Learning Experiences

First of all, let me apologize for not posting last week.  I was incredibly busy working on finishing my first art project for AP Art.

Ta-Da!

The first 2D assignment was to create a self portrait using contour lines. I thought it would be kind of cool to try and incorporate the 2D design assignments into my own projects. Here is the first result. I decided to come right out and confront my fears of creating large-scale sculpture, and believe me, it was a terrifying process.

The theme of the sculpture kind of developed as I worked. Basically it's supposed to represent how in high school (and probably even afterwards) we try to figure out who we are and what our personality is. It's like we put on different faces trying to figure out which one fits best. I wanted it to be a bit more quietly personal, rather than yelling in your face saying something like "People are fake and they just put on masks and pretend!" I wanted it to be a little more withdrawn and saying "Don't mind me, I'm just trying to figure things out."

I don't know if any of that made sense, so here's a description of how it's made. I made the body by having my awesome sister wrap me in duct tape (section by section) and then, after cutting me out of my cocoon, I wrapped the form in papier mache. Erg! I really dislike papier mache; it is a very thankless process. I don't understand how people can get everything to look so nice and smooth. It may have helped if I had had time to do a second coat, but things started coming down to the wire and a second coat wasn't really an option. Then I spray-painted the figure with black spray paint and I actually missed a few places because I ran out, but they don't really show. Also, I poured gravel in the feet and stuffed the rest of the body with shredded paper to help keep its shape and weight it down. The dress is a simple length of fabric sewn in half with a hem on top and bottom. I drew the contour faces on it in blue, black, and purple fabric markers (does anyone else absolutely love contour lines? I just think they're so cool looking). I used the other half of my fabric and drew one face on it and framed it in an embroidery hoop I spray-painted purple. (Originally it was going to be black, but I ran out and luckily enough, I had purple spray paint that matched the markers perfectly). I then arranged the square on her head and glued it into her hands just with tacky glue. Securing the base was possibly the most stressful part. Because of the way I stuffed the body, the ankles ended up really weak (hehe, weak ankles) and it didn't like to stand very well. So after much brainstorming and a very trying trip to Home Depot, we found two threaded rods, a circle of wood, and cement. I drilled two holes (about an inch wide) on the base where I wanted the feet to be. I then made holes in the heels and shoved the rods up into the legs. Then we poured cement into the holes in the wood and put the bottoms of the rods into the holes and let it dry. And then, there it was. My long, stressful, sleep-preventing project was completed. And even though I absolutely despised it when I was finally done, it's starting to grow on me. I got some real positive feedback from my class and people seem to like it.

Sorry the pictures aren't all that great, I had to take them with my iPod.


Also, here are some pictures I decided to share with you all. This first one is a comic I did at the beginning of my challenge, but I haven't been able to upload it until now, because our scanner wasn't hooked up. It's about how happy life can be when you finally let go of something. Like a grudge, or a regret, or something like that.

And this is just a page of doodles from sketchbook that I rather liked. They're mostly Avatar: The Last Airbender related. Such a great show . . .

These are rather large files, so sorry if they're hard to see. And here's another doodle I did for fun with one of my best friends the other day.

Days Created: 36
Total Projects Finished: 6

Confessions

Well, I knew it was coming.  I missed a day.  I didn't do anything on Saturday.  Nothing!  I spent forever racking my brain yesterday, trying to think of something I might've created.  I didn't even draw anything.  I got up at 10:30, went on a walk, showered, cleaned our kitchen, went to a concert with friends, and then went to bed.  (Okay, I probably would've been even more bummed if it weren't for the concert we went to - The Piano Guys, so cool!)  I even thought about drawing pictures in the condensation on my friend's car's window, but I didn't.  At least that would've been something!  Anyways, I felt really crushed about it yesterday, and I felt like my project was ruined.  But then I decided that I wouldn't let this one mistake ruin my entire project.  I decided that rather than ending my project exactly one year from when I started it, I'll just have to end it a day later and just hope I don't slip up again.

"Keep Moving Forward" - Wilbur Robinson.

Well, despite my missed day, I have been rather busy this week.  First of all, I've developed a bit of an obsession with robots.  Yes, robots.  I drew one at the beginning of the year and at first didn't think much of it.  But recently I've continued returning to that design.  I feel like they're my babies, y'know.  I mean, I created them out of nothing.  I didn't research robots beforehand or base it off any reference, they just sort of appeared and now they're growing and developing personalities and they feel more real to me than any other character I've come up with.  I now present to you: Robots.

These robots were initially built for use in hospitals.  Their steady, mechanical fingers could more efficiently and safely perform delicate operations and procedures.  As technology advanced, a similar style of robots were created to be housekeepers in American homes.  They steadily became more popular and thereby cheaper and soon every middle class citizen owned at least one.  They preformed simple tasks day and night, such as taking out trash and cooking meals and doubling as the household security system.  Inevitably, technology continued to advance.  Newer, even more efficient machines were invented that slowly began to replace the outmodes.  However, no one ever had the heart to dismantle their mechanized nannies.  They were very kind, appealing little robots and most people considered them to be a part of their family in the same way their dog or cat was.  As men began to leave earth in search of adventure beyond the atmosphere, the robots were merely turned loose.  They were sturdy and resilient little machines.  They hardly ever needed repairs and when they did, they were quite capable of fixing themselves.  Unsure of what to do with their newfound freedom, they turned intensely curious.  They love to take things apart, though they hardly ever remember how to put it together again, and do simple, kind of crazy things.  In the first picture you can see that they both love to bake and to put things on their head.  They're fascinated by human celebrations, such as birthdays and Christmas.  Also, it is disputed that they feel somewhat 'depressed' that they have no lungs to create music with.  (In the bottom picture - my favorite - the robot is holding a harmonica).  Well, I hope you enjoyed this brief history of my robots and find them just as adorable as I do.

If you're wondering about the quilt girl, I was feeling particularly cold at that moment.  Seriously, our school is freezing.

Here are the latest pictures of Mystery Man.  I'll give you all a hint: he's a character from a book.

 This is a project I started this week for AP Art.  I've been drawing contour self-portraits all over this fabric which I will then use with a large-ish sculpture.  I'd rather not explain it until I have it all finished.

These are the beginnings of said sculpture.

Days Created: 22/365

Total Projects Completed: 5