July 12, 2012

Summer Dream Job

Among many things I am an art teacher. To be honest, I have so many things I want to do, it completely overwhelms me. I think this is true for many art teachers. I often say a math teacher doesn't have to be a mathematician, an English teacher doesn't have to be an author, but an art teacher is always an artist. One passion that I have been shushing for many years is photography. I love to take pictures. I love to be outside at 5:00 in the summer. The light, the haze, a little lens flare, a little hair light, catch light, being silly just to get a laugh and being quiet to capture a still moment, I love it all. I love to take pictures so much I have named myself MOMMARAZI. I don't go anywhere with my daughter without a camera. 



I decided this photography dream needed to be given a little time and effort to spread it's wings. So, I shoot every single day, put together a small website, reviewed everything I learned in college (I went to school for this stuff), bought new equipment (a scary investment!), and every single night work on photo shop (sometimes learning through YouTube.) I even took some online classes! All this work has finally paid off. Once I put my website out on FB and Craigslist I got a healthy response. I already have most of my available dates in August booked just from putting it out there to my Facebook friends and an ad on craigslist. I am so excited for my summer dream job:)

I'm sure you remember Ty from Know And Tell Crafts and from my last posts. Ty the scary talented 13 year old! Hang in there with me, this will all make sense in a minute. So Ty was part of helping me realize my dream too. He created a logo for my photography website, promotional materials, and business cards. Check out the amazing work he did on the logo. Isn't it so sophisticated? It totally captures the idea of light and that magical dusk hour.


I love this Langston Hughes Poem and always think of it when I find reasons not to do what I dream of. It is a cautionary tale.




What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?

I hope I NEVER find out what happens to a dream deferred and hope you don't have to either.

This might be too personal, BUT is there a dream you've been thinking of pursuing besides teaching?
 (I know I was really scared to share my dream. It IS a risk but I promise I won't tell anyone:)

6 comments:

Jen said...

Mine is to become a picture book author and illustrator. For some reason I think many art teachers want to do this. Anyway I have been sitting for about a year now on two books I have written. This summer was to be the year I was going to do my illustrations. Reading your post was a great wake up call this morning.

Anonymous said...

A math teacher must be a mathematician or else he can't do the class math.

Marcia Beckett said...

oh I have many dreams! One is to create artwork that is licensed.. like for home decor. Another is to write a how-to book about art or teaching. Another is to get in more exhibits. I suppose I need to get busy making more art! Good luck with your photography business. :) If you want to do weddings, there's a big market for that! I took photos for 2 people's weddings before (both very small and simple) but the pressure got to me.... I was so nervous I would mess up the photos for their big day that I never did it again!

Unknown said...

Jen: I hope you do rummage up those books at just the right time (like when all the kids are in bed) and now there is nothing stopping authors/illustrators. There are so many ways to self publish and get books out there it is insane! Good luck and please post about your journey to become a published author/illustrator!

Anonymous: I guess. . . sort of. . . I thought a mathematician was like a mathmagician or at least doing some high level math. I mean I guess you could consider me a mathematician if it is just a person who does basic math (which is what we do in the lower grades) My poor basketball coach got roped into being our math teacher for "applicable" math in high school (basically only artists and jocks took the class) he would not have considered himself a mathematician. But, he was a really nice guy who taught me about compound interest!

Marcia: COOL! I didn't know you were into home decor? But, who isn't! I have no TV's right now (because I'm rearranging all my furniture for the past few weeks) and I have NO HGTV! ahhh. Yes MAKE ART:) And then hang it up! Or just make it on a wall that is already in public so you don't have to go through the trouble of hanging it! Anyway I would love to see what you create. Wedding photography would not be for me unless I got to be a second shooter. I LOVE weddings! I never wanted to get married (still not sure why weddings, rings and marriage are such a big deal) but I LOVE other peoples weddings. I LOVE how much money they spend on them especially! It becomes an ultimate piece of art for some brides. A total expression of themselves and I would like to be a part of that (looking in!) Never wanted it for myself just love to see other people's weddings! Very strange I know!

Paintedpaper said...

Congrats on your new website!!! I love your photos, you really know how to capture the sparkle in their eyes. I love to take photos of nature and our family travels. Heres to a successful Summer Dream Job- you never know where it could take you! :)

Anonymous said...

Oh Erica! I'm so happy you followed your dream! When I look back over my life, I can't think of anything else thatI really wanted to do except teach art.I do think that when I retire in 4 years, I would like to take more art studio classes to see if there's more creativity left in me that I haven't explored. I also wish that I lived closer to you so you could take my picture!

:)Pat