Calligramme project

    The image I have created above demonstrates that life is a path, your path. You create your own path and nobody else should be allowed to affect it. A lot of times in life we are told what to do wether it is our parents, friends, peers, teachers, etc... I think that you need to take everything with a grain of salt because at the end of the day you need to do what your heart tells you to do and not what someone else tells you to do. This is why I created the path to demonstrate that staying in your own lane/path is extremely important. I hope everyone is able to learn sometime in their life that this is their life to live, nobody else's, and if you are not happy doing what you are doing, you need change. A great quote I heard from an unknown source is "nothing changes if nothing changes." This means that whatever is going wrong in your life, you need to do something about it or else nothing will change. You can't wait on others to come save you, you need to save yourself.

    The main tool I used the most was the curved typing tool. It allowed me to put my letter into a shape that suited my drawings. I have come to know that this tool is extremely useful especially when trying to type words or letters into the form of certain shapes. I also used the drawing tool and curve tool to be able to make my path lines as on point as possible. I definitely want to try out some new tools that I have never utilized in illustrator in later projects.

    

    Dear Mike Scuzzarella,

38 year old Mike. As I write you this letter I am filled with all different types of emotions such as sadness, joy, and even nausea. It is crazy to think that someday you will be reading this letter but for now it's only me, right here, writing this to you. I can't wait to experience all of the ups and downs that you have already had and even all of the things you have went through and overcame. Remember it is important to live in the present because the present is what you have control over, not the past, and not the future.

I hope all of the things I've hoped and worked for came true. I hope you have a loving and caring family. I hope that you and your wife share a connection and bond that will never be broken. I hope you have one dog, maybe two depending on how large your yard is. I hope your kids are caring, loving, and funny just like you were when you were younger. I hope the job you have is something you love doing and also pays very good money to support your wife and kids. I want you to really cherish every moment spent with your family whether it's good or bad because as you know time flies and some moments you can never get back. I want you to remember that money isn't everything and sometimes experiences are better than money because money you can always get back.

I want to remind you of how important mindset is and that if you don't have control over your mind, you have control over nothing. You need to be able to enjoy all of the little things because you don't want to live a miserable life. Try to be as happy as possible at all times. Find the good in the bad and the ugly. Always be grateful for the people by your side because they can be gone in a heartbeat. 

I hope you continue to go through life with an open mind and a positive mindset. Always remember your core values but don't be shy about implementing new ones into your lifestyle either. Always trust yourself and never let anyone tell you what to do or say. Be there for your loved ones when they need you or don't need you, make sure they know how much you care. Hopefully you are nowhere near the end of the journey so just keep on living a happy, fun, and loving life.

From your 18 year old self,

Mike Scuzzarella