8/27/16...

First week of school down, and it was not without it's share of DRAMA!  And if you don't wish to listen to me whine a bit here about the happenings from school, then just check out my Bio page as I updated it a bit.  Check out the new Pinterest & Instagram buttons.  And HEY....maybe send me a message! :)  I promise I'll write back.

I was excited to have a photography class at UA.  I was more than ready to continue my studies in this medium.  Well, a couple of weeks ago, I was contacted that I didn't have the newly assigned pre-requisites for the class.  I say newly assigned, because when I signed up for the class in April, there weren't any.  And when the class was approved in May by my Advisor, there still weren't any pre-req's.  But now I had to take a Digital Photography class prior to taking Trends in Contemporary Photography (a lecture class and not a studio class), due to instructor not wanting anyone to be lost.  I met again with Advisor who assured me I was okay.  I had taken three semesters of Digital Photography at Pima.  No issues.  First day of semester, I checked my email about 9 am.  There was an email from my Advisor stating that things were not okay, and that I had to add a Digital Photo class in addition to other classes I already scheduled.  Photo Instructor was insisting it was that or I couldn't take the lecture class.  So I dropped it.  Taking an additional class would put me at 22 credits for the semester.  PLUS, to completely discount my previous three digital photography classes....well, I was mad.  I'm not saying that I know everything there is to know about digital photography.  Because I don't!  But, to force students to take additional classes when they've done the equivalent prior to coming to UA (and within the last two years, so technology is current)?  Sorry, but I'm really tired of this game UA seems to play with their transfer students.  I don't want to be on a 5 year plan for attendance at UA.  It's damn expensive.  And as it's me who will be paying off those student loans for years...I don't want to have to keep repeating classes.  It truly is ridiculous.  After I dropped the class, I let my Advisor know that I had also won a scholarship at Pima based on my digital photography work.  Will that change anything?  Most likely not.  But I stood up for myself.  Again, not that it got me anything.  Sometimes though, you just need to give voice to stuff that is wrong.  

So I'm now down to 16 credit hours.  One less art class, means a delay in that end goal of the degree.  I'm trying my hardest to be patient with this process.  Having to repeat and take additional classes because what I've taken at Pima hasn't been enough is really frustrating.  

I will definitely be challenged with my Italian language class.  They've restructured how it's taught, so that you aren't sitting conjugating verbs for weeks.  It's more conversational style.  When the instructor speaks Italian, it's so incredibly beautiful.  I'm quite envious!  I seem to have this running Italian dialogue in my head now all the time too. I wish there was an off button so that I could have a moments rest! Hahaha!  Nope!  Vocabulary words to study and write.  Homework to do daily.  Written assignments to prepare for.  Not to mention the dreaded quizzes.  Yes, I'm sweating this class big time.  

I have three other classes that are also lecture/discussion, reading and writing emphasis: Western Women's Studies, Italian Folklore and Topics in Studio Art.  So that's four total that are heavy writing emphasis.  Not to mention all the articles for reading AND researching articles online to write about too.  I'm trying to find my groove with so much reading and writing.  Haven't quite figured it all out yet, because as you know...  If you get behind with doing the daily work, it's a real bitch to get caught back up again.

And that leaves me with my one lone art class for the semester: Methods in Painting.  First up: Self Portrait for assignment one.  You felt me cringe and f-bomb, didn't you?  I am beyond over having to paint my face.  Every single art class, with the exception of my photography classes, I've had to take since returning to college, I've had to do a self portrait.  Can I ask why this seems to be so popular?  I mean, there's a HUGE world out there.  Why must every teacher use this for an assignment?  And.....to paint it on an expensive. large-sized canvas to boot too.  Yep.  Insert another f-bomb.  I decided to get really creative and make the focal point of the composition a narrative and less emphasis on "me".  But....sometimes my concepts are grander than my abilities.  While I like the composition, I just think it's going to be too difficult to accomplish in a few short weeks.  Especially with oil paints.  Drying time can be sketchy.  I don't want to stress out about it.  And for a painting that I will most likely gesso over?  Nope.  I will re-group and try to simplify.  

I'm learning that I'm going to arrive to majority of my classes sweaty and red-faced.  It's quite a haul across campus from the parking garage.  I'm hoping to get into the routine of attending classes again after this summer break.  And the routine means to take advantage of periods between classes as study time.  This semester seems like a lot.  But it's the newness of everything.  I'll settle in and down and work hard for those A's.  :)  Yes, that's still my goal. Always.  

So that's it.  It's been a busy week.  I'm already tired and trying to play catch up with all the reading and writing.  No pretty pictures to share just yet.  I'll have stuff to share here shortly, I promise.  I managed to put a painting in the mail that I've had drying for a couple of weeks now.  It's going to be a surprise for a friend, and I really hope she likes it.  I'll know more after Monday when it's supposed to arrive.  And who knows.  Maybe she'll hate it and I won't hear anything.  Art is very subjective and not everything is a Mona Lisa.  Have a good week everyone!