gallery | portfolio | facebook | twitter| conceptart.org profile

Hi everyone, hope everybody's enjoying the spirit of Christmas! (Or was it stress?)

Just wanted to update you guys on what's going on, because I just did a major u-turn in my plans. Life plans, that is, even though that does sound too grand for its own good!

A quick backstory so everyone understands:
I started studying Architecture at the Art Academy over here in 2007. It's a 3 year long bachelor's course. When I applied for the academy, I applied both in Architecture and Graphic Design--the latter mostly because my teachers at the foundation course I was taking encouraged me to do so. I was accepted into both, but after much debate I chose Architecture, I thought it was more practical and respected (such bs!). And to make a long story short: I didn't like it. I had some great classmates that made it easier, but for each day that passed, it became more of a struggle, and it became much more evident that this was not my niche. I got to know many kids in Graphic Design and constantly seeing them doing all kinds of fun things made me so unhappy about my choice. I even asked in the beginning of my second year whether I could switch courses, but nope, impossible!

So that leaves us to today. After I got home from Russia, something just...happened! I didn't care anymore, I guess I just suddenly hit a wall. My attendance was well below what's required (80%) and I missed out of many projects. So last week I finally had a chat with the teacher and the head of the department, and they said they were required to fail me in this class. And also, they didn't think it wise to let me continue on to the next (and last) semester either, since I hadn't learnt enough in the current class. I have the opportunity to come back next year and redo the two semesters, but I'm not going to. So I quit school. I've already wasted enough time and money here.

I realize many might find my choice illogical, or just the fact I let things come to this. But I'm happy! I'm very content about my decision. Admittedly, a bachelor's degree would've come in handy, but I'll get one someplace else, then. Life doesn't always have to happen in a straight line.

Since my boyfriend is finishing his Master's in Law this Christmas, he had already made plans about going to Germany and study German for 3 months. So I'm jumping on a plane on January 7th and going with him! Finally I get to stand on my own feet and do something fun! I can't wait. We haven't made plans yet what we'll do after those 3 months, but that's a headache for later. I'm going to use this time to clear my head, enjoy the change of scenery and put myself in first place, for once. Not having a plan years ahead is actually really quite refreshing.

So! That's where I stand right now, definitely a big change of plans. I'll still have the Internet in Germany, so I guess no one here will feel any change from me! I'll bring my laptop and Wacom, so I definitely intend to draw and update my gallery abroad. In fact, I'll probably be very productive!

That's it, then. Hope everyone's enjoying the holidays

gallery | portfolio | facebook | twitter| conceptart.org profile

Hey everyone, happy December!

Since it's been such a while I updated this thing, I thought I'd use my birthday as an excuse. I turned 23 last Friday on December 4th--getting so old!
I have to tell you the fun story of how my boyfriend gave me my present

I actually had to spend the majority of my day studying, but I had a great evening planned, so I let is slide. I actually got a surprise birthday greeting at the library where I was checking out some books for my bachelor's essay--I had to give my social security number (which includes my date of birth) and the clerk realized it and wished me a happy birthday!

Anyway, since I was at the university, I decided to stop by and meet my boyfriend in the cafeteria, who was studying there. But when I was about to leave, he gave me my present, but told me not to open until I got home. It was a pretty small package and he was making excuses about it, how he was low on money and all that, was hoping I'd like it. So I got home and opened it! What was inside? It was a new 4GB USB key! Something I'm constantly saying I needed. I sent him a message and thanked him for the practical gift! He then replied that he was hoping it'd also pass for a Christmas gift as well, money being so tight.

Okay, I will fully admit here that I was a bit miffed! But I did nothing about it and just replied it was all good. It was then I noticed the case around the USB had been opened and he told me that he had actually had to use the USB at school! He already has 2 keys himself, so I was really surprised. I didn't think about it and just went online for a little while. But then, out of nowhere, the penny dropped. Maybe the reason he had to use the USB was to put something on it...? I put the key in my computer and lo and behold--a .pdf file named "Happy birthday!". I opened and then I saw the real gift--a flight ticket! Or more accurately, a gift certificate (for a decent amount of money, too!) for a flight of my own choice.

So that totally made my day. He actually called me just as I realized, he'd become nervous that I was not getting the joke. Oh, and I haven't mentioned, he's leaving on Jan 4th for Germany since he's finishing his Master's in Law this Christmas (a semester earlier!), so he's going abroad to brush up on his German and then to continue his studies. The plan is for me to join him next autumn. But the ticket is obviously so I can visit him soon, most likely next February or March, when I get a week off from school

We then went out to dinner at our favourite Indian restaurant, which was beyond delicious as always. Afterwards he went home, had a long day, but I went to meet my girlfriends. We made Cosmopolitan cocktails, just like the Sex and the City girls, so posh! I then went back to my boyfriend's afterwards. So this was a fabulous day

Oh, can't forget what my parents got me!
I'm not sure how may here know that I'm a big Latin nut (studied it for 3 years in high school), but my parents definitely know and got me something I had dropped many hints about wanting. A few weeks ago an Icelandic translation of Ovid's Metamorphoses was released and that's what I got These stories are so interesting and fun to read, all Greek/Latin mythology tales accompanied by beautiful French 18.century drawings. And I got a pair of ergonomic slippers, so comfy!

Alright, this is getting far too long. I just wanted to share all!
Hope all is good!

gallery | portfolio | facebook | twitter| conceptart.org profile

Hey gang! I'm home and well!

It's been over a week since I returned home from my trip. So I'm just gonna make a quick recap

Finland
So we spent pretty much exactly 24 hours in Helsinki! Arrived roughly 2pm and our train left at 3pm the next day. So we tried to make the most of our time, since it isn't long. First off, our hotel was adorable! Tiny and cute room with a huge, red cabinet right in the middle for bathroom. We walked around the city, the highlights must be Kiasma, Temppeliaukio Kirkko (Rock Church), Finlandia and the cathedral--although I only saw that last through a cab! We had such in the Kiasma art museum, there was a fabulous exhibition at the top floor, by artist Pipilotti Rist. It was so dreamlike. There were carpets and pillows on the floor where you could lie and experience the soothing music and imagery projected all over. Some even fell asleep! Overall I loved the city and I definitely want to return and spend more time exploring it. It's so fresh, open and inviting.

Russia
After a 7 hour long train ride from Helsinki, we finally arrived in St.Petursburg, close to 11pm! The hotel was nice, although the stairway...er, wasn't. Fun fact: the stairways in Russia are owned by the government, considered a part of all public spaces (like squares, sidewalks etc), so inhabitants can't do any fixing, painting and such. In short, they look disgusting. Just so you know, in case you'll visit someday

St.Petersburg is a fun fusion of the western and the eastern, and a very well well mix at that! It's definitely different in many ways, but it feels oddly familiar as well in many ways. We tried to use each day as well as we could, which resulted in looooads of walking and little time to eat during the day. So I was a little exhausted, but it was worth it! Let's take a look at some of the highlights:

- Ballet! Yep, I saw a very Russian ballet, how could I not? We saw Tchaikovsky's The Swan Lake. Simply gorgeous.
- The Hermitage. The building is jaw-droppingly fantastic and huge. Just wow. The art museum inside is not too shabby, either! We spent almost 3 hours, but then we were too exhausted. We didn't manage to see nearly everything, though, it's that huge.
- Church of Spilled Blood. A beautiful Russian orthodox church, like St.Basil's in Moscow. The detailed art and mosaic inside is...mad.
- St.Isaac's. A Catholic church with one of the top 5 biggest domes in the world! The inside was amazing. We also got to the top and enjoyed a lovely panoramic view over the city!
- Kunstkamera. That's an anthropology museum, with some awesome exhibits from all over. But the real reason we went: 200 year old deformed fetuses in formalin jars. You heard me!
- Art Schools! We visited two art schools, one has a really traditional 19th approach, with hardcore drawing. Loved that one! The other was way in the outskirts (I saw some pretty ugly Soviet blocks!) and had a more modern, technical method. Both were really interesting!
- Learning the Cyrillic alphabet XD Haha yeah, I sort of picked it up on the first two days or so. It was fun reading all the signs, even though I hardly ever understood it! But it was sometimes handy when looking for places and such ^^
- Fooood. The best beef stroganov in my life. It was there. Overall we got some really awesome and interesting food!
- Walking and exploring was overall awesome, finding little art shops or other stuff. Really a fun city to walk around, so beautiful and open.

Loads of other interesting stuff happened, but these were the very basics! Contrary to popular belief, we all experienced the city as really friendly and welcoming. No one was mugged or nothing. One guy even dropped his wallet while walking and whaddyaknow, some sweet Russian man comes running with it!

So I'd definitely recommend both St.Petersburg and Helsinki for everyone! I really want to visit them both again and preferably in a more relaxed fashion this time, we were always running around to see eveeerything. So yeah, that's the plan.
To wrap this up, here's a snapshot of me and some classmates in front of the ballet! Aren't we dressy and cute? I'm to the very right!

Ballet time!

gallery | portfolio | facebook | twitter| conceptart.org profile

Or to be more exact: До свидания! Yes, that's "goodbye" in Russian.

Why? I'm going to Russia!
Haha, I so totally forget to tell anyone here, sorry!
It's a schooltrip, I'm leaving early next morning for Finland where we then take a bus over to St.Petersburg the next day. There we will spend a week! I'm so excited I promise to come back with awesome photos! It's also mandatory to bring a sketchbook, so I'll possibly bring some sketches of Russian stuff with me too.

See you in a week, näkemiin! (This time in Finnish, which is also appropriate)

gallery | portfolio | facebook | twitter| conceptart.org profile

Hi guys!

Sub
The awesome and talented =Fayestardust gave me a 1 year subscription! So everyone please go to her gallery and shower her with the praise and compliments she deserves! I'm so happy to have a sub again So I obviously used the opportunity to try out a new journal skin!

School
University is then starting again on August 24th, which will be my final year before I get my bachelor's in Architecture. It's gonna be hectic but I really hope I'll manage to keep up the pace and submit art regularly. I know this is by far not the first time I've said this, but here's hoping. So next spring I'll be finished with this school and I'm gonna do something completely different. Not sure what exactly, but I believe I've decided it won't be art related. I love drawing, but I think I've decided to have 'on the side'. I'm such an academic at heart and I can't ignore it anymore! I think I'll most likely go to something related to archaeology, linguistics, ancient languages and history and so forth. Nothing is decided, of course, but this has been on my mind for such a long time, I literally go back and forth daily. But right now I feel this is the right decision. I hope!

Tag
So I got tagged again by the lovely =Bam-Bam-2006 I'm sure everyone just can't wait to read more about me, haha!

1.Post these rules.
2.Each tagged person must post 8 things about themselves on their journal.
3.At the end, you have to choose and tag 8 people and post their icons on the same journal.
4.Go to their pages and send a message saying you tagged them.
5.No tag-backs!

1. I'm becoming more and more intersted in yoga, really want to make it a daily routine.
2. I think I'm somewhat lactose-intolerant. Not cool, I love dairy products!
3. I have a bonzai tree, my dear boyfriend gave me one last week!
4. I know almost all the capitals in the world. (Those small island ones are tricky)
5. Purple and orange are my favourite colours.
6. I cannot sing to save my life.
7. I believe in re-incarnation.
8. I find my face incredibly asymmetrical which bothers me greatly :/

I tag you guys!


And well, just anyone who hasn't done this!