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Finally, after so many struggles, I made my decision. I would be an artist instead of being a computer scientist. I took painting class to see whether my new decision was right or not. Do I like art truly and deeply?

The first day of painting class was so much fun. First, my professor was very kind. She assured me she would give me art supplies until I prepare all my painting equipments, because I was still not sure whether I choose art as my major or not. Then, she gave her suggestions how I can be successful in this course. Hence, I fell in love with my great professor.

The assignment that we, the art students, had to do was interesting too. We should go out of our class, choose an appealing spot to paint what we see outside. It was really difficult in the beginning. I didn’t know where I should put my brushes, the mesonite, and my glass of water. Then, more importantly, where should I sit? I had no choice! I had to accept that I had to sit on the floor and immediately to start painting. I only had two hours to finish it.

As such, I loved my work and also my professor and decided to study art.

One day, we were assigned to do another project. The project was each student should write a description about an abstract painting and gives that description to his/her own classmate. The other person who has received the description has to paint the painting based on the description.

We all wrote our descriptions and gave it to our professor. The professor distributed all the description to students. I received one of the funniest, most interesting and challenging descriptions in the class. It cracked me up! The description I was given was this:

“You (as an artist) are a psychedelic hippie from the 1960s who have just finished taking mind alternating substances. As you are under the influence, your senses become changed; your vision is especially distorted through colour and realism of what you see and it is so far out man. The way you are seeing is very heavy, bright and abstract.

Your job is:

-Paint the intricate pattern of wood grains

-Paint the clouds in the sky

-do not be representational, be abstract

-be free dear hippie, be free”

(This description was written by my friend called Denise.)

I first laughed, but then, I realized I’m in a big trouble, because I didn’t even know what hippie is. Is something I should eat or is an idea? However, I told my fear that I would do my best to see what hippie is and how I should paint the wood grains and the sky.

After doing some research and reading about hippies, I realized hippie was a movement in 60s and 70s. Their main goal was to achieve love, peace and freedom. This time, I had another problem. How can I feel like a hippie who is on drug?  I don’t even drink alcoholic beverages let alone drug! . Finally, I found a way to feel like a hippie who is on drug. I listened to hippie’s songs while painting. Hippie music helped me to think like a hippie, so, you can see the result here. Have you ever put yourself in someone else's shoes to see what it looks like?