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Hey Yall!
Im Amber Sowell. I attended the University of South Carolina, where I received
my Bachelors degree in Journalism
and Mass Communications.For my degree my focus was a Visual Communications major and a Sociology minor.
I like visual communications because
it allows me to do a little bit of everything; which is always helpful. I absolutely love design especially illustration.
Since I love what I do I work hard at it
and am always open to new ideas. I am
constantly learning new things and developing new concepts and hope that my
work reflects that. Please enjoy my portfolio and I hope to hear from you soon!

tor

mmunica

visual co

Music Education...
Client
Class Project
Description
This graphic was created in
order to inform the viewer
about music education. The
before and after are shown
so that one can see the
thought process behind the
graphic.

Location Ahead...
Client
Class Project
Description
This map was designed to
help visitors easily locate
the church. It also gives
other useful information like
where to park, shows the
visitors center, and gives
fellowship times so one can
easily have everything they
need to know.

Graphic Identities...
Client
Various
Description
These graphics were logos
designed and used by various clients. Each was used
to create a graphic identity
and used for business cards,
letterheads, and other needs
for each of these business.

LLC

Minute to Win it!...

Client
Class Project
Description
This informational graphic
was created to highlight a
twist to the popular game
show, Minute to Win it! by
creating a college edition
using common items associated with the college
experience. The illustration
demonstrates the challenge
and what has to be done to
complete the task.

Interview...
Client
Class Project
Description
This project involved
selecting a magazine and
recreating its design, from
the cover, to text formatting, and overall layout. In
order to create a six page
layout including images and
advertisements like those in
the magazine.

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3/CONTENTS

Natalie

Shes grown up
before our eyes,
that Natalie Portman. A stone-cold
12-year-old in
The Professional
(1994). Making
hay with Pacino
in Heat (1995).
Playing underage
By JAKE GYLLENHAAL
over-smart in
Photography VINOODH MATADIN, INEZ Beautiful Girls
VAN LAMSWEERDE
(1996). Star Wars.
Harvard. Garden
State (2004). Closer (2004). A Golden Globe. A degree in psychology.
V for Vendetta (2005), which afforded her the opportunity to be, for
a fleeting moment, the hottest girl at Comic-Con, and inspired a
band to call themselves Natalie Portmans Shaved Head. Now,
shes directing (she helmed a segment of the new anthology
film New York, I Love You), and producing (the family drama Hesher), and venturing into both comedy
(David Gordon Greens Your
Highness), and Norse mythology (she just signed on
to play the female lead in
Thor). Natalie gave us an
inside look in one of her
most recent films, Black
Swan.

PORTMAN

With the film nearly

being 10 years in the
making and given its
themes of coming of
age and the passage
of time, are you now
grateful it did take
so long to come
together? Do you
think you would
have approached
it differently back
then?
Natalie Portman:
Thats exactly right. I
think having the experience of my twenties
when I did this film
was an absolute asset.
Because going from this
child-like state of sort
of wanting to please
people. I started as
a child actress and
where you just
sort of want to
make everyone
happy, youre
always looking
for approval. Its
almost like that
pageant thing,
where you see
the little kids
do their dance
and then look right at their mom
to ask How did I do? How did I
do? (laughs). Thats sort of what
you feel like as a child actor, youre
always looking for that approval.
So to get to a point where youre
really trying to make yourself
happy, and trying to fulfil yourself

through your performance is a whole new experience. I really think that

being in my late twenties gave me a perspective that really helped with the
film. But it also means that the earlier parts of the film, where shes young,
insecure, naive, childlike and trying to please everyone, are all the more
difficult because it felt like a regression of sorts.
I think it was an absolute asset. I started as a child actress, wanting to
please and make everyone happy. Its like that pageant thing, where youre
always looking for approval. You have to get to a state where youre doing
things for yourself and thats something I gained in my twenties, it gave
me a perspective that really helped. But it also made the earlier parts
of the film, where shes childlike and nave, harder because it felt like a
regression of sorts.
Does the acting world have any parallels with the ballet world in
terms of competition for roles and the need to look good?
Natalie Portman: I think there are similar pressures, particularly with that
sort of replacement, that there is an age limit. I think in film and theatre
its a little bit more flexible for actresses because you can change the
kind of roles you might go for, from a leading lady to a character actress.
Whereas for dancers your career is sort of over at a
certain point. Theres also more material reward for what
we do than there is for dancers. Theres is truly an art of
passion. No one is becoming rich and famous off of being a ballet dancer anymore. But theres also something
incredibly beautiful about that as well.
Did you surprise yourself through doing a psychological role such as this? Did you learn anything
about yourself ?
Natalie Portman: I suppose I learned how much I could
do. I didnt particularly think of myself as someone who
seeks pleasure and doesnt like pain. So, to actually put
myself through pain for that long and not just make
myself feel good was, I guess, a scary thing to discover
but also good to know that I could focus in that way for
a role. So, I guess its heartening to know that you can
deprive yourself in that way. I dont think I ever expected how hard this was going to be, either. I feel lucky
that I didnt expect it, because it meant I went in with
all this enthusiasm and excitement about getting to do
ballet and it really propelled me through those difficult
moments. Im not sure that would have been possible had
I expected the hardship.
Did you ever take your character home with you?
Natalie Portman: I like to shut off the character as soon
as Ive finished, whether its after a take or going home
for the day after work. But it was really difficult on this
one, probably because I had so much training outside of
work to do. I had to go to the gym after work, and then
had to wake up at 5am before work and work out beforehand. It was constant throughout the day, so there wasnt
really any time to relax and be myself.
Your character strives for perfection. Is that something you can relate to?
Natalie Portman: Im very demanding of myself, but Im
not self-punishing. I never feel like Ive done enough, I
always feel like I can do more. But I dont like being hungry or in pain or tired (laughs). For this character, I went
into that self-punishing mode and didnt sleep and didnt
eat and worked out all day through injuries for three months, I did that for
the character. But on my own, Im a pleasure seeker (laughs).
Which of the two swans do you think resembles you the most?
Natalie Portman: I think everyone has a little bit of both. I dont think
anyone is all white or all black, I think weve all got purity and impurity
battling inside of us (laughs).

11

The Daily Gamecock...

Client
Various
Description
These were print ads created.
For various clients in the USC
area, and published in the
paper.

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Leashes
Collars
Apparel
Accessories
Treats
and MORE!

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Stand Up, Speak Out...

Client
Student Health Services
Description
Stand Up Carolina was a
campaign created to educate students about sexual
assault and violence. The
graphics shown are ads that
ran in the newspaper, but
informational handbills, fliers,
posters, and student ticketing ads were also designed
as part of the campaign.

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15

Telephone Directory...
Client
University of South Carolina
Description
These photos were taken to
showcase buildings across
campus and the used for
the cover of the campus
telephone directory. These
five images were submitted
to a panel, with the cover
to the right, of the Thomas
Cooper Library being chosen. Around 14,000 copies
were printed and distributed
across campus.

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17

Discover Carolina...
Client
University of South Carolina
Description
Discover Carolina is a 100+
page publication that is sent
out to all incoming freshman
and transfer students new
to USC. The booklet is
designed to help familiarize students with their new
campus, with these images
highlighting important places
around campus.

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Class of 2011...
Client
Kathleen Toole
Description
These photos were taken to commemorate Kathleens graduation
and were shot on memorable
spots across campus.

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21

Housing Guide...
Client
University of South Carolina
Description
This tabloid was published
as a supplement to the
Daily Gamecock newspaper. It was published to help
students navigate their way
through deciding where to
live, as well as give local
living complexes a place to
advertise their amenities.

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can find information

about off-campus
housing on websites, in
local newspapers and
other publications, local
real estate agents, and/
or word of mouth. The
University hosts a searchable
housing database,
offcampushousing.sc.edu in
an effort to centralize your
search.
home

MIN
E

After you choose a destination, there are

a few more exits to take before moving in.

Signing a Lease
DO NOT sign a lease
simply to secure a place
to live. Read the lease
before signing it. Signing a
lease does not just reserve
you a place to live, it is a
legal document. Once
you sign the lease, you are
responsible for the provisions
of that lease. If there are
agreements between you
and the landlord regarding
changes to the lease or
property, do not sign the
lease unless the changes are
in writing.

Typical Renting Requirements

You may be asked to
fill out an application and
pay a fee. The landlord
may also check your credit
report. Some landlords may
require a student to have a
guarantor on their lease. This
is typically a parent and is
often referred to as a cosignor.
Once your application
has been approved, you
will then be asked to sign
a lease. OCSS(Off Campus
Student Services) does not
recommend signing a lease
or putting a deposit down
unless you have seen the
rental property first. For
more information about
leases check out our Signing
a Lease page. (sa.sc.edu/
ocss/leasing/)

After signing the lease,

your co-signer may also
be asked to sign. This is
assurance to the landlord
that if the student tenants
are unable to pay the rent,
that they as a co-signer
will be held responsible for
covering the costs. Once
all documents have been
signed, make sure to keep a
copy of EVERYTHING.

What should be included in your rental agreement?

> Amount of rent to be paid
> The date the rent is due
> The date the rent is late and the penalty for late payment
> Landlord contact information
> Move-in and Move-out dates

When should I start looking for housing off

campus?
Some of the larger apartment complexes
will start pre-leasing as early as October for
the following academic year (example:
sign a lease in October 2011 for the 20112012 academic year). Many students will
continue to look at housing well into the
Spring semester. OCSS offers an off campus
housing fair in March to provide students a
convenient way to inquire about housing
off campus.
How do I find housing off campus?
OCSS provides students, faculty and staff
with a convenient website that lists available apartments and houses for rent and
sale in Columbia and the surrounding area.
The site is very user-friendly and provides
information such as location, pricing, floor
plans, and amenities about each listing.

Do I have to visit Columbia to search for

housing?
It is never recommended that you sign a
lease before seeing the property in person.
New students are encouraged to look for
housing while they are in town for Orientation. If you have to make a separate trip to
Columbia it may be well worth the trip in
order to physically see the property you are
thinking about renting/buying.

Can OCSS recommend a place to live off

campus?
Off-Campus Student Services can provide
students, faculty, staff and students family
members with resources to find off campus
housing and the education necessary to
locate the right housing. We do not recommend housing or make referrals for housing
off campus. It is important to determine
your budget and needs for housing off

Are the off campus housing properties affiliated with the University?
No, all the properties are owned independently of the University.
Can I use my financial aid to pay for my off
campus housing?
Students may use their financial to pay
for housing but it cannot be paid the same

as if they were living on campus. Once

students apply their financial aid to pay
their fees, the remaining balance of aid will
be reimbursed to them. It is then up to the
student to responsibly manage that lump
sum and pay their bills each month. For
more information on applying fees via VIP,
please visit Student Financial Aid.
How much is rent and what else do I have
to pay?
Rent in Columbia and the surrounding
area can vary greatly. The average rent
is likely somewhere between $450-700 per
person per month. The closer you live to
campus the higher the rent will likely be.
Some rent payments will cover everything
from utilities to high-speed internet to lawn
services while others may cover none of
those. It is important when look ing for a
place to live to clarify with the landlord
what the rent payment covers.
Do I have to sign a 12 month lease?
The lease terms will indicate how long
your lease is good for. Most apartments/
houses will require a 12 month lease while
others may allow you to sign a shorter term
such as 6-9 months. Many students who do
not plan on staying the entire summer will
look for some to take over their lease for the
remaining months of the term (sublease).

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RETREAT

SIGN A
LEASE BY

APRIL13TH

AND YOUR NAME WILL BE ENTERED INTO A DRAWING

AT THE SLIP-N-SLIDE EVENT FOR A CHANCE TO WIN AN
IPAD, FLAT SCREEN TV AND A $1,000 Vaca Giveaway!

WINNER

EVERYONE IS A

PLAY PLINKO FOR A CHANCE IF YOU SIGN A LEASE!

TO WIN ONE OF MANY PRIZES.
WEVE GOT ALL OF THE SPRING BREAK ESSENTIALS:
TEES, TANKS, COOLERS, BEACH TOWELS AND FLOATS!

If you think your lease has been violated it is best to attempt to work it out with
the landlord first. Make sure all communication is documented and in writing if
possible.
If the situation cannot be resolved, please consider consulting a lawyer. If
you do not know a lawyer, you can call the South Carolina Bar Lawyer Referral
Service weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at 803-799-7100.

Layout14March12_12pgTABLOID.indd 8

How do I know where certain apartments or

houses are located?
OCSS has provided descriptions of the
locations listed on the off campus housing
website and is in the process of developing
a housing map to better assist you in your
search.

What if Im a college freshman and I want

to live off campus?
All first year students are required to live
on campus for their first academic year
(two semesters). An appeal may be filed
in order to live at home with parents to
University Housing.

THE

> Is there a lease renewal clause?

> Are pets allowed? If so, is there a fee or additional deposit?
> Is a deposit required? If so, how much?
> Are there guest restrictions?
> Can the tenants sublease the apartment or house?
> Are there restrictions against decorating the rental?
> Can the rent amount be increased?
> Are there conduct rules for the property?
> Who is responsible for lawn care?
> How much notice is required to terminate the lease?

4/11/12 2:22 PM

campus including location, amenities, etc

in order for you to determine the right off
campus housing fit.

INTO

Other questions to consider before signing a lease

*Note: This information was compiled by the Off Campus student services and was prepared to give
you some general information. It is not intended to serve as legal advice about any particular problem.

Layout14March12_12pgTABLOID.indd 4

According to the South

Carolina Landlord & Tenant
Law, both oral and written
agreements to rent are
considered leases. To be
enforceable, your lease
must be fair, honest, and
reasonable to both the
landlord and the tenant. The
landlord may still enforce the
lease without the tenants
signature if the landlord
gives the tenant a copy,
then tenant moves into the
unit and pays rents, and the
landlord accepts the rent.

Should I live off campus?

OCSS stands by the University of South
Carolina mission that encour ages students
to live on campus however there is not
enough housing on campus to accommodate the entire student population. Living
off campus comes with more responsibilities as well as certain freedoms than living
on campus. About 70% of students at the
University live off campus and OCSS is here
to assist them in finding housing as well as
making the adjustment to living on their
own.

4/11/12 2:22 PM

THE RETREAT CLUBHOUSE | 1929 BLUFF ROAD

FOR INFO TEXT COLUMBIA TO 47464

Are you wondering where

to start your off campus
housing search? First, you
should think of what your
preferences are, such as
rent price, location, and
amenities. Creating a list of
necessities will help you in
your search. When you call
about a place, ask about
your preferences before
arranging to see it; this will
save you time in your search
process.
There are many factors
to take into consideration
when searching for off
campus housing. You

FAQs

CONTINUE ON

Leasing or renting a place to live off campus can

be a very exciting and positive experience as
well as confusing and overwhelming. This guide
will help you find the information and resources
you need to successfully navigate your
off campus experience.*

Spring

START HERE

CALL 803.733.5800 FOR MORE INFO!

Layout14March12_12pgTABLOID.indd 12

4/11/12 2:23 PM

Cynthias Monogram and More...

Client
Cynthia Sowell
Description
This was a graphic identity
created for a gift shop. The
logo was used for business
cards, fliers, and other needs
including the website. Both
the mouse on and mouse
off versions of home page
of the website are shown on
the right.

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Cynthia Sowel l
Owner

1926 Second Loop Road > Florence, SC 29501

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843.407.5530
cynthiasmm.info@gmail.com
Like Us On

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9/10/14 8:08 PM

CMM_3.5x2.5_BC.pdf 1

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Headline...
Client
Name goes here.
Description
Goes here.

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