my poster design for ArtDept

Last week we had a day trip to Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC! Woohaa! I am just dreaming about the day when I can spend a week there and see everything that is exhibited. So huge, that I got lost there… Worse thing I needed to use the restroom right when we got to MET, so while in search of a restroom, I lost my group thus I was wandering at MET on my own, randomly found two of my friends and then we lost each other hahaha.. It was very cold outside, so we had to cancel the trip to Frick collections, and we ended up spending the day at MET. It was alright trip, could be better… Anyways, the Warhol show Regarding Warhol 60 artists 50 years was pretty challenging and fun! The silver balloons of Andy were in the exhibit; of course I am like a freak standing there for 20 minutes and staring at moving silver balloons. I saw them in the pictures and documentaries about Andy Warhol, and all of a sudden there are real in front of me! Of course, I would spend that time just enjoying the fact that I can physically touch the balloons ahahaha ! It was fascinating! Faking IT was good, honestly I expected something more, yet I still like it. Especially the part where photographers just got to experiment with splitting human parts apart and playing with scale a la manipulating the images! Photomontage was impressive! Imagine there is no Photoshop, and those artist actually were working with dark room and films, some other “ancient” forms of photo printing and creating all that! It’s a huge advancement for that time in photography! Got to see Bernini, Sculpting in Clay exhibit! Seeing Master sculptor’s work is another kind of learning process, I think. I remember year ago I was so against sketching in the museums and galleries, but I guess I have grown, I did sketch a lot this time Yea, the inner artist is waking up, or I am becoming more open minded. I got to come to things on my own, or only certain people that somehow my consciousness considers as “the teacher” can make me change my mind, otherwise, I will be like “yes sure” and do my own way. Can’t help it! Thank goodness, there are still limited amount of people who can guide me when I am really stuck within the walls of my own skull. By the way, I helped with the organization of this trip to ArtDepartment! I designed the poster that you see in this post Oh Yea! and small ads for our college banner. We actually sold around 47 sits out of 55, so I felt like I was helpful!

with my poster desing at Plaza Gallery, Albany, NY

I have mentioned in my previous posts that my art work was chosen to represent my college at SUNY wide student show in Albany, NY! We went to the reception, but unfortunately this time we got lost with my friends, and when we got there only my instructor was waiting for us.. so we missed chancellor’s speech and taking pictures with her. Though it still was fun, we saw the show it was interesting mixture of skill levels and subjects. Oh well.. and I forgot to take picture with my mentor!  That sucked, otherwise it was fun and we got some pics taken, but the quality in some of them are bad.  Well here’s me with my peace beaming at the camera. Better something than nothing, yet Bukowski said ” I wanted everything or nothing”  hehehe Now I feel confused, which side to take. I definitely love Bukowski’s perspective!

 

Half-mere person Sculpted by Gulnar a la me at WSA

I have looked up for some transfer colleges for future BFA. Found two completely new ones Montserrat College of Art and Boston University School of Visual Arts , and the same-old dream Cooper Union. I’ve been researching them for some time. Montserrat had a presentation at my college, so I got a portfolio review, my adviser actually suggested that college as one of the small and strong art colleges. I was told that I can get a merit based scholarship, which is great!!! Arts schools are the next place that I want to be for my BFA, but the circumstances sometimes gets so confusing! I have applied for Optional Practical Training. I think this will be a great opportunity to work in my field! I have been looking for graphic design jobs in the city, looks legit. I even checked internships at the MET! If I can get a good paid internship that will be cool! Please, Universe, please read these words! Oh good, I am waiting!  

 Oh, by the way if you have trouble reading like me, I come up with a new technique! Read a chapter for a day or a book or two per month! It does not have to be text book!!! I found it really helpful, because my brain is so hyper all the time, it just slows me down and helps to concentrate at reading. Just beware that first days it will be really hard, and seems very hard to concentrate, but then it’s just goes very smoothly. I start enjoying reading books! I real online mostly, but it’s so different to hold a book. I got a strange habit counting pages hehehe so it’s very cool and helpful!

So turns out my blogging online got noticed by two international student websites, and they have invited me to be a guest blogger for them. So I have wrote a post for one, and currently working on the second one. So let see if they don’t post it on their website I will post it here. I actually I  think I wrote a really cool ”survival tips” for students studying abroad It’s as it is, if they post it I will give you the link, if not here comes my own blog! I think I love blogging, it’s something that helps me to survive. My English definitely got better, because I spend time on writing! Wait and see my survival tips!  

Oh, meanwhile, I bought a new phone, this time fancy one. OK, being a student makes you live on a budget, so at some point some luxuries such as smart phones can’t be afforded.At least in my case. I bought one after years of thinking and saving, but turns out they have sent me 4GB memory, and I paid for 8GB. So sent the phone back, now waiting to get my new one and figure out the payment for that new one, which is more expensive, but I thought it worth it. It’s not iPhone however, but practically does everything that iPhone does… hehe I used Sony before, so I bought Xperia U, now changing to Xperia P. Let see what will happen this time… Oh well.. again no phone…

Btw I just started watching Avatar: the Last Airbender series… yea.. I am the one who watches everything the last. So don’t even laugh at me! I watched the movie , and then decided to follow up with the serees. It’s only 3 seasons, so I guess it will be fine. And My Grey’s Anatomy marathon is over, so now I am just waiting for new episodes every week which is such a drag.. anyways. Nothing can beat HOUSE MD, but that one is over.. OH well my all time love Gregory House!  Anyways, I gotta go and do some homework. I have a documentary to prepare and shoot, a small essay to write and a proposal to make for my Videography and Editing class; a branding project which is my Advertising class assignment, we are rebranding our clients service, and reading for that class.. which I doubt.. I think I will not get to it today. I want to draw a little! 

OK Bye! See you soon. Turkey/Thanksgiving Holiday is next week, I guess I will have something to write about that

Be inspired,

Gulnar

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feels good!

Wow. Being back feels good! Summer was restless and tiring for me, as usually! I had to work at the college as I did all my summers in the States, and I was living in my friend’s apartment while he was away, and watching his cat and fish with another good friend of mine. However, I had a situation with my own new place that I rented before I went to my friend’s apartment. The situation was very disturbing and disgusting, so I could not stay there one more second. I ended up going back to my host parents place, but this time as a tenant! They were so nice to accept me back and allow me to rent my new old room I was thrilled! Well, you can’t amputate generosity from kind people. So they are as nice as they were the first day I met them! Thank goodness, I got a place to stay again, meanwhile I am looking for my own place, because soon I am applying for OPT before I go back for my BFA, and I really hope it will work out for me! I can’t wait to start working outside of college as a professional graphic designer or artist! We will see! Good luck to me!! I am very excited! I dream about NYC!!! The heart of Art and Design!

Well as it’s my last semester I am allowed to be a part time student by law, otherwise we all have to be full time. I have three classes + some extra things!

I love my Principles of Advertising class. It’s one of those best classes offered at my college. My instructor is amazing! I just love when instructors are so engaged in what they are teaching, and  she is so much motivating that one can’t just sit there and  not be involved in class! This class is very much helpful for me, because I am a practical learner, so the project is designed  in a way that it  involves real clients, and we  students as a group must come up with a marketing and advertising solution for the clients problems! I enjoy this class a lot!

I have and Independent Study Web Design class. This class is very tough class; it’s very broad, and as a crazy student I want to know all at once.. well practically it’s very hard to implement! I am studying online by watching Lynda.com tutorials about web fundamentals, web development, what is behind the web design, and most importantly the software!  Anyways, this class requires a lot of effort, time and focus. I meet with my instructor regularly to report my improvement and get advice, and then we schedule some projects due to bring in. So I am on it! I am gonna design my best web portfolio website! I think that’s what I aim for! I will definitely share when it will be done!  You know what is inspiring? We humans all have the potential to learn anything we want,  the only thing thought for me if I have zero interest in matter, I will learn nothing even if I spent hours and hours studying it. Well luckily I am so interested in this field so I will do my very best! I will! I promised myself! I like keeping my promises..

Videography and Editing class is one of those classes that I decided to take because as a graphic designer I believe I have to have basic understanding of video-making. You never know when somebody will hand you a camera and send you to shoot something! Heheheh as a matter of fact it happened to me just today! So I think I am on a right track. However, I think this kind of classes can’t be thought, or my instructor doing it wrong. Well, I know I will end up learning everything on my own, because from class demos I practically get nothing. I don’t find them helpful at all, but this applies only to software learning. I learn software on my own better than when teacher explains. So as usually 95% percent of class load on me Good luck to me once again!!!

My Woodstock School of Art SUNY Ulster Merit Scholarship allows me to take a Sculpture class in WSA studios. Once a week I make a long trip to that art school and then I  just enjoy my Sculpture class. It’s one of the best things that happened to me! I love my class, my instructors there and my classmates! Very fun company and cool studios! I might even restart my Printmaking class starting from November, because that is a Saturday class, so I am considering it. The only hardship though is the transportation. I take two buses to get to town where the school is and then I walk around 1.5 miles from the bus station to school. Of course my classmates, offered to pick me up from the bus stop, but I think it’s still nice outside for walk, but when winter comes I told them  I will definitely be happy if anybody picks me up from the bus stop.

Visual Arts Club I am still running it for my last semester. I really hope that my friend or somebody else will take over it and it will continue to be an active club on campus. We had our first meeting, and we currently have 11 members, but we are expecting more students to join because some of us are members of another clubs as well, so we kind of juggle our club activities!

Btw as a Student Ambassador who is specialized on art and design I was asked to help Admissions office to design a booth for the Local Business Expo on campus, and we won an award! I feel helpful and cool heheheh. Sometimes I do photography as well when I am asked!

Indeed!

Art School AGAIN! Have you ever felt like one particular school is where you must be, but you got rejected first time you applied? If yes, so I feel ya! My mystery school is Cooper Union. I could not get in last year, but I am still attracted to that art school. So I decided to reapply for my BFA after my OPT is over.  However, the worst part is they have seen all my stuff, so now I gotta prepare a better and new portfolio… hahah how ironic! I can’t give up in the middle of my dream! I think it would be very inappropriate ending for everything that I have accomplished! I learned that life is a series of experiments and my reactions to those results. So I am learning to let go the failures and try again! Why NOT ? I am alive, I am healthy, and I love learning! I thank Universe for everything I am given, and I will use it! I love my life! You should too

Volunteering.. You know what happens when you say YES to everyone who asks for help ? You end up with a bunch of promises that needs to be fulfilled.. yes, the story of my life! I love volunteering because I feel that’s how I can say my Thank You! for Universe’s gifts to me, but I think I am doing a little bit in an exaggerated mode or something! I end up spending more time on volunteering around than dealing with my own life, work, and study. Not If I am complaining, but I think I shall learn prioritizing things, so I don’t end up studying late nights when I am supposed to recharge my life batteries.

For today I think It’s enough said. I got lots of studying for Web Design to do, 3 chapters for Advertising class to study, and art blog revision to do, 2 cover letters to write, Sketches to make and life to live

Please!

Thank you for reading my blog, I hope it was enjoyable and helpful somewhat. Till next time!

Keep smiling,
Gulnar

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404 Error. Cartman said it!

Hello, I am back to share my experience with you, international students!  So turns out during the summer InternationalStudent.com transferred its wordpress from one host server to another, or that is what they told me, and meanwhile they lost my post about the commencement ceremony in May. That was from my first  AA  Fine Arts Degree graduation. So if you are interested in reading about that, here’s the link to my college blog. Enjoy it! I am on my last semester and I will be done with my Graphic Design Associates by the end of fall semester hopefully. Well, I am going to write about my last semester in my next blog posts, which are coming very soon! Stay tooned!

Peace,
Gulnar

PS I love South Park, and Cartman practically summarized all my emotions, when I was desperately looking for my lost in cyber limbo and never found blog post whole summer!

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I promised to write an article about my college’s Visual Arts Club for so long that finally I got a chance to finish it. and the reason IS…. I had to finish it asap because it had to be published in a local paper The Hudson Valley Voice :D How exciting! So the paper most probably is out , I just got a pdf version of the layout, with which I am not happy at all, but I thought I am grateful that it’s PUBLISHED! YAY!!! So here’s my “blog” version of the article The layout in here somehow is acting up right now; I never like blog settings that limits  users aka my layout options. 

Organizing VAC Member Art Exhibition

Me trying to stick my photographs on the wall

Taking field trips to galleries, museums, or studios

VAC crew at NYC

Publishing student art & literature magazine

Every year we publish a magazine that features student art and writing. The exciting part about it, if you have graphic design skills and some extra time you will get to have an opportunity to work as an art director or/and designer. You will earn useful skills, a solid portfolio piece, and even a line to add in your resume! That’s exactly how some of our members, including myself, benefit from this particular activity.

[BTW Check out the SLATE! The entire layout design done by me and I was the art director as well, not if I am bragging, just a little proud  SLATE 2012]

Holiday Art Sale our humble set up

My friend Steven and I at the tote bags sale

We had Holiday Art Sale for the first time at the end of Fall 2011 semester, before Christmas, at the Student Life Center, AKA Cafeteria, at Stone Ridge Campus, and all profit from the sales went directly to artists/members. Special thanks goes to our Professor and Department Chair Iain Machell, who pushed the idea of on campus student art sale and helped with supplies, and our instructor and club advisor Suzy Jeffers who helped us with the set up and sale process, and of course all the members, especially ‎Yaara Ben-Dor, Steven Esposito, Deirdre Kenney (secretary), Sara Lewis (treasurer), Marissa Markle, Dave Anthony Mathews, Elizabeth McGovern, Lindsey O’Leary, Dina Peone (vise-president), Gabriel Rose, Sara Schiffhauer, Lauren Yaro and our volunteer Tim Helgers who took their time and made that event happen! Also, every semester we design tote bags for sale as a club fundraiser, and members design each tote bag with creativity and care. Next time you see a VAC tote bag sale, get one and support our cause! We sold the majority of tote bags in several days!

Painting murals

Inviting guest artist to demonstrate techniques

Here’s the ARTICLE on print supposed to look like this! I am gonna pin this on VAC’s announcement board and print out some pictures for the board about our projects.. it’s been a really  fun semester for the VAC!

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I need to sit back and enjoy my life at this moment. Yet, I have so much lemons [projects] these days, so I am making sherbet out of them Oh, my deadlines are really close, so if I don’t do anything I will turn into the dead line..So, within these 4 weeks, of course, I had experienced various emotions full of lights and darks! So I am gonna refresh my memories!

Chancellor’s Award. Yay! So on April 4th, I went to Empire State Plaza Convention Center at Albany with my host father, advisor/mentor/ instructor, my internship supervisor and my dear friend I think it was one of those days, when I was super excited at the same time hyper anxious! I think that was one of my “once in a life time experiences” that I get regularly hahahah It was a bit intimidating, because I was in a completely new environment! I had to sign in at first; the SUNY was making a video where student’s supposed to continue the phrase “ I am the Power of SUNY because ….” and come up with our own. SO it took me a while to think of it. I really had several options that I come up in the shower XD  i e the best place for my idea generation process heheh I guess many people do that. Water is so relaxing that I forget about worries and just start thinking about the GOOD, any kind of it, and GOOD is usually brings new ideas.  Anyways, so this is what I wrote “I am the Power of SUNY because I am curious and willing to explore vast opportunities beyond my comfort zone” Well, I thought I should write something that really describes me: yea I am crazy and really curious and I take advantage of every opportunity, because I believe there is always a hidden stash of good waiting for me I want to believe so, so I do hahaha I love my life, even though sometimes it gets moody, but who does not have that? It’s just the thing: I dig in my head and create my own monsters, so when I choose not to do so, they just dissolve in the air  My advisor took a picture of me holding that paper where I wrote my lines. That pic is just so funny! I love it

WYZIWYG

So well we were waiting in a huge room for a while when students got their lines recorded, but then we were told that we are running late and we have to get to the small orientation part about how we gonna walk on the stage to get our medal and recognition letter. Well, instructions were helpful, BUT a little misleading hehehe because we were told to shake Chancellor’s hand and then our college representatives and then go back to chancellor and get our medal and then our picture will be taken, and then we just walk back to our sits. What happened in reality though,, xD hahaha let me describe Because the college representative stands closer to the recipients naturally we had to shake his/her hand first and then Chancellor’s and then get to the medal. Well, many of us messed up because the instructions and the flow of the reality did not match exactly. Life Lesson #n: don’t be afraid of improvisation! So I ended up HUGGING my college representative xD I know very bizarre! Well anyways I had fun on the stage ( it’s like 2 minute thing) but to get there we almost waited for like hour or more, and because it was going in an alphabetical order my college’s name is SUNY Ulster ( so just imagine the placement of U in the alphabet ) Yes, I was in the last group of students. Anyways, after the orientation we went to that huge auditorium where our guests were. SO the audience applauded all of us, and the fun part for me was when we started to walk towards the stage, I passed near my guests who took their time and joined me to celebrate this event. They waved me with such an enthusiasm  and support that made me so happy! It worth to walk on the stage because I knew that I am not alone there, and that people who are really important to me are among the audience and supporting me with huge sincerity and smile. I just can’t thank them enough! Bottom line is I really enjoyed after the ceremony part! I got to talk to my guests and went to do the videotaping part, and guess what! My favorite part: WE TOOK TONS OF PICS! YES!!!! Now I have LOTS of good memories! Woohoo! So all that posing, ended up of course online hahaha
So here ‘s the official  SUNY post of my photo with the Chancellor and my college representative  You can see other recipients as well.. many of us in the pics, but we are the few statewide, just saying
Also, I made my college’s online announcements, here & here.  Kind of very happy with that Who would not ? Me. xD I know I always have mixed feelings about this, but it’s a good thing I know

Mentor & Mentee ! That round thing is a medal

Here’s are the rest of the images from the ceremony itself, thanks to my host father & my mentor  I have pictures Also, my Instructor, Advisor & Mentor [shortly IAM, my new abbreviation for it so I don’t have to write long words again! It’s America, everything is abbreviated! This is really one of my observations, when I start listening to conversations it’s like people speaking a language and words that I have never heard about… just because almost everything is abbreviated!!!] sent out email to college staff and faculty, I think, because of that now some of my instructors and staff congratulates me when they see me in the hallways! yay! It’s very sweet, how people happy for some other person’s good life experience. So I think my SUNY Ulster family is happy for me I am happy to make them feel a bit proud. They have been very helpful and supportive during these years!
FYI Just to clarify, I have another mentor from the college’s SUMS program who was really helpful with my application process. It’s like he was assigned to me by the program as a graphic design mentor, but our experience went to a new direction such as English Language  :D How sweet! I need that a lot! One more thing: I was selected to be a recipient for President’s Awards for Excellence in Student Leadership in 2012 at my college .. the ceremony is on Apr 25th Wednesday, hope to post some pics  soon

Colleges where I ‘ve applied
Cooper Union. SO it said “no”, unfortunately. It’s kind of broke my heart, because I know that’s the place for me, but I will apply next year perhaps, never giving up!
Still I am waiting from the RISD and SUNY New Paltz results. New Paltz accepted my portfolio, but I have to wait for admissions decision. I must mention something:  my RISD admissions personnel who helped me with the submissions and paperwork, was the best. I swear I never seen such a helpful and relaxed admissions staff member, who does not SCARE the perspective student! I just enjoyed our email correspondence so much. Just wanted to say that what I hear about RISD usually students complain that they are not helpful and stuff, so my experience happens to be the opposite. Just saying!!! Let’s see what’s gonna happen!

SLATE. OMG, speedy mode in designing the magazine! Slate turned into my nightmare that I can’t live with and without! It must be done by the end of the week [ as I say usually], so I had to take on the content, and redo some stuff, because the writing credits were messed up. Ugh. I hate doings things over, but I usually end up doing so. So the other designers are doing the covers. I really hope that we gonna have covers that are designed by the designers, but not the artwork itself. Let’s see what’s gonna happen! I am excited about it and I feel tired of course, it’s a lot of work, I had to ask my supervisor at the internship to let me work on that project for this week. He’s very nice, he said SURE! So I got hours from there, and from my gallery work, it’s pretty neat. I am not sleeping almost and designing, but my eyes hurt so much right now, I am gonna go and give them some rest now.

HMW. I have like a lot of sculptures to finish, and to make. A paper to write. Several presentations, and some cool drawings to make. My life is so much enjoyable that I could ever imagine!! 

What else has happened ? A new Inspiration appeared and was gone shortly xD

What’s next ? I gotta get some rest and get back to my designs!  I swear right now, there are 1 magazine, 1 newspaper, 1 booklet is waiting to be done for tomorrow Aren’t I lucky ? Indeed!!!

PS HAPPY EARTH DAY!

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one of my fave pieces from the trip

Every semester we have a departmental scheduled field trip to NYC [ or in other close cities'] museums and galleries!!! This semester it happened on March 28th! I KNOW I AM SO LUCKY! Every time I am in MOMA or any other world famous art altar I just say THANK YOU UNIVERSE!!! I realize that not everybody gets a chance to be in those places, especially several times and sometimes for FREE Being a student is such a JOY and of course it has its own negative sides but I am gonna focus on POSITIVE ones ! hahahah SO we had 2 groups and we had to choose with which group to go with. I sighed up for my drawing class group, and then I felt a bit sad because my gut feeling told me to go with the other one. So whenever I go against it, It’s usually not that much fun!

Well, at least I got to see the Morgan Libraries that I have never been, they let us see very rare drawings that are only in the museums private collection, so it’s kinda almost impossible to see them. YET my concern was that there was only 10 drawings, I would rather go and see a huge building full of drawings than just those ten… well what’s the point ? They are hidden anyways, only certain minority has seen it.. Then I went to see Rembrandt and his follower’s show. That was really GOOD! I liked that a lot! It made me think why I don’t do small scale works ? More precise and small. I like grandeur scale, but I guess sometimes I can try small scale as well! 

Morgan Library

Also, we got to wait a lot… and find the way to other galleries to visit. SO we went to Forum Gallery in the city, it’s a very fancy place. So the exhibition I saw belonged to the artist Odd Nerdrum. He’s compared to Rembrandt as one of the contemporary artist who produced humongous amount of self portraits! Anyways, I liked that show thought, it was quite interesting. Then I just left the group and went back to MoMA! Yes, I found my way hahaha. It’s not that easy to be lost in the city when you don’t know where you are going anyway! But my friend and I managed actually to get lost, thank goodness, one of my alert classmates noticed our sudden “evaporation” lol and all of a sudden he ‘s like where you guys are going, this way! We were like way more away from the group! That was fun story to remember! MoMa amazes me all the time, SO I just love being in that environment! So much to look at!

at MoMA Exquisite Corpses: Drawing and Disfiguration and THIS! It was one of my favorites actually  so bizarre and of course I like weird.

at MoMA Eugène Atget: “Documents pour artistes”I saw this!

I had found a great Andy Warhol book! but I could not afford to buy it :/ well at least I have the picture of it someday I get that! No rush! Hahaha Also, if anybody wants to get me a GRADUATION PRESENT  ;D

 

I guess I had fun on the bus quite lot! Hugh Laurie aka House MD, my mentor, and myself Nothing can beat that!
PS I can’t believe I forgot to post this on TIME! Just found on my drafts! Yet, I posted it on my other blog…when you have dozen blogs to write, that is what happens on a regular basis!  well anyways. hope you enjoyed it!

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BLOG

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 “Dear Gulnar,
 On behalf of the State University of New York, I am delighted to inform you that you have been selected as a recipient of the Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence.
Sincerely,
Nancy L. Zimpher
Chancellor “ 

Also, I am invited to the ceremony to celebrate it with the other recipients and family, friends/faculty/staff. So I am allowed to bring with me up to 4 people! Yay! This is very nice! Well, three spots are already taken in my mind, so gotta find number 4 and ask them all… Heh, the ceremony time is like Wednesday in April, so I hope people whom I am gonna invite can make it! Another strange feeling when I opened the letter: I read it and then I am like “OK” … I spend that much time applying and all that paperwork process and excitement, but then waiting process somehow reduced my excitement. (Even though Andy Warhol says “The idea of waiting for something makes it more exciting” ) So I read the news, and reacted like after a while lol when it sunk in..LOL I guess I just can’t believe at first and then I accept the “reality”  Oh, well strangely every day I discover something new about myself ! We are in a constant change! Thank goodness!

I guess I have some “hope” news from Cooper Union. Well I got the answer from the Cooper Union.. it’s so strange, because I was expecting either YES or NO, but apparently Cooper has one more option such as MAYBE meaning a second chance I would think.. Well I read about this option, but did not think that it can happen to me. So I was rejected acceptance for the Early Decision admissions, yet my application and portfolio is going to be reevaluated during the Regular Admissions process. The feeling was really strange when I received the decision. So just because I have been waiting for it for so long, and checking mails  almost several days in a row starting from the February 2^nd, and because I did not know if the letters were out or not , thus  at some point I stopped waiting, strange I know.. and I told my host family if they see the mail just to open it for me. Well, they suggested to bring it to school when they receive in the mail, but I think there was no point doing so. I got my answer via text heheh.. not bad, it was strange because I got rejected but at the same time was given a second chance. Well now it’s time to wait a bit longer and hope to be accepted.  At least I felt a little better that my application was noticed!  It’s pretty sweet to know it after all that intense work on those projects. I know it’s strange, but getting a second chance from CU is worst to mention. Well I really hope and believe that I still have a chance!

So the next news is YES YES YES! I got to the SPRING 2012 ALBANY Show!! Woohoo! I was so happy, Though I thought somehow we missed the opening, because I got the email that my piece was selected and the show was like open already for a week or so…but my instructor said that there probably will be some public reception.. I hope to repeat the fun from last semester’s reception, But anyways I might go to see and take some pics for myself if we won’t get there officially  :D ..who knows when.. God knows how..  UNIVERSE I need to get to ALBANY please help me out! Sending positive thoughts and energy with my request, and now time to wait!

So because I don’t know the second chance results from CU, now I am gonna try to apply to some other schools to see how much scholarships I can get. I wish education was FREE, why it’s not I wonder…

I am going to apply for the WSA (Woodstock School of Art) Merit scholarship for the summer! They have incredible studios and local artist teach there! I have been there last summer and had a great time learning printmaking and watercolours, and I really want to continue it this summer as well! I am applying for the sculpture and printmaking classes to see which one I can get in. I really love both, but they let students take only those classes that are offered currently.

Finally I am back to myself, I was like so scattered last weeks, so much to do but now I am getting better in organizing my schedule. Trying to stick to the schedule that  I write daily  and weekly. I shall say it’s very tough, because I always miss doing something ;S makes me sad! So many thing to concentrate on.. literally A LOT! Not if I am complaining, it’s just strange that I am trying all that at once.

We are getting close to the Slate Magazine submissions deadline, which means that production period is approaching shortly! I am so excited this semester about the Slate, because I am gonna make it look a bit more like a book. I suggested to the Slate’s faculty advisor, and he said it’s strange that I said it because he was thinking about that too ! So I said great minds think alike xD hahaha I am very much inspired and pumped about this magazine project!!! I invited those students to the production that I think are good and have some experience with graphic design!  I tried to arrange a meeting today, so we can all get together and discuss the deadline, As usually the meetings looks productive, BUT WE GOTTA WORK ON THE PROJECT! The Deadlines are so close!!!  I shall say this semester we MUST publish it before the official graduation.. So the distribution process will be easier.

About my second graduation, I am gonna stay one more semester to do some more studies, With WebDesign  and more other classes! (but it all depends on my letter from CU) There are so much to learn!!!! I will most probably study to the last day of my life, at least I know that my goal  so far is Master’s Degree. I just love studying!! Of course, it gets tough after a while, especially with the age … brain starts dying, hard to memorize and stuff, but I am not 25 yet, so I am still growing heheh:P Plus I have hope that soon scientists will discover the gene of aging, and we can easily get rid of it and live young and stay smart forever at least I want to hit 100 years old, and have all those 100 candles on my bday cake!

OK, enough goofing, I am right now racing with my friend to see how many homework and activities we can accomplish this evening! We report every done homework/ activity to each other and get points! This is how I am trying to solve our Facebook distractions, so now we have a  goal to reach, and everyone wants to win of course ( I do at least ) So this is my second activity to be done, then I have two presentations, some sculpture projects to finish, and still get something in between done!!!

I will be back with new postings soon! I know I promised to write about VAC, I will .. I will I just need to organize things and write about them!! It’s going to be in a chronological order hehehe I guess… maybe not! Who knows!

Thanks for reading my blog if your rich to this point, here’s something inspirational for you: today my chocolate inspiration was “ Dare to Dream” I AM! DO YOU ?

C U soon!

Gulnar B.

The post A little bit of an award, and some hopeful news! appeared first on Study in the USA Blog.

Now, a little about my new classes:

Figure Drawing II class as usually nerve-wracking, because I am being impatient. I finally got a book where I just decided to do the steps that book shows and try to enjoy first of all what I am studying, instead of being angry that I can’t get the line correctly. It’s art, it does not have to be ‘perfect,’ but I want it to be as best as possible which at the end drives me crazy. My assignments are copying master drawings and redoing our in class drawings. Somehow, I do not really like the idea of redoing them, but it’s an assignment so it must be done. Yet, I can make my own assignments too and show to instructor!  It’s is great, and I get some feedback too. Done it! Plus, I like it more than doing homework ..he he he..

Graphic Design III class is alright, but I feel like I am floating in that class. We got to redo our Diversity Poster Assignment again! Client did not like what we had before, so we spent the beginning of the semester either starting from scratches or redoing previous project. Well, I think my previous project was done, so I started over a new one, and I like this. Trying to use humor, which I enjoy the most! Humor is the best way of saying “hey, listen.”  Yet, the main project for the semester is books, we are going to study them, and go to the Barnes & Nobel to make some discoveries I like that bookstore anyway, when I go there, I will look through the books, write down the names, and order them online for half-price or less xD Smart ha!

I have Independent Studies! I was like begging my advisor to let me take that class for 3 semesters! Finally, he let me do it! So I decided to study Conceptual Art in the frame of Modern Art! So far I got like several books to read, and sketchbook where I am jotting down my ideas. Interesting detail: in order to take this class I have to make a contract with my instructor, and then it goes to the dean to be approved… paperwork in other words. So I am gonna start producing some work for the transfer portfolio hopefully soon! It’s what the contract says! It includes once a week meetings with the instructor, to show the ideas or projects and talk about the reading and problems that I face during the process. I like the idea of this class because it’s one-on-one, but the annoying part is being interrupted. I dislike that because I lose my focus…

Modern Art History class is fun I shall say! I really like it. Thought the book is humongous with like 9 pt font size and waiting for me to be read. Oh! It’s thought and heavy!  Yet I like it because it’s connected to my Independent Studies class, so I am cool with it btw it’s once a week class, or they call it hybrid class, partially online and partially in class.

Intro to Web Design class, it’s fun , but still I don’t understand some stuff, I feel like I really need a book, and the screen where instructor demos the lessons is tiny! I see usually nothing, so I have to imagine everything lol. I think Mac Lab needs BIGGER screen for the projector! So far I am ok but I want to do better! OK isn’t enough for me honestly..  I have to spend more time on my own to explore the Dreamweaver.

I am still waiting for the answer from CU..  Annoyed pretty much. It’s already Feb 5^th! And this is early decision, I guess Early February can mean any day between 1^st and 10^th. Anyways, I just stopped worrying about that, no point.  Sooner or later the letter will arrive. Meanwhile I just started researching OPT options, because that school is very competitive, so I have to have several other choices what to do after graduation. OPT sounds good to me, and now I have to find a JOB on my field! SOMEBODY HIRE ME PLEASE!

Some good stuff:

I got nominated this week for the 2012 Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. Yay! I am one of two SUNY Ulster students who’s application was send to Albany. Now we shall wait. This is one of the best things that happened during my college life in the USA! I really hope to be the recipient Send some positive vibes and good luck to me!

And I received my first US Diploma with Associates in Fine Arts! I am proud of myself hehe… the feeling that comes to me occasionally lol But the funny part was I was expecting a framed diploma, and at the registrar’s office  they gave me an envelope and I am like “ this is it ?”  she is like “what else do you want? “  LOL It’s funny because all those years of study and we get a piece of paper that confirms that… Well, if that paper will help me to get a job, sure why not?! Oh, after this semester I will receive my second two-year diploma, hopefully! 2.5 year and getting two qualifications! Very good indeed! But I desperately want to earn a BFA! Universe send me the acceptance letter from CU, pleaseee!! I worked hard and will continue, I promise!

Another SUNY-wide Student show is approaching. I have submitted two works, and really hope to get in. That was fantastic last semester! I enjoyed it so much hahaha and now ready to live it again, hopefully. Now I shall wait for the results…again. Waiting is part of the every single process, if you notice!  Please, please, please Universe I want to be in the Albany show! Also, please send me more patience!

This is it for now. I think I am gonna write a post about Visual Arts Club separately, because that’s a BIG deal ! This is the best student club! Yes, I am being biased lol I love it! JOIN US ( SUNY Ulster students), and you will love it too!!!! So much fun activities are coming soon! Yay!

Thank you for reading my blog btw
Gulnar

PS here’s today’s quote “Life is short; live your dreams!”

The post Spring 2012! appeared first on Study in the USA Blog.

I am back to studies again! This is going to be my last semester at SUNY Ulster. I love this place a lot! Someday I will be back to work here!!! I like this supportive environment!

Now about my winter break which was somehow full of events that I did not notice how it passed so quickly. So I applied to CU last year (sounds like year ago, but it was November 2011), and got home test which were 6 creative problems to be solved and a questionnaire with 12 interview questions to be answered. It looks not that much, but in reality that was a lot of work!  I could not start neither test nor writing earlier, because I had to finish my semester properly, so that week I spent working on my final projects. The next week I started sketching and brainstorming process, but still did not get to assignments because it was holiday time! Yet, I think I started my writing gradually, because I knew that it might take longer than I expected. Anyway, I was stressed out; it’s still a big pressure and responsibility! I had asked several instructors to write recommendation letters and so on. I took a break from my work, so I could spend time on my projects. Actually, it worked out pretty well, because the time that I took off I spent on non-stop creative problem solving day and night! Goodness, that was very taught times! I enjoyed the projects however. I tried to look at them from different angles, sketched out various solutions, and then I tried to give to my solutions conceptual twist, and create some awareness. I hope it will work. Finding the precise box to mail the projects was another story! FedEx was very helpful with that. I did not know that the box for the shipping is free, but that particular size is only for the overnight shipping. In a nutshell I mailed everything 2 days before the deadline, and the box arrived on time. Now, I am waiting for the early decision to arrive on February 1^st, or 2^nd. Waiting is painful, I never liked it. These days I am so busy again that I didn’t even notice how the first week of classes passed already! So much projects to do, whoa! I am excited!

Anyway, after the home test, I still had one week of ‘winter break’ but I had to go back to work, especially during the registration time it’s really busy, so presence of everyone in the office is valuable and much appreciated! Despite the work, I rested in that week so well! It’s because after those intense days of hard thinking process, my work seemed like a vacation! I can’t believe I am saying this, but everything is relative! I am actually happy that I looked at my work from that perspective, thus I felt mentally rested and ready to do MORE at my last semester at SUNY Ulster!! Grand Finale that’s what I want! and then hopefully move to NYC and work on my BFA!

The post “Winter break,” home test and back to college! appeared first on Study in the USA Blog.