Europe Fashion

Left to right: Sweden, France, Norway, USA.

On my way down to MassArt, I began designing clothing designs inspired by European Countries.  Many aspects of inspirations for these designs are stereotypes.  The models are not meant to look like real people, but are humanoid-shapes.
Sweden: Casual business.  Hat juts out like traditional Swedish head-covering.
France: Traditional-related elegance.  Exaggerate bust and hips.  She looks like a thumb-tack.
Norway: Northern Winter nature-related.  Rope-like clothing is coarse.
USA: Depending on value of color of clothing, the bust/waist can be exaggerated or understated.

The USA model is handicapped by her too-high shoes, so show ridiculousness of the very high heals in fashion.  Personally, I enjoy fashion design, but not the social-lifestyle (of fashion) because emotions/morals are commonly mixed-up with design.  Much of "high" fashion is not meant for wear; it is designed for the art. Likewise, the models are not meant to be people on the runway, they are hangers.  However, in some cases, I like to think of models as people, and fashion as clothing for people to wear.  For example, with the Community/Charity Fashion shows that I had designs in, I knew the models and my take on that fashion was that models are people, so designed/created clothing with this mindset.  But, the thoughts that models are hangers or friends are extremes, there is also the gray areas.

Difficulty of Art

I believe that there is sometimes a stigma that art is easy.  While some artwork is "easy" to create (lacking skill), not all art is "easy".
Then, to the person who enjoys art, is art "easy"?  To the francophone, is French "easy"?  To the science-lover, is science "easy"?  Certain art (or areas in French or science) can seem easier to do for some people, and certain areas are very difficult.
In my experience with art and biology, both subjects that I enjoy, to me, both subjects are difficult.  Maybe, art is usually harder because there is no limit.  Contrasting, biology has a limit; there is a quantitative point (can be measured using numbers) to be reached, so it is clearly understood what the goal is.  But, art generally doesn't have this limit, so I find it difficult to know what the goal is, because the goal is ever higher.
Ultimately, art can be "easy", but I would not find enjoyment or respect with this, so art is difficult for me.

MassArt Visit

I visited MassArt yesterday for the second time, for a morning tour at 10AM.  The tour was inspiring and pleasant, it lasted about 1.5 hours, and the tour group itself was small (11 people).

I was in Boston until 7PM.  My parents and I visited: Admissions, Financial Aid, and Housing.  This was mentally and physically tiring.

The result of this visit was a deposit put down for MassArt.  I'm going!  From my perspective, going to a school for art seems surrealistic.  I still have a difficult time wrapping my mind around the concept that I can go to school to improve my art and knowledge in that area, enough to use art on a professional level.  This means that I am supported to pursue what I have a passion for.  Throughout my education, art has never before been given this platform.  Now, this is another marker on/in this journey.

Scholarship Tired

I took off work tonight to work on scholarships.

Today, I have read/browsed through over 130 scholarships, filled out 29 scholarships, and written one essay (4 more essays to go).  I have finished 24 scholarship applications.
Looking back, I have 131.8 hours of community service (for the four years at high school).

I have found a time, and registered to visit MassArt next Thursday.  I hope this visit inspires my joGa.

It's 10PM; I am tired.

Someone from Taiwan just sent me a song (We Are Young - Fun).  It takes my mind off of academics (and from a bad book that I'm suppose to read by Monday).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8zslGAqy5k

EDIT: 22April2012
I have written 4 more draft essays.

Scholarships, Projects, Visit MassArt, IB

Working on scholarship applications that are due soon (this Tuesday) and some academic assignments.  There are different requirements for different scholarship applications.  I would also like to use the CSS-Profile to search for other/more scholarships.

So, I am putting aside other projects:
Restaurant mural (approximately 3'x4.5') - 40% done
Pink Floyd painting (4'x5') - 90% done, just have to fix the hands
Duct tape dress - 15-20% done
Metal/Noir designs

I plan on visiting MassArt again, soon, with family.

IB has internal exams (assessed by my high school teachers), and external exams (assessed by teachers in other countries).  I think that I have completed all internal exams, and I know that I have completed all exams and assessment for IB Art.
I will prepare for the following exams, for the IB Diploma:
2May: English (blind passage, 2 hrs)
3May: Math (1.5 hrs)
4May: Math (1.5 hrs)
9May: English (use books to support thesis, 2 hrs)
11May: History (1hr)
            History (1.5 hrs)
14May: History (2.5 hrs)
17May: Biology (45 min)
            Biology (75 min)
18May: Biology (1 hr)
21May: French (1.5 hrs)
22May: French (1.5 hrs)
I love this.  The most difficult will be all of them.

Duct Tape Prom Dress

This is the design for the duct tape prom dress for the "Stuck at Prom" scholarship contest.

It's inspired by Death Metal (Turisas) and Film Noir concentration/series that I'm working on.

I have a base for the top, and a long sheet done.  I have the shoes that need the platform and extended heal.  It's probably 15-20% done.

This might be a continuation of my tape obsession, or my "tape fetish" (HS art teacher).

Death Metal and Film Noir

I am working on a series of clothing inspired by Death Metal, specifically music by Turisas, and by Film Noir.

I did some research on both subjects, and found similarities and differences.  Both are similar in: glamour (use of lights in Noir, and over-the-top sentiments of Metal), solitary, and dark tone.  The main difference between the two has to do with expressing feelings.  While Noir attempts to repress stress, or succumb to corruption, Metal protests stress/corruption.  And, (to me) Turisas is about rising up to overcoming challenges.

So, I am taking these themes, mostly the resilience/toughness of Metal and blending it with the elegance of Noir.

The picture above is the first piece in this series.  It's more Noir than Metal.  I have been working on pieces that are more Metal.

End of an Empire - Turisas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHaDCcaoeWA

Also by Turisas:
Midnight Sunrise
Sahi Waari
Fear the Fear
Stand Up and Fight
The March of the Varangian Guard

MassArt letter

I sent in my portfolio and information to MassArt on April 10 (Tuesday).  The MassArt letter came in the mail April 15 (Sunday).  The letter was printed on April 12 (Thursday).  I got in.

Then, I wasn't sure what to do next.  To me, there were two options: to go to MassArt the coming Fall, or to defer for a year as a gap year in Taiwan.

I would like to take a gap year for several reasons.  I miss my family in Taiwan, I miss the Taiwanese culture, I am burnt out from the IB Diploma programme from High School, and I would like to explore art by myself and not through a "rigid" education system.

P. suggested that I go to school this coming Fall for one semester, then choose whether or not to stay for the rest of the year, or to take a leave to go to Taiwan (for the gap year).

P's idea is the most appealing, so I will precede by planning to go to MassArt this Fall.

However, I still want to spend as much time as possible in Taiwan, so I would like to fly to Taiwan as soon as I graduate High School, and stay there until school starts at MassArt.

I'm not sure what I will be doing in Taiwan.  I will get to see my family and friends.  I would like to refresh myself from the stress of High School.  I might travel around Taiwan, visit the National Palace Museum, take photographs of old/new Taiwan, hang out with Taiwanese high school students, and look for English tutoring opportunities.