New Concept: Self Sufficient

First of all, I am not comfortable with any concepts or assignments that include the word "self". That being said, Ms. Torres gave us our new concept words today, and they are "Self Sufficient". Thank you Ms. Torres!( <<<< Insert sarcastic tone here).

It is my first order of business when given the concept words, to research the words together and each word individually, then I go from there. This is usually a scratch piece of paper that ends up in the garbage. However, this time, in an effort to fully grasp the meaning of the words "self-sufficient", "Self", and "Sufficient", I've decided to make a record of my notes here.........

SELF SUFFICIENT:

Independent, Exclusive

Not relying on others to do things for you.

Able to supply one's own or its own needs without external help.

Having extreme confidence in one's own resources, powers, etc.

SELF:

Being, character, ego, identity, individual, narcissism, oneself, own, person, personality, psyche.

A person or thing referred to with respect to complete individuality.

A person's nature, personal interest.

The ego: That which knows, remembers, desires, and suffers.

Sufficient:

Adequate for the purpose;

Competent; Capable

Acceptable, agreeable, comfortable,decent, pleasing, plentiful, satisfactory, tolerable.

On that note, I'm gonna go do what I do, over think these words, and hopefully be inspired to create something that is SUFFICIENT. <<<<<< HA!

Final Pics of Green machine

I need to go back and retake these pictures when the lighting is better. This was my favorite project thus far, by far. I think the critique went well, and I got answers to some of the problems I had with my design. So overall, things went well. It's time to move on....

I have no idea what week it is.....Spring Break

Once again, its been a minute. In the studio, I'm currently working on the Green Machine project. My intention with the project is to draw attention to the abuse of our welfare system by women who have numerous babies in order to collect more money from the government. Women using their bodies as machines to make money. I'm pretty excited about the project. I feel like I've learned a lot, and can't wait to finish up and present it for critique. Still much to do though.

This is 1 of 47 money babies.

Pictures of the body casting for the legs of the piece.

Armature for the machine-like female reproductive system.

Getting closer to the final product.

Weeks 3 and 4

Things got super crazy and I didn't get around to posting a new blog post last weekend, so I'll try to catch up now.

Finished my 100 cylinders in ceramics, however they looked horrible. I did make progress though. Here's some pictures.

Around #89, I figured out that because I'm left handed, I was alot more comfortable throwing with the wheel spinning the opposite way from which I had been having it before. After this, James assigned us 100 cups, that have to have trimmed feet, and he wants matching sets of 4-6. I've got 15 thrown, and 5 or those are trimmed, but I haven't taken pictures of those yet, as my phone battery lay dying.

Ok next.....Sculpture. We had our critique this week. I didn't completely finish my piece, which is pretty unacceptable. I don't necessarily think it was a time management issue, but more like I bit off more than I could chew for my skill level. Our concept for our next project is Green Machine. Hmmmm.... so far, I'm drawing a blank. But here are pictures of the last few stages of my piece before critique and pictures of it set up at critique.

How to make a noose ( Hangman's knot)

So I decided to use rope in my current project, and I needed to learn how to tie a noose. So I looked it up and decided to post it here in the event anyone ever needs to know how to tie one. But please don't use this method to off yourself, because I don't think I could live with it on my conscience. :) Click the following link to learn how to tie a  hangman's knot.

http://www.realknots.com/knots/noose.htm

Week two

Got a lot more work done on my project this week. I've changed some of my ideas, and I like the new direction I am going with it. I am finally gonna post some pictures and I'll go into a little more detail about the project itself. I think if I can keep up this momentum, time management won't be as big a problem on this project as it has been in the past.

I'm also trying to be more precise and pay better attention to details through out my process. I tend to get in a hurry sometimes, and my work shows it. So that is something I really want to work on.

I'm also gonna track my ceramics progress, or lack there of on here. I think it will help hold me accountable to my work, make me strive to do better. So I'll also be putting pictures of the things I do in that class on here. The first thing we were told to do in that was to throw 100 cylinders on the wheel, a minimum of 7 inches high. Well so far, I've thrown 21 items, that is out of 125 individual pounds of clay. Almost half are bowls, and the ones that I did actually manage to get into the cylinder shape, do not meet the height requirement. So I have a lot of learning to do there as well. But I'm positive that eventually I'm going to get it. And anyone who follows my blogs will get to see it for themselves. Yippy Skippy!

One more thing, got some plaster today. Wanna start doing something with that and see where it takes me. Eventually after I sharpen my skills, I'd like nto do some stone carving. Really really really excited about getting started with this!

End of first week of classes

I think the start of the new Spring semester was a great one. Much better than expected, and I am fired up to see what the semester brings. Got to get back to work in the studio, and although I'm a little unconditioned and sore after the break, it feels great to be working again.

For our first project, we were given the words "Social Network". After a little research and alot of brainstorming, I settled on the thought of how people isolate themselves from the world, through social networking. They are able to connect to millions of people, without ever leaving their home if they choose not to. The only information the people they are connected with get, is the information that the person puts out about themselves. They can give as little or as much information as they choose, and it's easier to do because there is never any personal face to face contact. A person can portray themselves to be whoever they want to be, so no one has to ever know who they truly are! Anyway, so tha'st the idea I am working with. My sketches are drawn, and I'll post pictures as my work progresses. Ciao!