PROJECT 2

For project #2 we were instructed to "make a container for 12 twigs". This made me really think about the word "container" and all of its synonyms. I wanted to create something that was mainly geometric to "contain" the twigs but also to let them keep their shape and be shown off. I chose to leave the paper white so that the different shades and textures of my different twigs would really be showcased. The boxes are basically one big, interesting frame for the twigs to be displayed in.

First Attempt
I really just wanted to get the shape down before I used better paper. This prototype is made out of Bristol Board which, obviously, is pretty flimsy.

We were told to focus on a certain part of our prototype and to make a "sketch model" of it. 

This is my sketch model. It's made out of Bristol as well but the craftsmanship started to get better...

For my final product I used a cold-press drawing board. I forget the technical name for it. I built the boxes around the sticks (which took a long time and many broken sticks). 

It's not perfect, but it's what I wanted to achieve. 

Front view.

Here's a close-up of the twigs I used. I love the contrast in their textures, colors, and sizes. 

So for our design visualization class we've been keeping an observational sketchbook. We're supposed to be sketching different things each day and at first we started sketching a leaf a day. This one is the best out of the ones I've drawn, I think. I actually found it online and drew it at home in my apartment. I don't really consider myself to be very good at drawing and I've been trying to get better by trying different techniques. Here I tried rubbing. I think it was fairly successful but I still have some work and practice to do...

SOMETHING WORTH SHARING

So today we watched a video on a British artist named Andy Goldsworthy. He works with nothing but pure, found nature and spends hours on both permanent and temporary sculptures. His goal in making his art works is to understand the nature he works with more and more as he works with and asses it. His style can best be summed up when he says, "I enjoy the freedom of just using my hands and "found" tools--a sharp stone, the quill of a feather, thorns. I take the opportunities each day offers: if it is snowing, I work with snow, at leaf-fall it will be with leaves; a blown-over tree becomes a source of twigs and branches. I stop at a place or pick up a material because I feel that there is something to be discovered. Here is where I can learn. " 


His works are captivating and his attitude and way of thinking is inspiring.
(pictures borrowed from www.morning-earth.org) 

rowan leaves

broken/scratched pebbles

ice spiral (we watched him make one in the video...he connects broken icicles with wet snow!)

Project 1

Our first project was to "create a place for a leaf" using plain white paper and no adhesives. This project challenged us to think of leaves, how they behave, where they belong, and things of that nature. I figured that since leaves die so easily when they're away from the tree, I'd repurpose my leaf and put it into a nest like a bird might do. It took around twelve or so tries but I finally found the right place to put my leaf.

This is one of the first attempts I made at making a nest. Because it was one of the first, I used computer printer paper so it was thin and flimsy and didn't take to weaving very well. I had to experiment some more with paper and technique. 

I started to use thicker paper and the nest really started to take form. I also figured out a good technique for weaving the paper together. 

This nest was too big for the size of my leaf, though, and the leaf didn't really have a specific PLACE in it.

Final product...I decided that the leaf would have more purpose in the nest if i wove the paper through it so I cut slits into it as shown.

Final product...top view