Sculpture Project - Wooden House
Before and After Artist Statement
Before Project/Project in Progress:
My idea for making my model a house started with me wanting to make a box with ramps. The ramps would be slides where a ball could roll down the bottom of the box. But then my idea shifted to making a house with minimal items. The house would have a door, window, and a second floor, but the only thing in the house would be two staircases with no other furniture.
The idea for the house came from my previous art projects, in which I made a fully furnished mini house out of popsicle sticks and cardboard. Those mini houses could open like a dollhouse and have LED lights installed so that you can turn them on and off. Except the other items were not movable or functioning.
For this project, since the theme was minimalism, I decided not to add any furniture or rooms, but it will still look like a house, just in the form of a box. If I could, I would have built an actual dollhouse with functioning items, but I would need items other than cardboard or wood. Also, I would need more wood and cardboard to make all the furniture and separate rooms.
Anyway, my idea for the project is a box house in progress because only some of the items you need for a home are there.
After building/ Project Completion:
After completing the sculpture, my minimalistic house turned out different from the model. In the model, I did not make a balcony, and the roof was not meant to be able to open and close. But after building the base for the house, I had scrap pieces left over, so, using those pieces, I made a balcony. Also, on the balcony, I added ropes to go down the floor to the house. Plus, I added hinges to the roof to make it moveable so you can open it up to see the inside. I also made a small table from scrap pieces.
After the project, I wanted to change the roof structure and make it more stable, as the only support it had was the hinges. But I was proud of how even and smooth my sculpture was; everything was nicely aligned, and the stairs were my best pieces.
I did have some problems throughout the project, but I was able to fix it with some help from the professor. Some pieces were too big and did not fit the section I was putting them in, so I had to cut them down. But I was able to complete everything on time. My minimalist theme was an empty box house since most houses have intricate items and designs. After building my sculpture, I did nothing else; I did not add color or patterns.
Sculpture Project - Metal Sword
Before and After Artist Statement
Before Project/Project in Progress:
For this project, I am making a model of a sword you can hold. It won’t be a regular-sized sword, but a great sword that goes the length of the body you wield on your back. I got this idea from my friends and thought it would be cool. For the model, I decided to make it a 2-D model instead of 3-D because it was hard to make, but it turned out well. Also, for the model, instead of using the wires everyone else was using, I used aluminum wires that were easier to cut and bend. The model right now is plain, but for the actual sword, I plan to add some design to it to make it look nicer. Also, if possible, I plan to sharpen the blade where it might cut something. The model right now is blunt. I also got my sword idea from all the anime I watched and the manga I read. I just thought it would be cool to make it. The sword design will be a simple flat sword with details on the hilt and handle. The sword is meant to look impractical but be somewhat practical.
After building/ Project Completion:
The sword I was making didn’t turn out as planned for the project, but I was satisfied with the result. I missed a few workdays due to feeling unwell, but some classmates helped me finish my sword. The sword welding worried me initially, but it became more manageable than I thought. Also, using the grinder was not as easy as I thought, so I had my classmate help me. I wanted to sharpen the sword on all edges, but due to a time constraint, only the tip ended up pointy. I could not make a sword you could cut with. Another problem was that the sword became heavier than I thought, so I had to change it to use fewer metal rods. Plus, the end design looked better than the model I had in mind. Anyway, what I would like to do better is use the time we were given better. I would use the given workdays during class and the days I had free time with no more classes. I could have used my time better. Also, instead of a wooden handle, I decided to keep it metal because the weight of the metal cannot be maintained with a wooden handle, so I just ended up wrapping the handle and sword guard with purple fabric and strings for grip.
Photography Project - Artist and Their Artwork
My idea for the final project was to take photos of paintings and the artist. The idea was to take pictures of three paintings by the same artist and turn them into a triptych or diptych. I plan to make a series out of these photos with the prompt of the artist’s choice. In a way, this series will be a typology of different paintings. Also, the prompt is the artist’s choice because I will let them decide what pose, position, and part of their body and paintings they want me to take pictures of. The artist can be in the picture with their painting or only have photos taken of their paintings. I hope most of them will be in the images with their paintings. Except for where the pictures will be taken, the artist gets to pick and decide where they want everything and how their paintings will be shown. Also, they get to choose how many retakes they want and if they are satisfied with how the pictures turn out. I also plan to take photos of my paintings, but I have not decided whether I want to be in the pictures or not. As for the post-production and/or effects, it will highlight the paintings and the artist. The artist will decide whether there will be huge effects on the photos.
For this project, I will photograph indoors in the painting studio, where there are many natural lights and painting items like canvases, paint, brushes, and easels. Some photos might have some of these items in the background. I will be using my images, and there will be models who are the artists of the paintings. To finish this project, I will be taking photos during my painting class since the painting class is like self-study, where we only paint. During that time, I will ask my classmates if they could participate as one of my models or if they would let me take pictures of their paintings. After that, I will take a few photos of them posing with or placing their paintings in different positions; I will let them decide which picture they want me to edit and use. I would like to know which one they think was the best photo taken in their eyes. The painting studio is open from morning to night, so there will be no problems. The studio is always brightly lit, and natural lights always come through, so there will be no problems with lighting. I have also already asked a few classmates to be my models, and they agreed, so there is no problem with the subjects and objects. The focus of my pictures will be the artist and the paintings, while the art studio will be the background to show art in a working space.
Painting Project - Technology
The composition of my painting has a humanoid figure in the middle, representing the effect technology and information have on people. In the background stand some data centers providing the data and information humans receive and store daily. Then, following the cables that are the humanoid figure’s arms, it connects to the human features that provide our different senses. Still, the background is a void, unlike the data centers above and behind the humanoid figure.
I believe the cable arms connecting to the facial features on a person’s face push the envelope. The humanoid figure has eyes and a mouth but does not have actual human features; the whole figure is made of technology. I want to add more paintings of human features and senses that connect to the primary focus, which is the humanoid figure. I want to add different body parts, such as arms and legs, and the different organs humans have that make up a person.
I wanted to portray how much people rely on technology and the information provided to us. We can quickly obtain answers to our questions without having to go places in the comfort of our homes. I wanted to show how people are not relying on the outside as much as they used to because they can obtain what they need and want with a button or a tap on the phone. Technology has made it easier for people to do things, but it has also made us lose our senses and rely on these technologies.
I like improving myself; this painting has shown that I have improved from my previous painting. It showed that I am learning to paint with oil paint and add more depth and detail to my paintings. Also, I do not like sketching much, so starting the painting without sketching it out on paper has helped me focus on the painting without worrying about what I am doing differently from a sketch I might do. Also, I do not paint anything realistic, so this painting does not have a lot of realistic things except for how I imagine it, and it makes me feel at ease.
I intended to portray a human relying on new technology and information and dulling our senses to make our lives easier. The content of my painting was meant to have an AI in a humanoid figure with a bunch of data behind this AI to provide people. The humanoid figure is also meant to show how technology and information are taking over our lives due to the human desire to know about everything and follow societal trends. I did achieve what I set out to paint, but I could have used better objects in my painting to make it easier to understand.
I have improved by mixing colors and adding depth to my painting, but I could still improve. Also, I did better in adding thickness to the layers of paint I have on the canvas because the painting I did before had to be a thin layer to show the different depths and details.
One challenge I had was completing my art piece because this semester, I have been getting sick, losing time I could have used to complete my painting. Being sick made me lose time, so I had to paint with a time crunch. However, I have successfully added more depth to my painting than I set myself to, though I can still do better.
Unfortunately, I did not research or use references when I did my painting. I just painted what appeared in my head in my way. The subject in the painting does not look like the objects that were in my thoughts; it is a more simplified image of the object. If it is the idea, I did reference the items meant to be in the painting, like the data center and the facial features. If I had researched and looked for references to the actual subjects and objects of my painting, I could have painted something with a more realistic outcome than what I have. Also, with research, I could have added more details to my painting and provided more information on what I wanted to portray with my painting.
Painting Project - Portraiture (Tree)
My work features a large tree as the focal point, with pink and purple clouds as a standout element. My work features a gradient on the grass and clouds to add depth and dimension. I believe the aspect that pushes the envelope is the color choices and the use of gradients in almost all parts of my work. I would explore the use of different colors and more stylized imagery, such as the tree. The reason was based on what I like and think of myself. I deeply love nature and being part of it, such as relaxing under the shade of a tree, hiking on mountain and forest trails, and playing in the river. The tree is also a metaphor for my desire to become someone people can rely on. A tree is silent yet firm, and I think of myself similarly.
Additionally, this piece of my work primarily showcases how much I enjoy being in nature. My intent has been given form, and I have achieved what I set out to paint; it turned out better than what I had in mind. I have improved my creative choices in portraying nature, including using colors and their various hues, particularly in the gradient of colors. I have learned more about using proportions, as my tree was initially too small to be the focal point. The challenge I faced was getting the colors to match and blend well, as I was using acrylic. I had to paint multiple layers. I did not use any references for my work, but during the process, I looked up aerial perspectives to help paint the grass and clouds, thanks to Professor George’s advice. As I did not conduct research beyond looking up how to do something, learning about the aerial perspective has given me an edge as an artist.
Painting Project - My Ethnicity
The theme of my painting is to show the cultural symbols and items of my ethnic group in Thailand and Burma (Myanmar). The ethnic group is called Karen, and in my paintings, I have showcased the Karen flag, the two main religions, the outfit, the house, and our natural sun blocker. The paintings are separated into three pieces that must be assembled to get the whole painting. The top miniature painting is of a traditional Karen house made of wood, bamboo, and hay/straws on the roof. It is a lot sturdier than you think. The house is portrayed as being surrounded by trees and close to the forest, as our ethnic group lives relying on nature. Of course, we still buy and use technology. On the left is a painting of Buddha and the lotus flower, symbolizing our religion, Buddhism. The painting also has the image of an elephant and thanaka, which we use as a natural sun blocker. The painting also has one-half of the Karen flag that connects to the right painting, which has the image of our traditional Karen clothes and the other religion we follow, Christianity. I have the image of a bible, cross, and anchor symbolizing Christianity.
The Karen ethnic group is a close community. As part of that community, I wanted to highlight some parts of my culture that people could understand from just the image, so I painted some symbols of our culture. Also, I tried to explain what a thanaka is; it is a tree root we put on our face for sunblock or sometimes for traditional paintings on our face; the basic is drawing circles around our face or sometimes completely covering our face. To get the sunblock from the root, we grind the root on a stone plate, mixing it with water; you will get a light brown extract. Usually, that is the traditional way, but to make it easier, we sometimes buy already made thanaka bars and make-up that are already made. Also, translating the word thanaka means make-up.
The composition of my painting was to have the traditional objects and subjects of my ethnic group surround the Karen flag by utilizing the corners and bottom of the canvas to place the symbols. The top part of the big paintings is empty, which connects it to the miniature painting house surrounded by green trees. The background of the big paintings is green to at least connect it to the trees of the miniature painting. Other than that, no other compositional strategy was used. Also, it was relatively easy to mount it on the wall.
Senior Thesis Project - The Beauty of Nature
The concept behind my paintings is to highlight the beauty of nature, inviting viewers to observe and engage with its diverse forms and shapes across the land, sky, and sea. While the paintings themselves are not interactive, the accompanying sculpture stand encourages physical interaction. Shaped as three stacked boxes representing the sky, land, and sea, the stand is rotatable, enhancing viewer engagement. The inspiration for these works stems from my personal experiences in nature, such as hiking through mountains and forests, lying in the grass, gazing at the sky, and seeking meaning from my environment.
I selected acrylic paint for my project as it is a medium I have worked with extensively since childhood. The project materials include acrylic paint, thin 12-inch by 12-inch canvas boards, wood, and metal rods. My technique merges realistic and cartoon-like painting styles, resulting in artwork that initially appears cartoonish but strives toward realism. My ongoing artistic aspiration is to blend the smoothness of cartoon imagery with realistic depth, which I have specifically explored in this project to showcase my ability to achieve depth.
The skyscape paintings possess deeper symbolic meanings, reflecting different facets of my identity and aspirations across past, present, and future. Each skyscape is paired with a flower carrying specific symbolism: the dark clouds and orange sky with Daffodils symbolize rebirth and new beginnings, reminding me to continuously grow and evolve; the orange sunset paired with Dahlia represents beauty and individuality, encouraging positivity and authenticity; the blue sky with Forget-Me-Nots symbolizes peace and remembrance, emphasizing the importance of cherishing past experiences and connections; and the Northern Lights (Aurora) paired with Hydrangea symbolizes boldness and grace, promoting self-confidence and resilience.
The remaining paintings, while not as symbolically intricate, serve to inspire viewers to connect with and explore the natural world. They encourage activities such as hiking, relaxing beneath a tree, or dipping one's feet into water, highlighting nature's abundant offerings. Interaction with the rotating stand further enhances the viewer's sensory experience, evoking the sensation of traveling through diverse landscapes.