Pray.

Yes. Please.

Watkins College of Art and Design

Photography

Photography is an evolving, dynamic medium and the images produced are as unique as the photographers who make them. Bring an exploratory spirit, creative ideas, and a desire to be challenged.

OUR MISSION

Students create artwork through understanding photographic processes and materials, critical thinking and creative techniques. Students produce and present work representing individual creativity and technical competence. Graduates of the program are prepared to enter a career as a professional artist or to continue their education through the pursuit of an MFA degree.

OUR PROGRAM

Photography at Watkins College is a dynamic program where you will gain technical and aesthetic skills in a variety of mediums. Beginning with a fine arts foundation, your studies take you into an exploration of the historical context of photography. You delve deeply into the fundamentals of black and white photography and then advance to studies in color and digital imagery. Experimental video classes will prepare you to embrace technology and multimedia. Alternative processes will build an understanding of historical techniques. Studio lighting will give you the technical expertise in artificial light with creative interpretation for both commercial and fine art photography. Internship opportunities, preparation of your senior thesis exhibition and the study of professional practices prepare you to begin your career as a photographer.

Graphic Design

Graphic Design is a stimulating and challenging career choice. It is also a complex study requiring creativity, artistic talent, and eye for details, conceptual thinking, technical skills and the ability to communicate clearly and concisely.

OUR MISSION

Students of the Graphic Design Department at Watkins will graduate with a professional quality, entry-level portfolio that shows technical competence, solid knowledge of design principles and highly conceptual solutions to communications problems in print, illustration and web-based and interactive media.

OUR PROGRAM

The BFA in Graphic Design at Watkins College begins with a strong foundation in the basic principles and elements of design and typography. The curriculum then builds in complexity until students graduate with a professional, high quality, entry-level portfolio.

Coursework effectively covers art, design, typography, technology, professional practices and the history of art and design. Small class sizes allow for each student to have individual consultations with faculty at every stage of their assigned projects. Graphic design electives, including internships with area advertising and design agencies, enhance each students education.

The curriculum culminates in the capstone course, Senior Portfolio Development, where each graduating senior works with senior faculty to polish off his/her portfolio. Finally, the graduating class, as a team, puts together a senior exhibition that features their portfolios. As many as 400 friends, family and design professional have attended this exhibition.

This would be a dream come true if I could do this....

Oh, life. You always surprise me.

I'm looking forward to when things make sense.

The end.

A Collaboration of Thoughts Melded...

...And this is what I came up with:

Lying down on my freshly made bed,
I look towards my collection of scarfs.
Their arrangement, their order; their place worthy of being photographed.
My Ipod draws me back with "Brothers on a Hotel Bed" softly playing.
I feel at ease but a slight twinge of my past creeps upon my wandering thoughts.
No longer as vulnerable, I sigh and rest my head upon my out-stretched forearm.
Thoughts prevail.
I remember who I was connected with then and who I am no longer connected with now.
They are gone. I am not. Time has some how ceased.
Nostalgia, is my dear friend.
All I can do is smirk on those moments that made me feel alive.
They were not genuine but the feelings could not have been more sincere on my behalf.
It is over. I would have left anyway; just not as soon.
Contentment is softly knocking on my door; I've just let him in.
I plan on letting him say awhile.
I figured you would not mind; everyone needs a little happiness sometimes.

My day dreaming ends; I'm still lying on my bed.
Quickly, I realize I was lost in a scene of clarity.

I am ok.
I moved on.
I am healed.
I am free.

Free.

This Goes Out to All the Ladies....

with very dry faces due to this frigid Winter! Well, thanks to Michelle Phan, a guru of make-up and skin care! I adore her!

Thanks to Michelle, I made my own home-made moisturizing facial scrub! Here is what it takes:

3TBS 0f extra virgin olive oil
2TBS of pure organic honey
1/2cup of pure cane sugar (and no, no Splenda!)

Simply mix these ingredients together until blended.

Find a small container with a lid for this scrub.

This amazing, home-made scrub not only exfoliates but also hydrates like you would not believe!
Only use a small amount for the face and only use before going to bed.
If you have sensitive skin, only use every other night!
If you have very sensitive skin, only use this ONCE a week!
Exfoliating everything night dries out your skin and we are simply trying to hydrate it!

If you want to know more, simply click here to see how Michelle does it.

Good luck and let me know if you try it out!

....It is One of Those Nights

Here I am sitting at my desk wanting to call it a night. Although my body is physically worn out, my mind is racing and pacing back in forth in thought.

As I drink my punch flavored Juicy Juice out of it's juice box, I cannot help but be reminded of sitting in the back of my friend's car in a black leotard while her mother drove us to ballet lessons. And it is hitting me how quickly my life is passing by. It is hitting me how much of my life I have let pass by without ever turning my head. I cannot help but think about my day, this past Fall semester, the past year of my life. I've changed. I've grown.

I thank God for that.

A week ago, I wrote an entry is regards to not losing hope, not giving up and facing the fears of failure. Since last week, I am already stronger. I can assure you that I had much anxiety for what was in store me this week. I could sense something was lurking nearby. The unsettling notion became reality and I grew weary. I prayed. I thought everything over. I planned ahead. I asked for advice. I prayed.

God listened.

God listened. He arrived when I needed Him most and why I was so shocked at His presence is beyond me. I should know better. Like everyone, I do not always have the strongest faith. Faith in Him or myself. I am human. I make mistakes. Can I learn from my mistakes and weaknesses? Of course. That is one of my many goals this year.

Last evening is an example of my growth and the strength that I've been able to develop over the past year. I have opened my heart and mind to changing for the better and asking myself "What can I do differently next time?" or "How can I change positively from this?". Believe me, this mind set is so much more enlightening then focusing on someone who is rude to you or goes out of their way to upset you. Focusing on your own self growth is one of the greatest ways to heal and move past hurtful events.

I'm learning. I'm observing. I'm seeking a better life. I'm finally living my life for me and what God intended for me from the start. No longer will I sacrifice who I am for someone who never meant well. No longer will I yield to bettering myself because someone does not feel I need to be better. No longer will I put myself worth into what others say or think of me. I'm proud of who I am and it is about time I started showing it.

Tonight was a start.

Because I Love Animals...

I entered Spike in the Spay Day Pet Photo Contest

I entered Spike in the Spay Day Pet Photo Contest. Please vote for Spike--you'll save animals' lives and help us win fun prizes!

My Charity: Sherwood Humane Animal Services (Sherwood, Arkansas, United States)

This is the least I can do to help make a difference in AR when it comes to the proper treatment animals. You can make a difference, too!

Please support this cause and support Spike and his friends!
Please click HERE to see further details!

How Exactly Do I Self-Brand.....Myself?

As I take part in my last semester in college, thinking about my future is the obvious. Sure, I'm taking my last slew of courses, thinking of places to visit after graduation, wondering what I am going to do with the rest of my life. Of course there are a number of criteria to accomplish before I can feel at ease with my big transition into the real world, one of them being my resume.
Ah, the resume; the golden ticket into the overwhelming work-world. Everyone has to have one and it has to portray just the right thing, otherwise it is tossed amongst all the other hopefuls, right? Right. No pressure what-so-ever!
Then comes the portfolio. For me, mine is to be filled with my work (eek!) and my signature; something that shouts "Moral Renaissance!". Simple? Not at all. For my future profession, (that being interior design)it is so competitive. What could I possibly do or create that would make one want to view my projects? This is very tricky task. I have brainstormed and sketched some ideas but I thought I would share the very elements of myself with you but more so to remind myself what I am working with.

Enjoy if you wish to.

Self-Branding Moral Renaissance:


I figured I would start with characteristics that evoke who I am and what I enjoy. In doing so, I will be using photos as examples


Yes. I'm a woman who can be very girly. After all, I love pink!


I am pretty sure that flowers are one of God's best creations on this planet. I love seeing them, smelling them, photographing them, and putting them in my bedroom window. Not to mention, when I'm bored in class, I always doodle flowers all over my notebook paper.


So, I somewhat have a secret obsession with make-up, specifically eyeshadow. This is not to say that I wear make-up everyday because I do get tired of applying it. However, I find make-up so fun and an outlet. The face can be a canvas and that is what I love about being artsy. I can be artsy all over my face! :D


I love, love, love photography. It is my biggest outlet at the moment aside from singing. I never actually knew I was capable of photography until I gave myself a chance. Now, I try and take pictures when I can, often appearing as a creep of some sorts. Oh well. I love it and I will continue to push myself to grow.


I pretty much have a new passion for Polaroids. I adore the way they look and how they capture. I want to some how apply Polaroids to my senior show or my digital portfolio. Oh, and I'm dying to own a Polaroid camera!


I have the biggest sweet tooth ever. Ever! I always have and always will as long as I have teeth. There is something about candy or sweets that can be so exciting and fun to be around. Wonka candy is my favorite.


Marie Antoinette and Queen Elizabeth I are my heroins. I admire them so much for the lives they lived and the trials they were dealt. Both were exceptional and beautiful women. I love reading about them!

Enough about me, already! Let the self-branding begin!