Looking for design inspiration? Browse our curated collections!
Discussion
9 Years Ago
Besides art or creative pursuits. What is/was your job? What other hobbies and interests do you have?
There are so many smart, interesting folks here. I'm curious to know more. Talk about yourself a little. :)
Reply Order
9 Years Ago
I work as a crime scene investigator - no, it's not like on TV, but it does keep me very busy and I love the job.
Hobbies:
SCUBA Dive Master - Love wreck diving in deep waters.
Black Belt - Studied under Gary Alexander , where you earned your rank.
Family - Have two great kids.
Adventure: White water rafting, skydiving, hiking and so on.
9 Years Ago
I micro-manage a rabbit, two guinea pigs and two people under 5' tall...er, that is, I am a stay-at-home mom. ; )
I actually have a degree in fine arts and was a designer and art director in advertising for 15 years first. I also enjoyed acrylic painting for years, but after my first kid came I no longer had the space for it, so I began redirecting my creative energies into digital photography--computer takes up less space, is less messy, and overall less expensive. I love graphic design, especially logo design, but after all this time client-free, I have no desire to start dealing with their drama again. lol
My favorite places to be are Florence, Italy and the west coast beaches of Florida.
9 Years Ago
I have a part time job in a local supermarket (I'm semi-retired) but my main passion is my 1 acre wildlife meadow/ veg garden (http://www.ipgphotography.com/blog/2013/6/wildlife-smallholding) - that takes up a lot of time, I also spend an increasing amount of time looking after my parents, both in their 90's - photography/art comes next - not a lot of time left for that, but it's strictly a hobby not a business.
9 Years Ago
Abbie posted a similar thread a long time ago. It was one of the best threads in the forum. Happy to see it revived.
In June, I will be retired six years from the job I held for 42 years. I was a municipal employee. Having started out at the Registry of Deeds, I held several jobs beginning with Banker and Tradesman, microfilming and ending up in the data processing department. Eventually becoming the department head, I was singled out by the County Administrator when the County wanted to tackle the job of computerizing parking tickets for many of the towns, cities and colleges within and outside the County. A new position was created for me at the County Commissioners office.
After much thought, I decided to leave my Registry job of 16 years, take the offer and transferred to their department. I still worked for the County so I didn't lose my benefits. I stayed for 26 more years. I was pleased to be a part of and run a successful program.
During the summer months, I worked like a dog often staying several hours past closing, working nights and weekends at home or in the office. All, without extra compensation. By the age of 59, I had earned a pension that would be 80% of my highest three years' salary. So I decided to retire and take the pension as of July 1, 2009. From time I was a young woman, I always stated my profession would not define my life or me as a person.
Turned out I was called back the very next Monday after I retired. That year, I worked and help train my co-workers for an additional six months then a couple weeks a year thereafter until March 2013.
A very interesting job that included administrative duties and data processing, I enjoyed it. What I didn't like was the politics that came with working for a municipality.
My other interests include reading, beachcombing, walking, crocheting, flower gardening, cooking, sports, music, movies, genealogy, and most importantly, spending time with my family. As soon as I retired, my daughter started a family. During her busy seasons, her girls spend several weeks a year with us here.
9 Years Ago
I teach art at the elementary level in public school. Enjoy hiking, camping, kayaking with my family. Hanging with our pets.
9 Years Ago
I work a part time restaurant job currently. Pays the bills.
My interests run from soccer to the finals of football, basketball, baseball, and the season
for UCONN women's and men's basketball. We are up for the women winning another championship
this season.
I am well studied in economics. Been following the stock market for years.
Politics we are not allowed to discuss.
I have a side project where I want to write some patents in material sciences. I have been watching
MIT open course ware lessons for a couple of months now. My studies are towards writing the patents.
It is too early to know what will come of my pursuit.
I have joined an affiliate marketing company, but dont see how to work with them yet. I am also not seeing having the
time to work with them. Working my small but growing web presence into marketing for other interests
is probably not in the cards.
Dave
9 Years Ago
I am retired from a computer systems analyst career. I now do this most of the time. The rest of my time is spent annoying people.
9 Years Ago
1. I own an art school/studio in Lahaina Maui, where I teach kids and adults how to paint in acrylic or oil.
2. Paint and sell my work online and in four galleries.
3. I'm President of a 501(c)3 non profit Charity that focuses on free art classes to the children on Maui Country. We currently have 13 classes a week that accommodates between 700 to 900 kids a week.
4. I gallery sit one day a week. I call this day my day of rest...LOL
9 Years Ago
Manage a translation company. Same job for almost 33 years, although the actual company I work for changed a couple of years ago (acquisition).
Proofread technical automotive manuals in Spanish, French and English for years. It was embarrassing when I went to France the first time. Although I could tell you what part of my car fell off while driving, I had a hard time figuring out some menu items, like the ingredients in the main dish. Oh well, if my car ever breaks down in Spain or France, I'll be able to understand what parts they are replacing.....
9 Years Ago
Since graduation from college in 1975 other than a short stint stocking grocery shelves, I have been an Art director/Creative director/Painter/Photog and thus have done nothing but art in one form or the other my adult life. Several years ago I began writing and have published (self of course) 2 short stories, 2 collections of short stories, and one novel, plus I have my poems included in a half dozen poetry collections. Many of my short stories were run as a regular feature in my home town newspaper for over 2 years before I ran out of fodder.
9 Years Ago
I want to comment on everyone but I know I won't be able to. I'll definitely read everything and look at links.
Paul W - that was always a fascinating career to me. It's what I've always said I would do if I had it to do over again.
Paul G, your garden is amazing! What an achievement!
David I had you pegged as an engineer! Something about your sense of humor.. CS analyst is close enough.
JL, I can tell by your art there's more to you than just that grunt job...
Very cool to see so many art professionals here.
9 Years Ago
Mary, I so admire people who can speak in more than one language. The only language I ever took was high-school Spanish. I'd love to learn Italian and Japanese.
9 Years Ago
I work part time in Child Care for the YMCA and run an after school program for the Y - Enjoy various crafts like making and selling Magic Bags (heat/cold packs for aches and pains), reading, travelling, gardening (I have no grass, just gardens) hiking, knitting, crocheting, sewing and of course my main focus for the last 5 years has been photographing mostly nature
9 Years Ago
What a wonderful question Cynthia.
I work full time with my art and additionally occasionally do work for a friend who has a record label.
In Germany I worked for CBS Records and Music has never left my live even after I came to the US.
My other interest evolve around Herbalist activities, making tinctures and remedies, Natural healing, Animals, Animal Rescue, Cooking and baking, (Transforming all my favorite recipes in to Vegan since I went all plant based in 2008) meditation, spiritualism.
I love to study up on science and am fascinated with the cosmos. Learning something new all the time is one of my favorite things to do.
Having invigorating talks with my husband, relaxing with an old movie and cats and husband having the occasional couch potato day with popcorn. Having loud and noisy get together with my musician friends and getting my equilibrium back with meditation. That's about wraps it up mainly.
How about you?
9 Years Ago
After my second layoff in TV News, I have a hold me over job until I dream it all up again. Contemplating going back to school to either be a welder or a truck driver. So far I have not convinced any railroad to hire me as a Public Information Officer. I also write on the side and should be doing more of it than I am. I'm working on a novel length manuscript and just finished one short article for a railroading magazine and am working on a longer one, too. Most of me does not want to shoot TV news again, but a small part of me would like to go back to my first station. In hindsight, I prefer being a big fish in a small pond as opposed to later stations where I was one of many "photogs."
9 Years Ago
Ha! I forgot about me.
I left school after 2 years studying business (boo) with an art minor (yay) because I needed to work. I got a job in the marketing communications department at an analog semiconductor company doing technical illustration and within 5 years was the head of that department. Basically, in addition to producing all the company marketing materials and events, I acted as the referee between the engineering department and the sales department - which was no small task. I was 26, had a staff of 8 crotchety male technical writers and illustrators who I eventually won over completely, I was considerably younger than anyone else there, I was one of only three women in the company, and the only woman in management. I learned quickly and well to be tough in business, demanding of my staff, and able to deal effectively with some very quirky personality types.
I left that job to pursue freelance graphic design, which I did for many years and really enjoyed. I moved across the country, from San Jose, CA to Asheville NC in 1999, and continued my graphic design work until 2003, when I quit doing that to focus full time on artwork, which I what I do now. I'm 48, and hopefully the art will see me all the way into old age. I don't plan to ever stop.
I studied ballet for 16 years and martial arts (many styles, my favorite and focus being northern praying mantis kung fu) for 14. I taught martial arts classes for a number of years, both in California and in North Carolina. I like computers and technology, movies, video games, billiards, gardening, reading, cooking, knife throwing, and exploring new places. I collect colored glassware. This spring my husband is going to teach me to golf, and I'm looking forward to it.
9 Years Ago
I have been a professional artist since earning my degrees in '70 and '71. I worked as a portrait and landscape painter for the first 10 years out of university...so yes, i can really pant real stuff.
I have been involved in various communities in which I lived as a religious educator and lay leader. I have led a group of about 25 adults for about 7 years now for services and holiday/festival celebrations.
I love genealogy and have been involved in my family tree for about 35 years now. I research ( which is so much easier with the advent of the internet) and visit cemeteries regularly.
I'm not a big t.v. watcher, but I do love any program that makes me think. I'm an avid reader, but not fiction. I sing in choirs and on my own and if you do the west coast swing, we will become best friends.
My latest passion is yoga. ommmmmmmmmmmmm
9 Years Ago
Oh my goodness Paul.
Your garden is my dream garden. I've tried to grow veggies and it was all hit and miss. Sometimes I had lots of harvest, heirloom tomatoes did ok.
Mostly I don't have the time to tent to it every day and the humidity here in GA seems to cause havoc with just about everything. The last two years I've grown only herbs and tomatoes.
Your garden is soooooo amazing. From the flowers to the veggies it's paradise. Congratulations!
9 Years Ago
Interesting to read all the diverse responses!
I'm a computer engineer by trade...been doing that since I started working in 2002. Outside of work, I like to dabble in reading, outdoors, film-making and traveling. I would like to be a full-time filmmaker but that requires a lot of time and $, so I decided to stick with photography for now.
9 Years Ago
I am a manager for an electrostatic painting company. We coat the exterior of building, hi-rises and store fronts. For those who dont know what electrostatic coating is, the paint is given a static charge as it leaves the gun and that allow the paint particles to be manipulated enough to attract to any grounded surface, virtually eliminating overspray. I also tint by eye, all of our paint. I love to play volleyball.
I also love to play the game Wizard. A card game which is a combination of Euchre and Hearts with a twist. I won the Canadian championship in 2011 and represented Canada at the world championship in Budapest, Hungary, where I came in third in the world. Not that I'm bragging. ; )
Other than that, I love horror films ( good ones , not slasher crap ) and read as much as my spare time allows.
Big Skip
This is a very popular discussion with 154 responses. In order to help the page load faster and allow you to quickly read the most recent posts, we're only showing you the oldest 25 posts and the newest 25 posts. Everything in the middle has been skipped. Want to read the entire discussion? No problem: click here.
9 Years Ago
Was an archaeologist - osteoarchaeologist for several years.
When 2008 happened and construction halted, archaeology halted.
Played around in politics for a while after that - helped run people's campaigns in the UK and US.
Went pretty much full time with photography as of last year. During the week I substitute teach if I don't have sessions.
I was very much through with working for other people and wanted to be able to travel at will.
9 Years Ago
Did I mention dance instructor, fitness instructor, championship aerobics dance competition coach, founder of a regional dance duo, editor for a regional dance newsletter, author of articles published in professional human performance journals, patent writer for a lower-leg exercising machine (hey, I gave it a shot), writing consultant (for free) to a friend, helping him to perfect the preface of his six-hundred-plus-page book on philosophy of mathematics, ... let's see ... have I forgotten something? ... probably, but what does it really matter now?, ... I have moved on from all of this, living a fairly simple life or some might even say "pissing my life away" on artistic interests.
Oh, one more thing ... never making much money at all, and probably never will.
Okay, that's enough self flagellation for now.
Interesting reads from the rest of you too, for sure. I am in the right company here (^__^).
I lied, ... one last thing, ... for those of you who might think that you live boring lives and are here, forget that. Some of us are just better than others at glorifying boring.
9 Years Ago
If I do not paint like a normal job. . . I do not know what to do. . . May only go to sleep. . . No dream!
9 Years Ago
I used to breed racing bees. It's a niche market, but somebody has to do it, or so I thought.
I was wrong.
9 Years Ago
What else do I do??
Think of something clever (4 word maximum) to post on the "Fun Game 16" thread.
Sometimes I succeed... Sometimes it falls flat.
9 Years Ago
Had I continued in science, I would have written my doctoral thesis on cloths dryer lint mechanics.
My second degree would have used Richard R. as a consultant, because the title would have been ... Diagnostic Methods For The Prevention And Rehabilitation Of Competition Injuries In Racing Bees
I guess I should add bad comedian to my list of credentials now, eh?
9 Years Ago
This story fascinates me. This Wiki page tells a great story. What it does not tell you is that Rowling was laid off by Amnesty International for "day dreaming". Ouch! It does not get into her deep depression or need for welfare assistance. Or how she has paid more in taxes than possible what 100k middle class tax payers have paid in total over their life spans. Something like that.
Joanne "Jo" Rowling, OBE FRSL[2] (/ˈroʊlɪŋ/; born 31 July 1965),[1] pen names J. K. Rowling[3] and Robert Galbraith, is a British novelist best known as the author of the Harry Potter fantasy series. The books have gained worldwide attention, won multiple awards, and sold more than 400 million copies.[4] They have become the best-selling book series in history[5] and been the basis for a series of films which became the highest-grossing film series in history.[6] Rowling had overall approval on the scripts[7] and maintained creative control by serving as a producer on the final instalment.[8]
Born in Yate, Gloucestershire, Rowling was working as a researcher and bilingual secretary for Amnesty International when she conceived the idea for the Harry Potter series on a delayed train from Manchester to London in 1990.[9] The seven-year period that followed saw the death of her mother, divorce from her first husband and relative poverty until Rowling finished the first novel in the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in 1997. There were six sequels, the last, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in 2007. Since then, Rowling has written three books for adult readers, The Casual Vacancy (2012) and—under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith—the crime fiction novels The Cuckoo's Calling (2013) and The Silkworm (2014).[10]
Rowling has led a "rags to riches" life story, in which she progressed from living on state benefits to multi-millionaire status within five years. She is the United Kingdom's best-selling living author, with sales in excess of £238m.[11] The 2008 Sunday Times Rich List estimated Rowling's fortune at £560 million, ranking her as the twelfth richest woman in the United Kingdom.[12] Forbes ranked Rowling as the forty-eighth most powerful celebrity of 2007,[13] and Time magazine named her as a runner-up for its 2007 Person of the Year, noting the social, moral, and political inspiration she has given her fans.[14] In October 2010, Rowling was named the "Most Influential Woman in Britain" by leading magazine editors.[15] She has supported charities including Comic Relief, One Parent Families, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Great Britain and Lumos (formerly the Children's High Level Group), and in politics supports the Labour Party and Better Together.
9 Years Ago
I have been working as a dentist for almost 20 years. It is stressful with a hectic schedule for 6 days a week. Photography helps me to connect with nature, and as a way to recharge my energy.
9 Years Ago
It doesn't feel good to be lost in the Big Skip, so here I am again:
I have been the creative director with an advertising agency, and I owned a retail Arts and Antiques store for many years. Many people know me as Rev. Jim Whalen. I have Master of Divinity Degree, I'm ordained in the Metropolitan Community Church and I am an Assistant Pastor at a local congregation. I'm a writer and poet, as well as a visual artist and I love cooking, good wine, hiking, and bird watching.
9 Years Ago
marketing analyst for Central and Eastern Europa in an American company to pay my bills
creative photography addicted
jewelry maker, knitter, crocheter and other crafts
cat lover
blogger
reader
watching movies,
traveling
enjoying good food and wine
9 Years Ago
My day job is in IT... I designed and built an online learning system used by 500k users... prior to that I was a software developer at IBM...
Outside of work I'm a FireFighter in our village... we have about 1500 calls a year... about a dozen "real" fires...
My main hobby is working at my off-grid cabin on the weekends... built it from scratch starting about 7 years ago... I have a youtube channel ( http://youtube.com/buffcleb ) where I have chronicled it and the many projects we work on there...
9 Years Ago
"I used to breed racing bees. It's a niche market, but somebody has to do it, or so I thought. "
How do you put the saddles on? Tweezers? :D
9 Years Ago
The correct answer, Cynthia D., is ... "very carefully" [because of the stingers
The greater question is, "Where do you find the jockeys?".
9 Years Ago
Newspaper delivery
Youth Bureau lackey
kitchen slave
snack seller
Bakery person
typewriter factory cog
Army malcontent
carpenter
mobile home builder
truck loader
R+D electronics tech
Computer programmer
computer systems analyst
Now fully engaged in anoying people and moving pixels around on a virtual canvas
9 Years Ago
Why, you can go pert' near 20 mile an hour on that, as you add vintage motorized bicyclist to your list of credentials.
Racing bees use very small versions of these ... no saddles, ... no ant jockeys. Ain't technology great?
9 Years Ago
I am a fleet assitant for a large fleet of vehicles that scan across Canada for a large grocery chain.
Excited to say that on May 15th I am retiring. (:
9 Years Ago
I just read through this thread again and I find it fascinating.
However, I'm stuck on one little phrase Cynthia threw out there....."knife throwing". Now there's a hobby you don't see every day! LOL
9 Years Ago
Photo editor for Hubadub.com, actual full time freelance photographer (although penny stock sites continue to eat away at my client list), photography writer, mom, and all around snark aficionado.
9 Years Ago
many years ago I got a PhD in Geology - did some research for awhile (In Australia, Canada, and New Mexico). Now I teach, part time, introductory geology classes at a community college in Madison. I have in the past also taught more advanced classes (when my wife took a sabbatical in NM, I taught her undergraduate classes) and intro GIS classes. Now with 2 kids I'm the chief cook at home. Been more seriously into photography over the last 12 years, since I started selling my stuff. Also used to do all sorts of outdoor stuff - backpacking (bushwalking), rock and ice climbing, caving, ww kayaking, xc skiing etc. Getting to old to do all that stuff now.
9 Years Ago
No, you've got t wrong Cynthia and Robert. Racing bees is like racing pigeons. The bees don't need jockeys.
There is no problem with them returning to the hive once released from their tiny wicker travel baskets, but they are very difficult to tag so as to determine the winner.
We use to use a single drop of paint but it was painstaking work.
9 Years Ago
I've been doing 'art' in some form nearly all my life - most seriously since about 1980 with a box full of awards and many sales from my watercolors.
I'm retired from Uncle Sam's Misguided Children where I was an 'electronics' Warrant Officer, two tours as a Ground Electronics Maintenance Officer for air stations, one in NC and one in AZ.
Since retiring I did the art fair circuit in Florida, returned to school and got my BFA from the College of Fine Arts at the University of Florida.
I have an interest in Bonsai - about 16 trees that I have grown from my own diggings - I have one that is near 40 years old, an Acer rubrum, that I dug GA.
I walk a lot, take a few photographs, and now do my digital abstracts.
I'd like to have about 5 acres, a small 'farm' with a nice garden.
9 Years Ago
Sorry, a bit of a tangent, but you say you started with watercolor, Roy? What was the process behind changing media?
9 Years Ago
@Steven Ralser - I didn't know there was another geologist turned photographer in these parts. Ph.D. from SUNY-Albany in '89. Came to Idaho for the national lab. Stayed for Yellowstone and the Tetons. :)
9 Years Ago
What else do you do?
Run around like a chicken with it's head cut off.
I'm a mom and apparently a taxi driver.
I used to be an ambulance attendant. After that I was an office manager, but now I'm a mom and an artist. Both of them are full time. Not sure how that's working...oh, ya...less sleep than I need. Living my dream. Except for the making money part of my dream.
I am very blessed.