12.29.2010

Wood/Music Sculpture


Final Sculpture project was to interpret a piece of music using wood as the medium.

Music: Spaghetti Western - P.Sellers

The music has discordant qualities with multiple instruments joining in as the music spiraled. Ending with a solo piano echoing softly. I was successful in creating a piece with a visual connection to the music.
My piece was constructed from collected branches, a block of lumber, and toothpicks. One large curved and swirling branch was trimmed of extra branches and attached to the vertical standing block. The block of lumber was cut at an angle at the base to activate the work. This effectively addressed the discordant nature of the music and solved the issue of balancing the weight of the large branch. The large branch was attached to the block using glue and shims created from twigs. The twisting curve in the main branch represents the main melody of the music and creates movement as it spirals down to meet the block. The block grounds the work creating balance while representing the contrast of the flowing melody and the discordant sounds. Smaller twigs were debarked, pinned and glued to the bottom of the large branch at the transition point of the block and branch. The branch grows from the block and from this meeting of block and branch the smaller stripped branches sprout. The white color of these branches contrast with the main branch. Although the line and shape are repeated in these smaller branches they represent a shift and growth in the music as instruments are layered. Carved toothpicks were inserted at the points in the large branch where branches were trimmed. This again created contrast giving a thorny appearance to the flowing branch and emphasizing the discordance. Finally, branches were sliced into round disks. These were grouped together as if floating and climbing from the ground creating repetition and variety.




Yes. It was large and unweildy.



Detail


Detail


Detail


Spaghetti Western website: http://spaghettiwesternmusic.com/

12.11.2010

Drawings: Using color

We had to use color for darks and lights. Interesting and a greater challenge.

12.09.2010

Drawings: Face (2 versions)

This is my favorite piece from my drawing course. Based again on a black & white photograph. Medium is ink. The second version includes another piece I was working on. My instructor walked by and saw them drying on a board and liked the two oriented as they are below. Not sure what I think it is interesting but I really like the face all by itself.

Man's Face

Two drawings together. Lower one is upside down.

12.08.2010

Drawings: Outdoor Observations

Our last day of class was spent doing observational drawings outside. We needed to include foreground, middle ground and background. I used powdered charcoal and vine charcoal.

Loring Park #1


Loring Park #2

12.07.2010

Drawings: Girl in Window

This drawing was from a photograph. We used powdered and vine charcoal so I had to erase to create highlights. This medium was one of my favorites. I will revisit it again in tomorrows post.

12.06.2010

Drawings: Skeleton Face and All White Still Life

Two drawings posted today. First was a favorite of my instructor. We had to use different items to create different elements of a face with out being too obvious about it. I used a skeleton, sea shell, corn cob, a piece of twine and a stick. The media is india ink.

The second drawing was of an all white still life. Nice enough but not really successful. I did a lot of blending and I would like to experiment on this without using the blending technique.

Skeleton Face


All White Still Life

12.03.2010

Drawings: Man walking a dog pulling a wagon carrying a plant

This assignment was fun. Had to draw our interpretation of a man walking a dog pulling a wagon carrying a plant. This is the dog looking back at the man and the reflection of the scene in the dogs eyes.

Man walking a dog pulling a wagon carrying a plant.

This assignment while necessary and informative it was a challenge and pain. A huge still life was set up and we had to choose a section to draw. The object was to draw the spaces between the objects. If you accurately draw the space between or negative space than you will end up with the object.

Observational Drawing

12.02.2010

Drawings: Trees

Working with ink and white tempura paint. The goal was to create the shadows and highlights.

12.01.2010

Drawings: Angel Skeleton?

For this assignment we had to build a sculpture by wrapping an object with paper and rope. We then had to draw the sculpture. I chose the medium of ink and white tempura paint. This is what I came up with...I think it's pretty sweet!