Ocean #1

For this project, I wanted to use what I have learned in my other science classes to influence how I think about and create art. In my Gulf of Maine field studies class we do a lot of note taking where we do sketches and add lots of information about questions we have, observations, and details we notice. I wanted to use that kind of format to inform thei sculpture. I used what details I might written on a sketch, in the sculpture. For instance, I probably would have made a note about how it almost seemed like there were layers in the body and how the first "layer" was a different shape than the rest. I used the copper and the sculpture itself to show that rather than making a written note about it. Making field notes helps me to connect with the details of elements of the ocean.

I used a sheet of thin copper for everything but the eyes. I started with it on the body because I knew that It would show those layers in the body well. I also knew that it would hold its shape really well as well as being easily moldable to the shape I wanted which was very important. I also really liked the shiny and metallic look that the copper gave, in my head I had imagines it being a copper color. I think that it makes it look like a model rather than it being hyper realistic which was the goal. When you do a sketch in a field book you don't aim for it to be hyper realistic, you want it to be a good enough representation. I thought that this material did that well.

I began by sketching the shapes of the pieces I would need. It was like an architecture model in some ways because of all the different parts. You can see in the bottom right process photo how I sketched out the different pieces. I folded the copper in half so that I would only have to cut half, and it would be symmetrical. I used superglue at first, but then after I ran out I used Lido Weld which is a more specific metal glue. However, it takes a lot longer to cure, and it's strong enough that it changes the color of the copper when tgere is a lot of it on one area. I struggled because the pieced weren't sticking because I couldn't hold it for long enough. I used clothes pins to clamp it together. Each of them took about 20 minutes to cure enough that it stayed stuck. I especially had trouble with the angled pieces because there was less surface area to stick together. I then used superglue again to glue on the antena and the legs which I crushed with pliers to make them look less flat.