Layla Mirabal

3D Design Projects Fom 2025

Link to signed participation agreement document: https://kami.app/N23-t18-rjz-1fQ

My name is Layla Mirabal, and I'm a Junior set to graduate at La Habra high school. I go by She/her pronouns, was born in November 27th 2008. My preferred choice of art medium is ceramic and oven bake clay, but I also dabble in drawing and paper-mache though they aren't my strong suits. I have been taking around 3 years of 3d design based classes

I Can be contacted my school email at 400018472@fjuhsd.org, my personal email laylamirabal@gmail.com, or my own number 657-282-7907.

Signed photographer photo link at https://kami.app/LUR-QBk-H4F-2y2

The three following works are from a developing portfolio for my AP 3d design class. The projects follow the guiding question: "How can monsters represent insecurities?"

The Hungry Fly (Front)

Ceramic Clay 5.5"x 6"

The Hungry Fly (Back)

Ceramic Clay 5.5"x 6"

'The Hungry Fly' was my first work of my AP 3d design portfolio, and easily took the longest to make. The art piece displays the insecurity of my own appetite, represented through both a zombie and a fly. The zombie I choose both because their most well known trait is their unending desire to eat people. The fly however despite being small is the focus of the art piece, symbolizing 'Beelzebub' who is a servant of the Devil in the Biblical story and is associated with the sin of Gluttony.

Bigger Fish In The Sea (above and 3/4th)

Ceramic clay 6.5" x 5"

Bigger Fish In The Sea (side)

Ceramic clay 6.5" x 5"

"Bigger Fish In The Sea" was my second project, and a nostalgic creation choice. The design was purposeful semi-recreation of my very first ceramic clay project in my first year of 3d design in 2024. By both mimicking the original design and a new more detailed version on the bottom i wanted to show the insecurity i have over my art forms that i am not making any growth. I think this project turned out pretty good, and im considering making a third years in the future.

Kat (close up front)

Papermache, oven bake clay, and fur 9"x 6"

Kat (3/4th)

Papermache, oven bake clay and fur 9"x 6"

The most recent of my art works, 'Kat' was the first of the three to be made of oven bake clay. Before i had worked with ceramic type clay, but i had never used oven bake clay before! 'Kat', which i thought was a funny play on words with the word 'Cat' and turning it into a name. I wanted to portray the insecurity of being off putting, which I tried to represent with both an other cat and scowling human face.

In my own view, what does it mean to be an Artist?

I think for me to be an artist is to express yourself in new ways, besides for words, like how you'd see symbols used in Egyptian hieroglyphs as a language or in murals to communicate wealth. I've always struggled getting my thoughts out, like they'd get too overwhelming for my head. For a long time it effected my everyday life at school, making it hard to focus without daydreaming or rambling in my own head. I also struggled speaking to get those thoughts out, I felt they would always come out wrong or I would stutter half way through. Using art like drawings and clay work really helped me communicate what I was thinking, without stuttering. I use it today to clear my head and present my thoughts, like personal insecurities or just an interest in fantasy. To be an artist is to take advantage of the arts, be it musical or physical, as a form of conveyance outside of speaking directly.

Prompt B: Artist statement

Art is just like speaking, in a sense its just like saying it outright but prettier. Each piece starts in my head, then slips right out as easy as it were to speak a thought, easier even. I use my 3D sculptures to express thoughts that words just aren't enough to convey my feelings. My recent works convey my insecurities that are harder to explain before sculpting the project. Being able to create my thoughts into reality helps me later on find the words, shifting from just a concept in my head to a real thing in front of me.

Prompt C: Beginning and turning point

My parents both had upbringing in various art forms. My father for example worked in 2D art and drew his own comics. I like to think I got my artist incline from my parents, and I've always dabbled in the arts, mostly drawing from a young age. My first real experience with ceramic clay was in middle school my 7th grade year when i took my first 3D design class. I immediately enjoyed how much freedom I had with the medium and took the class back up as a freshman. Since then I've learned sewing, oven bake clay, paper-mache, and some weaving. Clay remain my favorite of the 3D mediums and outside of my school portfolio I continue to practice with it.

Page updated

Report abuse