Abstract

I began by writing one story about Cherokee myths involving the sun and moon. My main character had to deal with living those myths and being affected by the moon. I began to write, but an obstacle I encountered was that I didn’t connect with my characters at all. I did too much research on the story and the plot, before getting to know the characters. The lack of passion I felt for the characters affected me severely. Eventually, I had to change the story to something else. It was changed to another idea that I was much more comfortable with. I learned how to make a story more independent. Because I had chosen a story that was originally a sequel, I feared that I’d have trouble writing it on its own. But I learned that just with a few minor tweaks, a story’s plot could be changed considerably. After deleting references from the past story that I loved, I realized that it helped build the story and give me more advantage in the plot. I also learned my strengths and weaknesses as a writer. I now know that I should not push my creativity too far within deadlines because it might kill the joy of writing. But I also can’t take two years to write something. So I need to find the middle line between giving myself deadlines, and writing freely.

a. What went well? 
The research and getting everything together.
b. What did not? 
Talking about our research and deciding what to drop in terms of information.
c. What would you do differently next time? 
I would speak up about the decisions for our infographic, because I feel that we could have done a better job in the visualness. 
d. Specifically comment on the 10 tips for effective infographics -

Be Concise

Be Visual

Be Smarter

Be Transparent

Be Different

Be Accurate

Be Attractive

Be Varied

Be Gracious

Be Creative

Which of these areas did you excel in? Which were not so well represented? Why do you think some elements of design were easier or harder to include in the end product?

    I've always loved art, and I spend a lot of my life working on drawings and paintings. But this quarter, a lot of holidays and special occasions for someone special to me were coming up. So I decided to make them a present instead of buying one, and to make something different from the field I'm most used to.     I usually pick themes of emotions that are most dominant in my life. I take my time when it comes to my work, partly because I want it to be done right, but mostly because my motivation is just the satisfaction of seeing my drawing skills become more refined as time passes. This quarter I have found that when I have a more common goal of someone else's happiness as opposed to just a "good" grade, I am better motivated to take on creative projects and to spend every free minute I have to work on it.     My first piece is a bracelet with a personalized charm. It is based on the person it was made for. He has a signature of himself as a little cartoon that he likes to sign his drawings with. So I took a copy of that signature and made it from metal from a can. I had decided on a can because I wanted it to be more permanent than paper or foam. When I first thought of a charm, my mind automatically went to metal, and the next thought was that my resources could easily get me a can and scissors that could cut through metal. I used a cloth to cover the back of it so that it won't cut through the skin, and that became a birthday present.

My second piece was for the same person who happens to love video games and specifically Mario games.  So I made a personalized question block from cardboard paper using pictures from the internet and images from playing the game myself. I also cut out items that are usually found when a question block is hit: a star, a green/red mushroom, a feather, and a fire flower. After painting all of these items, I made it a little more personal inside the box, painting it my own way and making a story and picture. After glueing everything together, and putting all of the items inside the box, I added in chocolate coins. There were mess ups, and my biggest challenge was the time limit and the time the paint wanted to dry. But everything was finished the way my mind wanted it, and bringing joy to the person all of this was meant for brought a more accomplished and happy feeling inside me than any of my other work could have ever done.

Yadi Angeles

Water Stream

"MOVE: A Cult Unvelied" is a video focusing on the cult MOVE and the problems they had with the police. It tells two sides of a story with bad decisions and actions on both sides. It brings forth questions of trust for the government and a strange understanding for a cult the just had a strong way of expressing beliefs.

Link for video:

Link for citations: 

https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1XZuwHCeujTF8X7jPJuYyD8VFFz2jcPmVfbaftGW-qWA

In my Art class, I had a project that had to do with recycling. We had to use things that either were recyclables or weren't depending on what we wanted and make something out of them. I personally am a big fan of art, and I enjoy to do it because I feel it brings out my most creative side. 

A lot of my themes are people. My best things to draw are girls. Since my theme is so common, I decided to try something new and make something more nature-like. 

What I decided to do was a tree made out of tree materials. As I got into it, I started to realize all of the components that a tree goes through to become the piece of computer paper on my desk, or the cardboard box at my door. So I began to think that if I was going to make a tree, I might as well express what a lot of trees are going through when a human (i.e me) is involved. I made my lean, and made an axe to "cut" it down. So not only have I made a tree out of tree products, but I'm also trying to express the things that seem to be happening way too much to our nature.