….. This past weekend I attended a function @ Keiser University and enjoyed an afternoon of activity with colleagues and friends. This event was catered by a number of vendors ranging from frozen treats to warm, fresh hot dogs. At the end of the function I noticed a large amount of food was still untouched.

     I’ve always been community conscious and I saw this as an opportunity to do something small with food that was just going to be discarded. I spoke to an event coordinator for the event and asked if I could take the leftovers and explained that it was my intention to distribute the food to less fortunate members of our community. This simple gesture couldn’t have taken me any more than 45 minutes in total but was so satisfying. I think that if enough people get themselves involved that this problem of hungry people living off of scraps and loose change will start to take a positive direction. 

     On a humorous note …… it was almost shocking how fast about 125 hot dogs can go even during a thunderstorm. 

     ….. In summary it has given me a direction in which I can give back for the many blessings I have. Besides it just feels good to help someone else right ? ? ! !   

• Attend all AIGA functions for April

I scheduled and attended all the AIGA functions that were possible in the month of

April. As a result I feel that I have made positive strides in making connections and

I am also able to say that I have a front row seat for what is “current and new” in design.

• Join “ The Sketch Up “

I was able to join this group of Illustrators, Designers, and Fine Artists and establish connections with people who share similar passions. As a result of this I have been far more active in my drawing, painting and use of layout and design.

• Post a Behance site.

I was able to post a site that illustrates some of my work and brings a brief incite

into me as a designer. As a result I feel that I have opened a positive channel for

employers and colleagues alike to view my work.

• Write a “ current artists’ statement “

I did a bit of soul searching before writing and formulated a brief statement. As a

result of this exercise I feel that I re-discovered parts of me that I may have forgotten.

• Prepare a lecture on a topic of my choice and present to the class at Keiser University.

  I simply prepared a lecture on material I was comfortable with and had a working knowledge of. As a result of my preparation, I was able to make a successful lecture and lesson for a class to follow and complete. This was an extremely rewarding exercise in public speaking and lesson planning for me.

• Display two (2) paintings at Keiser University.

  I examined all my current paintings and selected the work I thought represented me well. I made display cards that you would find in a gallery and negotiated with a colleague to broker my work. As a result of this course of action I now have public exposure for my work which is something I have not done before. This has encouraged me to find other outlets for my work to be seen.

• Attend a car show, take pictures, and network.

I attended the car shows that take place on Merrill rd. on the first saturday of each

month. I photographed the vehicles that I felt had what I would want in a classic. I also

also spoke with a number of car owners about paint,interior and engine aesthetics. As a

result I was felt more practiced in the art of approaching new people and discussing

design.

• See four (4) houses in my area.

I was able to see two (2) properties over the course of this month and walk through

and discuss As a result of these actions I am in the mindset that I want,deserve and

also driven to have a home that will bring comfort and stability to my life.

    The first step in my re-invention was to identify that my path was not correct at the time. The second step was to prioritize what I needed to do to be on the correct path. I then reached out to my mentor for advice. I feel that whenever you are confused or just unclear you should reach out for advice. I am fortunate to have people in my life that care about me and are willing to be involved. My mentor, ” Mr. John Downs “, offered me advice on a starting point and a checklist of things he felt would help me on my path to success. Here is that list….

• attend AIGA functions for april
• Join and attend ” The Sketch Up ” group
• Join Behance and display work
• Write a “current artist statement “
• Prepare and lecture a college class
• Display 2 pieces of my artwork @ Keiser University
• Attend car show and network
• See 4 houses and see where and what type of home i want to buy. (act as if i am purchasing now)

• Contact AIGA and offer to volunteer for events.

I have, at this point completed everything I had the ability to complete. I feel as if I am being pulled by a magnet towards my goal and i am enjoying the process immensely. I am looking forward to the upcoming month and what it holds for me.

Each day I am looking forward to challenging myself and being challenged by others to help me excell. Thank you to all those involved in my growth I will not forget who you are. 

     I am a middle aged man in the process of transforming myself from a designer looking for work to a successful person in the graphic design community. I started this process by taking a long hard look at myself. I have to look at myself with a critical eye and be honest in what I see. My next post will contain the beginning steps of my transformation. stay tuned.