January 15th Text Commentary

The readings were interesting. In the Scoping an Audience section, I had never really thought of art as being consumed by anything. I always new that viewers could learn from it, relate to it, reject, criticize it, and condemn, it. But in essence they are consuming it, and their response/reflection is the digestion state.
Being inspired is a feeling that I welcome with open arms. It is exactly what Ovid describes it as, "the diety within us who breathes that divine fire by which we are animated." I have found myself in many of the situation discussed in this chapter. Such as the inspiration not being sustained during the process of creation, inspiration is diverted to another work of art before the other one is completed, or that simultaniously I have inspiration for more than one project at the same time. I agree that every artist has his or her own way of finding inspiration, be it a certain visual that strikes up a memory, a song, discomfort...somethingthat awakens them and jumpstarts their creative engine. I find mine through passion. A passion for all things ugly and beautiful. Passion for things I'm dealing with internally and things affecting my outside environment. That passion is delivered in the form of a tiny spark that illuminates me from the inside out.
Crafting an Artisitic "self" was a very interesting read. It addressed alot of the questions that I have been struggling with over the last few years. Who am I as a person and who am I as a designer? Do I portray myself as one person to everyone or do I have multiple shades of grey? I want viewers of my art to be able to relate and understand the person making it as much as the piece itself. So far it has been a fantastic journey of self discovery. I can only help that the statement "self knowledge is sometimes discovered through the process of creating art" holds true.
My attitude is simple. It is an extension of my personality. It is not based on arrogance. It is confidence in myself and my abilities. People say that I have a aura about me when I walk into a room. That my presence is strong and people notice that I am confident and sure.