Of Designers and Art Directors

I’ve been having some career-specific thoughts on my mind.

Mostly everyone I’ve met in the design field here, doesn’t look like me. Many times, I’ve been mistaken for an Account Exec because I wear make-up and heels (on occasion when I can be arsed).

Generally, creative sorts in Singapore all wear black glasses, are skinny, wear skinny clothes, enjoy bright colours and for some reason all have that same cheap anti-establishment gold watch (what is up with that?). Maybe it’s my previous job (cough cough) that has led me to be particular about my experience, even though there are days when I don’t have to present and could be in shorts (read: culottes) at work.

May I just say, for “anti-establishment”, there sure are a whole lot of people dressing alike.

And there’s moi. I am having an existential crisis – who am I now and who do I want to become? Who am I capable of becoming?

I am grasping the general consensus that I lack the temerity (tenacity) to work creatively in an ad agency. And maybe I do lack the balls. Do I lack the chops though? Do I have what it takes? And most importantly, am I not doing it now?

It’s a little disturbing to be informed that I am not viewed in any Art Director capacity in my current company – regardless of the fact that part of my job includes me performing in that role (or so I thought, silly me). Do I need to be a dick to prove it? Because I am aware that I let things slide – which I know I shouldn’t. I know that they have a lot to handle and sometimes, getting things out are more important that getting it out well. Harsh and ineffective but that’s the way this company seems to work.

Perhaps now isn’t the best time to consider my place in the creative society – perhaps I should be thankful I have a job at all. Unfortunately (fortunately), my morose nature gives me foresight. I also find it interesting that when I was trying to break into a designer role fresh from my return from Brisvegas, I was offered the role of a junior AD in an ad agency.

So… is it me or is it just me here?

Tell me why I don’t like Mondays.

Mondays are absolutely ludicrous. I never start actual work till after lunch and from then, it’s a madhouse. A madhouse!! Today was particularly trying, being 2 designers short on leave and me, trying to pick up the shoddy pieces left behind. Time to start crackin’ the whip. (Whip it good)

Plus, there’s absolutely nothing to watch on TV! Sleepy Hollow was on last night but at 11pm, which means I fell asleep after the first 4 beheadings. Gotta love a low-sat movie. Plus Johnny Depp had wicked timing for a sense of humour in this one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ve retrieved some pictures from my phone – cute ones of little Cait.

 

With King Kong
With King Kong

 

 

 

Can't keep still on the ferry
Can't keep still on the ferry
First Pandan cake
First Pandan cake
Yakult has pro-biotics!
Yakult has pro-biotics!
Ferret in the grass.
Ferret in the grass.
This makes me chuckle everytime. Heh.
Parallel import? Pirated van?
Parallel import? Pirated van?

Sunday is Funday.

So, it’s Sunday afternoon, 2pm and I’m sitting here watching Juno (awesome movie, points for Jason Bateman) and I have decided to do a massive post. I think I’m getting in the swing of this blogging thing.

I grabbed Adrienne’s camera this morning and snapped some shots of the Dolce-Bean, my little Bubbie. I deliberately did not post the pic of her with the chins. She’s got so much weightage on her!

 

 

  

She’s so beautiful. (Pause posting: Ants have attacked my Midori Coke, pack bastards!)

With my birthday upcoming, I’m feeling the mental (and somewhat physical) strain of this blessed event and so have done 2 pieces of artwork to reflect my anguish.

 Don Henley – The End of the Innocence (I’ve excerpted)

Remember when the days were long
And rolled beneath a deep blue sky
Didnt have a care in the world
With mommy and daddy standing by
When happily ever after fails
And weve been poisoned by these fairy tales

Who knows how long this will last
Now weve come so far, so fast

I need to remember this
So baby give me just one kiss
And let me take a long last look
Before we say good bye

 

Aimee Mann – Today’s the Day (excerpt)

Better pack your bags and run
Or stay until the job is done
Baby you could sit and hope
That providence will fray the rope
And sink like a stone
Or go it alone

And isn’t it enough for you

So better pack your bags and run
Send it to oblivion
Where you don’t look like anyone 
That anyone would care about
And do what you do
Till it buries you

 

 

And baby isn’t this your chance
To make a break with circumstance
Isn’t it enough to prove today’s the day?

Edward is holding a couple pics of our trip to the Park hostage, will post them up once he delivers.

(Shot by Edward)


Another weekend rolls around…

This week went remarkably slow for me – usually, time flies in ridiculous warp speed at work – but for some reason, this week crawled. I just felt like the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse were pulling me apart.

Everything and nothing at the same time.

I spent Friday night with Lizzy – cocktails at IndoChine Forbidden City at Clarke Quay, which is damn happening! Retro and RnB music. It’s like my worlds collide. Plus, the barkie’s cute.

We then moved on to, where else, Butter. Which was a little too packed and had this couple next to us who were practically having sex while dancing. It was gross.

This Saturday morning entailed meeting a printer downstairs to approve a colour proof (who said weekends are for yourself?) and Caitlin entertained us for the morning. Ok, so I mostly entertained myself with her Disney colouring book. She’s become so enamoured with Dolce and likes to mimic her.

 Also, thanks to Mish for ratting on the karanguni (rag-and-bone) bastards that plague our usually quiet estate.

FACT: It is illegal for them to be honking those damn horns. Mine start every weekend at 9AM and continue till 4pm.

I’ve also got my fix of US goodies – MAC make-up in my colour (because our racially biased MAC stores in Singapore have stopped bringing in darker shades due to lower popularity. Like, duh.), my Kiehl’s products (never buy them in Singapore – the jack-up is phenomenal) and Fig Newtons! Nummy treats!

New Beginnings

Ok, so I figured that I don’t “memoir” enough – mostly because I craft my blog by hand (and by hand, I mean fingers and mouse) and have finally succumbed to free blogware and cookie cutter templates. The plus side is that I may blog more. Maybe.

I usually have random thoughts and seemingly interesting things to say and by the time I get home, I have forgotten them in the dusty corners of my brain and lack the inclination to be witty. I also have devious plans to buy my own camera and take photos incessantly like every good blogger appears to be doing.

In the meantime, I’ll watch more Buffy.