-Bertrice Berry
...and of course, in order to make that collision, you must first
muster up the confidence to take that first step.
***
It's funny how things happen. I've always been an artist at heart. I excelled in all the artsy subjects in school. However, I've always been on the fence about taking it seriously. I have a few paintings here and there. I've done the occasional gift, one or two commissions, nothing serious... but recently I have found myself trying to take my hobby seriously and develop a proper portfolio and such. I even did
a quick portfolio blog page over the weekend.
Prior to this, I have always met discouraging people who don't believe it would make a lucrative career and so forth because of the time investment, markets, etc. involved. However, funnily enough, since I've started making a few tentative steps forward I've been meeting the most amazing artists who've made successful careers out of what they do - for fun. It's been a series of GMH (
Gives Me Hope) moments to help keep my inspiration going to finish my current portfolio goal.
So last night, I was with one of my new friends, Caesar, who is a local graphic designer. Trust me when I say you must've already seen his work somewhere. He does illustrations, websites, flyers, business cards (and greeting cards), advertisements, logos, book covers, animations and the list goes on and on...
***
So what does all this have to do with me? As an artist, instead of selling all my originals, I've decided to do a few prints of those I'm reluctant to part with. So... I stepped over to Caesar's office to see what could be done. He showed me some hard copy samples of his work. I saw first hand, behind-the-scenes how the designs get created (I'm horrible at using software to manipulate a picture, I'm better at just using my hands), what other tools are used and how to use them, and the differences and difficulties in deciding on which mediums to use. I never knew that there was so much deliberation involved in deciding what kind of paper to use, much less which type of printer would do the job best.
***
Firstly, I didn't realize the blur in some of the shots until I uploaded it on my mum's laptop.
I took a few quick shots with my phone.
Business cards are roughly $150 E.C. to design and $0.50 E.C. to print single sided. $1 to print double sided. Design prices can vary from, but the printing price has to be followed because of running costs.
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| A match-box business card |
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| It clips in.... |
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| It opens out... it's the business card that sells your product while reminding people who you are. |
His personalized cards are about $ 7. I saw a few personalized birthday cards and mother's day cards. I didn't post those up because a few were collages of pictures of the intended recipients.
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| Christmas "Thank You" cards for clients |
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| Experimental prints... which printer? which paper? which effects? |
|
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| Trimming with the guillotine |
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| A rough quickie example... the finished product. |
The most important part...
....
....
....
My prints!!!
I have to re-confirm the pricing. However, it varies upon size... An 8*11 inch print would cost about $5 E.C. and the price remains the same regardless of which printer or type of paper he uses... or even which effect you're going for - matte or gloss.
***
I didn't do many prints as it was just a test run. Much thanks to Caesar for taking time out of very
busy schedule to help me out. I'm extremely pleased with what I have thus far.
OH! And in case you're maco-vision didn't pick up his contact information in the pictures... and you're interested in contacting him. (His name below is hyperlinked to his Facebook page for easy clicking)
Cell #: (473) 420 1110/409-1110
C'est tout.
Shelli out
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Beware, long post ahead.
I'm so tired. My days are long, my nights are exhausting. I feel like I almost have no social life anymore. All I do is sleep, go to school, study, paint. I recently re-joined Facebook again, but I don't even have time to play with the new look too much, much less be perturbed about all the annoying game requests FB friends insist on sending.
***
Here comes another paper cut,
...But in the end, the devil always gets what he deserves
In light of an inspired postmortem of decisions I've made throughout recent years, situations I ended up in & stories I've heard from others of their experiences...
I've been thinking... Granted a hell
does exist, I'm inclined to think there's a special place reserved for those who intentionally take advantage of the innocent and a special place reserved for chronic liars. It baffles me that some people have made it so far on the basis of sheer successful trickery and manipulation. The success rate is almost tempting to switch gears morally just to survive in these current economic times.
I had a recent encounter with an odd-end job that seemed valid enough. However, if I had taken just a few more minutes to do a proper background check rather than go on the basis of assumed trust because I met the person through someone dear to me, things would've played out differently. Fortunately, it wasn't too grand of an investment beyond time. The irony is, that in the end of it all, almost everyone that I know seems to have a story or know of a story of someone with a similar encounter. Stories, annoyingly enough late, are coming through the cracks like ants. Amazing huh? I can be Panglossian about it and say the story had to happen the way it did because it placed the spotlight in a few seemingly innocent places.
...but I'm a bit perturbed by the whole event because my time has, as of recent with all that's on my plate, become very expensive... and well, frankly, no one likes realizing they were deceived. It makes you question yourself and your judge of character. True it could happen to anyone... but right now, I don't feel that way.
Life lesson? Beware of strangers. Background checks are very important in business. Also, get it in writing.
I mean, the reality I guess is that's life. Additionally, I've found myself in situations I had hoped to never have to re-encounter again recently. However, all it has done is made me more suspect of people. More aware of the flaws of being human, because the truth is, people can be easily manipulated regardless, granted they are given the right bribes. Hell, there are books written on this. Recently, a dear friend of mine encouraged me to read two books - "The 48 laws of Power" and "Art of Seduction" by Robert Greene. It was incredibly disturbing. What's interesting is that we all use manipulation in small ways to get what we want in life. However, what was disturbing was the systematic yet
plausible layout of book with a clear rationale. In one of them, I can't remember which one... one of the online reviews had someone who practiced the mindset of the book to test it, to get someone to prove they could do it, and well... didn't know how to live normal afterwards because their whole existence was fabricated to suit their intentions... The art of manipulation requires you to constantly maintain and create masks to present to the world.
Point form excerpt below...
Law 1 Never Outshine the Master
Always make those above you feel comfortably superior. In your desire to please or impress them, do not go too far in displaying your talents or you might accomplish the opposite – inspire fear and insecurity. Make your masters appear more brilliant than they are and you will attain the heights of power.
Law 2 Never put too Much Trust in Friends, Learn how to use Enemies
Be wary of friends-they will betray you more quickly, for they are easily aroused to envy. They also become spoiled and tyrannical. But hire a former enemy and he will be more loyal than a friend, because he has more to prove. In fact, you have more to fear from friends than from enemies. If you have no enemies, find a way to make them.
Law 3 Conceal your Intentions
Keep people off-balance and in the dark by never revealing the purpose behind your actions. If they have no clue what you are up to, they cannot prepare a defense. Guide them far enough down the wrong path, envelope them in enough smoke, and by the time they realize your intentions, it will be too late.
Law 12 Use Selective Honesty and Generosity to Disarm your Victim
One sincere and honest move will cover over dozens of dishonest ones. Open-hearted gestures of honesty and generosity bring down the guard of even the most suspicious people. Once your selective honesty opens a hole in their armor, you can deceive and manipulate them at will. A timely gift – a Trojan horse – will serve the same purpose.
Law 27 Play on People’s Need to Believe to Create a Cultlike Following
People have an overwhelming desire to believe in something. Become the focal point of such desire by offering them a cause, a new faith to follow. Keep your words vague but full of promise; emphasize enthusiasm over rationality and clear thinking. Give your new disciples rituals to perform, ask them to make sacrifices on your behalf. In the absence of organized religion and grand causes, your new belief system will bring you untold power.
The book itself is more detailed. It speaks a subconscious truth, an conscious curse. The two books together can do two things, inspire you to learn the art of manipulation
or make you more wary of peoples actions. I'm way too lazy to actively, deliberately employ these tactics... I can't even keep a study routine beyond 2 days much less set about reprogramming my entire mind to entrap
one person. Furthermore, I'm one of those rainbow, tree-hugger, optimistic, potentially naive 'still believe there's good in the world' people that follow that 'never compromise your integrity for fortune, fame or power' and the religious good actions will be repaid
eventually. It may take a while to reap the benefits compared to quick schemes, but in my mind, it makes more practical sense. Plus, it requires less effort.
I mean, I've been in situations in college where students cheated throughout on their in-class essay exams, got straight As. Whereas I had to work had to bring my C up to an A grade, and maintain it. I could've cheated but how would that benefit me? I would've graduated not having truly learned anything and had a grade that did not necessarily represent knowledge attained. Then when CAPE came around, those same people struggled to scrape a B, if so much, and I got the grade I worked for, and had been working for. See? Now I can write near-perfect essays in University. Small scale example of temporary benefits with a long term effort.
***
It brings me back to a theory on karma that Sher and I have been musing on... That is, everything that goes around, comes around. Therefore you should mind what you do. However, if you do bad, expect bad to happen back. But if you do bad to innocent, good people, expect the repercussions to be much, much higher than I don't know... stealing lunch from a serial killer? With that said, no one walks through life without committing a few sins and stepping on a few toes, but
know that no deed - good or bad - goes unpaid. Also, those who need the satisfaction of witnessing, generally do. So try to make sure the show you're setting up the stage for is a relatively good one.
As we would say here in Grenada, 'I ain't go hype no scene...' But
everything comes full circle. If you've convinced yourself you've gotten away with a crime - trust me, you haven't.
"Moonlight run 'til daylight ketch 'im."
***
Moving along... in my last post I mentioned an art portfolio that I'm developing. I'm working on a tentative series that
hopefully should be in stores near you before the year is up. My plan was to have at least 10 pieces done over the last couple weeks. The result? I got 10 pieces priced collectively, factoring in pieces I've done already. New deadline re-established.
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| Some of the mounting board I collected already |
I've successfully gotten some people to sponsor mounting board sheets.
A big thank you to all those who have donated or plan to donate. *Sends showers of hugs and kisses*Those interested in getting me a sheet, I'm offering a tentative future small complimentary piece done upon request granted I have the time and materials. My friends already know I'm pretty generous with my artwork anyways, so worry not.
A sneak preview of some of my pieces thus far...
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State of affair of my room.
I recently started back working with pastels & charcoals. |
Heliconia (2010)
Soft Pastels
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Trinidad Bouganvellia (or so I was told it was called) (2006)
Acrylics |
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Girl who is too sad to give a... (2011)
Acrylics |
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Carenage (2011)
Oil & Soft Pastels |
***
That's all I'm willing to share currently.
When I've mounted everything, I'll post the finish.
Deuces.
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our house in the middle of the street...
why did we ever meet?
started my rock 'n roll fantasy...
don't don't, don't let's start.
why did we ever part?
kick start my rock 'n rollin' heart
-'A praise chorus' Jimmy Eat World
~~~
You know when you're a kid, you look up to the adults in your life - or anyone that's in an adult position and they're are certain expectations that you feel the need to be fulfilled.. and feel so disappointed when you find out they're human?
That's one of the lessons that teaching has taught me. When i was a student, and a child everyone that fell into the category of "adult" were supposed to be able handle every situation and comfort and tell me all the right answers....
As a teacher, with adult responsibilities... kids come to you with questions that you don't always know the answers to... with requests for help in which you don't always know the resources and means by which to provide assistance... YET you try to bramble your way until you figure a small something out and it makes their world THAT much brighter again... And they go WOW...
And i... go home and sink onto my bed going "PHUEY! *sigh* that was a close one... they almost discovered i'm just human".
~~~
Today is Grensave World Food Day. Mum did some food for one of the stalls. I'm thinking of heading down there myself in a minute... Get me some cheesecake... some cookies... some broth.. mm... some lambie waters... some ox tail... err... *snaps self out of reverie*
Erm.. i have chores to finish before i head out. OOOH and post
new art pics of my work..
er...i should go now..
shelli out
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