An inside view into The Vision and Life of artist Lakeshia Reid

In Remembrance

Room 306
Although Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday falls on January 15th, we remember his life and accomplishments on the third monday in January. Though the holiday was made official in 1983, by President Ronald Reagan, it was not observed by all 50 states until 2000. I had the opportunity to visit the Lorraine  Motel (now the National Civil Rights Museum) where MLK was assassinated while working a summer job with Upward Bound. The trip will always resonate with me because it happened at a time where I was on a journey towards the total acceptance and love of myself and the mindset to share that acceptance and openness with others.

On the way to the Lorraine Motel

Lorraine Motel

The Lorraine Motel / The National Civil Rights Museum

Lorraine Motel / National Civil Rights Museum

The Lorraine Motel, where King was assassinated, is now the site of the National Civil Rights Museum.

Daydreaming part 2: Believe in your Dreams

“For sale. #embroidery #handmade #mantra #2012 #stitch”

It took me longer than I anticipated, but I finally finished my ‘Believe in your Dreams’ embroidery. It’s officially my mantra for 2012. Though I have gotten sidetracked more than one time this past year–a steady belief in achieving my dreams has kept me moving forward. To keep you and I motivated, here are some quotes:

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.
Henry David Thoreau

Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.
Harriet Tubman

All men dream but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes to make it possible.
T.E. Lawrence

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
Eleanor Roosevelt

and the most meaningful quote i’ve read today:

The question for each man to settle is not what he would do if he had means, time, influence and educational advantages; the question is what he will do with the things he has. The moment a young man ceases to dream or to bemoan his lack of opportunities and resolutely looks his conditions in the face, and resolves to change them, he lays the corner-stone of a solid and honorable success.
Hamilton Wright Mabie

Recent Graduate Limbo

Since graduating in May of 2011 I have been struggling with getting out of student mode and into the professional world. I’ve even been as tempted as to enroll for a second bachelors degree, however, the threat of a mountain of debt is making me reconsider. If someone would have told me that I would be just as clueless now as I was when I entered college–I probably wouldn’t have allowed my family to pressure me into pursuing my bachelors when I did. Realistically though, I wouldn’t change any of it. It’s just that the economy and my lack of preparation is making it beyond balls difficult to find employment. I worked a retail job over the holidays but wasn’t allowed to stay on full-time because the store couldn’t afford to keep on any seasonal employees. I seem to be stuck between making money, making art, and not making myself useful these days.

I want to be freed from limbo.

I’m quite tired of feeling like I wasted the last four years of my life getting a degree. I’m over wondering what may have happened had I gone to another university. I don’t want to consider the fact that there may have been another major that I could have studied. Is it too much to ask to find stable employment in my field? I suppose it’s not when I remember:  ’that nothing worth having comes easy.’

All that said,  this weekend is going to be dedicated to getting my life–okay, my portfolio– together. I will sift through my external hard drives and put together all of my work the best way I know how. I will set aside as much money as possible, and it’s not much, to have business cards and other promotional materials printed. I will pretend that I have a heavily weighted assignment due at 8 am Monday so that I may free myself from the bounds of this crappy recent graduate limbo

and get a job.

If you’re a recent graduate, what are you doing or what have you done to get out of limbo?

edit: I picked up this book from a thrift shop. I hope it has some useful tips.

I need a job.

Elephants On The Brain

All this week i’ve been thinking of drawing elephants. This could be because of my love for Coldplay’s Paradise music video, my recent travels abroad, or simply my secret obsession with the animal. Keeping my recent inspiration posts in mind, I drew a quick sketch in my new favorite pencil. It’s a Prismacolor Col-Erase Copy not NP Blue. A mouthful yes, but essentially it’s just a pencil in the shade of  blue that can easily be removed from scanned images.

After I was semi-satisfied with my sketch I threw in my lines.

Having drawn nothing but flowers lately, I was surprised at the outcome. This cancelled my original idea of using watercolors and colored pencils to color my elephant. That said, I turned to illustrator.

Inspiration can come from the strangest places but I’m going to keep running with it.

edit: When I finished posting this it occurred to me that I could easily print a sheet and make stickers. So I did. ^_^ Now I don’t feel so bad for buying my Xyron Create-a-Sticker or the can of Mod Podge Acrylic Sealer that has been sitting in my closet.

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