listening to my music. I think I need a break from "people" it seems. I think the years working in Client Services have worn down my tolerance, especially this last year.

Working on my Iman image again today...I think for the most part it will be complete..I'll keep doing stuff with it, adding in smaller details that only I can see. However I have a new project - to make a calendar. I'm thinking I might this one a pinup calendar since it's one of my things I like ;-)

Super Tired!

Well it's been a long week...but in the interests of keeping my Empire Avenue stock going...I thought I better get my blog entry in for the day.

Since I've been working hard, I plan to go home for a good sleep then back to school super early tomorrow!

Have a good night all!

What a day!

It's been a crazy busy day it seems...though fun.

First in class we got the cameras and went out to take some photos of each other to give us some reference material. We walked around the area (which is my village if you recall) and took pics in an old English style phonebooth...I've wanted that pic since I moved in since it's on the Ziggy Stardust album jacket (if you remember what an album is). We walked to other areas as well so it was fun for first thing in the morning.

Next we were sent in to work on our photos for our "work life" shots...if we wrote up tutorials, got interviewed, etc then we have a stock pro photo that we worked on ourselves. The upside is that it looks very good, the downside is that I don't look exactly like that! Using our photoshop techniques I opened up my sleepy eyes, whitened the whites, cleared and balanced my skin, removed some wrinkles (not many were there thankfully), cleaned up the glass in the phone booth, lightened me up since I was in a shadow, and made the booth more red. Also I gave myself a slight nose job! so it's crazy what I can do now!

Next we had a website we designed critiqued, I won't complain (much) since it was only the second I ever tried on my own...but with some helpful critiques I think I'll get there.

Finally I did some tutorials (as seen on facebook), it was irritating since the authors don't tell you all the information that you need to know ahead of time. So it took me 4 tries to perfect what needed to be done. I went from over an hour in a try to about 10 min. So I'm not sure if that's part of the learning path but I ended up doing somethings on my own to make it work--not so bad! I think I should make this into a postage stamp!

Anyway I feel optimistic that I am learning a lot and getting better at my craft...although not fast enough for me of course!

It's Hard to be a Saint in the City

No one reading this blog would know this, very often I think in songs. Not like a musical that seems all weird an inappropriate. More like I get a song or lyric in my head and it's with me all day, 98.2% of the time it's a song I like. Today it's the title of this blog.

If you don't realize I am a Bowie fan. I have over 100 gb of concert bootlegs and almost 100 bootleg dvds of interviews and concerts. Bowie is one of the few artists that has never cared about the fact his music is out there without a direct link to his wallet. His attitude is that at least it's out there and the true fans will buy whatever he can put out there...very true for me at least!

Why this is relevant is that while some people would be annoyed having a tune stuck all day long, I think it helps me create. I had Bowie's in Space (linked to the video)by Flight of the Conchords until I broke down and made a typography poster for class...it was overkill for what was assigned, but that's my style too ;-) Thankfully I did get a couple big projects done...now to get back to the Iman project...lol.

While Bruce Springsteen wrote the lyrics, of course I prefer the Bowie version. I linked the title to the Bowie version...Enjoy!)

It's Hard To Be A Saint In The City
I had skin like leather and the diamond-hard look of a cobra
I was born blue and weathered but I burst just like a supernova
I could walk like Brando right into the sun
Then dance just like a Casanova
With my blackjack and jacket and hair slicked sweet
Silver star studs on my duds like a Harley in heat
When I strut down the street I could hear its heartbeat
The sisters fell back and said "Don't that man look pretty"
The cripple on the corner cried out "Nickels for your pity"
Them gasoline boys downtown sure talk gritty
It's so hard to be a saint in the city

I was the king of the alley, mama, I could talk some trash
I was the prince of the paupers crowned downtown at the beggar's bash
I was the pimp's main prophet I kept everything cool
Just a backstreet gambler with the luck to lose
And when the heat came down it was left on the ground
The devil appeared like Jesus through the steam in the street
Showin' me a hand I knew even the cops couldn't beat
I felt his hot breath on my neck as I dove into the heat
It's so hard to be a saint when you're just a boy out on the street

And the sages of the subway sit just like the living dead
As the tracks clack out the rhythm their eyes fixed straight ahead
They ride the line of balance and hold on by just a thread
But it's too hot in these tunnels you can get hit up by the heat
You get up to get out at your next stop but they push you back down in your seat
Your heart starts beatin' faster as you struggle to your feet
Then you're outa that hole and back up on the street

And them South Side sisters sure look pretty
The cripple on the corner cries out "Nickels for your pity"
And them downtown boys sure talk gritty
It's so hard to be a saint in the city

Finally a Sunny Day!

It seems like a week since I saw the sun...last week Friday I think? Rain, snow, cloudiness...but luckily or not I'm mostly indoors in a controlled environment where the air conditioner is so cold we have to bring a jacket and wear it in the class! lol.

I'm pretty excited about forming my company and doing work with that...it's what I've been thinking about for the past few years so it will be nice to get that going. Even better to get work, then to get so much work that I need people to come on board to help, then enough for me to travel and do the work while I'm abroad! People might laugh or roll their eyes at my words, but I have a pretty good track record for obtaining my goals!