Unusual Motivation

I'm pretty sure, in the annuls of dissertation history, my latest motivator is one-of-a-kind.



I'm an extremely visual person. As an undergrad, I butcher-papered an entire wall of my bedroom just to be able to write quotes that I was thinking about for my senior honors thesis.

When studying for my qualifying exams, I created a timeline for my kitchen stairway that was over 20 feet (and 200 years) long.



I need to see things. And I need them in prominent places in my apartment to be constantly in mind while I'm doing everyday tasks (don't even ask about the ziplock baggie questions hanging from dental floss in my shower).

At the Claremont Village Venture, I met Michelle Caplan, a Los Angeles artist who creates incredible mixed media collages. I purchased one of Michelle's collages that reminds me so much of Sylvia Plath that I needed "her" to come home.

"Angela" by Michelle Caplan
Mixed media artwork and photography by Michelle Caplan

On the way home, I looked at Michelle's card and realized that she also does commission works.

BINGO!

What a great way to have beautiful art, a front-and-central visual reminder of my dissertation topic, and an inspiration for me to remember why I chose this person / topic in the first place!
I'm now in the process of exchanging photos, bits of texts, and ideas with Michelle to incorporate into the collage.

Sure beats butcher paper.