Introduction to Sculpture

     I've got a few pictures of each project this year, my final is about halfway finished so there are a couple in-progress pictures of that. We work in sulfur based wax modeling clay, the same kind you'll see if you watch behind the scenes interviews for any animation studio. Each sculpture has an underlying armature, so there's a fairly technical aspect to each project as well as the artistic process. The armatures consist of varying gauges of wire, hot glue, plumber's epoxy, styrofoam, hot glue, and any other materials I might need to MacGuyver. I don't have any pictures of the naked armatures, but I'm sure I will next semester when I take Figure Sculpture. The grades I got are noted, and although I'm generally an A student, I'm even proud of my B's as Thomas Applegate's sculpture classes are notoriously graded.

Project #1 - Master Copy of Rodin's Meditaton (B+)
The reference from Stanford's Cantor Museum Sculpture Garden

The copy I made, my first foray into armature and modeling clay.

Project #2 - Hand of God (B)

We were tasked with, using our own hand as live reference, creating a narrative about God's hand in any literal, figurative, silly, or serious sense we could think of. My piece started out as tendrils of energy catching falling figures to symbolize our sense of security in God as our safety net. The tendrils and figures developed into something far more creepy, and in my mind the concept changed to how entangled we become in religions and dogmas. Our respective belief systems can entrap us in life and separate us from those whose struggles are akin to our own.

Project #3 - Animal Morph (A-)

This time we were told to create a creature, mythical or realistic, that was a combination of three different animals. The mix was supposed to be 40/40/20 % but mine turned into a more blended amalgamation of a Ball Python head and neck and the body, tail, and arms of both a lion and a velociraptor. My beloved animal, dubbed the Pylocilion, was the only project so far that I got an A of any kind on.

Project #4 - Final: Creature/Mythological/Gravity (TBD)

As I said, this guy is in progress and due 12/15, I'll update this blog post with finished pictures and a grade. He's a stone golem who will be emerging from a rocky mountainside. I went the extra mile, as the last frame shows, and gave him led eyes and a lit geode in his belly. Going well so far, I hope he turns out as successful as the handsome Pylocilion!

Some catching up

So I haven't written about anything in a while because things have been hectic. My life is chaotic and I have to learn to cope with it for better or for worse. My 18th birthday was the best day I can remember in months, I got balloons and flowers and went out to a great dinner, so thanks for the love everyone. :] In order to cope with everything that has been going on I've thrown myself into my artwork pretty intensely. I finished the first piece for my illustration concentration and am developing the next work at the moment. I also picked up some new painting supplies and have been doing acrylics on the side to keep from getting too burned out on my concentration. My current painting, more therapy than true assignment, has a special place in my heart since it has been a positive outlet for some real frustration and emotion. I'm either titling it 'Some fall with grace' or 'Elegant Demise', though I'm not sure which. Pics soon! For now I'll post my first concentration work <3.

Moving Up

Lots to say :D

I just got an Intuos4 Large tablet, which is godlike. My digital paintings are going to multiply now haha.
http://www.wacom.com/intuos/large.php

The Portfolio Day in San Francisco was great, I got a ton of useful input/feedback on what I can do to improve my work and several schools said I had quite a few strong pieces. Gotta hang with my art teacher all day xD Good thing she's awesome.

Life has been pretty good over all, and steadily improving. I'm officially halfway done with my senior year and I can't wait until my 18th birthday next week ^_^ Should be fun stuff. Eventually I'll be getting a tattoo of my clarinet watercolor painting when I have the money, and an industrial piercing.

P.S. I'm lovin my new phone and the new people I get to text with it <333 And someone keeps making my days even more awesome :D You know who you are.

Just keepin up

I just keep updating for myself more than anyone else, since this seems to help my sanity more than I would've guessed. New nails, hair, makeup, jewelry, and clothes after the Christmas season so I did pretty well. ^_^ Although the heinously long trip to Oregon was exhausting, it was quite worth it. Who knew cute college students from LA just popped up on train trips and bought coffee for cute sleeping girls? I didn't :]. Ello Jason, if you followed the link I gave you. Life hasn't been easy over the last two months but its truly looking better for the first time since November 9th, my personal D-Day, and I'm gonna keep moving forward. Just gotta push till the end of my senior year!!! And towards my 18th birthday in a couple weeks haha. Anyway, here are a few more possible portfolio pieces : D

The weather finally catches up with the season

It's snowing and I'm drawing; I'd like to say I was inspired by gorgeous winter weather but the truth is I really felt a need to be productive somehow since I've been cooped up for days. We went to the Southern Oregon Humane Society today and I came across the world's most gorgeous and playful 3'6" great dane puppy, a beautiful bunch of fur named Bella who just warmed my heart. I also got my nails done, am dying my hair, and got some new glitz for some self-TLC. Girly pick-me-ups do wonders for one's crumpled self-esteem. In the meantime I'll upload some more old pieces and hope I can keep the creative juices flowing.

A New Beginning ...

I'm hoping that this blog will serve as a new outlet for me to share my growth as a person and artist. I've never had anything like this before so I'm still grasping at what to say, but this blog is going to be a record of my artwork as well as a kind of journal of my life and my inspirations. So I guess I'll start with a few of my most recent pieces and build from there.