Final Container Project

Project Proposal -- Stairwell

Here are my final ideas for my project proposal. I feel I've done a good job embodying my actual concepts, through my drawings, and my written explanations. One of the most important things for me was keeping all of my drawings, from the actual picture and off that, to scale. Not only was this a challenge, it helped me learn the importance of precision in a proposal. Every element of a proposal must be accurate enough to convey the meaning behind it. I made a few changes to my piece from its beginning stages, but overall the idea has remained pretty much the same. I think adding the textured element, along with the graphic of the cement bricks, really helps a viewer understand the mural with its context. Initially, I had wanted to create 3-D stairs that came out of my line drawing, but I realized I didn't want to do anything with the physical staircase so that seemed unnecessary. 

Research

Here is a composition of images, painting, ideas and murals for my site. I was drawn to all these for some reason, and I know that I'd be able to draw inspiration from them as well. Most of them relate somewhat to my actual site (The stairwell), through their connection to water, or how they're murals, or their actual composition on stairs. I know the two images of trees do not fit into either the site or the theme of water, but I have done and would love to do another mural of a tree, so I thought I'd include them for future reference. 

Site Research/Initial drafts

The photo of the site I chose. A stairwell with four slots to use, my initial idea was to paint a mural over the four segments. Although the actual stairs do a very good job of breaking each segment up, I thought it'd be interesting to try and make it a full mural that could be visible from the street. 

Here are my two draft ideas:

This isn't a great representation of the actual draft, due to the light and the translucence of the sketch paper. However, the idea is centered around falling water, and fish, and raindrops. More of an abstract design than anything, but incorporating the theme of water and also adding my own style to the piece. 

This is my second draft. I prefer the other. This one I was too distracted to get a concrete idea of what I wanted. The words I want to incorporate are lines from the poem Dover Beach, which discusses the industrial revolution, and the fight between nature and new technology. My drawing isn't a great representation of this, but if I can spend more time on it I feel I'd be able to better show my ideas. 

Collages

Working on these collages taught me the most about creating a composition. As I have said previously, I struggle to plan and find a process in my artwork, and I believe I have learned those important qualities. I knew it would be vital to the collages that I plan before I began gluing anything down, so I had to think my ideas through before I executed them. Granted, nothing ever went exactly according to plan, but in the end, I learned that the process is equally as important as the product. 

Object Transformation

For the object transformation, I chose an urn/goblet/vase. I was unsure what is was, or what it was made for, but I was drawn to it nonetheless. I immediately knew I wanted to break it, but did not know why. I struggled to connect to the object and the transformation. I became frustrated early on, once it was broken, and couldn't seem to get past the barrier I had put up for myself. I would not do the same things to my object if I could start fresh. There are modifications I'd like to do, to connect more with the pictures and line drawing and make it a more unified piece.  

Blind Contour Drawing

I believe I had the same issue that I had with the Mind Map for this assignment. I focused more on it being aesthetically pleasing than the process. In the end, I find this drawing pretty interesting. The misplacement of her face reminds me of Picasso. I dislike the chair being present in the drawing, but realize that it was required and I can incorporate it better if I choose to redo it.

Mind Map

I loved this assignment. Although there were some technical flaws (The size of the paper, the writing is a bit hard to read...) I really enjoyed creating this. It was and is my intention to redo this and try and fix those small problems. However, I thought this was an awesome introduction project, and I was very pleased with the finished product. I think I may have focused more on finishing rather than the process.

8-Hour Projects

I was actually required to attend and take pictures for a Photojournalism class I'm in, so this picture was taken then. Some of the pieces in the 8-Hour Projects seemed minimalistic, or overdone, but I really enjoyed this. I took this picture before the artist was finished, but the finished product (I went back later to see) didn't seem too different to me. (Artist's name, Haley Marbelstone, freshman).

Material Archive

Collecting an archive of materials isn't an easy task when you don't know what you'll need them for. But I found it best to simply gather items I was drawn to, or knew would be useful for an art class. In all honestly, I am a collecter, or in a less pleasing word; a hoarder. I love to gather tiny things for absolutely no reason. This made collecting a material archive easy enough.