I have been working A LOT lately. You 9 to 5ers got nothing on me this time of year.
I spend many a lengthy shift at the computer talking to myself, reminding myself, correcting myself and laughing at myself for doing all of these things myself.
They say writing is a solitary vice, well, guess what, graphic design is, too.
And yet, I’m never truly alone, I have a solid support system.
Of which (whom) I ask a lot.
I am truly the taskmaster of Microsoft Word, Adobe Illustrator and my Epson Stylus Photo 1400. Ctrl S, Ctrl P. Again. Again. AGAIN.
I design, I print, I fold, I stack.
I print, I cut, I spray, I mount.
Again. Again. AGAIN.
And after awhile, my tools and supplies get tired of my constant bombardment.
After awhile, they bite back.
I have sustained lost files, computer crashes, printer jams, paper cuts and cardboard cuts (like paper cuts only thicker!).
I have yelled, sworn, sweated and bled.
You cannot tell me that these tools, these supplies, these things don’t have personalities. They do!
My programs get overwhelmed. My printer sighs with exhaustion. My X-acto blade gets lazy and skips or veers. My spray adhesive gurgles and spits.
I swear, they’re thisclose to forming a union.
I realize I could not do this work without these tools, my team, but sometimes they make my job that much harder. And painful.
It’s okay, though, we’re almost done!
In appreciation of their hard work I will reward them with a lengthy vacation.
After Word of Art 2.
Mary Lamphere 