Catch Those Z's

Second day back at university, could barely keep my eyes open in my lecture this morning, due to getting home from work at 2am, but I guess I will have have to get used to early mornings for uni again. Lucky enough, studio classes don't start till next week so my day at uni got cut back by 5 hours! I would have been able to go to work if I knew this was the class, but I had already informed Hungry Jacks I can no longer do Thursdays. Due to being stuck in a routine of work all day and night on Thursdays, it has been unconsciously on my mind that I have work tonight. It got to approximately 1pm  just as I was "motivating" myself to clean my room (I didn't end up cleaning for a fresh start for university, oops), it came to my realisation that I have work off tonight, I jumped to bed to celebrate my relief followed by a strong 5 hour nap. Safe to say, I definitely needed it, and now I am procrastinating further from cleaning my room.

Although, this goes to show, that I will have to get into a new routine of bed times due to compulsory 7am wake up calls. I know that 7am isn't typically known as an early morning, and although I do like waking up early, I also appreciate my sleep ins after coming home from work in the early hours of the morning.

Back on the topic of uni, after the lectures basically debriefing us on the subject for the semester, I am really excited to be focusing on graphic design, we never really got a chance to get into it last year. Already getting our assignments, but, hopefully I will evenly distribute my energy, time and commitment to all aspects of work and uni this semester.

This drawing of a tiger is one I did last summer before I went on holidays. I love drawing tigers and lions, I'm not really sure why, but I have quite a little collection of several drawings. As I was writing that first sentence "This drawing of a tiger" it reminded me of my university subjects from last year, actually from my Contemporary Creative Practice and Philosophy subjects. We learnt about Semiotics, which I must say is my favourite topic to date, and knowing that it was taught from both degrees goes to show how Graphic Design and Advertising and Marketing intertwine and accentuate one another in the real world. Need a little insight on what Semiotics is all about? Let me help you.

Semiotics can be defined as a way of analysing meanings by looking at the sign which communicates meaning. In other words, it is the science of signs, originating in linguistics and the study of meaning. This refers to the sue of signs and images to present an idea; as seen in the diagram, the sign equals the signifier of the signified. The signifier is the denotation; the thing that gives and provokes the meaning, for example, a word or an image. The signified is the connotation; what is evoked in the mind. An example of semiotics would be a picture of a cat; instantaneously we know it is a cat. But, how do we know it is a at? We have to take into consideration of the variables of semiotics; signifiers provoke different ideas and interpretations for different people. People all around the world would recognise a cat, but have different signifiers to evoke this; different words due to different languages. The relationship between the images and signs are representations; it is an arbitrary relationship; the signified remains constant yet the way one interprets it varies completely.

Ferdinand de Saussure founded the concept of structuralism with the components of the sign, the signifier and the signified. Saussure was a Swiss linguist whose views revolutionised the study of language. The theory successfully influence other disciplines such an anthropology, sociology and literary criticism. The main principle of structuralism is that the phenomena of human life are not intelligible except through their network relationships, formulating the sign and the system, in which the sign embedded the prime concept. For example, a sign gets its meaning only in comparison or contrast to other signs in a system of signs.

Signs can only exist in opposition to other signs; for example, we know a dog is a dog for it is not a cat, therefore a sign is created through its valued relationship with other signs. In Saussure's theory of linguistics, the signifier is the sound and the signifier is the thought. The linguistic sign is the entire relationship between all components as Saussure stated, "A sign is not a link between a thing and a name, but between a concept and a sound pattern." (Hoenisch, 2005)

Safe to say that this little recap of semiotics has refreshed my memory for university, which is a plus. It relates to social networking and communication through technology as well; have you ever send a text message to someone with one initial intention of the message, and they have interpreted it completely wrong? That is semiotics, how everyone sees and interprets things different. I guess this is why direct communication is definitely more efficient. But, for me for now, my blog is what lets me get my thoughts and interests out there to the rest of the world, and I thank you for reading. Enjoy the rest of your Thursday evening.

Ex Oh.

University: Press Play

Hello!

So today was my first day back at uni for this semester, I was looking forward to it, and it was great to see everyone again! Although I began my day helping mum out with some gardening, climbing up the ladder and pruning the palm trees, in which I was attacked by so many mosquitoes, what quite insane. But it's okay now, a few mossie bites never hurt, just a part of your typical aussie backyard.

I was mainly excited to go back to uni so I can doodle all over my books in the lectures, which will get me back into drawing more, so hopefully I will post more drawings in time!

Here's a photo of the Wollongong Nightlife crew working at Su Casa on the 23rd Feburary. This was the opening night of Su Casa, where upstairs of Glasshouse has becomes it's own club with exclusive deep house music. It has been very successful, so if you're a local and don't have any plans for this Saturday night hit up Su Casa! Free entry until 11pm and $6 shooters until 1am! Fair deal I'd say!

You may say "But Saturday is so far away, I want to party now!" Well you're in luck! (If you live local, of course) because it's Uni night at the Grand Hotel! Every Wednesday, free entry and free pizza! So come down for some dinner and cheap drinks until 11pm, and you're guaranteed to have a good night!

So I best be off, got to get some rest and revitalise for work tonight, hope you have a fabulous Wednesday evening!

Ex Oh.

Delirious.

Hello! So once again Sunday night was a success! The Grand Hotel was packed and the DJ were pumping! The ladies arrived all dolled up which their hair perfect and highest heels strapped on, until the entire space became a giant mosh pit. The ladies stumbled out of the cluster of sweating fans with make up where it's not suppose to be, hair in all sorts of directions and broken shoes. Now that's what I call a classy night out! It really was a good site to see, just being able to stand there and watch everyone party their little hearts out! Overall, the entire weekend was a success, and although I did work all weekend, it really was back to work today; I wouldn't exactly call being on the "other" side of the bar hard work, it is really just an enjoyable time.

So! Today, I lived my typical Monday, recovering from a weekends work at the clubs at the quiet un air-conditioned "bliss" of Hungry Jacks in the muggy weather to the Air conditioned tension of the patrons as Collegians. Their has been tension amongst Managers and patrons as of late, which mixes up the atmosphere at work, which isn't too bad, as it is usually a drag.

I didn't have the best sleep after a fun weekend's worth of work though; when I work a lot I often drive myself into a tiresome state of still thinking I'm at work when I'm clearly at home, sleeping. This resulted in continuously waking up last night thinking I was still serving drinks at the bar, and falling back asleep into dreams of work. It's funny because, I can hear the people and everything, I just always wonder who has stupidly turned the lights off when I'm trying to work. I never realise I am home though, I think to myself "Well I can't see what I'm doing, I'm tired, and for some reason there are no bottles of spirits right here where they should be so I'm just going to lie down and sleep". I then wake up, feeling drained from "working" all night, instead of sleeping. It gets to the stage sometimes that I start sleep walking, thinking I am at work, but that happens when I reach deep states of deliriousness.

Onto another topic, I obviously do not have any fashion statements I am announcing, so I decided to upload another one of my drawings. This has got to be one of my favourites by far, it was requested by a friend but I couldn't part with it. I get attached to my drawings, and hate to see them go. I have only ever given away two drawings, to people close to me. The Phoenix is drawn with Graphite Pencils on A2 paper. Anyway, I have a busy day tomorrow, so I better get some zzz's!

Ex Oh.

Circle of Life

   

     

Today I decided I would leak some of my drawings, as I am currently very tired, feeling the pain in the back of my eyes from working too much. But that's okay! Nothing stops me from keeping busy! I just didn't feel like dressing up right now, besides, I have a party to attend tonight so I shall post some more pretty pictures then :)

So these nine drawings was my body of work for my major Visual Arts HSC work back in 2011. I am quite proud of these drawings, I have since developed my drawing skills, but these drawings really accentuate the amount of detail and tedious efforts I have put into my drawing.

Of course, there is a concept behind the drawings, each drawing have it's own paragraph explaining it's purpose as a piece of the story. The artwork is called "The Circle of Life". I love drawing animals and intricacy of the detail within them. So I had decided that's what I would do. With the stereotypical circle of life idea, an animal reference from The Lion King, I chose nine stages a person that I believe had great significance. I won't list them here, I will let you try and figure them out. I am very big on conceptual ideas and in-depth thought of works. So, the amount of detail within the artworks reflect the amount of conceptual thought has gone into them as well.

I hope you enjoy my drawings and analysing them thoroughly, feedback is great! Even though I am very stubborn in my ways of drawing and have on intention of being told how to draw as such, feedback is always great, regardless. Lucky I can't do drawing as a major at university, as I already didn't take well to the criticisms from my tutors, but, that was because they try to tell you to do things how they want it, rather than encouraging on how you improve of your style, which I think isn't a very good teaching ethic on their behalf.

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Ex Oh.