When it comes to practice hours I think it depends on the person to tell when it becomes excessive. I don’t think you can really have a time limit but more of a self limit. It becomes excessive when the person starts to not like the work that they are doing or no longer desire to practice because they have spent so much time on practicing their craft. To produce sophisticate work I think the person practicing and producing the work has to at least put in two-three hours a day. At the same time it is different for everyone. to some artist or producers of work it comes naturally and they may be able to make some sophisticated work in less than that but for some it may take a little more effort. Everyone is different while we all need practice the time is different for majority. For me I think I fall on the end of needing more practice time. It used to be something that came naturally to me but now it’s a little more difficult. Especially when that is not the only thing I am focusing on.
I think the “next level” looks like taking your work and pushing the boundaries. Weather that means making your canvas bigger and creating more detail or refining your work and edit even the smallest of details. For me and the maps that I produced I think taking it to the next level would mean to refining the work already there. These maps were something that I could have done way better work but I let the stress of finals and over all the stress of this semester get to me. I think the icons that I made could haven been cleaned up more and purpose of color could have been thought out more. Don’t get me wrong there is pieces form each map that I am proud of but there are other parts that I should have focused more on. I think also being able to see your mistake as a designer is also a part of taking your work to the next level. In order for your work to take that step you have to be able to see your flaws.
For my third map I feel like I got a lot of really constructive feedback. The first thing was the unraveling of the decision map and if there was really a decision to be made. Even though we concluded that there was decisions to be made it got me thinking on the different choices that could be made due to the map. Another comment that I got about the same map was how confusing/ overwhelming it was looking. With that information I deiced to reduce the amount of different symbols and instead just use fewer symbols and and multiply the times it was shown for intensity. Over all this class and the people in the class were really constructive when it came to feedback. They all were able to give some great comments that in result help me if not at the moment later on in the semester.
I think I was challenged by these maps and in general this semester because I spread myself too thin between my major and my minor. When it comes to the maps I think the second map really was rough for me because I took on more than I could handle. When I originally proposed doing a calorie count I just though about one portion and not all the portions that are bought. It took a lot of outside research to be done and that took me away from working on that map. I think that map was the biggest challenge that I faced. The easiest part I think was the third map. It was a map that I really enjoyed doing and creating symbols for and it is one that I can see myself using on the daily when I work out. For me the most enjoyable part of the process was the critiques. Not only did I like getting feedback from others but I also liked seeing what others produced and seeing everyone different styles. I not yet have discovered my style and I think by seeing others I was able to create my own by taking a mental inventory of different styles I liked.
I am continuing to work on our family cookbook that I am designing and writing. I work on it about once a day and hope to have it done by February. It’s a pretty big book and I am excited to get it all done. I also have been working on my Photography a lot more trying to get jobs and internships. I recently have been a mentee for a photographer for the Houston Dynamos Soccer team. I haven been shooting sporting events and emailing him back and forth my results and he in return is giving me tips and tricks. Over winter break I plan to be able to work with him hand in hand to better my portfolio.
I don’t think my outside life has really impacted my school life. I try to keep them separate in order to keep myself well balanced. My family is really encouraging and my friends are always willing to help me out with anything that I need. So when it comes to school I have a really great support system that encourages me to well and always strive for the best. Even thought this semester was really stressful for me outside of school was always a way to calm me down or center me again.
The ideal classroom environment looks like a class where everyone participates and wants to be there. In order to be apart of a class you can’t just show up you have to active and be constructive in the class. Just because someone is active that doesn’t always mean a good thing it could be disruptive activity. I like to think that I was an active member of this class. I provided well thought out feedback and provided work for feedback to be given. I was absent a few times and I do think that did effect the class room climate because it was one less view for feedback. I think I worked the best when I was alone either in the lab or even just working in the digital media center in the library. I also learned that I work really well when I have calming music that is new and I am not to familiar with.