IT'S THE END OF THE YEAR AS WE KNOW IT
Published on December 21st, 2008

I can't believe the year is almost at its end, yet this year-end ritual feels familar each time the year reaches its demise. With the year closing, I take the chance to reflect on my accomplishments as a path to achieving better next year. I am two years and going strong as a Graphic Arts teacher at middle school in Antioch, Illinois. I feel that I have contributed to the growth of future graphic artists/designers by teaching them the fundamentals of Art and the tools necessary so they can develop into
thier artists or designers. Freelancing was plentiful, but came to a screaching hault due to the broken economy. I was a finalist in a few logo contest, but as I realized: bias
takes priority over quality. Some resolutions for the up-and-coming new year are to
finish the print materials for my freelance business, teach Graphic Arts part-time at
the community college, win a few logo contests, branch out to design forums like www.crowdspring.com, develop my artist identity with conceptual art projects.

I MET MY IDOL, PETER MAX
Published on July 17th, 2008

Peter Max was in town, and I was there to meet and greet. I teach a Peter Max lesson
in my 8th grade class, and I was able to show him the students' work. He first said jokingly: "call my lawyer." And then he actually asked if this was his set of the students' work. I told him I would send them via e-mail. He signed my Peter Max book and then
I got a picture with him. He was a lot shorter than I imagined and the years are
taking a toll; however, he still manages to create timeless art.

WHAT IS ART?
Published on June 26th, 2008

I was watching a good documentary called, "My Kid Can Paint That" about a
famous five-year old girl, Marla, who paints abstract artwork. It was pretty well done,
and I had my own bias throughout. I mean people were attaching these really huge
concepts to these works of art that a five-year old was painting. I really think that
art is what it means to you. There is no way possible the girl had INTENTION to place
these ideas into the artwork. We as humans like to look at the HUMANITY of artwork.
It's like when you are at a music concert, and you try to recognize faces of people
you do not know... it's minds little trick. That's what we do when we look at art.

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