Winter Term 2015: Blog Update #3

The series of sculptures is still progressing and the fifth maquette in particular is taking more time due to larger size as well as necessary details as a result. This is not a problem, as I have adjusted my number of pieces from 8 minimum to 6 minimum in order to meet the April 22 deadline for the art student show. By having all pieces 97% completed by march 30th, this allows me time enough to perfect each piece, going back and using experience gained to refine what may be less so.

Piece #5 if 75-85% complete with current subtotal time spent at around 30 hrs. I predict that it will be at 97% completion in another 10 hrs.

Winter Mid-Term Update 02/15/15

Progress is going great. 4 sculptures are completed as far as necessary for now and the fifth is being designed. This one shall be much taller than the others to allow for lots of detail.



Feedback from my outside contact has been very positive. Only 2 of the current 4 warranted any critique from him.

E-mail reply from Jordu Schell involving 4th sculpture, "The Faery":

Looks pretty good--- I feel that, proportionately, it could use some work; the torso seems really long, and the feet a bit small to support the character…. I love Froud, so I can definitely pick up on the vibe you're going for. The wings could be bigger as well…. and maybe more detailed?
------Keep it up, girl!
-----Jrodu

Here is a before and after of the piece he is referring to.

Winter Term: Update 2

As of 2/05/15 My progress is increasing. Three sculptures are complete with the exception of surface finishing, which will be done to all of them at once after the full set is done.

Winter Term Entry #1

At this time the goals from the previous term have been carried over into this one. Sculpture 1 of 8 is 98% complete with only surface texture left over to do and 2 of 8 is 75% complete in detail blocking phase. The focus is including studies of "grotesque", "uncanny" and "monstrous" for the goal of intriguing the viewer and fostering fascination/discomfort.

Goal that is in effect is to progress to 8 sculpture to 98% completion by the end of this winter term.

Entry #3

At the moment, I have abandoned my first sculpture due to the materials being unable to meet my standards. Now I have all of the necessary clay, wire and wooden mounts and have logged a total of 21.5 hours and gotten into the details. Soon it will be down to fine details and finishing the surface. Some chemicals and a chef's torch will be needed.

Also, I have begun to read indepth analysis of elements that make up the kind of work that I find myself creating. To better what I do as an artist (and if I am to be taken seriously) it is critical that I study art world conventions and conversations surounding:

• The Horror
• The Sublime
• The Post Human
• The Grotesque
• Decay
• The Uncanny
• The Monstrous/Fantastical

Being familiar with these elements will make me more aware of my place in art making and also improve upon my effectiveness as an artist. That is my newest goal in my capstone project.

The Wretch (11/17/14)

Entry #2 Progress before and after group meeting

Yesterday, 10/21/14 my fellow Seniors and I got together for the first group critique and critical thinking session. So far, my proposed project is approved. Good thing, too, because I've already gotten started. Without much guidance I put eight hours of logged work into my first sculpture piece. It is half done and then received the DVD from amazon.com of Jordu Schell instructing how to do these clay models up until before the painting faze. I learned that the wire i had at home was not sturdy enough for the job and that I would need several other tools to get the level of craftsmanship.

Entry 1) First week of Fall Term

Tuesday this week, yesterday, was the first Capstone class meeting. We covered the syllabus and briefly what we would be doing over the next three terms. Next time we are to meet and discuss in groups what ideas are coming to mind for our major works for the "senior project" side of this.

So far, I know that my focus is sculpture, my "10,000 hours" have been passed in pencil drawing and that my ultimate goal is to be working for movie production and special effects with these skills. That brought me to the conclusion that my capstone project should encompass this in an academic fashion. As of now, my ideal project is a series of clay models based on my developed concepts accompanied by full dramatic pencil sketches of the completed sculptures.

I'm enamored with this plan, although, I will have it on hold until the next class to see what the general consensus is with the other classmates.