Installation Art Project
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Describe your piece and your thoughts behind it: My installation piece is made up of origami butterflies arranged into a spiral on a window. The butterflies space out as the spiral continues, giving it the impression of fading off. There are smaller butterflies mixed in to provide contrast between the larger ones. I was inspired by the much larger professional installation pieces that use small objects to create different shapes or effects.
Did it turn out how you first planned or did the idea change as you worked on it? I had first planned to have the butterflies get bigger as the spiral continued, but I instead chose to simply space the butterflies out and make it look like the piece was expanding. By including the smaller butterflies in with the others, it makes the regular sized ones look larger, which accomplishes the same effect. What made you choose to do a piece like that? My favorite installation pieces that we looked at all used small objects to make a much larger, more complex shape. This technique has a very interesting effect, and makes the piece look more detailed than simply using larger objects. This piece was an attempt to use that same technique on a smaller scale. Does your piece have a deep meaning? If so, what is it? If not, what feeling does your work evoke? My piece doesn't have a deeper meaning, but for me, it evokes a feeling of fun and curiosity. Viewers may not realize that the objects are butterflies until they see the piece from closer up, which creates curiosity. The butterflies are swirling together with no apparent order, which makes the piece more fun and carefree than if there was a set pattern or order. |
Land Art Mini Project(Peacock)
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Explain: Using magnolia leaves and fern strands, I created a peacock. The leaves are splayed out like the tail, with the lighter colored ones at the top and the darker ones at the bottom to show the layers. The fern strands created the neck, and a flower was used to show the feathers at the back of the head. This piece was done on mulch with brown leaves to make the green and yellow stand out from the background.
What Materials? I used both live and dead magnolia leaves, strands from a fern, a yellow flower, and a dried berry to make the peacock. The leaves made the shape of the tail, the strands became the neck, and the berry became the eye. Thoughts? I find it interesting how people see different aspects of nature as art, and arrange them in different ways to make something beautiful. It is a little sad when the pieces fade away, but the fact that they were never made to last makes them even more unique. Land artists find the beauty and art in simple, plain bits of nature, which makes for breathtaking works. |
Throwing/Pit Fire Piece
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Describe: When making my first piece, the bowl, I focused more on getting used to centering and shaping a piece on the wheel. For the next two pieces, I created a more sophisticated shape, with curves and a small lip at the top. When I made the lid for the taller pot, I threw the shape of the bottom first, making sure that it fit in the pot. After it had dried, I trimmed it to make the curves and knob handle.
Analyze: My pieces use form with their curves and soft edges. The pieces also display balance, because the curves are symmetrical and come back in to create the same width that they started curving out of. Interpret: My original plan was to create a vase that could be pit-fired, so I knew I wanted my piece to have a curved shape. However, once I was forming it on the wheel, I experimented with different kinds of shapes and settled on the two that I liked best. I didn't have an exact plan in mind when I started, but I like that it gave me the freedom to try different shapes and see what I liked best. I wasn't planning on making a lid for the taller pot, but it felt like it was missing something when I finished throwing it. Judge: I feel I was successful in my pieces because I was able to learn how to use the wheel. Sculpting two pots and a lid shows that I now know how to center, form a vessel, and trim on the wheel. I am also pleased with how the shape and size of the pots turned out, so I feel the final products were successful as well. |
Tripod Mug (NCMA Inspired)
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Describe: I created a tripod mug, which has a slight curve in the middle and a twisted handle. The top rim leans out slightly, enabling the mug to actually be used. Leaves were pressed into the side to create texture, and a tool was used to press a chevron pattern on the lower half.
Analyze: First, I rolled out a slab and cut a rectangle out of it. I then stood the rectangle up on its long side and joined it together. The edges of the rectangle were then pushed in to form an equilateral triangle and sealed. I used my fingers to gently press the edges outwards and create the bulge in the middle of the mug. To make the handle, I created two long snakes of clay, wound them together, then waited for them to dry. Once the handle could stand on its own, I attached it to the mug. Next, I pressed the leaves into the clay and used the ribbon tool to create a chevron pattern on the bottom half of the mug. Interpret: My piece is inspired by the NCMA artwork through incorporating the nature elements of the photo in the leaves, and creating abstract mountains with the chevron. The twisted handle is meant to be the river running through the valley, and will be glazed blue. The leaves will be glazed red to mirror the infrared colors used in the photograph. Judge: I think that the relation between the NCMA art and the mug is clear, mainly through the shared textures and images. I believe that my piece was successful, because I made a functioning tripod mug and linked it back to the NCMA artwork that I had chosen. |
NCMA Inspired Piece
Artist Name: Richard Mosse
Title: Love is the Drug Date: 2012 Size: 50 x 96 in. Medium: Photograph This piece shows red mountains and a bright blue stream weaving through them. I liked this piece because of the contrast between the dark red mountains and the blue river. It also amazes me that this is a photo of a real landscape, and that nature can create such vibrant colors. Colors: This piece uses red, dark pink, bright blue, a very faded blue, and a tiny bit of green. The color scheme is a split complementary. Textures: A visual texture is used, with bumpy, silky, and scratchy textures appearing in the piece. The mountains are bumpy and scratchy, contrasting with the silkiness of the blue stream. Subject: A landscape is shown, with mountains covered in red and a bight blue stream weaving through the valleys. The sky is foggy, making the piece darker. Meaning: Richard Mosse portrays the effects of war on landscapes and people groups. By using Kodak Aerochrome to capture his photographs, which renders greens into pinks and reds, Mosse creates an image of the suffering of people affected by wars and shows how it impacts the landscape itself. |
Sgraffito Plate
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Describe: I decided to make a circular plate with a flower design. I started by rolling out a slab of clay and carefully laying it onto the plate, which had been wrapped with plastic wrap. I gently pressed the clay into the plate to give it form, then painted on 2-3 layers of the black underglaze. Once the underglaze had dried, I layed my design sketch onto the plate and used a ballpoint pen to gently trace the lines into the clay. I then used a wooden skewer to carve away my design. After experimenting with different border types, I chose the arrows. To ensure that they followed a perfect circle, I used a mixing bowl that was the right size to trace a circle in before I started carving the border.
Analyze: I used a theme of flowers and nature in my piece, with clean lines and a simple border. Line can be seen most clearly in the border, where the arrowheads line up against each other to make a circle. I utilized contrast in the flowers, as some of them are only outlined with small details, and others are completely white. I used space to ensure that the piece was balanced between black and white and that there were no large empty spaces. Interpret: Some of the flowers on the plate are only outlined in white, leaving the petals black. Others are completely white, such as the small bundles of flowers and the longer stems. This created a balance between white and black flowers, as well as how much space was filled with carved-away details. The border is completely white to balance the amount of black on the edges of the plate. I picked the imagery of flowers because I love how many different kinds of flowers there are and how many different details you can add to each one. This gave me more freedom to make a unique plate and use smaller details in more places. Judge: I believe that my piece is successful because I achieved the look I wanted and it incorporates a well-balanced contrast of black and white. I really enjoyed this project, as I was able to focus more on the details of my design and didn't have to worry if I would be able to sculpt it well. Another part that I enjoyed was getting to experiment with sgraffito and making a plate, as I had never done those before. |
Animal Head Sculpture
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Describe: I chose to sculpt an elephant's head, whose trunk is curled up against the face. I started by sculpting the general shape of the head, including caverns for the eyes and the natural dents of the forehead. The eyes were added next by attaching a small sphere of clay and adding brows with small snakes of clay. I then sculpted the ears and, after waiting for them to dry a little, attached them. The front of the face was then textured, and the trunk was attached. The tusks were the last thing to be added, and small snakes of clay were added above them to provide extra stability.
Analyze: I used an old toothbrush to give the clay a rough texture, similar to actual elephant skin. I also added wrinkles to the front of the face and the underside of the trunk. The ears have the most prominent texture, with waves and curves to imitate the flexibility of real elephant ears. Interpret: I chose to sculpt an elephant because I love the shape and look of their faces. I also liked that there were a lot of different details and features that I could experiment with and add to the piece. This made the project really fun and more interesting than sculpting an animal that I am more familiar with. Judge: I believe that my piece was successful, because I was able to recreate the approximate shape and features of the animal I chose. The features are fairly proportional to the size of the head and are textured to mimic the look of an elephant. I enjoyed this project, because it made me think about how animal's heads are shaped and textured. It also gave me an opportunity to sculpt eyes and ears for my animal, which was a new and fun challenge. The eyes aren't completely like elephant eyes and the face is a little flat, but overall I believe my piece was successful in recreating an elephant's head. |
Clay Stamps
Pinch Pot Project
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Describe: The pot is medium sized and has swirl shapes carved out of the sides. They are arranged in no particular order, and are deeper at the beginning than at the end. The inside of the pot is smooth except for the bottom, which contains a repeating circle design made with the tip of a pen. The circles are lined up on top of and beside each other to create the pattern.
Analyze: The pinch pot itself was created by taking a ball of clay and gently pinching the sides out until a pot shaped was formed. Then, I used the curved end of the ribbon tool to carve out the swirls on the outside of the pot by starting deep and then gradually making it shallower. I would also turn the ribbon tool to make a thinner line towards the end of the swirl. For the inner design, I used a ball point pen and gently pressed the nib into the clay. Interpret: I chose to use the texture technique to decorate my pinch pot. The swirls on the outside provide texture through the changes in the surface height, and the pattern on the inside gives texture through the dot indents. The outside pattern was made with the ribbon tool, and the inner design was created by pressing a ball point pen into the clay. When the piece is fired and ready to glaze/paint, I will paint the swirls a different color to help them stand apart from the rest of the pot. Judge: I feel that my piece was successful, because I was able to add texture to the pinch pot in a couple different ways, employing various tools and techniques. I am satisfied with the final look, and I am excited to glaze/paint the pot once it has been fired! |
Represents Me Sculpture
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I sculpted a small cat figure as a representation of me. I have always loved animals, especially my cat, Winston. This piece ties into that love, and presented me with the fun challenge of sculpting something living.
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Clay Stages and Forms
Wearable Art Project - "Flower Crown Craft"
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Description: The mask, which sits over the eyes, is wrapped in a soft cream yarn, with crochet flowers attached on the top brow. The flowers are pink, purple, blue, and beige. There are several different kinds of flowers, from roses to puffs to small circular flowers.
Analysis: The piece is cohesive, as yarn is used in the flowers and the mask itself. The same or similar colors are repeated throughout the piece, as seen in the blue and purple of the flowers. All of the colors and materials used are visually cohesive and work well together within the piece. The piece is well-balanced, and the flowers are arranged in an approximately symmetrical pattern. There are several different types of crochet flowers used in the piece to provide distinction and variability. Interpretation: There is a relaxing, simple, nature feel to the piece. The flowers are all crocheted with soft colors that go together well, and the base of the mask was wrapped with a neutral color that tied back into the yarn/crafty theme. Judging: I believe that my piece was successful, because I was able to achieve the look and feel that I wanted. The flowers are arranged in a way that makes the mask feel balanced, and the colors are cohesive. It was fun learning how to crochet the different flowers, and creatively arranging the different kinds to make the piece come together. |