Nikarma's avatar

Nikarma

....................Bloop bloop.
87 Watchers281 Deviations
40.4K
Pageviews


(lol, the title was dummy text I accidentally pasted into the title.. I think it suits??)

Hello!

    It's been awhile, sorry ^^; Who's still around?! I'm a bad deviant for buying a subscription for DA and then.. not using it.

    Nevertheless! I've been quite a busy fishuu. A lot of vacationing, some working, some resting.. I went down to Washington and Oregon with Scott's family (who were nice enough to pay for me~) and was reminded of how much I love the coast. Poking crabs in the tidepools, starfish, sea anenome... Dunebuggying, shopping (no tax in Oregon :heart: ), eating geoduck and a bear! Until I found it out was a mommy bear (shooter didn't know until too late) and I didn't eat it anymore.. ;__;

    Last April or whatever, I got hired as Art Director of The Phoenix, woo! It's my uni's student newspaper, but we distribute valley-wide. The pay isn't really much, but I'm taking it as a learning experience, as well as a volunteer with some pocket money on the side :3

    A few weeks ago, two Phoenixers and myself went to Yale, BC, to the Teague House B&B and hung out with some of the people from The Ubyssey, our sister newspaper in Vancouver (UBC). We spent three nights there, and the noise levels died down at the comfortable sleeping hour of 4-4:30AM (that's sarcasm, if you didn't catch it~). "Team Building Activities" actually meant Drunk Jeopardy every night, lol. I was a good sport and sat around with everyone else though, despite not drinking. They were a neat bunch.

    I especially learned a lot of design from Justin and especially Paul(who's been in basically every position but now is the Ubyssey's online ad salesman) who I spent hours design-nerding out with. I'm really grateful for the time they spent giving creative and constructive critique over the last issue of The Phoenix (when I wasn't employed yet).

    Coming back home, I did an overhaul of the paper's design. After a few long, long days that went into the night, the first issue went into printing and 1500 copies were released on Sept. 7 >w< It's riddled with mistakes and goof ups, but I heard from a previous Phoenix copy editor (Ranney) that it's the best first issue he's ever seen. That was a definite cheer-up for me after seeing all the things that went askew =__=

    Anyway, I'm still working for TCM.. Apparently they've only been contracting me for weeks, since design's been slow. I'm pretty happy about that. I quit that dumb Unity project a week or two into summer 'cause the coordinator was extremely difficult to work with. I was so relieved when it was over with >__< Now it's going to be an awkward school year 'cause the coordinator's instructing this year and will be around, lol.

    I'm going into my fourth and last year of my BFA this year :dance: Started classes last Thursday (Technically Wed, but I don't have class on that day). In my first term, I'm taking Advanced Digital Media (my second time... not because I failed it the first time, but you're allowed to repeat a course a couple/few times AND get credits for all the times you did it), Advanced Painting (with a prof I've never had before, so I was a bit nervous), and my fourth year grad course that will prepare me for the Graduation Year End Show (has my prof from Adv. Painting and another prof I've never had before). So much work to doooo!

    My grad course follows the same suit as the studio courses - two parts, one in each term. But the grad course is worth double the amount of credits. It's also double the tuition ;__; I'm paying over $900 per term for it :( Fourth years got their studio space on Friday though! Year 1-3, you only get big lockers to put your stuff in. Studios are reserved for 4th+ year students, and are like cubicles, only the walls extend quite a ways up. Each studio space is equiped with a desk with drawers (sometimes), a lockable cabinet, and whatever furniture you'd like.

    Before class, I prepared a piece of paper with my name on it, and a piece of tape on the back so I wouldn't have to waste time making one when it was time to choose our studio spots. I also planned to stand near the door during class too, so that I could run out on cue and grab the one I wanted.

    Turns out, the profs got a pad of sticky paper for people to write their names on, but when he told the other students they could go take one, and I went straight to the studio room, lol. First one in and got the one I wanted; a studio on the far corner, near high windows that would allow for natural lighting, near the sink, and with no facing studio space near it, except on the opposite wall. It also has two walls from the room itself, versus the divider walls that you probably couldn't put nails in to hang stuff. Plus, since I'm near the sink, and up against the corner wall, I have extra wall space... When one of my profs was helping me exchange my desk for a better one, he moved my cabinet outside of my studio-square, against the wall near the sink, lol.

    I was gonna' buy a mini fridge from one of my friends, but he sorta' forgot to reserve it for me... However, Judy (an older woman who's also a mother) who's on the opposing studio from mine is bringing her fridge and says I may use it. Certainly would save me the money and trouble to get a fridge transported to the uni. Judy's also offered to give me a ride to the Friday studio class we share.

    I'm so excited to decorate it ;__; The studio rooms (there's one upstairs and downstairs) are all locked too, so things are a bit more secure.

    Fourth years are also asked to choose an advisor from a list of professors. I couldn't decide between Johann and Stephen.

    I first had Johann in first year Drawing/2D, and although there's always a love-hate for him between students, I've always found him as such a strong professor. He was the one who first taught me how to make canvases, and in a very qualitative manner too. His credentials are really remarkable too, having designed a building at the University of Alberta, a war memorial, and a hockey hall of fame bus, among other things. His paintings and printmaking is really excellent, and was the one who told me that the minimum price you should put on a piece of art is $250.

    I had Stephen for the first term of Digital Media in my second year. He gave me a good start in learning Illustrator, something that was a weak point in the Adobe/Macromedia suite. He also nominated me for a media scholarship, recommended me as the comp lab monitor, as well as an Apple Representative for the uni (although I've not really heard anything about the latter for awhile). I'm planning to do some digital drawings and have them printed out big, so Stephen would be good to guide me.

    I ended up putting Johann as first choice, and Stephen after (although noted that I couldn't decide between the two, lol), since I figured I have my adv. painting class and will be doing paintings for my grad shows too.. I ended up getting Johann; a bit sad it wasn't Stephen (but I'm sure to still consult with Stephen when I need it.. plus I have him as my adv. media prof.. which is tomorroow, woo!) but still feeling really fortunate. I heard that 4th year advisors only choose 1-2 students to advise for the year, so I'm really wondering if I'm the only one, or if Johann is hardcore and accepted whoever wanted him as an advisor :c

    You can tell I'm quite excited, haha. I've got a lot of planning to do though, and a lot of canvas building to do ;__; My painting prof told us that we weren't allowed to buy prefab canvases, darn </3.

    I've got a lot of ideas queued though, I just have to execute and order them properly. In November, I'll be going to Viet Nam for three weeks and stopping over in Seoul, S. Korea for two days, so I really have to push and work hard before I leave to make up for my absense.

    Alright, cheers for now. Sleepy time, even though my class doesn't start until 2PM :0



Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In


....And wish that I were in them.

Maybe this summer.


Maybe never.



====


I'm jealous of a fellow BCFer who's gone on a trip all the way from Finland to San Diego to see her crush for the second time (last time - last year)...
I bid her well though.

Edit Apr. 1, 7:33PM: Her status on FB now says she's in a relationship... I'm so, so happy for her!


On another note, I am loving my Lady Gaga April Fools DA Icon.
Mouthful.

Also, hello there big text. Didn't know I copied the wrong code from my old journals.
Keeping it.
But with tweaks, which are taking forever...

I don't know what I did to my mood/listening to/etc stuff.
I fixed it.


Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In


...and your professor at your boss and professor's house. That's what I did today! Jeeblies.

 
And jeeblies, it's been a long day. I had a Unity meeting this morning, caught Amber on the bus, so we went together. Luckily the meeting this time started at 10AM, rather the usual 9-9:30AM. I got around 5 hours of sleep >__< Was dawdling around until I realized it was 11PM and realized I needed to do some work for Unity and read stuff for Asian Cinema.

 
Had my three classes, hardly paying attention in Comp Ethics 'cause it was just about privacy, course evaluations, and watching some videos. Met up with Amber again to work on Unity, quoting "Mah spooon is tooo biig" a million times, as well as "This is Sparta" in the most mundane tone. I wrote a terrible typo-ridden email to Ms. Suzuki (Amber made me keep the typos), and we were dying of laughter of how terrible it was. Worked for awhile (I fixed a bunch of things, yay) and decided to go get food since we were going to stay for an artist talk at 6PM till who knew when.

 
I showed Amber the "Upper Level" collegium in the UNC building, and we ate there. I shouldn't have had those fries.. We were going to check The Phoenix's (uni newspaper) office, but the light was off, and the editor in chief (EIC) was sleeping on the couch, lol. When we came to check after eating, he was awake though. Amber just wanted to show me what the office looked like, but I ended up meeting Andrew (the EIC) and introduced myself. I submitted my resume and portfolio last week, which was a whole whack of work.. I have so much stuff to sort through T__T Never really wrote a cover letter for something official before either, but I believe all that I submitted is a strong application for Art Director!

 
Anyway, Andrew invited me to come in next-next weekend during their production days to see how things go. Need to keep warming up to them and I think by meeting Andrew today would bet my foot more in the door. Exciting! We spent quite some time just hanging out in the office with Andrew too.. Amber was telling me about their random dance parties and how Aidan W. (current Art Director) just suddenly got up and broke into dance to Tim & Eric: Sports, then Andrew pulled it up on the screen to watch. We watched Tim & Eric's three Absolut Vodka commercials too.. So weird and funny.

 
Rushed back to the FINA building and got into the artist talk just in time. Presenting was Pierre Hébert, an artist who does video animations using Max. His work has quite an interesting style, although I think watching more of his chaotic works would be easier viewed in small portions. Beautiful, nonetheless.

 
Kenneth and Aleks were his hosts at the Uni, and after the artist talk, they actually invited the guests to come over to their house. No one really stayed though, only to talk.. Amber got auto-roped in for the dinner, and I ended up getting roped in too, as well as Matthew (who keeps re-introducing himself to me), and Victoria (friend of Amber and Matt, but I've never really talked to her before; she's very nice!). Steven F., my media prof from last year, helped to drive us all up to Kenaleks's house, Amber going with Kenalek's car, with Pierre.

 
We beat them to their house and was greeted by Aleks's mom and her adooooorable toddler daughter, Tara. Their house is quite neat, eclectic, a lot of artsy things, statues, books, and quite cozy (although Aleks said later she doesn't like it 'cause of some problems :( ).

 
Once we were altogether, Aleks offered us "Beer or wine?" Us three Asian ladies (Amber, Victoria, and I) said water was okay (none of us drink), but Matt asked for a beer. :0 Drinker!! We all then sat down and were super duper entertained by the Narnia popup book sitting on the cool curly-sided Chinese table..

 
Then dinner, which was all Serbian foods, and very delicious too. :heart: As we were lining up, I spotted a durian sitting on the fridge. I pointed it out to Amber, which made her cringe, lol. Durians are notorious for their smell. You either like eating it or can't stand it 'cause of the smell. I told Kenalek's that I was "proud" that they ate it, which sparked some interesting discussion on it, lol. I'm so used to it though, I don't smell anything bad anymore.

 
Dinner was several dishes: Salmon, bean+garlic+oil, spanikopita, rice, beet/cabbage salad, baby spinach, potatoes and yam, and some other stuff. We surprisingly fit around the small table, talked about cultures, languages, wine... Watched adorable Tara smilin' and eating.. Sat around in the living room talking with Aleks and her puppets, then decided to head home. Was raining outside though so Amber managed to get me a ride home, and drive Matt and Vic to the mall. Didn't get home until 10:30PM.

 
It was honestly super fun! Especially when away from the work and education, I got along with Aleks pretty well.

 
Anyway, getting tired so no mo' of this. Just wanted to document >w<






Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In


 
I showed my mom my straight hair on Monday, and the flat iron, saying that I was looking into buying one. It was her day off today, so when she came back from shopping... She brought me a brand new 2" ceramic one, eee! :heart: I was going to go today to buy one too! Also, just the night before or so, I was thinking about wanting to eat those cheese string snacks because I hadn't in in years. I didn't tell my mom, but when I opened the fridge... there was a bag of them. 0__0 This has happened before too! It's pretty neat how she does it 0__o

 
Something I forgot to mention last entry was that I caught a spider - the first one of this "Spider season".. and I didn't kill it, phew.. It was daytime and sunny out, so I think it would be okay. I saw that winged green bug in the bathroom again yesterday too :0 I dunno' where it is now but I hope it's... still around at least. >__< It crawled on my hand, and I let it crawl off and onto the tropical plant.

 
Yesterday, I received a package from LG but didn't get to open it until today. I knew it was a monitor though; I sent mine in (it's the bigger one ) due to a very dim screen and some other issues (and got a 23" widescreen temporarily until it gets fixed.. am loving the extra screenspace!). Was about to leave for the bus to school but.. I was already feeling so down.. unmotivated and heavy-hearted, that I decided against it. Just drawing class today.. I wasn't sure what I was going to draw anyways, and I would have been 10 mins late regardless. So, decided to open the box. It wasn't my old monitor, but a replacement - a W2284F-PF 22" 4:3. I didn't know they made square monitors anymore!! I never really liked the widescreen ratios :(

 
I plugged it in and after a lot of tinkering and trying to figure out its resolution, and making it work with my older, 15" screen, it was going fine. When I turned it on though, I noticed it was dim too.. not good.. So, I switched back to the 23", and the brightness was there again. I think it's the.. power adapter? Whatever it is.. big block where you plug another cord in, rather than straight from socket to computer. Perhaps that's what it is all along :S I'm going to try and find a replacement for it and see how it goes. The 22" isn't too bad, but definitely not as artsy as my old 19". The light is also blue, compared to their other models it seems (red is my fav colour >:0 ), but it has a neat white LED light that turns on at the bottom of the stand, which shines downwards.. you can see it through the clear bottom rim of the stand. It doesn't last though, oh well. I thought it was pretty neat. I have around 2 months left until I can return the 23", so I'll try to find another plug thing and see if it works with the 22". If so, it'll sure be nice to get my $290.07 back for the 23"!

 
After initially setting up the 22", I spotted a Vietnamese magazine next to my mom's bed. Usually these magazines all over the place, but this once seemed interesting, and all-colour, so I took it and looked through. I got to the health section, when I stopped in shock of the picture on it.. Rather graphic, I'm not sure if it was doctored or real but.. It was a pair of arms outstretched, with slit marks along the wrist/arm :/ The article title was called "A strange kind of fun/happiness..." and the subtitle was "Are you interested in seeing the cuts on the arms of your children or just think it's scratches?" It was pretty shocking, and I.. read the article anyways. My Viet reading is kind of slow, so it took longer, thus making the picture stay even more in my peripherary vision.. Until I covered it up. It was so bad.. So scary.. I didn't know Viet people did self-harm, or am I just ignorant? It's unheard of anyways.. Perhaps they picked it up from North America or something?

 
Anyway, article here (without any grotesque pictures), missing the "What to do about it?" at the end (just copy paste it into Google Translate). Full article (warning: has bloody picture) here (auto-translated page didn't seem to work, so you'll have to copy paste the url into Google translate yourself). It's a poor translation, but you can get the gyst.. It's pretty scary and saddening :(

 
Went with Scott in the afternoon/evening to go look at flat irons, as originally planned the day before, although this time just looking and comparing prices, since my mom already got it. Poked around A Buck or Two (so much Easter stuff up already!), the London Drugs, which had the same model at the same price.

 
Ate at East Side Mario's, since they had a "half-off all pizzas from 4-6PM" and it was around 5:30 already. We ordered a small veggie appy, but they made a mistake in the kitchen and gave us a large. We paid the same price though! (a little under $5). The bartender was pretty nice.

 
Skipped dessert there and decided to go for ice cream at DQ instead. Caught up with Gabin after we left ESM (I told him about hanging out with Scott and welcomed him along :c ). Went to Wal-Mart nearby and bummed around, looking at whatever (lol, cute things). Saw a guy dragging a whole line of shopping carts, and I yelled out "Caterpillar!!" and Scott called it a "Carterpillar", har har. Saw two of those :0 Also Chrono Trigger for $25 on DS.. want.. but resisted. :( I almost bought a giant cow plushie for $10 too, almost as big as Mr. Snugglies Bear, but I resisted as well.. So stingy, these days. I got my paycheque via Paypal today too, from the web mockup pages I did; pretty speedy turnaround, as I just sent my invoice on Monday. Getting emails that say "You've got money!" still is one of the best emails you can get :D

 
Anyway, finally made our way to the hair appliance section, and they didn't have bigger flat irons, which was too bad/hard to compare. They had one for $95 though 0__0 I know they can get pretty high end, but.. I don't want to be that professional :S The one my mom got was $34. I can't wait to try it tomorrow morning :0 I'm not sure if Dawn's is a ceramic, maybe just metal, but this one is for sure ceramic.. it feels really smooth on the irons, and supposedly better for hair.

 
We looked at candles, and smelled a bajillion of them.. Some very good (Apricot Tea!) and some... were weird (Fresh Linen??). Scott got a cute little candle in a lamp bottle or something though, yay.

 
After leaving and about to head home, I finally remembered we were supposed to go to DQ >__< I was half on and off on wanting it.. kinda' felt tired, cold, and tumsy hurt... but, ending up going anyways. Shared an Oreo Brownie something or other ice cream with Scott, with Gabin payin' (he's back to Ktown from halpin' the Vancouver Olympics :0 ). Ate, and then hooome.

 
Sigh.. I'm always good when I'm with other people, but when I'm with others.. it's the worst. I'm not putting on a facade to my school friends either; it's honest happiness, and joking, and laughing. But when I'm alone with my thoughts.. so very sad. I'm not one to do any SI or anything, so no worries there, at least. I was so happy with my straightened hair, and I still am. I got some very nice comments too; some people thought I cut it, since it was so drastically different. Although it was a good self-esteem boost, I've still fallen back to a low.

 
Lately, it's been the feeling of... well, best way to describe it is... For me, in dreams.. when I'm so angry or frustrated about something/someone.. and I yell and yell and defend myself or try to seek justice.. and just that frustration.. of not being heard, of feeling hopeless, powerless.. I feel so tense. That feeling, but in my waking life.. It's difficult to deal with, and it's bothersome, especially if it's getting in the way of my attendance for school. Ugh.

 
I have a meeting tomorrow (actually today.. it's 2:05AM) for Unity, but I haven't done work since last week. I have to finish this movie and read the readings before I go to sleep. Luckily Comp Ethics is a review class, but I know I gotta' study hard for the midterm, seeing as I missed a week's worth of classes, being so behind with work (12 page paper), and then cramps. I'll have to numb myself out more if I'm ever going to finish school with good grades.

 
Bye, for now.







Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In


 
Soooo.. my printer is working again? What the heck is its problem :0 No pop ups, no complaints. No OMGOSH-PANIC-TURN-ON-ALL-THE-LIGHTS-ON-THE-PRINTER-AND-FLASH-THEM-VIOLENTLY-OMGOSH-ERROR-ERROR going on. Boggles the mind. I've asked my mumsy to buy more printer paper when she can though, yay.

 
Anyway, I woke up today with my heart feeling like a bag of rocks that had been previously smashed on the ground repeatedly and then dragged around wrecklessly. Buuut.. I've since cheered up, starting with email-checking. I won the homepage mock-up design for The Greenery, yay! Team Canada wins against Team Romania (I'm Canada, btw.. it was around the Olympics over a week ago; Cara made it up, lol)!! For the first time in history!! Well, for the first time in anything. I kept losing to the other Kelowna contractor too, one of those times which I lost by a hair =__= But hurray! Although they've pushed the actual site launch/development until July, so I won't get part two of work yet. Hopefully they actually get to back to me and let me work on it, because last time when I did the mockup for Case Furniture Gallery (it wasn't a competition, I just got the job for myself), they did the content pages without me. Regardless! I talked to TCM and we made a compromise, so I'm getting a little monies back for the work, yay :heart:

 
Oh, and The Greenery Mockup is here. Higher quality stock images will be put in once developement ensues. Also, the pictures up top and the dirt at the bottom is supposed to extend to the edges of the web page; I was too lazy/out of time to do fancy CSS work and repeatable-backgrounding. I requested to see Team Romania's  and his is drastically different. I can't really show because I don't think I have rights to show their design anyways, but yeah. A lot of things no their design, I never thought of, and in hindsight of mine.. I'm not liking all that brown too much, and I should have extended the page so there was more content (it looks short and stubby right now). Should have just made up new sections.. But the creative brief specified that all important things on the page should stay before the fold, so.. whatebs. I fit it in >:0

 
From my happy mood, I decided to try out the hair straigtner Dawn lent me.. and OMGOSH. My hair. I.. I didn't know.. it was capable of going this straight.. it's amazing 0__0 From just one pass of the iron too.. It didn't take that long either, so I hope to straighten it every day this week until I give it back to her on Thursday. Totally going to buy one when I have the time.. Probably the same size too (her's is a big big flat iron :0 ). I did make up for fun, and played with my white eyeliner, and took some pictures, just as a feel good thing. Now to work on my personality and be nicer.

 
I didn't dress up like I said I would, but I did post some art on here! Some WIPs to come, I think, but I gotta' do homework first. Have to think of what I'm going to do for my self-directed project in advanced drawing too, humn humn..

 
From all that hair and make-up, I didn't eat until near 6PM, so another 1.5 meal day again, I guess X__x At least I was lucky to eat at all, because when I woke up, I wasn't sure if I had lost my appetite, or that I was hungry. Confusing.






Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
Featured

How are you? How are you? by Nikarma, journal

I Watch Planes.... by Nikarma, journal

Dinner with your friends, an artist, your boss... by Nikarma, journal

Timotei... Timotei... Timotei... =w= by Nikarma, journal

Technology Conspires by Nikarma, journal