Earlier this week, without much ado, I started taking a class at our local community college. Its called Fundamentals of Design, and meets twice a week for 2.5 hours until the middle of May. I signed up for the class in the hopes that I would a) learn new things, b) have a productive environment in which to produce quality work, and c) be motivated to do work outside of class that will move me in a more creative direction career-wise.

It was a little strange to be back in a college setting again. I felt old, even though it really hasn't been that long. And I felt like a freshman again, trying to find my way around a maze of new buildings and hallways, and not really knowing anyone yet. Of course , the massive power outage that had the entire campus - save the building where my class was - bathed in darkness didn't help me much! Hopefully tonight I'll be able to explore some more.

Our first class session started out pretty well. My instructor was very very nervous, and kept losing her train of thought and jumping from topic to topic without ever getting a full sentence out. But she calmed down towards the end, and I started to like the ideas she was expressing about design and the creative process.

Our class is studio-based - meaning that we'll be creating a lot of artwork in a variety of mediums over the next few months. We'll be working only in black and white (color gets its own semester), but we get to work with everything from charcoal, acrylics, gouache, india ink, plaster and clay. I spent today's lunch break geeking out at my local Plaza Art Supply shop, stocking up on Bristol board and paint brushes (all brushes 50% off - wahoo!). I even splurged on a second art tackle box to keep everything organized.

I can't wait to start playing (uh, I mean working. yeah.) with all of it!