.philosopy.

When he showed us his sketchbook, it baffled me. It was page after page of bright contrasting colors, loud images that didn’t seem to relate to one another, and random stickers, stencils, and words that, to my eyes, didn’t fit. It didn’t look even remotely like any sketchbook I had ever worked on. Mine were all simple pencil sketches or ink drawings that had taken me hours to complete. I had adored clean lines, color coordination, and, in a word, perfection.
My advertising teacher at a High School program at Art Center College of Design called the philosophy behind his sketchbook “forced serendipity”; a way of creating artwork without worrying about making mistakes. To my horror, he could tear out a page of his precious sketchbook, stick it anywhere else, and be just as happy with the new composition. There was no such thing as a mistake in his class; even spilled coffee was art. It inspired me. His approach was so different, so unique. I knew from that moment forward that I wanted to carry this philosophy in my own artwork as well as my career: to enjoy the process as well as the result, and to let my creativity show without the restriction of striving for perfection. I will always be organized and detail oriented, but I will not let that stop me from exploring new mediums, trying new things, and getting inspiration from unique people and places.
Adapting to this new style of art was surprisingly difficult for me. To learn, I decided to make a collage. No planning involved. It forced me to consciously decide to use new supplies, tools, and colors, and to trust my instincts as I went along. It felt awkward. I used scraps of paper with bold tribal patterns I never would have otherwise utilized. I used photocopies of random pictures, words, and phrases from magazines around my house. “A Declaration of Independence”. What began as a black and white plan soon had orange and yellow accents with acrylic paint. I even found a way to incorporate masking tape. When I succeeded what is now my favorite piece of my own artwork, it was the ultimate liberation. I have not since sketched a single still life. Today, only unique collages adorn my walls.
When considering careers that suit my skills and personality, advertising or public relations have stood out to me as fields in which I know I will thrive. I see it as a chance to merge my passions for art and publicity, whether art director, publicist, or account manager. I will be working with a motivated team of professionals in a relaxed environment to create strategies that are appreciated and purposeful. With this career in mind throughout my college experience, I picked up an Advertising minor and consciously involved myself in extracurricular activities and positions that would allow me to explore interesting ways of getting people’s attention and communicate though my art.
As Publicity Chair for my dance team at USC, Break Through, I consider it my job to get as many people to recognize and support our team as possible. I do this through word of mouth, as well as social networking sites such as Facebook and Myspace. This year, our annual showcase had the theme of “Unleashed”. I was immediately excited to design the flier. When I began, my only idea involved breaking chains, but I didn’t have a specific image in mind. If I had been making this flier five years ago, I probably would have drawn it out before even beginning work on the computer. After hours of experimentation and fun, I finally created a design inspired by chains, our team color scheme, and the edginess of hip hop dance. It was a great representation for our team. After I made sure everybody on the team participated in promoting our show, our performance almost filled both balconies of USC’s largest auditorium.
I have carried the philosophy of my first advertising teacher with me through everything I have since accomplished, and plan on applying it in my future. I find that true perfection lies not merely in a faultless outcome, but in the experience that produced the result. When beginning any project, I automatically begin with an open mind. Whether the purpose is academic, professional, or creative, I let ideas wash over me and pick one or two to loosely guide my process. Then, I let the project shape itself. I know that as I go, I may change my mind many times. Not following strict guidelines helps me be the most creative I can possibly be, and then eventually leads me to exceed my own expectations. My end results are rarely similar to how I originally plan them to be; they are better.