And we're off...

The first round of projects for the semester have come and gone with very mixed results. In both my studio classes this semester, I am exploring where my art is going to take me for the next three semesters. To be honest I have been extremely nervous to start off this year because I have felt as if I am expected to do and be more than I have in the past. Let me explain, with only a few short months till I graduate (15 for those of you not counting) I am expected to be creating a body of work to go into my Senior show at the end of my final semester. And if that wasn't crazy enough, I am an upper classman now with very few people ahead of me in experience (especially ceramics), and I am expected to lead by example and show dedication and purpose in my work. Dedication I have down, but there really isn't very much purpose in my work as a whole.

So, now to the first round of projects. In Ceramics, I was a little ashamed  with my final pieces. I really don't know where this idea came from and I really don't know what I was thinking looking back of the pieces themselves. I created a series of vessels based off of playground equipment (pictures to come). The equipment itself is drawn into the pieces as a low relief and the figure who is on the pieces is three denominational and is being pulled off the piece.

Neat concept in theory, my results were, ehhh. There were to many design flaws with the very concept of the piece. The body didn't necessarily flow well with the piece and simply looked bizarre. On the swing vessel I couldn't even etch the head onto the pot without it looking weird. The vessel ended up hindering me and the only way this would have worked right is if I nixed the vessel and simply stuck with the figure and playground equipment ..but by doing that it would have gotten rid of the whole concept of 2D to 3D. So that whole idea is being thrown out the window. Maybe glaze will help pull it together as a coherent series...doubtful. Back to the drawing board...

Clay: 1
Teresa: 0

In Printmaking, my luck was a little better. I took an idea I had sketched over the summer and turned it into a beautiful linoleum print! (For the newbies to printmaking out there, Linoleum is a relief process on a soft yet durable material that is easy to cut. Similar to wood cutting, this process acts like a stamp that you can print over and over again. Whatever you cut will be the color of the paper, and whatever you don't cut is the color of the ink. What you do is cut out the image you want, roll ink on top, run it through the press and WALA! A beautiful print!) I choose a paper tinted slightly grey and the ink was a luscious blue that really sets the mood of the piece.

Catherine Prose, my printmaking professor said this was my best piece yet. I guess I set the bar a little to high for this semester. Looks like I have a lot of work to do!

Squishables!

So I am obsessed with the company called Squishables. They are a company that sells big round stuffed animals. I know it sounds corny but I really like this group because they are constantly coming up with new animals you can buy and have a companions! This is great for a college students who can not have very many animals of their own.

Well I am fans of them on Facebook so I can keep up with all of their latest designs and you wouldn't believe what I saw the other day! They were asking for submissions from fans to create your very own Squishable!! We simply submit the design we have in mind and if chosen then our Squishable will be massed produced and sold on their website!!!! (There is also the prize money, gift card and recognition for designing the squish, but no one is counting that part of the deal....except a poor college student) Of course, I jumped on the chance to show off my skills!


This design posed a very interesting challenge. Not only would I have to come up with a unique squishy, I need to learn the dreaded computer program Illustrator! Side note: For those of you who don't know me, I am the least technologically coherent person you will ever meet! They fact that I have a blog and a website under construction is a really big deal for me (and that is all thanks to AJ)!! So I buckled down and worked on some tutorials and behold I actually learned something! My design isn't half bad if I don't say so myself.

The design for my squishable came from the newly discovered species, the Poodle Moth. This little bug was discovered in Venezuela by Zoologist Arthur Anker of Bishek. This little bug has been taking the internet by storm! Well who could resist such a cute little fuzz ball.

So with the skill I need and the idea in hand I set off to make a Squishable! I still have some design flaws to work out, but it will be ready for submission soon! My design is on the left and the cute real life Poodle Moth is below!

OH!!! I almost forgot! To win the contest I need you to vote for me. Look up Squishables on Facebook and become a fan. The designs must be in by the 14th and then the voting will begin!
Wish me luck!