Working three-dimensionally is not something I do often. This year I have made more sculptures than ever in the past, but even so they are few.
Doc, 2012
The shoe. Quite a daunting task, and much more difficult than you might think. The assignment, clearly, consisted of re-creating a shoe that you own. I went for a favorite of mine, the vintage floral Doc Martens. The materials used consist only of mat board (a thin, non-flexible composite paper board, thinner than corrugated cardboard), masking tape, and hot glue. Painting the piece was not required, but, I mean really, the pattern is the best part of the shoe. This was an enjoyable challenge for me, particularly because Doc Marten boots have such an iconic shape, it would be very obvious if I failed to emulate that silhouette. Here is an image of the piece next to myself wearing the actual boots:
The Illusion of Danger, 2012
This is my favorite sculpture I have ever made, and my first attempt at abstract sculpture. To introduce this assignment, my professor simply stated, "Create something that consists of only the elements of line, form, color, and space." This vague offer of guidelines was a thrill to wrap my head around.
The materials this piece is composed of are primarily 18g aluminum wire, the smaller spiral bits are jewelry-making parts, and the spikes are found plant material. I have not the slightest idea what these things or the plant they come from are called, but I see them around this one nature preserve a lot. My main idea behind the piece was to create a sculpture that, aside from being aesthetically beautiful, had the presence of being violent or intimidating but in reality is actually extremely delicate, even frail. If you were to to give any of those spikes a squeeze, it would immediately crumble in your hands.
The materials this piece is composed of are primarily 18g aluminum wire, the smaller spiral bits are jewelry-making parts, and the spikes are found plant material. I have not the slightest idea what these things or the plant they come from are called, but I see them around this one nature preserve a lot. My main idea behind the piece was to create a sculpture that, aside from being aesthetically beautiful, had the presence of being violent or intimidating but in reality is actually extremely delicate, even frail. If you were to to give any of those spikes a squeeze, it would immediately crumble in your hands.
Ceramics:
Drink Me, 2010
4.5" tall
Small tea-mug constructed from white clay with low-fire glazes. Mostly slab construction with some coil work as well. The string of the tag form the handle. I believe this was my first ceramics project and I was (am) rather proud of it. It is 100% functional as a drink vessel.
Mad Hatter, 2010
4" tall
4" tall
This mug was done immediately after the previous one was completed, sort of as a charming Alice in Wonderland-themed tea set. White clay; slab construction; low-firing glaze. Also completely functional.
Ganesha, 2010
5.5" tall
My personal favorite ceramics piece. The elephant god is hollow and partially filled with clay beads, so it jingles when you shake it. Pretty nifty, eh? This piece was made from red clay, a low-firing metallic glaze, and the detail is done in genuine 24kt yellow gold. This Hindu god of success was quite a success, indeed.
Whimsical, 2012
This is the only product I have to show for an entire semester of ceramics class this year. White clay; coil construction (ceramics code for "tedious as hell"). My vessel was not, due to faculty missteps, able to be glaze fired. Rather than leave it looking entirely bland, I chose to paint it with multi-surface craft paints instead. Its difficult to discern by the photographs, but the main body of the vessel is painted in thin layers of pastel pinks, blues, purples, and yellow. The blossoms are treated in the same lightheartedly colorful way, in varying combinations of powder blue and canary yellow.
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