Sketches Pt. 1

Here are the majority of my sketches, they'll be placed with the original project as well.

Emerging / Turning

This semester has been a huge semester for contemplation in many of my classes, exploring ideas about myself in others, and in this class finding new ways to express what I feel.  I'm in a state of moratorium, of change and growth.  I'm still not done, but i can see myself turning outwards after a period of inward reflection.  I have more of an idea of who I am on a basic level, and I wanted to use this project for masking my identity to show that.  Initially I present a much different version of myself to the world, and I'm gradually opening that up beyond the need for an identity mask.  I may not be simply, or especially unique in the grande scheme of things, but I have my own face, my own purpose and drives.  

I wanted to start out with an ambiguous shape that could be many people, and yet was a tad shapeless enough to not stand for everyone at once. 

 Here are a few process pictures of when my mask was staring to finally take shape.  I went with two pieces so my idea of being masked as hidden couple more adequately communicated.  This way the head almost fit into the shoulder piece like a turtle. 

After playing around with several idea as to what to use for the background so it would make sense symbolically for the mask; I settled upon a nature background. I didn't want anything too provocative because I planned on using the posing of the figure to communicate the growth.
I lifted the idea from the Humanistic and Romantic movements where nature is thought to be the best place to be the best man or woman you can be.  That nature is the respite from the stress and problems of not just city life but the pollution of the human spirit. I don't necessarily follow that creed, but emerging from nature is akin to me, to emerging from a safer place to face the city, the world or whatever else need be.

I wanted to show the mask in an untouched crouched position,l to show how much of a ball my emotions tend to be in when I'm holding them in.  That just because I've pulled back doesn't mean I'm calm. 

Slowly starting to emerge, I have the mask being torn open as I turn to wards to sun, towards opening up, out of nature. 

Here the process is further along, the mask's deteriorating more pronounced as I open up throughout the semester and as I begin to fully stand up and through any illusions of who I am. 

As a final emergence from the masked cage, looking upwards and outward from the self is my new identity.  I'm in a stage of examining other concepts and histories as they fit into my self-concept, not of how I fit into others' stories. This is my own narrative and I'm going to be taking a more active role, a role that doesn't need to pretend or hide what I think and feel.  I am facing the light, with nature and it's reassurances at my back, my mask becoming a background (purposefully in the photograph to make use of the white, and metaphorically,) for myself, and emphasis of who I am today because I have my mask as my past.  My old shelter.

I have emerged, I have grown and I am uplifted.

Soap Carving

Welcome to The Wonderful world of Carving Soap.  This is Chelsea, your tour guide today and I shall be whittling away at and then later altering an scented bar of green soap in to a Guinea Pig, (herein after referred to Dolf.)

These were the beginning stages of carving Dolph I and Dolph II

Dolph II is a bit overeager and a tad creepy looking, my apologies.

This is a subtractive process, I've cut Dolph II into chunks, and laid them out in graduating size.

Then I broiled the little bits of Dolph II in the over until there was a nice and unusual texture/colour overtop. Burning away the top levels of soap. 

This piece is more of a commentary piece.  It's still additive, I used a small stud earring and fixed a broiled bit of soap to a leftover sliver of Dolph II's head.  We as people wear so many bits of animals like feathers and rabbits feet, I used part of the soap to make an accessory.  This picture shares my message of how odd it looks at times to see people wearing animal accessories.

For this subtractive step I warmup up the soap shaving and chunks in a homemade double boiler and then scraped everything out and shaped it by hand.  Circles speak to me of wholeness, and at this point poor little Dolph II has gone through a lot.  I felt that making him whole out of so many smaller pieces and melting away a bit more of him in order to reform something whole was a nice step at this point. Subtractive process.

One of the first processes I completely after carving Dolph II was to realize that some of the pieced weren't fully unrecognizable.  I liked the idea that in some way there would be a piece to recognize for awhile yet.  All the peices are tied together with wax-coated black twine to show in a more pictureque sense that these pieces belong together, were made together and are still grouping together in whatever manner possible.
Meant to be an additive process.

I noticed whilst carving the soap initially that is had almost a grain, the way wood does.  I wanted to do something right off the bat the showed that texture, an integral part of the original structure.  I used a small parring knife to almost pull the slices of soap apart to draw out more contrast between the pieces.  This cutting is what I considered subtractive, especially since I removed several small pieces when reassembling the pieces in line for side by side comparison. 

A bit of Hamster Hamlet haha.  But I really meant it as a view of how one carving is whole and untouched standing upon the remains of the other carving.  This one was whole because the other carving was curled and crushed away.  I left the head whole to be recognized to present a better juxtaposition between the two.  Subtractive process because I've grated some of the chunks left from carving the structural piece. 

 Growth.  I had green soap and I felt compelled to bend to the feelings inspired by the color green.  I wanted something to be able to combine with the soap and promote growth.  I matched the soap with chunks of protein within a glass jar and placed a plant what a symbol of life and growth,) sprouting from the soap. An additive process that combines the soap with other materials to create something new.

For another additive process I boiled some of the soap into water to make it into a liquid, what I feel is the opposite state of solid soap.  I don't have the capabilities to make it into a liquid soap but I wanted to change it's state.  Also; since red is the complement of green on the colour wheel  if I could find a way to turn it from green to the opposite colour as well as it's opposite state, I'd have made the soap into something as far away from the original product as possible.

 Dolph Dolph II Signing off.

List#5 (Favorite Webcomics)

I like to start my morning with checking my email and laughing a little by reading a few web comics.  I can't remember who turned me onto them originally, or if I started seeing them pop up more and more as I browsed personal art sites.  Either way, I have quite a few comics that are my not so secret guilty pleasures to read.
Here are a few comics that I've enjoyed for consecutive years now.  Like many people with webcomics series, sometimes comics wane in relevance and I find myself less interested.  The same goes for my own preferences and views of the authors; sometimes they change and I no longer read the comic.


Sinfest

by  Tatsuya Ishida 

Updates daily; a cute comic done to provide lighthearted commentary on modern events and provide comedic relief with a simple plot-line.

http://www.sinfest.net/


Questionable Content
by Jeph Jacques

The art, plot-line and references in this comic and progressed quite a lot since I've started following this one.  I do love the mix of hipster, wit and random partnering within it though.
I'm also quite a fan of the creator; he's a decent guy who's always been genuine with his content and viewpoints.
http://questionablecontent.net/



Demonology 101
by Faith Erin Hicks
A webcomic mixing high school and tough emotional issues with the fantastical.
To preteen me, this was amazing.  I still on going back and rereading it sometime too.  I was an emotional little thing and I still love Sci-Fy and Fantasy books so this was right up my alley.
It is completed however.  No more updates; although the author does have other current works online.
http://www.faitherinhicks.com/webcomics/


The System
by Roscott
Fairly work and graphics themed commentary.  Always good for an illustrated version of the thoughts you have on the daily.
And, as expected of a professional designer; the website is very nicely laid out with ease f use taken into account.

http://www.systemcomic.com/



Books of Adam
by erm...Adam
More of a blog with illustrations; I still love the life commentary Mr. Adam provides with each update.
It may not update frequently but I find myself laughing almost as much as when I read Yuuko & Ananth's blog/comic.

 

http://www.booksofadam.com/2011/08/let-me-eat-cake.html




Other Comics I highly recommend:
Comedity
Least I Could Do
Girls With Slingshots
Something Positive
Hyperbole and a Half
Applegeeks
Machall

List #4 (Music I love)

The Four Seasons: Violin Concerto in E Major, RV 269, "Spring": III. Allegro
by Vivaldi

The best version I've ever heard of this section is by Candida Thompson, Henk Rubingh, Jan Jansen, Janine Jansen, Julian Rachlin, Liz Kenny, Maarten Jansen & Stacey Watton.  I bought the CD haha. 
This is the 1985 performance recording of the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdJT96LvgUs



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Don't Stop Me Now
by Queen
One of my favorite songs of all time.  Always god for an energy boost, or singing at the top of your lungs in the car.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgzGwKwLmgM


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Last Night
by The Strokes
My mom gave me this single on CD s long ago I can't even remember.  Still love this song though and it's made it's way onto a lot of mix CDs and playlists since.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOypSnKFHrE


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Feeling Thisby Blink 182Throwback to when one of my best friends would play this on his Walkman on the bus every morning, so many years later and I can still feel the bus seat listening to this song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kMZ23T9VHE


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Devil's Spokeby Laura Marling
Laura Marling's first CD is great to put n when I'm writing anything, her voice is unique enough that nothing blends into itself but her voice is relaxing enough to relax to.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PSGQgrAXwY


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