I'm Kristina.

"So, who the hell are you?"
Was the question that started last night's class and I much admit the first thing I thought was, "I'm Kristina." That's my name, and how people know me, if they actually know me. I think I'll start by explaining the exercise and what I did for it before explain my own take one who I am.
When we paired up and went our separate ways, I partnered up with Samantha, someone who I didn't know very well, but was intrigued by because she had put such a vivid image in my head after the first assignment. I learned a lot about Samantha when we got to talking. Things about her childhood, present life, and her interests. We started off by telling each other our basic life story. She has a very interesting life, but none of it seemed to stick out to me as something that defines her. After we finished discussing that we started just chatting about some random things and telling stories. That's where I started making connections.
I had a lot of trouble making what I wanted to express because it just didn't seem like something palpable. I started seeing that Sam is a very caring person. She talked of how she gives her friend a ride halfway across campus at night because she doesn't like the idea of her walking alone that late and that far and of how she woke up at 3a.m. that morning to try to save a wounded animal she heard outside of her house. I thought that was really impressive. So, my word is caring. I have no idea how to express that on paper with no writing utensils or adhesive, but that's what I'm gonna stick with.
For myself, I'm explaining myself as eclectic. If you ask anyone who knows me there will be a conglomeration of words that define me, most people would say "bubbly" which is true and defines me, but there's also "independent", "determined", and in all honesty "self-conscious". I'm still a believer that a person is defined by their personality. I have many loves, passions, and talents, but all of that is expressed through my personality and how I react in a given situation. My past does not define me. I just want to make that clear. It may have helped to shape my personality and how I act at times, but if someone tried to judge me on my past they would be sadly mistaken about a lot things. Anyways, I chose eclectic and made this:

It's supposed to be kind of like a bowl with a lot stuff in it. I should've added some random things to it to emphasize eclecticism, but here's what I thought about. Anytime I hear the word "eclectic" I think of a psychology class I took awhile back. The teacher described eclecticism as if being in a candy store with all sorts of things to choose from. So now I always think of something like a quarter machine that has a whole bunch of different things in it. Well, I couldn't very well do that with paper. So that's my substitute.
But I'm still sticking with my first instincts.
Who the hell am I?
I'm Kristina, that's the one thing that will never change.

Soo...

Needless to say, I didn't go to class today. I really just needed a day off. And since my first class was canceled in the morning I thought today was my only chance this week to do this. Class sounds like it was interesting today though. I read some other blogs and it sounds like it was interesting.

Since I didn't go to class, I decided to share my character design through here. I'm a really big fan of rotoscoping and I would love to learn how to do it. Right now I like to do it with still images. Well, I'm also a fan of the film The Boondock Saints and when I heard that the second one is coming out soon I thought about the possibility of a female character coming into the original trio from the first film. I have the layout and character in my head so the first step for me was to just start. I began with the guns. Clearly. I can't draw so I use bezier curves and the pen tool to trace photos and then use my own color schemes and whatever else I need to make it my own. The breaking the rules part for me was for me to actually start this project. I always feel like when I get an idea that I like, I never do it because it seems like a waste of time. Now, I actually did take the extra time (even though I should've finished other work, but it's ok this time) and made the beginning of a project, that I think will be really cool when I'm done. So, yeah, that's it. :)

“I like refried beans. I wanna try fried beans, because maybe they're just as good and we're just wasting time.”- Anonymous

I'm not sure if this was the point, but here's what I experimented with. The rule I decided to break was the concept of wasting time. Being the procrastinator that I am, I get accused of wasting time all the time, but most of the time I feel like my best work comes from being under pressure. Here's where I run into problems. When I feel really inspired to do something I always want to do them, but in my mind have made myself believe that I can't do these things until I can justify doing them. For instance, recently I got an idea to do a poster contest that I saw online. I got an awesome idea that I was really excited to create, but after reading the rules I found out that mine would probably not be accepted because visually it could be comprehended in a way that it wasn't intended to be and I would be automatically disqualified. It was not R rated in any way, but the meaning could be taken the wrong way. So, in short I didn't make it.
Awhile ago I got inspired to make this character design that's been in my head, but couldn't find a reason to make her. Every time I would start to create her I would figure out that I should be working on homework, rather than doing something that I found enjoyable, but had no reason behind it besides pure curiosity to what I can do. For this, breaking rules project I got to finally get a solid start to it and get myself back to being excited rather than thinking maybe sometime I might pick it back up.
So, in writing this, I realize that I really did exactly what I've always been doing. I still justified and reasoned myself into being alright with making this project, but here's what may be my saving grace. It will help in the future. I know, I don't need to justify doing projects that excite me. Sometimes, yes, I should prioritize, but me time is also important. And I took way more than 3 hours of me time this week. Eventually justified by leveling my priorities, but I did get some hours of doing just what makes me happy and not caring whether it mattered to anyone else. Yeah.... I'm rambling now, but it's all good.

P.s. I'll probably explain my character design in class. And show the part that's been started.