Elements & Principles in 3D: Completed Pieces

For this assignment I had to create four small nonrepresentational sculptures using only balsa wood, masking tape, wood glue, and straights pins. Each one had to exemplify an element or principle in art or design.

Grade: 87

Sculpture One: Texture
For this piece I started with an open box and started to go crazy adding as many different textures as I could. I feel the final solution communicates the texture theme but it is not beautiful or elegant.

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Sculpture 2: Focal Point
For this piece I wanted the tape ball to be the focal point. To me the opposite of round and bumpy is straight and smooth. That is why I used long skinny pieces of balsa wood to create the pedestal on which the tape ball sits. I feel the final solution exemplifies focal point somewhat but it could have been communicated better.

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Sculpture 3: Pattern
For this piece I intended to create a geometric patter. I started by making a bunch of identical triangles and arranged them in different ways until I settled on this one. I then felt that it was too plain so I added straight pins and masking tape flags in a pattern on each triangle. This is my favorite piece out of the series because it is simple in design yet elegant.

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Sculpture 4: Repetition
For this piece, I started out intending to make a sculpture exemplifying color. However, after class discussion midway through the project it became apparent to me that I was not communicating that element. So I added to the sculpture in order to repeat rectangular shapes. I am happy with the final solution. I love the color and I feel it exemplifies repetition well. 

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Momento: Process Pictures

This assignment allowed me to work with any 3 materials that I wanted. Because an oppurtunity like this doesn't arrive often I chose materials that I had never used before and wanted to try: Neopreen, gold leaf, and epoxy.

Small mishap with superglue 

Token: Personal Responce

This article was about the items that were accompanied unwanted babies when they were left at the hospital. My first thought was that it is sad how many babies were unwanted in the 18th century. These tokens were used as identification if the mother ever returned for the baby. I think it is very interesting how important these otherwise meaningless objects were. When I look at pictures of them, I think of all the stories and people connected to each one. I find it very overwhelming.

Its About Time: Process Pictures

The best way to accurately carve something in soap is to start with a blocky figure then gradually add details.

Its About Time: Documenting Changes

Change #1: Addition
Microwaved for 2 minutes

Change # 2: Subtraction
Carved out hole in center

Change #3: Addition
Put Hershey's Kiss in hole

Change #4: Addition

Covered and filled hole with soap shavings from original carving then Microwaved for 1 minute

Change #5: Subtraction
Cut into quarters to re-find the Kiss

Change #6: Addition
Poured SodaStream flavoring syrup over soap

Change #7: Subtraction
Removed Hershey's Kiss

Change #8: Subtraction
Squished, mushed, and molded soap down to one shape

Change #9: ???
Microwaved for 2 minutes

End Result

Momento: Completed Piece

For those that don't know me, I became a certified scuba diver at I the age of 11 and have been hooked ever since. I spend most of my time wishing I could be under the sea. That is why I incorporate diving into my school work whenever possible. Needless to say, the memories that inspired my memento piece where those of scuba diving. I used only 3 materials--neoprene, gold leaf, and epoxy--to create a small sculpture that represents those memories. Neoprene is the material that wetsuits are made of. They provide warmth as well as protection. When I dive I am able to escape reality and feel totally safe. The smell and texture of neoprene are also comforting to me and are always present in my diving memories. The gold leaf represents the great wonder and amazement I experience during every single dive. I used epoxy to create small circles that represent the air bubbles created by exhaling underwater as they float and expand towards the surface. Epoxy is two liquid monomers mixed together to create a solid adhesive. The fact that this is possible is quite astounding. Just like it is astounding that humans are able to breath underwater. I stacked the circles in a vertical line to represent the process of descending into the depths of the ocean and ascending back to the surface back again. No matter how much I wish it wasn't, scuba diving is a two way trip--a brief visit to a whole new world. I chose to create my memento as a hanging piece so it can sway and move with air currents; similar to way I float and move with the ocean currents while diving.

Grade: 92

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