A Potpourri of Everything
What I’m listening to…
A Digital Art Gallery
I spent time in 2020 getting more use out of Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator. Here are some of my favorite pieces.
The Meaning and Brief History of “Soliloquizing”
In eighth grade, I became enamored with Shakespeare. Forcefully by my english classes, but mainly of my own accord. I had a love for plays and the stage that I never became acquainted with before. I was fascinated with the superimposition of characters and their ability to speak their mind whenever they pleased, or rather, whenever it was written. At that time I had an instagram for several years. I decided I wanted a new username. The word “soliloquy” had been a new favorite of mine. This is a noun. I began to wonder if this word had a verb form. I researched and found out that it does, it was just not in frequent use. It was available on instagram, so I took it and I owned it. I tried explaining it to my friends, but even hearing myself try to put it all into words wasn’t pleasant. Nonetheless, it made sense to me.
Fast-forward to circa 2014. I was a sophomore in high school. I was immersed in the world of creativity through the mediums of photography, fashion, writing, filmmaking, and anything I could learn more about. I wanted to start something of my own. Not quite sure what I wanted, though. I meditated through my thoughts for a while. I came back to my eighth grade epiphany and realized I wanted to do more with my social media name. This is the time I recognize as the conception of soliloquizing. Sophomore year was something different, in relation to the rest of my life. A lot of me now hates me then — I was largely naive and seeking to be things I truly was not. Though I had a solid mentality and I’m glad of the things I went through.
This is an integral photo for me. I got a cheap fisheye lens in the mail and was playing with it. I was becoming creatively curious. This is around the time soliloquizing came about.
If you’ll allow me to go back a bit — I was in the second grade when I got my first video camera. At that point in my life, I devoted all of my time to visual arts and getting intimate with technology. I am so grateful for all of this, mainly the opportunity for growth to where I am now and where I have the potential to be. That Spring of 2014 I became fully photovisually curious. I learned how to use cameras to their full capacity, and how to use them as a vehicle for art. Through trial and error, they were doing exactly what I wanted. This was the concourse of soliloquizing. I began drafting ideas of logos and designs. I yet didn’t realize what it was all for. And speaking truthfully, I still do not. But I began to develop this as a personal brand. And that’s all I wanted. I wanted to create something to put my name on — or rather, to replace my name. But mainly, to create something. I learned that creating, in itself, is invaluable. And this was one of the many little lessons I was learning on my own.
I learned to take photos. I learned to take videos. I learned how to edit. I learned how to make a website. I made a website. I made more social media accounts. I began to integrate soliloquizing into my everyday life. I drew the swirls everywhere. I made stickers. I stuck the stickers everywhere. It began coming up in conversation. But I quickly learned I hated talking about or explaining soliloquizing to anyone, even myself. There was a dialogue going on in my head for years, since age 9. I want to let it go on its own.
Above is the soliloquizing instagram. @sllqzng, since @soliloquizing is my own personal account. This was all growing on its own. I wanted to see the logos everywhere. My friends have always shown their support. They supported something that seemed like nothing, in an effort to support me. I am forever grateful. But I began to extend soliloquizing more than seeming like nothing. It was my stamp for my art. Anything of my creation was a soliloquizing creation. We are one and the same. This is a concept I still struggle with. But really, I can sign my name with two inverted swirls. That is mine. That is beautiful. I am so much more comfortable with being an entity than a person taking a human form. I am an enterprise of creativity for myself. I love the sound of it.
I don’t think much of this makes sense. I will likely go back and edit this once my head is straight. But I wanted to capitalize on my energy at the moment. That’s truly what soliloquizing is all about. It’s messy and unorganized. Art takes time and editing and thinking and I love the process — but it starts from something. The first step is talking to yourself. Soliloquizing, by definition, is talking out loud as if no others are around to hear. Soliloquizing is a form of tact and sensibility toward yourself. Communication with others is easy for many. I want to harness communication with one’s self and capitalize. And I will get it tatted on me one day.