Who is your favorite artist and why?

I love art that takes you to a different world. Don't get me wrong, I love photos or paintings that show life as it is, but I think if you can make the viewer travel to some other world art is much more effective. Because of this, I really enjoy the work of surreal photographers. These type of scenes evoke an array of emotions and often stem thoughts relating to either the image or the feelings it produces. You're left wanting to understand a little more about the story of the subject.

I can't say that I have only one favorite artist. Since my taste is constantly evolving, different photographers inspire me at different points. However, for right now, the work of Robert and Shana Parkeharrison is a great example of the scenes I really love. Their execution is perfect and the imagery is clever, especially in their series entitled "Architect's Brother." Their content is something I strive for. Cole Rise is another photographer I've enjoyed recently. His color palette is one that I've been emulating recently along with the slight texture to some of his more surreal photos, like in this photo or this one.

As far as digital artists/print artists, I really enjoy the work of Scott Hanson aka ISO50. His website is a great piece of design itself. I tried to make a flash site like his last year, and though I lack the skill at the moment to do half of what he did, I think his influence was obvious.

Why do you want to be an artist?

For as long as I can remember, I have been creating and relating to art in its many forms. It was only very recently that I decided I wanted it to be my career. I know that I do have something I want to communicate to people, and though the thought differs each time, the feeling is ever-present. Beyond the desire to communicate, there is the desire to create. When I was a kid, I would doodle and paint just to work on something, almost an escape. I'd say for a greater part of my life, most of my art was created in this way - with no clear concept but beauty to back it. However, I can remember the first time I started critically thinking about my own work, striving to re-create a scene in my mind. When I succeeded in conveying visually and conceptually what I imagined, it was the best feeling in the world. So, I've never been terribly good at drawing or painting, at least not quickly, and since I lack the patience to sit with myself and teach myself, photography was the next best thing. I took a photography class in high school, like most kids do. It was the best experience. In the darkroom I was able to use my hands to create my imagine, like a painter but different. I instantly understood it, loved its quirks. Recently though, I've enjoyed combining both photography and digital art to better recreate the image in my mind. But I guess the main reason I want to be an artist is because I can't imagine doing anything else. Desk jobs are definitely not appealing, and I love working with people to help them realize their idea.

Hypermedia: Why Now?

This article is a few years old, but it still mentioned things I know only a little about - like RSS. What the article made me think about was this community that has been created by hypermedia. I have a friend who is an avid blogger - she even gets paid to blog for certain companies - and in the past she created her own Podcasts about yoga. I've never really gotten into the whole Podcast scene, even though I am subscribed to a couple music casts. I connected more with the idea of watching video online. About a year ago the writer's strike in Hollywood was started over this idea of video on the web. People all over were uploading free streaming and downloading videos of the latest TV shows. Once this became a popular thing to do, the networks picked up on it and began streaming their shows on their website. At this point, I no longer have TV because I can watch any shows I want on the internet. Furthermore, BitTorrents are still going strong and they give us access to many MANY different things. There are even sites now that allow you to download videos in iPod format. The realm of hypermedia is constantly expanding and improving.

For Some, Online Persona Undermines a Résumé

I enjoyed reading this article. Though I have heard many times that potential employers may be looking at my Facebook and Myspace profile pages, it took reading it myself to actually start to think of my profiles critically. While most of the jobs I would apply for require a certain amount of creativity and zest for life, I don't think they would enjoy seeing photos of me drinking beer at a party. I have taken advantage of Facebook's privacy policies, but my Myspace page is completely open access. Anyone can take a gander at my Myspace page. 

Places like blogger are also searchable through google. Recently, I had to go through my blog and delete a lot of posts that were slightly unprofessional. Not that they were about drinking lots of beer or something, but they were just full of personal insights and I decided was not applicable to this internship I was about to start. Thankfully, I deleted the posts before my employer could see them. I use google analytics on my blog to see who views them, and sure enough they had read my blog. It was definitely a lesson on internet personality and how big a role it actually plays.

Psychology of Cyberspace

When I read the first few sentences of this article, I immediately clicked with its message. This idea of presence in cyberspace is one that I myself have tried to understand, specifically with the idea of online relationships through chatting online. I know many people who have met their significant other through online environments, like eHarmony. The first time I heard of this was many years ago, and honestly it freaked me out. It was something I don't fully understand and it was so new to me at the time. I remember being skeptical and would claim that the guy was some sort of pervert - mainly going off of nothing more than stereotypes. Now however, I believe that true relationships can be built through the online world. Most of the people I know who met through places like eHarmony are still together, happily married. Sometimes change can definitely be good.

With regards to websites and other environments besides chatting, the article stated that it was easier to feel present in a website or space that had more interactivity. A place like LeoBurnett.com invites you to stay and explore as an essential part of the website. Here you can scribble on the page and have your interests peaked by unpredictability topped off with sound. I can tell when I'm leaving one part of the environment and leaping into another through visual cues and sound. 

The article also mentions that chats are easier to feel present in. In iChat, you hear a sound when the person sends a message to you. The text you read is applied to a person, so it's easier to notice and understand the "Others are present here" concept. Obviously, it's easy to recognize that you are present in a certain environment. The process of chatting with someone is completely different from talking to someone face-to-face, but these days it had almost replaced the step of talking to someone hours and hours on the phone like I used to do when I was a kid. However, now with things like Skype and other video chats, it is almost better than talking to someone on the phone - you just have to get over being camera shy!