February Round-Up & Published Articles

Ahhhhhhhhh, February how kind you have been. I cannot even begin to explain how much I have appreciated the past month, so much has changed and so much has happened and I am so happy about it.

It has been hard admittedly; balancing 3 jobs, my degree, my blog, my writing for different publications AND living in two different places whilst my parents were on their jollies(Thank-God for 3G and laptops). It's been tough, yet rewarding and I'm very much the kind of person that strives under pressure and thrives of the stress.

Lets start at the beginning...

In January I did some Work Experience (you will know if you read my post about it, if not catch up here) and much to my surprise I was actually offered a part-time job with the company (WHAT)!!! Yeah, so as you can imagine I was extremely excited. BUT I knew I had an interview the following week at my University *****What do I do******* I thought.

The company I did WEX with was a successful PR Agency called Connect PR and to be offered a job with them was quite a big thing for me as I want to go into the PR industry so to turn it down was not really an option. The job I was going for at Uni was 'PR and Marketing Assistant' also a super super cool job for me to have and quite easy too as I am at Uni at random times so if I got the job it would mean making better use of the time there. Can you see my dilemma here guys?

Sooo... what did I do? Of course I took the job with Connect as it was just too good and too stupid to turn down. So then I had the dilemma of: do I go to my interview or not? After a lot of deliberation(and a pro's and con's list) I decided to go to the interview to gain interview experience as it was unlikely I was going to get the job anyway, as I am only in my first year and very much at the bottom of the ladder, I was sure I wasn't going to get the job so I thought I might as well go for the interview practise.

Low-and-behold, I got the job - WHAT! - yes, so more predicament lay ahead.

I forgot to mention, I already have a part time job as a waitress where I work weekends. I have done this for just short of 3 years. So I thought, why not take BOTH jobs and it would mean having to quit my part-time job as a waitress, which was a difficult decision to make as I love working with all my friends but it was a no-brainer really, I couldn't not take the two jobs which would give me experience in the industry I want to go in to (and better money).  

So yeah, that happened. I had to give a months notice at the pub and start straight away at the other jobs so as you can imagine it has been busy, difficult and stressful to say the least haha.

But last weekend was my last weekend at the pub, and the end of a chapter... but now March is here and I am so excited to be able to work in the Media industry gaining experience whilst also developing skills and learning about the industry as part of my degree - win, win.

I am sad to see February go but I am excited to see what March brings too... Lets go!

Below are links to my online articles that have been published in February 2015 or any coverage I have had published as part of my new job. 

5 Celebrities you should be following on Instagram 

Charlotte Crosby's amazing body transformation 

#RethinkMedia 

BCU Creative looks for students to become paid mentors 

Week 1: A taste of the street art in Digbeth

This post is part of my Visual Design module online portfolio.  

Eastside (unbeknown to be) is actually the creative quarter of Birmingham and hosts some of the best graffiti art and artwork around. As part of my Visual Design workshop today we walked down to The Custard Factory and Digbeth to explore what there is in terms of art and visual design. You only have to walk down one street and your blown away with colours, with ideas and with inspiration. Digbeth recently held the City of Colours festival, a street art event where over 100 artists turn the dull streets into a sea of colour. The event is taking place again this year, if you are interested you can find out more here.

Whilst walking down the streets this particular painting caught my eye especially. 

In this painting I see a young girl dreaming and hoping, I see her looking up into the sky as if she is looking into the future and dreaming of a better place. This work portrays the deep feelings of the artist (Carleen De Sozer). From the painting we can understand that the artist is dreaming of a brighter future, of better things as portrayed by her looking up as if to the brightness of the sky. Behind her is the dark shadowing of darker colours - this represents the past, her troubles and her previous life. 

Different shapes and colours are used to create textures for in the painting. The '3D' effect of the falling petals and leaves creates the vision that the leaves are falling in 3D and coming out at us as the audience. This effect is due to the shapes and angles used by the artist, she does this to involve the audience in her work and make us feel like we are present in the painting, by doing this the audience can understand the painting from an inside perspective not just as an audience member. The artist predominantly uses bright colours: purples, pinks and greens. However there is a contrast with the darker colours towards the right of the image and the black shadowing behind the lady's head. The range of colours used could represent the theme of the festival - The City of Colours. 

This painting makes me feel as though I too should put my past behind me and concentrate on the future. I too should think about my own aspirations and focus on them, I should put the darkness in my life behind me. I think Carleen, the artist created this piece to give inspiration to other artists at the festival in Digbeth and to give hope to unknown artists and beginners. I think she is trying to tell them to stay focused, look to the future and do not concentrate on the dark shadows that are the past.

I think this painting is very engaging. The work made myself and my fellow classmates stop and look, it has made me come to many conclusions about the artist and her life, circumstances and decisions behind the work. The work makes me feel inspired and hopeful for the future, it has made me think a little bit deeper. 

You can find out more about the artist herself at her website: http://www.carleendesozer.com