3D Design

I think that my work in this class shows that I can sometimes struggle with new concepts or methods of creating after becoming attached to my preferred methods. I have always had an avid interest in 2D design and illustration, and had never thought to explore 3D until spring semester started. I had a very fixed way of thinking about my own art and creativity and taking 3D Design challenged my ideas about what I could create. My work during this course was highly variable, which I believe demonstrates that while I did struggle with learning new methods, I also found new ways to bring my desired creations to life and master new skills in the process. 

I think that my work over the course of this class shows that I expanded my understanding of what materials were available for use un art and became more comfortable experimenting. I also gained a greater sense of balance when it comes to 3D objects, which I believe makes my work more aesthetically pleasing and also easier to execute when it comes to construction. I think that these developments are illustrated by the comparison of my first project, the paper reflection sculpture, against my last project, the hands sculpture. The first project was prone to tipping over, and its top-heavy nature made transportation very difficult. Additionally, it was not at all aesthetically pleasing. I learned from this experience however, and took time to ensure that my next project had a more stable foundation that could support all of the design elements (a house of cards steadied by superglue). I think that a greater attention to balance and overall construction is evident in my final project, which is more symmetrical and uses elements that are easy to support and secure. 

Clay was a very challenging unit for me. I think this was because I did not have much experience with the material, and chose a rather complicated figurine to model my sculpture off of. I had to battle gravity while ensuring that the clay was thin in order to minimize the risk of it exploding in the kiln, and these conflicting demands led to a sculpture with proportions that were not what I would have hoped for. I also found the sgraffito process on the 3D form to be frustrating and it was difficult to obtain the line variation and detail that I had hoped for. Sgraffito on the form was much harder than it had been on the tiles!

The project that I am most proud of is the paper sculpture. I had a solid idea going into the project, and was aware of what subject matter I wanted to convey and explore. I also learned from my mistakes with the paper reflection sculpture and ensured that I had a sturdy foundation to attach the other elements to (a superglued house of cards).  I was bit overwhelmed before assembly began because I had so many different elements spread out in front of me and I was not sure if I would be able to fit them together in a cohesive and balanced way. I am proud of the end result because I was able to have the organization to create everything that I needed to attach to the house of cards, and I was able to create a finished work that was balanced, unique, and evoked the feeling I had originally envisioned. 

In the future, I hope to do more with clay and ceramics, as I would to create more functional objects that are also beautiful. Making the clay tiles was fun for me because I can use them in my home. I wish to improve my work in this area and learn from my experiences with clay in this class. I also plan on spending more time on my primary interests: 2D design and illustration. I hope that I will be able to nurture these interests in college, but I know that regardless of whether or not I register for an art class I will be spending time throughout the summer practicing my observational drawing skills and making more compositions.