second life: Jaidynn waffle

I'm getting better at second life!

This is my building that holds photographs of work from this year.

www.susannahnaree.com is now up and running. I'm still working on it but i am very proud it's up.

money money money

Let's be totally honest, money helps.
Sure you can say it's hard work, love, and good people that make businesses or people succeed but chances are they won't unless you have the dough. I'd LOVE to have all those great and wonderful things, i hope to have them when i have my own business.
Let's not bullshit our way around it, artists need money. We like to be able to pay rent, eat descent meals, and perhaps go on a vacation every once in awhile. Artists are a rare breed of creative, hard working, innovative individuals that don't get enough credit. We have this god given talent that most people probably can't do or don't have the will to do BUT artists tend to not make enough. Why should we have to bend the "starving artist" image? 

Why do people admire the things we can do but don't pay nearly what it's worth?? There have been numerous occasions when i've made something and someone will guess how much it is, completely under cutting what i had in mind because they think it's nice but not worth the actual price of the time, effort, blood, sweat and tears that actually went into it.

I can only speak for myself but i feel like other artists would probably agree with my little rant. i need to vent.
Art takes time, supplies, a studio,gas, equipment, food (to keep that creative energy up), a computer, money for websites, exhibition entry fees, organization fees, etc etc. If we don't have these things, we won't be as recognized, people need to be able to see something if they google search our name (something other than embarrassing photos on fb).

The past few months my financial status as fallen more than ever. I am struggling to pay for the gas it takes to get to/from school everyday, the grocceries for breakfest, lunch, and dinner when i put in long hours at the studio, supplies to even do my projects, entry fees, etc. I have to save what supplies i have left and use things like solder sparingly. No silver hollow fab rings for me, i'll be using scrap brass or copper.
Luckily i haven't had to have a job during the semester, so i could devote all my time to school but things are rapidly changing. I wish it didn't make sense that in order to make money you have to spend it... what if you don't have that inital cash to spend? Am i doomed to never making something of myself? Will i spend the rest of my life with a talent that will go underused and spend my days working at the same job i've been at since i was 15 years old? I sure hope not.

I feel like there should be rich people out there that just give talented individuals money to pursue their dreams. Money that is free to be spent on art supplies, studio spaces, websites, postcards, equipment, materials, goodies like that. Where are those people and how would i get in contact with them? I wish all the time that i had some rich uncle that didn't have anything else to spend his money. 

It would be so nice having a car that didn't break every couple months and being able to afford nice, healthy food. I live off cheap tv dinners because it's more food for my buck, 3 hungry man, 1lb of food dinners a day probably isn't great for my  body. I don't mean to sound as whinny as i am probably coming across because i appreciate every hungry man, every gallon of gas, etc that i get. I know it's more than a lot of people have and i never take it forgranted. I think it's just bred into us to want more for ourselves. I wonder how much better projects will turn out if they were made out of silver with better tools rather than bronze. I wonder if i would get more work done if i lived near the school, could study abroad, and travel.

I dream about an awesome studio with huge benches, top of the line tools/ equipment, endless supplies, book shelves full of research and information, a photography set up, software rich computer, etc. Ask any artist and i'm sure they dream of similar things.

i dream of someone saying "i believe in you and your work, i think you could go places, take this money and make it happen".

blogs/websites i love

Biba Schutz

Megan Auman

Margaux Lange

Tord Boontje

Arthur Hash

Annie Chow

Alex Pardee

Inspirational ENAMELISTS

HARLAN W. BUTT 

[artist Statement]: 

"My influences often come from the flora and fauna of the places I have lived, their colors, textures and shapes. But as human being I also live in a world of relationship, interaction and communication and so imagery, even of nature, can be metaphorical as well as literal.

Earth Beneath Our Feet: Horizon #1

MARIA PHILLIPS

ARTIST STATEMENT: "My obsession with time and the aging process has been a recurring theme in my work for the past decade. This preoccupation has fueled my interest in non-tradtiontional processes and materials in order to further examine the relationship between the natural 

and the man made. i incorporate non-precious metals with natural and found objects as well as elements based on industrial and anatomical forms. Manipulation a

nd subversion of these materials results in forms saturated with tension. Repetition of elements produces mass, an outcome that can be both seductive and cha

otic. Fabrication and electroforming permit the cultivation of new forms, while various surface enhancements influence the concepts of the work. Continual investigation of new processes and mediums are what compel, stimulate and challenge my creative process."

charcoal

I will always have a love for drawing with charcoal. It's been a long time since i got my hands dirty with it but tonight i just couldn't help myself. I'm usually so busy with other things but tonight i treated myself. I felt like nothing was turning out very well but i just kept trying. I think one quick drawing of Bobby came out okay but practice makes... better. 

all natural dye

Red Onion skins:   I've been working in produce at a little, family owned grocery store for about 5 years now off and on, and surprisingly i get a lot art ideas from work. I like the forms, shapes, textures, etc found in nature in produce. When restocking the red onions today, a lot of the loose skins were left in the bottom of the box. I had heard that an older lady used to collect them from us around easter to use them to make dyes. I took a bag of onion skins home (everyone thinks i'm such a weird art girl) to experiment making a dye. 

I boiled them for about 5 minutes and instantly it turned the water brownish red then as it boiled it turned into a nice maroon. I strained it and let it cool. I probably should have let it boil or sit longer but i really wanted to see how it looked on paper. I used it like watercolor paints and gave some paper a red wash. As it dried the dye turned green!? 

Completely dry, the red dye turned into a brownish green...  weird, right? I'm sure if i did some research, there would have been a right way of doing all this but i honestly just wanted to get my hands in it. The green color was actually really nice and i'll still use it but it was just a surprise. 

So, if you'd like a green, all natural dye... boil red onion skins.

inspiration in poems

Bobby and I have been reading a bunch of Stephen Crane poems and a lot of them really get my mind going. I'd love to do some drawings or paintings from them or even some jewelry. I think it would be awesome to etch the poems in a piece. Here's one of my favorites:

Many red devils ran from my heart

and out upon the page,

they were so tiny

the pen could mash them .

And many struggled in the ink.

it was strange to write in this red muck

of things from my heart.

future project ideas

With spring semester fast approaching, i've been thinking about future projects and where my research is going. I have finally established my own style and i think i should go with it instead of trying to come up with completely different ideas like the one i had earlier about researching old medical instruments. I want to some how connect my korean heritage with my american life. I'd really like to make a statement about my experience being a korean adoptee. It's something that makes me different and it's almost a way for me to work out/ heal issues that i've had to deal with. 

Today I was thinking about ancient masks, their meaning, uses, styles, etc. I looked up korean masks but once again i've come across the dilemma of little information out there. No books and most of the info is very vague. The carved wood masks are beautiful in the contours and forms they take. The craftsmanship of the ancient ones are admirable but there are thousands of  cheap replicas out there today made for key chains, magnets, touristy trinkets, etc.

i've also been looking at other examples of masks/ face

 armor/helmets from other cultures and times. It's so interesting how each culture had their own version of masks. I think the greek/roman face armor and helmets are interesting and are always a general  point of interest. There's a lot of images and information out there about them. Also, masquerade masks are always admired for their beauty. I've always had a set of masquerade masks on my bedroom wall that i thought were the prettiest things, i loved them and still have them. People are obsessed with them, i think because they were used to hide identities at balls. There's a playful, sexual mystery and allure about them.

Not really sure where this could go but i was inspired by what i learned in my raising and forging class. Now that i kind of know how metal moves i'd love to try and make something other than a vessel.

late photos

late photos

RING PROJECT: sheet

-pierced out floral pattern (inspired by hanbok designs & part made up)

-20 ga bronze

-nickel silver tube

-sterling silver rivets

-2 finger ring: ring finger + pinky

-not supposed to be truely functional/wearable

blog to check out

thereweretentigers.blogspot.com

there's photos from a miami art fair. 

-some of the work is really interesting!

welcome to technology suzi

I will admit when it comes to the technology race, i'm usually in last place (and happy with it). I will avoid buying the new/hip products as much as possible because... well i'm cheap. I don't see spending tons of money on a product when in a month it will be the old model or broken. I have bought a few really nice electronic items in my life but experience has lead me to believe that they are not supposed to survive a year or two. It seemed like such a waste. I could not stand it. My father loves to to buy semi-nice electronics, so my house has become this electronic graveyard. For example, we probably have 3 or 4 PC laptops and 3 desktops that all slow as hell and/or have something wrong with them. 

This last semester I have come to realize how important technology really is to a student in the design/art field. It's been like pulling teeth with me but i am actually starting to like it. My dell laptop that i got when i started college just didn't have what it took to hold up this semester so i saved and saved for a macbook. I learned to use photoshop and illustrator this semester so i knew i was going to need them sooner or later.  

I got the standard macbook and even passed up the black one because it was $100 more for the same model. I also splurged and got the CS4 design standard. I'm on my new mac right now and am waiting for the software to be delivered as we speak. i'm pretty excited. i just hope the mac will prove my bad attitude wrong and last for years.

2nd life: Jaidynn Waffle

My 2nd LIFE PROGRESSION:

This whole virtual world stuff confuses the hell out of me sometimes. i didn't like all this stuff when i didn't understand it. It would frustrate me to the point of almost throwing the computer at the wall. It's not even that complicated, I just have bad computer karma (... i can't wait to see how the Rhino class goes next semester).

The goal for all this was to create something in 2nd life that had to do with our outsource project. So I started with huge cubes and uploaded the images of my work onto them.

I moved on to a sphere and more cubes. 

It then progressed to actually attempting to build walls and a ceiling... i forgot about a floor. Thanks Jan, Megan, and Amy for all the help. Once I got some help and actually dedicated a good amount of time, i started to get the hang of it. I was going to keep this exhibit but it didn't look very professional. I thought about how much time i had spent on my actual project that i did not think this did it justice. Plus there were some really nice ones... AMY! Amy's looked amazing, it was unique and creative... i was jealous.

After spending the weekend in a computer lab and today in between classes, i think i have a pretty nice display. Certain peers might not think it's much but for me this is a huge accomplishment! It's definitely better than just cubes. 

picnik

editing pictures!

I don't have a sweet mac so I don't have a way of cropping/ editing my photos from my camera. There's a website: www.picnik.com where you can upload a picture, edit, add text, effects, etc. all for free! I really like it and it's easy to use. 

Plus when it's loading it says things like "blooming blossoms... growing grass..." which i thought was a cool little detail.

branding

-Tiffany & Co.

I thought it was interesting to find a brand where the packaging is probably more famous than the actual products.

I'll admit, when i went on my senior trip to NYC i wanted so bad to buy something from tiffanys so i could have the blue box. I like the stamped jewelry because it had the label on it and i wanted to remember that experience. I bought the cheapest piece of jewelry i could find, a sterling silver band ring. i don't know what it is but i felt really cool carrying that blue bag around. 

VICTORIA'S SECRET

-no one wants underwear and bras from walmart when you can go to victoria's secret! This brand has successfully made itself SEXY and that's pretty much what they are all about. Now they have cosmetics, fragrances, loungewear, etc but it's all sexy because that's what the brand has become. Some underwear is not sexy at all but if it's from VS than it is. 

I've just realized that all of the brands i listed are sooooo expensive. I can't afford any of it but i wish i could. I guess that makes them successful because they have people wanting a piece of it. That's why they can have the prices so high because it makes the brand more desirable in some cases. Lower prices can make pieces seem cheap! 

more branding

-Tord Boontje

i 1st heard of him in jewelry I and Megan brought in the book for us to see (right). I thought it was such a cool book so i bought it instantly.   i love the patterns and the different materials he uses. Everyone now knows Tord Boontje's work after he did the christmas decorations for target a few years back. Now I see his work especially his lamps everywhere.

-Ed Hardy

This brand is everywhere! This brand looks like it's based off vintage tattoos. There's Ed Hardy clothing, shoes, fragrances, electronic covers, bedding, purses, etc... i think i even saw bottled water. I like the style but i can't afford anything by them. They've done a good job at getting their brand out there because all the celebrities are wearing it. 

-Juicy Couture

I originally liked this brand because it had dogs in their logo. =) I do like the style of

 jewelry, clothing, purses, dog collars/clothing, etc that they have. Everyone knows the logo and knows that it means $! It's expensive stuff and if someone has it, the show it off. It seems like they haven't been around for long but its a brand that appealed to the public so it became popular pretty quick.

"I love floraly shit"

RING #2 : sheet

-18ga bronze

-nickel silver tube

-sterling silver rivets

As we all know, I look at traditional korean patterns for a lot of my work. I can't help that i'm completely drawn to it.

After i saw Katy and Danielle's sheet rings i was really inspired by their sawing skills. Sawing is something that i've never really been very good at. No matter how much i try to stay on the line it gets messed up. Usually filing and sanding fixes it but i wanted to focus on that skill for this project because i know it was something i had to work on.

I pierced out a floral silhouette pattern out of sheet bronze. I looked at a lot of patterns and kind of made my own up. I like that it's not too obvious that it's floral. I wanted to try to incorporate the finger holes in the pattern, it makes it uncomfortable to wear though. It's more of an art piece than a functional ring. I also thought it would be interesting for the ring to have layers so even though it was a flat sheet, it still had dimension. 

can't sleep thoughts

Actually sitting down thinking about this semester, it's blown my mind how much we've all learned. Of course with every class you learn something new but this semester i feel like so much stuff has been jammed into my head. All of it hasn't even caught up... lists help:

-Raising 

-sinking (taken further than the tea infuser)

- bouging/ planishing

-soldering large forms together

-alittle bit of polishing

-tapering

-stretching

-making utensils

-patinas -> torch, immersion, saw dust, cotton 

-HINGES

-clasps

-etching! yay

-die forming

-some stone setting

-decking

-internal/ external framing

-outsourcing

-2nd life

-illustrator (seems like an easy, simple thing but it took HOURS for me to learn it and do it somewhat well)

-photoshop (alittle)

-blurb

etc, etc. I'm sure there are things that i'm missing but those are off the top of my head. I still feel like i've only had a taste of these things and i definitely need more practice in all of them but it's cool to think that i did all of that. 

This is the first time that i haven't had things done on their due dates in school (going back to elementary school!) I was always the freak out person that had to have things done on time. I still am like that but somehow things got away from me this semester. I was constantly working but somehow got way behind. It makes me feel bad enough disappointing myself but i never want teachers to think that i'm slacking off or don't care. I think everyone has sort of felt this way this semester... completely overwhelmed BUT if you just take a step back and look at all we have accomplished, it's pretty impressive. We are down to the last week of classes then finals but I think we will all be fine. I have definitely turned in projects that I would have liked to have been better but I also turned in some that i'm pretty proud of. Not everyone can be a Taylor and turn in portfolio pieces every time. :)

To all my fellow classmates, i pat you on the back and say "good job! you worked hard!" We can all sometimes feel bad about projects and cry about school but in the end we did our best. So let's finish out the semester still working just as hard and feel good about it.

branding

My favorite artists/ brands:

-ANTHROPOLOGIE

I love everything about this store except the prices... i wish i

 could buy something in it! Everything from bedding, clothes, to kitchen accessories are amazing. I'd like to think that my style is like that store. They are constantly chan

ging their window displays into classy art installations. I look forward to seeing a different display each time i go to the mall.
-HOLLISTER

Another one of my top f

avorite brands even though i can't really afford it. It's probably one of the top clothing brands for younger generations. Everyone knows the hollister logo and recognizes the $ spent. I like it for the quality and style.

 

-AMERICAN EAGLE

AE is another clothing brand similar to Hollister but more affordable. They have good quality products and usually have interesting pieces. I like the graphics that they are starting to use on t shirts.

Picture time!!

My old Metalsmithing I/ Casting- Blood Diamond project:

-10 bones carved out of wax, made into a mold and cast in bronze
-welded steel chains
-real brass bullet shells
-Copper vultures with "T.I.A."

[detail shot]

I want to fill my blog up with photos of my work!

back in the day...

I finally got around to photographing my first jewelry I project.
The project that started it all....

["Bear" -large dog sculpture: welded steel]

[Detail shot]

[small project]

Design and production

The other 2 necklaces:

design and production

My steel & ponoko- red acrylic earrings

RINGS PROJECT

RING #1:

TUBING

-started with different size tubes

-cut into different thicknesses rings

-saw into varied pieces

-solder together in an organic pattern

-hammer flat

-form into ring

-solder together

-liver of sulfur

I chose to make my tube ring like this because it challenges the notion of a tube ring. The end result looks like it could have been made out of wire or sheet.

packaging for the necklaces:

[recycled paper bags and scrap paper]

Design and production

My series of necklaces for the outsourcing project:  (2 wouldn't upload)

inspirational artist

Motif and Frame Earrings

oxidized silver

-looks like some of the positive/ negative space earrings that Heidi Lowe wears

Marianne Anderson

"My interest is rooted in how we learn and draw from the past and return frequently to designs, motifs and patterns of historic and symbolic significance. By purposefully engaging with the past, my aim to highlight the importance of ornament in a modern context. Far from superfluous, ornament has always had its own vocabulary and meaning and i try to engage with this through my work."

Her work reminds me of my own art especially my laser cut patterns. 

Decorative Detail Brooch

hand pierced oxidized silver, garnets

Pearl Swirl brooch

oxidized silver, mabe pearl

-this one reminds me of wrought iron gates

Metalsmithing II

My very 1st raising and forging project:

design and production

my ponoko earrings!

steel sculpture

CAL LANE

"Knockout steel sculptures with a lacy touch. Lane, a certified welder and graduate of the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, wields an industrial blowtorch as if it were a crochet hook, burning dainty, intricate designs into heavy metal. The artist's signature steel doilies and monumental "crocheted" I-beams elegantly perforate traditionally masculine realms of art and architecture with feminine craft." -Sharon Doyle Driedger

This artist is amazing. It reminds me alittle of the stuff i did for my internship. I LOVE the patterns that she cuts out of steel. I would love to learn how to do this.

innovative design

The Teafco company makes these innvative and eco friendly dog collars under the fydo line.

-13 different colors to choose from

-$23

-adjustable

They are much sleeker looking than what's in the market now.

- collar is made out of 100% recycled thermo plastic rubber "unlike leather and nylon, our fydo collar is waterproof, easy to clean, protects your dog from unsafe bacteria and you from unwanted odors."

-ID plaque is 100% recycled polypropylene plastic

RINGS

Some of my favorite rings from www.ringoblog.com

-Ethernet Rings

Jana Brevick

"Ethernet plug wedding rings let you live geekily ever after"

-Pistol ring

this ring is so sweet!

The sides even have engravings like from antique guns.

-Periodic Table Ring

$205 Ag

$2,200 Au

$6,500 Pt

The man designed these for his wife who's a scientist. 

cardboard bed

 T H E  D E S I G N  B L O G 

I thought this would be great for me since i live so far away when i need to pull an all nighter in the studio.

 there would be a high demand for these among jewelry majors.

locket project

Here's another maquette for the pierced pattern. I was planning on etching all along after i saw Jan's die forming samples but i didn't know how. So this is what i was planning on doing.

Then jan encouraged me to etch my pieces to give them more dimension and more unique. She taught me how to use the spray etcher. I painted on the resist and scratched it out. I love how it adds more to my locket and i had to use drawing in it. The end result was nice. The only thing i wasn't used to was not being able to file and sand as much as usual.

inspirational rings

www.RINGOBLOG.com
-Viagra Pill Ring

-Two in One 

Schmuck Kunst

stainless steel

2003

-Embrace Ring

Boone rings

there aren't a lot of very creative diamond rings in jewelry stores but i thought this one was pretty cool

-Twig ring

Stanley Ruiz

eco friendly jewelry

-Exovert Ring

 4100R

ESLA

looks like the design is based off bone forms

LOVE THIS!

-3 finger Supra ring

4204R

ESLA

inspirational rings

While researching rings i found this great blog: RINGOBLOG

-Shell Ring

a real shell cut

Mesi Jilly 

$320

-Luc Kieffer Chain Ring

resin 

$187

-Manuel Bozzi

polished silver

 keyboard key 

$268

-"Ear Ring" 

Margaux Lange

sterling silver

resin

barbie parts

-Perch Ring

Shrinky dink

 ink stamped

 gold paint 

$8

-Koi ring

Angular Momentum

white and yellow gold

 lacquered medallion

 sapphire crystal

-Stamp Rings

Urban Jewellery

-Snark Ring

self defense ring

$35

-Bottle Opener Ring

$35

inspirational rings

Looking through my 1000 RINGS book there were a lot of rings that stood out to me. Most images were not on the internet:

-Shingo Furukawa Ring with a shell 2003 

It's sterling silver wire around a sea shell (NOT wrapped) but in a cage like frame around a beautiful sea shell. It's delicate but still looks strong. This leaves me in question about how they made it. How does it fit so perfectly around the shell? How did they solder and clean the silver with the shell inside it?

-Ling He Magnificant: Theotokos II 2002

  variable dimensions

  This ring included sterling silver, rock crystal, corundum, cubic zirconia. I liked the layers this ring had. It was interesting at all angles which not a lot of rings are... i'm coming to find out. I also have found out that i love rings that include glass. I don't know why but i do. 

- Sigurd Bronger Ring 1999

   steel, silver, goose egg shell

Megan! Now whenever i see egg jewelry i think of Megan. This one is for you.

-Thoms J. Lechtenberg Folded Ring 2002 

   sterling silver, fabricated

This one reminded me of Amy. It required  a lot of thought and planning ahead like hers do. You have to have a 

mechanical mind to do this kind of work. Even though its mechanical this piece still has an organic feel. I could not find that image but i did find this ring by Lechtenberg:

Circle Tea pot

sterling silver, delrin

-So Young Park Sprouting I 2003

  sterling silver, sapphire, ruby

This image was in the book but i don't know if it would be conside

red a ring. It almost looks more like a bracelet. i think it's beautiful and i love the movement. I recently discovered how much i love tentacle sort of shapes in metalsmithing II. 

Glowing II sterling, fine silver, and copper wire

Another example of So Young Park's work. I know it's not a ring but i think it's really nice. I like how she was inspired by plant forms.

-Tracy Steepy Undie Ring Series 2002

  

copper, acrylic urethane

I FREAKIN LOVE THESE! I almost passed right by them when looking through my book because the picture was kind of small.

-Mecky van den Brink Dog's Faith 1994

porcelain and gold

I can't help but like this one because i love dogs. I think there needs to be more dog jewelry out there (for people!).

-Beverly Penn Locus: the spirit of place 2003

 18kt gold, oxidized sterling silver, etched

i'm fascinated with etching. I think it adds so much to jewelry. I liked that quality of this work and it reminded me of old pocket watches i saw at the MET. 

-Jen Parnell Single Eddy RIng with Pearl 2001

yay Jen is in the book! I love our grad student's work.... beautiful!!

-Ji Yeon LIm Playing 2002

  silver, acrylic, plastic, fiberboard

A set of 5 rings in a professional, neat box. The rings are silhouettes of children playing on thick bands. i'm a big fan of silhouettes.  The box makes them look even more expensive, and special. 

-Margit Hart Rings 2002

  silver, bronze, modeled cast

really nice forms, good example of casting

Design problem2: Locket project

[Creative Caffeine:] My creative process is always to look around at what is true to me. I want to further establish my own aesthetics so when people see my work they know it's mine, I started my heritage research last semester and have been going with it since. Even though there's not that much about ancient Korea than other cultures, there's still more than i can read right now. I don't have enough time to read the books out there but it's nice to know that it's out there for when i need it. I had some information from the last semester on the traditional korean dress, the hanbok.

ideas come to me anytime anywhere, sometimes even right before i go to bed so i sketch. Usually i get the most ideas right after a project is assigned and if i'm excited about it. I'm sure it's the same for most people. The best way for my ideas to surface is through sketches and reading(*BRAINSTORMING). I love to draw because it's a fast, easy way to get down all your ideas. Maquettes were a big part in my project. I had lots of sketches done but it's still not the same as holding the object in your hand. When i'm brainstorming i'm usually in an eager mood and i just want to start working. It puts me in a really good mood because i won't stress about not getting done. When the ideas are delayed or i have artist block, my project is always worse. This project came together for me with the sketches. 

[Bibliography]: 

TRADITIONAL KOREAN COSTUME Lee Kyung Ja, Hong Na Young, Chang Sook Hwan 2003 Youthwadang Publisher  wwww.globaloriental.co.uk

TRADITIONAL KOREAN DESIGNS Madeleine Orban-Szontagh 1991 Dover Publications, Inc. 

HANBOK: THE ART OF KOREAN CLOTHING Sunny Yang Holly Internationl Corp. 1998

www.flickr.com

[Design Studio]:Everything is hanging up in room 2015 on the right side board. There are images that I got inspiration from like lantern festivals, Buddhist temples, ancient architecture, chopsticks, etc. I also included some newspaper articles that i inspired me or that i thought was interesting. 

[Artist Statement]:When I first signed up to take Jewelry III I knew we would be making a locket and i was really excited for it. I knew it would be challenging because it's so technical but i was up for it. 

I wanted to continue my heritage study with this project and focus on traditional Korean culture. The idea of a family locket passed down through the women of a family really struck me. I know in many families there's a piece of jewelry that will be passed down mother to daughter whether it be an old wedding ring, locket, or special bracelet. I wanted to make a locket that could have been passed down in my biological family, an antique. Being adopted leaves many unanswered questions, no regrets but still leaves me with parts of life missed. I would be honored to receive anything passed down from my family now but when they talk about their ancestry, etc it doesn't quite fit for me. So, this locket was a very personal object for myself. 

The form was inspired by decorative women's clothing ornaments/ pendants called norigae that were typically tied to the breast-tie on the hanbok. Since it was tied close to the breast-tie, i chose for my locket to hang lower. I can still hold it in my hand and wear it at the same time. It's easy to look down on see myself which was important because it's meant for me. Some norigae were purely decorative and some held things like knives, perfumes, or needle cases. The represented the virtues of a noble Korean woman, and were thought to bring good luck.  Norigae for upper class women were passed down from one generation to the next. The pattern that I etched onto the pressings were inpsired by a lot of patterns found on armor, furniture, clothing, etc. I decided to stamp my first and middle name with my korean name first because i wanted to emphasize that this locket is in reality only mine. It wasn't passed down and isn't truly aged but could be started with me. I originally wanted the locket to be stuffed with red thread to continue my advanced studio project but it didn't quite go along with my design. I love the fact that it can't hold anything and light can pass through. I didn't want the focus on be on what was in the locket like most picture lockets but have the focus be on the object itself. The light passing through represents an empty, not whole feeling that can be felt not knowing any biological information. When open the patter flows together and has motion to it. When i saw the chain it instantly connected with me. It looked very asian to me and was delicate but still special. The links aren't too plain but also are not distracting. The patina was supposed to go along with the aged, antique look. I wanted a reddish tint to it but i ended up with an orange color with a torch patina so i ended up using liver of sulphur. 

Other notes: I pressed my samples in copper and pierced out a Korean floral pattern. The internal framing also reflected this pattern. originally had the maquettes glued together but i wanted to practice my soldering. So i soldered two pieces with internal framing and experimented with a saw dust patina. It was a blue green patina but not what i was looking for, so it was a good thing it was just on the maquette. I also pressed, cut out, and pierced another copper piece with my flowy pattern but it wasn't the same without etching. So, i learned how to etch!! I really had my heart set on etching my pattern and was so disappointed when i thought i wouldn't be able to. I think it adds a lot of depth and  uniqueness i was looking for.

Locket project

Here are some of my die forming/locket project samples. Usually with maquettes i would just super glue them together and not worry about filing, sanding, and a patina... but i went with it. I wanted to practice my soldering even more and try some patinas.

jewelry majors...

This is what happens when jewelry/metalsmithing majors get stressed...

random 80s dance party in the grad room!

design and production update

This whole project for me has been a nightmare. Everything that could go wrong has gone wrong. I can't seem to get ahead of the game and i'm not looking forward to finishing it which is bad for me! If my heart isn't in it then i know it won't be the best it can be. I'm hoping that once i get everything straightened out, i will be much happier. When we first got the assignment i was so excited to to start sketching. it was a chance to do a production line with simpler pieces than my other classes. I went with my korean heritage inspiration again but kept it simple and streamlined. It's completely different from my locket project which is nice. So, i started sketching designs in different formats, thought about the materials and colors. I thought my sketches were good but i had to eventually outsource my designs with computer renderings. That was the longest process yet for me because i am HORRIBLE at computer stuff. It took me forever to figure out how to scan in my drawings and trace over them. People helped me in the studio and it took many nights at mcdaniel's computer labs. I thought once i had them as files, it would be easy to send them out to ponoko and a steel laser cutting company... WRONG! I tried a million times to send it to ponoko and a kept getting a weird message back. Everyone tried to help me, Megan and Jan even double checked that i had done everything right. I've been emailing back and forth with someone from ponoko's customer service and they even fixed it but it still wouldn't work from my computer. They said the file they fixed worked from their end but for some odd reason i still couldn't do it. SO, last night they finally agreed to do it for me and i picked the material, color, and paid. I bought the smaller size but it was still $100. They were super nice and tried to work with me as much as they could. it was once i started freaking out about my dead line was when they submitted it for me. I thought i wasn't going to be able to use ponoko at all. As of right now, i sent the money and hopefully it's getting cut right now. *fingers crossed nothing else will go wrong with it!*

I also wanted to get steel laser cut with my designs. I made up a different file in illustrator for that process. [the file had to be exported to an autocad DWG file] I did some research and emailed some companies but one in particular got back to me super fast and was really nice. That company was superiorcutting.com. The man i have been emailing with is Jack and he's been helping me through this process. I didn't know about a lot of things that he helped me with like having to be a DWG file, etc. I haven't sent the money in quite yet because i've had to do adjustments on the designs, pick the gauge steel, what kind, etc. He gave me an estimate about $100 too. I like this company so far because he gets back to me so quickly and hasn't gotten impatient with me. I will keep you updated once i get them in the mail.

This entire project has been a constant battle with the computer but i hope it will all be worth the headaches and money. We have to put money out there to make it, right? i keep telling myself that. 

some NYC pictures

Tord boontje @ MOMA design store
Dillon and i with balloon sculpture in front of MAD

@ MOMA design store

@ MOSS

KIdrobot store

LOVE sculpture <3

Looks even cooler in real life.

everyone walking around kind of looking lost

we were all admiring the paper store's window display

Bobby's first time in N.Y.C

"When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love."

Each morning I wake up and leave my house when it's still dark or just at sunrise. It makes for some really beautiful drives, until the frsutration of a busy highway. This particular morning I thought the sky was so cool that I had to take some pictures... probably not the safest thing to do but it kept me awake. It's such a weird feeling to leave my house when it's still dark out and get home after dark or a little before. I hardly ever see daylight. At least i get to see a sky like this one when most people are still asleep.

good influence

Jan's advice to do blogs has reached people from the outside of our major... my boyfriend, Bobby and my mom have started blogs. My mom didn't really do much to hers but Bobby is using his as a virtual sketchbook like we do. He's seen me blog about my inspirations and assignments so he thought it would be cool to the same. I think blogging is a really useful tool to keep track of artists, styles, etc you like.

Here's Bobby's blog if anyone is interested: www.andbobbysaid.blogspot.com

Last day of our internship :(

[my vases! i love them and i loved making them. The one on the right actually is my favorite in person but it doesn't look as nice as the left in the photograph. Something to know for the next time is to try placing them at different angles. This image has been edited.]

Two weeks ago (9.26)was our photography lesson at our internship and Sherri finished her clocks. The Girardinis have their own photography room set up in the office of the studio. They've made a lot of it themselves and it works just as good as the professional stuff. We first set up our wall clocks and took pictures of them. Ken told us all about lighting, shutter speed, etc. It was all pretty new to me but it was a good general lesson of photography, i think anything more detailed would have gone way over my head. Ken took a bunch while we learned how to set up, place the lights, and angle white poster board. Then Sherri and I got the chance to use Ken's camera and figure out all the buttons. I brought my Nikon D40 but it didn't have a plug for the lights but Ken said it would work just fine for outdoor pictures. I think that's what i'm going to have to do without having all the gadgets. We also got to take pictures of Sherri's table clocks, my vases, and some of Julie's new sculptures. Those ended up looking really nice. I even got to get my blood diamonds necklace, and my steel sculptures photographed!
[my 6 leaf clock that i started to edit but haven't finished yet]

10.10: Today was our last day! Last week would have been it but Sherri hurt her foot and I really wanted our last day to be together. I was so sad for today!! While Sherri finished some last touches on her clocks, I finished some dragon clocks. I was actually sad to grind them because i knew i was going to miss it. I only got few done before it was time to learn how to edit our photographs. Ken is a superstar to me when it comes to technical stuff like photography and computers. He taught us how to use photoshop and edit things like dirt or nail holes in the wall, make the image sharper, etc. I had to write everything down in detail but i know i'll still forget some of it. Ken showed us how to do everything then we each got edit an image. We got a few done then Ken gave us all the files he took so we could edit them on our own. The only way to really learn something is to do it yourself!

[2nd pendulum clock that i redesigned after the 1st. This image has been edited.]

Ponoko problem

Every time I try to upload my ilustrater design onto ponoko it says this:

There is one or more elements in your .eps file that has a color. Rastering must be a solid fill that is a shade of grey. Check that your document is set up to use RGB colors and not CMYK. Please check and try again.

I don't know what to do. I even tried uploading it to photomake. I need help!

Drawing for Designers

I've been flipping through DRAWING FOR DESIGNERS since i got it not too long ago but hadn't really sat down and read the chapters. Some of the reading are hard to get through without losing my attention/ interest. This book looked a little more like a textbook than a fun book so I was sort of avoiding it. I did finally read chapter 3:TOOLS AND MATERIALS (p.72-89) and the case study on David Goodwin (p.106-107). I was surprised with how much i enjoyed the tools and materials chapter. I thought, "how interesting can pencils really be?" Turns out it had a lot of good information like an overview of the material,  descriptions, history/inventor, and how to use/helpful tips. My favorite part of the book are the pictures. I love to see other peoples sketches. I think it's fascinating how people put their ideas on paper and to see everyone's different styles. No one sketches a like and i think that's so freakin cool. 

[off the topic: i want the book "New Perspectives in Drawing"!]

 I never thought of pencils as the "most economical and eco friendly drawing implement, capable of creating a wide range of marks, which can be easily erased" (p.72). Today we do take a simple pencil (+colored and mechanical pencils) for granted, apparently back in the day pencils were "worth 

their weight in gold" because there were so few and such a high demand. I knew there were different grades of graphite pencils but i didn't know what everything stood for, etc... Now i know. The example sketch by Isao Hosoe for the pastels(oil+ chalk) was really nice. I wish my rendering sketches looked like that! Pens are normally used during the concept stage. It's done free hand with various types of pens like ball point, fiber tip, brush, or dip. Brush pens are especially popular because you have the freedom of a varied line. I think technical pens (mircon) are  more for the presentation sketches with stencils, if they aren't done on the computer. I love to work with pen, a gel or ball point for all my sketches. I never use pencil. I don't know why i wouldn't use a pencil because i could erase but I just love drawing with pens or brush with ink. Markers are nice for presentation sketches because nice ones can be blended like prisma colors (if you can afford them). Paint and ink are another one of my favorite mediums. Watercolor, gouache, or transparent drawing inks can all be used in rendering. Airbrush was a really popular technique to get photorealism but it has mostly been replaced with computer graphics. Sometimes computer drawings can be more accurate than hand drawing.... i said it, okay? David Goodwin felt the same way but i'll get to that later. 

Drawing instruments are used when the designer wants clean lines/ curves and is not rendering in the computer. It's better than free hand drawing but not as good as the computer. Drawings done with tools like a compass, dividers, rulers, protractors, squares, and curve stencil templates can make a presentation much neater and crisper. *"Computer generated curbes are now more accurate and controllable" (p.89). Another factor that can take your presentation to the next level, is making sure you use the right paper with the right mediums. There are different textures, weights, thicknesses, and qualities. Vellum paper is a favorite among engineering drawings. Drawing boards are still used in design studios where they only do CAD but they are great for brain storming too. 

I think we should all to sketch in different mediums like paint, ink, etc to experiment because something might just work for you. I love using watercolors and ink in my sketchbooks. I'm not a very neat designer, i'm more gestural. I'm working on it by using graph paper and a ruler. Also, the more i read, the more i find out how important computer skills are... I actually want to learn that stuff now (sorry for doubting Jan). 

updated skill list

sewing

quilting

drawing

painting
Welding steel (2D& 3D)
chain making (mostly steel, kind of in silver)

sawing
drilling
rivets
slots & tabs

annealing
Sweat-solder-band ring

Joint-solder

Filing

Sanding
patina- heat & liver of sulfer
raising the silver

letter stamping

Dapping (forming in the stump)-tea infuser

hammer Texture

Scribe Texture
Hard wax carving

Sheet wax fabrication

wire wax fabrication

casting bronze

die forming

decking

sinking

raising

boughing

planishing

ponoko

grinding/ finishing larger steel objects

"... living in the uneasy utopia of a model world"

[Billboard 60x40 oil on canvas 2008]
Tonight I went to an exhibition at Mcdaniel college featuring Lillian Bayley Hoover.  It was a series of paintings of dolls in American settings that "investigate the unsettling realm of international political conflict." Many Americans have been experiencing the Iraq war from a distance but as the soldiers come back, we will learn the truth, their experiences, pains, struggles, etc. The plastic dolls represent us and how the Iraq war has touched us. They are supposed to represent "individuals, living in the uneasy utopia of a model world. External signifiers suggesting a greater embattled reality interrupt the this world, imposing themselves on the viewer."(- from artist statement) It's true that most Americans don't have a close friends or family in Iraq and it does not affect them directly. My godchild's father/best friend's husband is currently in Iraq and i pray every day that he will come home safe and sound. It doesn't hit me as hard as my best friend but I see what this war has done to the family of the soldiers gone. 

I thought it was interesting to see i each painting what she painted in focus and what was left blurred. A lot of them didn't have a real obvious meaning so we spent a lot of time examining each one.

["war tv" 58x46 oil on canvas2006]

hollow forms

Once i heard that we needed to find hollow forms I immediately thought of ceramics. I went to the ceramics studio and Dan Brown let me take pictures of some work that was on the racks.

Here's a few hollow forms that wouldn't print/ or upload to flickr:

we thought this sign was hilarious

Design &Production advice from the pros

Circ Candleholders - Stacked steel rings with deckel-edge texture
9" $125, 12" $135, 15" $145 order any size or mix-um-up!

Thinking about our next project, it was a no brainer to ask the Girardinis advice about their production line.

I emailed Julie about it and told her how i thought using materials and time effiecently, keeping inventory in stock for large orders, having time management, etc were all important.

She replied:

"I'd also suggest setting up your work space so you can easily move through finishing pieces of the same size. Like when we use the stops to brace the material. Have your finishing supplies well stocked and at close hand. This is true in cutting material as well - set stops so you can do multiple cuts.

One thing I have always wanted to do is keep one bag of all the parts it takes to make one piece, then rather than take the time to measure, you can use the parts as your pattern and eliminate the need for any measuring.

Also, Ken takes digital photos of the welding set up and they are in the file of how to make each piece. It may sound stupid, but sometimes you may not remember how to put it together.

Anytime you can tumble finish a piece rather than hand finish saves time.

Basically it helps to streamline the whole process, have separate work areas for all aspects of what you need to do to the piece. IE, the welding area, the spray booth, the grinding area - even a photo area, this saves lots of time."

THANKS JULIE=) All these things work for them and their business. It may be different for all of us but it's the experiences that help us find out what will work.

reading

The Art of Innovation
INNOVATION BEGINS WITH AN EYE

The first thing that stuck in my head when reading chapter 3, was "observation fueled insight that makes innovation possible", it's "uncovering what comes naturally to people." The example that they gave was a heart machine that they made more simple after they had observed how the doctors handled it and made silent after they saw how the patients reacted. In a way it all kind of seemed like common sense factors to change.
Another good point to the chapter was that a company can't just ask and expect to always get an honest response from the customer. We must experience things for ourselves, "seeing and hearing things with your own eyes and ears is a critical first step in improving or creating a breakthrough product".*HUMAN INSPIRATION* The example given for this was the invention of the elliptical.
Some good advice that I got from the reading was to make a "bug list" of your own impressions, reactions, and questions.
When observing or studying people you can't discriminate. Chances are your consumer will range in all ages, shapes, and cultures (unless it's a kid's toy... well even then there are still big kids like my dad). Just because one person likes the product doesn't mean that someone completely different won't like it too, "the best products embrace people's differences." Example: a tooth brush- they aren;t one size fits all. Kids need smaller ones with a fatter handle, they even made the handle soft so it was more like a toy (making it more familiar and fun for the child).
In any situation people look ahead to problems that may come up. Whether it be rain at an outdoor wedding or the cap on a toothpaste tube not being a screw top. Observing people with products can show something or problems that you might now have seen. Everyone does things different. The public couldn't grasp the idea of a pop off cap because of our familiarity with the screw on tops, the company "failed to take human factors into account." So, they compromised and made it a hybrid top with a screw top but with a clean, cone shape.
Motion was another big factor. A static object can look completely different in motion whether that's a good or bad thing. It's fun to think of objects in terms of verbs not nouns. The way consumers interact with a product can change the wholoe design. It's important to think of all these things during the design process to save time and money in the end. I liked this part of the chapter, "if something is broken it CAN be fixed. Just keep your eyes open for inspiration."

quote

"This famous linguist once said that of all the phrases in the English language, of all the endless combinations of words in all of history, that "cellar door" is the most beautiful."

-DONNIE DARKO

looking ahead

I've started thinking a lot about my senior project lately. I've been so worried that i wouldn't be able to come up with something that i was passionate about. One thing Hedi Lowe talked about in Design & Production was having heart in your work. If you don't love what you make, it will never be as good as it could have been. You make your best work out of things you were inspired by and cared about.

My mom teaches at a school near a mental hospital that has new buildings and some old, abandoned ones. It's going to be torn down soon which makes me really sad because i think the buildings are beautiful. I remember seeing them since I was five years old and driving to my mom's school. I had to work for my mom the other day so I drove through the center and took pictures of some of the old buildings. Something about them really fascinates me! So, I started thinking about the what old mental hospitals used to be like, what kind of unprecedented methods they would use for treatment, etc. That got me thinking of all the crazy medical instruments used on patients. There's so many places my mind goes to when i think of all this stuff and possible projects. I'm going to try and talk to someone at the facility to see if i could get escorted around the buildings to take photographs with my nice camera. I'm hoping they will let me because I think actually getting up close and personal to the old buildings would make my projects even better.

It's kind of weird how random ideas will come to me but i'm so excited about this.

die forms

my original form sketches



Here's a few pictures from our die form critique:

Danielle sanding








Sherri scotch bright scrubbing











Sherri's forms








My forms

venting frustrations

I commute an about 2 hours everyday (at least depending on traffic). It's the hardest thing about college sometimes because I get up early and drive with rush hour and home during rush hour. I think people who have the luxury of living within walking distance or even a 10 minute drive don't appreciate it enough. Everyone asks me why I commute, do i like living with my family that much?? Honestly, living at home isn't that bad. Sure i don't get the "college experience" like everyone else, i don't party hard, or get to do whatever i want... i come home fix dinner for the family, and live by my parents rules but it's still home.
[left:bored in traffic... so why not take pictures to document my torment]
[right: (top) pissed off because i'm barely moving
(bottom) BRAKE LIGHTS! ... stopped]

If we had the financial availability then i'm sure i would live in Towson. This summer my dad was laid off from the bank, plus he worked in towson so we always car pooled together. I loved car pooling with my dad because i got to sleep in the car. =) So, not only is losing a job bad but now my family and i have to pay for my gas everyday which sucks right now.

I am so jealous of my peers that don't have the burden of commuting. I never get to go home and take naps in between classes, roll out of bed in time for class, or stay in the studio to work late at night then walk back to my apartment. It's my 4th year commuting and i'm in a way used to it but the daily grind of traffic and parking still beats me down. If i didn't commute i would have an extra 2 hours of free time every day! That blows my mind.

STORY OF MY LIFE!

MORE GIRARDINI ART

A couple that i truely admire! 2 artists that work together to make a busniess work... that's so awesome!
PICTURES FROM THEIR WEBSITE, THESE PIECES WERE IN THE GALLERY BUT THEY LOOK MUCH BETTER THAN THE ONES I TOOK AT THE SHOW:
KEN'S ART- all the photographs in his collages were taken by Ken!

Manhattan River Crossing
Photo Collage on Steel Panel with Patina
20 x 44" $1200

Travel Etiquette
Photo Collage on wood and aluminum
22 x 45" framed $1100

JULIE'S ART- i actually saw a lot of these pieces come together, it was so cool to see them from start to finish.

Washers
"A boat with many holes."
56" x 6" x6" steel $2150

Message Boat
Steel boat with square details and hand sewn sails of vellum
56" long, 30" tall, 6" deep, steel $3400

staying creative

AFTER I DID ALL THAT I COULD DO IN THE STUDIO, I TOOK MY DIE FORMS BACK TO MY BOYFRIEND'S TO FILE AND SAND. I FEEL LIKE ONCE I'M IN THE STUDIO FROM 8AM TO WHENEVER CLASS IS OVER, IT'S TIME TO LEAVE! THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH I CAN TAKE. WHEN IT COMES TO WORK I AM DEFINITELY MORE OF A MORNING/DAY PERSON THAN A NIGHT PERSON. I PHYSICALLY CAN'T WORK LATE AT NIGHT, IT JUST TURNS OUT LIKE SHIT. I DON'T KNOW HOW PEOPLE CAN STAY UP ALL NIGHT IN THE STUDIO... I THINK I WOULD ACCIDENTALLY CUT OFF MY HAND OR SOMETHING. PEOPLE THINK I'M CRAZY WHEN I'M IN THE STUDIO EVERY MORNING BUT IT WORKS FOR ME. I'M NOT GOING TO LIE AND SAY I'M NOT TIRED BUT IT'S NICE TO START A DAY BY BEING PRODUCTIVE.

I FEEL LIKE BEING SURROUNDED BY JEWELRY/ OBJECT DESIGN ALL THE TIME CAN BE INCREDIBLY OVERWHELMING!! I LOVE THE BOOKS AND DOING RESEARCH FOR CLASS BUT SOMETIMES I HAVE TO READ A BOOK THAT I CHOSE OR LOOK AT STUFF THAT DOESN'T APPLY BUT THAT I LIKE. THAT'S WHY I WAS SO EXCITED TO GET THAT JUXTAPOZ BOOK. I FEEL BAD BUT IF I DON'T DO THOSE THINGS, I THINK I WOULD GO INSANE (NOT THAT I'M ALREADY NOT). I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING TO STILL BE CREATIVE AND TAKE A BREAK FROM THE ASSIGNMENTS. FOR EXAMPLE, LAST NIGHT I WENT TO MCDANIEL'S ADVANCED STUDIO WITH MY BOYFRIEND SO HE COULD GET SOME WORK DONE WHILE I FILED AND SANDED MY FORMS. IT WAS STILL AN ART SPACE/ENVIRONMENT BUT I WAS IN A DIFFERENT SPACE! HE PAINTED AS I WORKED ON MY DIE FORMS BUT AS I GOT BORED/NEEDED A BREAK, I'D PAINT TOO (ON THE WALL). I WAS ORIGINALLY A PAINTING MAJOR SO PAINTING IS JUST A NATURAL ESCAPE FOR ME. WHEN I'M AT HOME, BOBBY AND I WILL JUST GET IN A PAINTING MOOD AND WILL PAINT FOR THE EVENING. I'M STILL BEING AN ARTIST AND MY MIND IS STILL IN A CREATIVE MODE EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT DOING JEWELRY (I KNOW I DON'T HAVE ANY EXTRA TIME!). I WISH I HAD ALL THE TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT OF THE JEWELRY STUDIO AT MY HOUSE (ONE DAY HOPEFULLY!). I THINK EVERYONE PROBABLY HAS SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE TO TAKE TIME OUT OF THEIR DAY TO DO TO STAY SANE.

AFTER THE ARTHUR HASH LECTURE, BOBBY AND I FELT SO INSPIRED AND WE WANTED TO STRIVE FOR MORE. WE WANTED TO DO MORE/ BE MORE AS AN ARTIST. SO I WAS TRYING TO THINK OF CREATIVE CAFFEINE FOR US SO PAINTING EVERY COUPLE DAYS IS GOOD BUT I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING EVERYDAY. IN HIS STUDIO CLASS THEY HAVE TO DO DAILY CHRONICLES AND SINCE HE HAS BEEN SKETCHING EVERYDAY, I SEE A HUGE PROGRESSION FROM WHEN HE FIRST STARTED. SO, I WANT TO START SKETCHING THE SAME THING EVERYDAY FOR AT LEAST 5 MINTUES AND SEE HOW I IMPROVE. I THINK BOBBY AND I ARE GOING TO SKETCH EACH OTHER SINCE IT'S THE SAME BUT SORT OF DIFFERENT EACH DAY. I'LL LET YOU KNOW HOW THAT GOES. SO FAR WE HAVEN'T STARTED YET BUT I WANT TO SOON.

new book

MY COPY OF THE NEW JUXTAPOZ ILLUSTRATION BOOK CAME THE OTHER DAY!! I WAS SOOO EXCITED BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR IT SINCE THEY DID A REVIEW ABOUT IT IN THE MAGAZINE... WHICH REMINDS ME I NEED TO REVIEW MY SUBSCRIPTION. tHIS BOOK IS A COLLECTION OF FEATURED ARTISTS FROM THE MAGAZINE WITH A LITTLE ARTICLE AND A BUNCH OF PICTURES. SOME OF THE ART IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART BECAUSE THEY PRETTY GRAPHIC/ WEIRD. I THINK THEY ARE AWESOME BUT OTHERS MIGHT NOT THINK SO. I JUST HAD TO PUT IT OUT THERE THAT I THINK THIS BOOK ROCKS! ALEX PARDEE IS IN IT TOO! I'M TOTALLY EXCITED FOR HIS BOOK TOO. IF YOU LIKE THIS KIND OF ART OR ARE A FAN OF THE MAGAZINE, IT'S DEFINATELY A BOOK TO HAVE.

die forming solution

After my meltdown (sorry jan) I got some food and sleep and woke up the next day determined to fix the problem. Since I'm in a time crunch I couldn't start all the way from the beginning. I ended up cutting of the spots that i thought would be weak and kept the original outside form. It now looks like a pillow but i'm okay with that. I don't like it as much but it will hopefully work.

[center: my die after i cut the middle part]

I still used the copper pieces i had already pressed but surprisingly i love how the first design shows up on these pressings.

[left: my progress after today's class]

[right: detail of new form]

Die forming problem

The last week or so we've been working on die forming. I first cut out the plexi glass, then the masonite board, then the 2 brass pieces. Everytime I cut something it wouldn't line up with the rest of the pieces. I don't know what i did wrong because each time i drew out the design, lined it up, and cut out the same way as the others. So each time i would have to hack parts out and file, file, file.

[left: my progress laid out before the die broke!]

When i finally finished my die, I pressed all 10 pieces of copper 1 time then my 2nd time through, the plexi glass broke where there were tiny detail pieces. I knew this die was going to be challenging (as i found out with cutting it) but i didn't think it would break! So after the plexi glass broke, the brass was bent in and the pressings didn't work at all. I thought the die and all the copper was ruined. I tried super gluing the pieces back in but it didn't work, the press is too strong for it to hold.

[right: 1st pressings]

[center: showing off where the die broke]

internship

8.12: Friday was the first time we had been back to the studio in 2 weeks since the week before was the show. It felt good to get back in there and get some work done. Our main priority was to get the 4 clocks done (2 each). We got most of them done. I have mine all welded but 1 still needs to be finished & 3 sprayed. While Sherri was cutting some stuff I packed a few clocks and did some other production stuff.

[right: 2 clocks ready to be sprayed]

The flat clock was supposed to the the double of the one i had made earlier but i changed it slightly, like adding another leaf to the top. The double to my other one is also different. I pretty much changed all my clocks but Julie said it was okay. It was because my mind kept going and more ideas kept coming out.

[left: pieces for 2 vases]

I chose to work on some vases with the left over leaf forms I had. Julie like my leaf shapes bent after they were welded. I'm really excited to have one of these!!

It's really sad to think that our internship will be over soon. I just want to work on more designs and soak up more information from the Girardinis. I feel like i've learned so much already but there's still more I want to know.

ARtist StAtemENT

For the green design project I decided to use dryer sheets. I brainstormed a lot about materials but this inspired me because i had somewhat experimented with it before. I had only touched on it but hadn't really gotten far. Dryer sheets are thrown away and end up in landfills. They can also be found in abundance in almost every home. The smell of dryer sheets remind me of my mom and home. It gives me and others a sense of security and comfort. I like how much a material can give off an emotion with everyone. There were so many possibilities with dryer sheets that I wish I had more time work on it. The dying process alone has so many variations like what kind of dye, how you apply it, how long you let it sit, and so on. I chose to use Easter egg tablets my mom had saved. I experimented with how long they sat in the dye and what would happen if i dripped it on. I also used some sewing but that ended up taking a lot longer than I had expected. Because the dryer sheets are so thin and delicate, the sewing machine would constantly get jammed or it would pucker the fabric. So, I did a little hand embroidery but that process took too long for production pieces. I liked the way it looked but India ink with a brush worked much faster. Once I had a several sheets dyed, and sewn, I started to cut out different shapes and lengths. I liked the long skinny rectangles the best. The pieces were then grommeted together then attached to an ear wire. Since I had cut down the time, I got to make more pairs of earrings than i thought. It was fun exploring color and shape combinations. I'd like for my project to put ordinary objects on a pedestal. Let the materials that you throw away get some recognition. I want people to take a closer look at the earrings and find out what the material is after touching it. It would be nice for the wearer to be able to smell it and get that comforted feeling. Green design can be fun, innovation, and unexpected.
Creative Caffeine: I worked at least ten ways of manipulating the dryer sheets with various sewing techniques (hand and machine) and dying methods. A lot of time went into different ways to use the material.
box of dryer sheets- $3

easter egg kit- $1

time: 2 hrs- brainstorming

6 hrs- experimenting

3 hrs- putting together

dryer sheet art

I honestly didn't find much out there on dryer sheet art. A lot of it was crafty things like cards or kid's projects. A lot of people thought of sewing and dying them like me but they used things like water color paint. I did not find any jewelry though! Good thing for me. So, in this picture that i found on a kids craft site, they are sponging paint onto the dryer sheets but i actually dipped mine in easter egg dye.

[right: the kids card- cute but not what i'm going for]

dryer sheets!

When I was trying to find projects made out of dryer sheets, I came across this dress several times from twisted textiles. I think it's beautiful and it really shows off the delicate qualities of dryer sheets.

fun fact

I got this little tid bit of info from a weird science blog:

"10 New Uses for Dryer Sheets
Static builds up when fabrics rub together and exchange electrons,” says Behnam Pourdeyhimi, director of the Nonwovens Cooperative Research Center at North Carolina State University, in Raleigh. “Dryer sheets contain positively charged ingredients that are released by heat and movement, such as the tumbling motion of the dryer. These ingredients bond loosely to any negatively charged fabric surface, such as a piece of clothing with static cling, neutralizing the charge and acting as a lubricant.”

Use Dryer Sheets to:
1. Freshen smelly shoes

2. Remove static from clothing, hair, TV screens, and computer monitors

3. Clean pet hair from the floor or furniture

4. Replace a sachet. Keep a dresser drawer smelling fresh

5. Loosen caked-on food from a pan. Place a fresh sheet in the bottom of a dirty pan, fill with lukewarm tap water, and let sit in the sink overnight

6. Tackle suitcase and gym-bag odors

7. Prevent old books from smelling musty when in storage. Stick a dryer sheet between the pages

8. Wipe up sawdust after working in the garage

9. Prevent thread from tangling when sewing

10. Dust venetian blinds. Close the blinds, then wipe up and down

ARTHUR HASH lecture

ARTHUR HASH came to Towson University Thursday night to do a lecture on this alternative methods and materials. I know everyone in my classes had been really excited for him to talk at our school. Jan called him the "poster child of object designers today". Check out his website and blog!! So, i took a lot of notes during the lecture but i thought i'd share a few points:

-in the beginning when he was making brass vessels they started to take on human forms but with minimal abstractions, art on the body

-then there was the "frozen moment in time" theme

-when he experimented with pattern design he was also questioning the value of jewelry for example: smashing silver against concrete for texture

-started to move away from metal to find alternative materials -> Hot Glue Neckpiece 2005, he said it was cool to see how different materials reacted with the body

-pushed the envelope by working a lot with cast polyurethane *non traditional metals & jewelry* ->bracelet stamp *instant jewelry (VERY clever!)

~polyurethane puddle bracelets, "moment in time" idea continued

-*Happy accident coffee stain brooch (powder coated steel)

-he talked about an installation that he did -it was a bunch of plastic tablecloths that he had filled partially with helium, sealed the edges, so they stood up on the ground. The idea was the static electricity would build up and as people came into the room the forms would lean toward you or follow you around. I think it's sort of playing on the idea of people are afraid to touch art at shows and art interacting with its audience. I thought that was so funny and with the way he described it, we all couldn't stop laughing

-works with/and taught digital media, it's less toxic, less time consuming, but objects are still designed by him (used Rhino and a dimension SST 3d printer)

-*one of my favorites: 350 BROOCH INSTALLATION-silhouettes from digital pictures cut out of steel and painted. He said the forst 50 were hand cut but then the rest was water jet cut. I love the way he displayed them on the wall. He said he hoped the piece would sell and everyday that person could pick a different brooch to wear off the wall.

*ICONS: (pink chainsaws, grenade and skull brooch) everyone translates icons differently

-PACKAGING: used stickers, I love how his packaging and displays incorporate elements from previous work as well as the new stuff. Plus it looks freakin awesome!

-Snap out rings- *making your own jewelry*

-using materials that people would normally throw away (moss, old shoes, ping pong paddles)

-He stressed that the internet is a huge source that everyone could find helpful. It's a place where everyone can instantly get comments or critiques (that's why he puts everything on flickr or on his blog). It's a great way to find out what's new and the next thing. *Everything is online!

So, I thought it was cool how he hung out with Jan that day, gave the lecture, and came to our after party to talk even more! I thought he was hilarious and a really good speaker. I wanted to hear more even though it was late and i'm usually dead by then. I think his work is clever and innovative, i kept thinking in my head as he was talking, "how did he think of that!?" I'm so glad he came to towson to speak! Hopefully i'll get to see him at one of the shows or SNAG and ask more questions.

zenith gallery show

Getting ready for a show must be so hectic. I don't know how anyone does it but i hope to one day find out. These pictures were taken in the studio the week before the show when they were doing finishing touches on pieces, etc. This is one of my favorite boats that Julie did. I loved it. She made this handmade book thing that's on top with all sorts of old photos of children in factories. I actually saw a bunch of them in History of Photography. The photos in this piece have also been altered and script was added to the backgrounds (the same script that was patinaed to the outside of the boat). I think it's beautiful! BUT it was behind the sign in book at the gallery so i almost missed it! I think it deserved it's own pedestal or something.

Notice Ken in the background working hard.

I think it's amazing how well Ken and Julie work together. It's like they have strong points where the other may had weak ones. So, it's the perfect match to brainstorm, problem solve, and come out with a beautiful product. They help each other with their projects so in the end the piece is better than it would have been. It's like a mini-design critique that includes Dave every once in awhile.

I also thought it was neat to see the pieces being made and in the studio setting then placed in the gallery.

Singular VISION

Meet the Ken and Julie Girardini :)Last Friday was the opening reception of the SINGULAR VISION show at the Zenith gallery in DC. Sherri and I went to see Julie and Ken Girardini (who we do our internship with). There were also two other artists in the show. On the card it said about the show...

"The outstanding artists in this show create art that stands out in 3dimensions with their singular vision that inspires them to manipulate material, color, light, and viewer perception. Working with canvas, metal, yarns mesh, and mixed-media, Susan Klebanoff, Joan Konkel, Julie, and Ken Girardini stamp their pieces with an unmatched ingenuity that brings them together for this exhibition at Zenith Gallery."

I'd just like to express how proud I was to go there and say that Sherri and I were their interns. We appreciated even more every tiny detail about the pieces and knew how hard they had worked on everything. When we were walking toward to the gallery and i was just amazed at how crowded the streets were and how cool the area was. I really haven't been to D.C. much (mostly when I was a kid) so I was kind of in awe. I was like that last semester when we went on a field trip for a few hours. I would love to spend a day in D.C! The only thing that sucks about it is getting there. The metro wasn't that bad but i wouldn't do it alone. Luckily, Sherri has a good sense of direction and has confidence that she knows where to go so i simply follow. =) [right: Sherri on MISSION: find a resturant for pee break. left: me, ken, and sherri in front of 2 of ken's pieces]
The Giardini's work in the show was so unique compared to the other things. Unforunately, some of the work was placed in odd places, like above the door way or in the corner, etc (not their fault). I was like a proud mother who couldn't stop telling people how good it was and how beautiful things were. I took so many pictures of the pieces but i think there's way too many to post so i'll have to limit it:

C. Greg Wilbur

"Red Bird in NZ"

In the metalsmithing II class we will be raising and forging metal and i'm super excited=) I really enjoyed the sinking technique in Jewelry I for the tea infuser. There are lots of amazing metal forming artists out there like C. GREG WILBUR. I LOVE his work. I think the "Blood triangle" and "red bird in NZ" sculptures are beautiful!

"Dippers"

ARTIST'S STATEMENT:

"Raising is an ancient metalsmithing process that stretches malleable metal into striking contours. Using forged steel hammers, open and closed forms are created from sheets of bronze, brass, copper and silver. " -www.velvetdavinci.com

"Blood Triangle"