Reflections on my Final Project
This piece is made of a combination of solid-colored paper cups and patterned dixie cups. This process overall pushed me further out of my comfort zone than any of the other pieces that we have done this semester. The combination of pattern and color in the cups really pushed my ability to find balance and keep the piece from feeling too chaotic. I feel like the choice of the analogous color scheme keeps the overall feel of the piece happy and friendly without inducing anxiety. The choice to create movement by changing heights and colors throughout the piece I feel was relatively successful. The variations in the “flowers” (or “squids” as the class called them) create a lot of interest. Given more time, space and funds…I’m not sure there is much else I could or would do to this particular piece, but I would like to explore other avenues that I could go with cups of different sizes and textures. For me, the most challenging part of this assignment was pushing so far out of my comfort zone and creating a piece that just bordered on insane. I generally tend to be more conservative in my work and I learned that I can push outside of that comfort zone and the work will still be well received by my peers.

Reflections on the Semester

When looking back at my initial goals for the semester, and thinking about the progress I’ve made toward them, I have to say that I am really proud of the strides I have taken. I feel like I have gotten a better understanding of the kinds of work that can be developed using 3-D media. The artist research over the semester was really interesting and helped me to further understand my personal aesthetic. I am clearer on the kinds of work I really enjoy creating and can see clearly how 3-D design can fit easily into my ideas and concepts. Finally, I do believe that this class has allowed me to move further out of my comfort zone than any other class I have taken to this point. I’ve really thought about concepts and the kinds of emotion that I want to draw out of people viewing my work. I’m excited to see where my work goes with this newfound confidence. My goals have not really changed, rather they have been reinforced and I’m looking forward to pushing my creativity and aesthetic as I move into sculpture I in the Spring semester.

The three sculptors that I learned about this semester that had the greatest impact on my work and my thought process are Elizabeth Turk, Tara Donovan, and Aurora Robson. Reading about these three women artists and seeing the variety of paths they took to get where they are is inspiring. By exploring the different works done by a variety of artists, my understanding of my own aesthetic is becoming clearer.

I think the thing that surprised me the most this semester was the plaster. I really enjoyed the freedom I felt in working with that medium. The process of carving was extremely relaxing to me and I found it to be almost soothing to sit and carve and just see where the plaster took me. Even when the piece broke, I was really unphased - there was not real stress with that project and I loved it.

Honestly, the thing I am often most nervous about in these classes is being able to connect with the other students and “fit in” to the class. Being a non-traditional older student in a room full of very young artists is nerve-wracking for me every semester. I was surprised at how open they were to my presence in the room and I really enjoyed the conversations we had about art and life. Every semester I realize that the art department, in general, is one of the most welcoming and inclusive departments and I am thrilled to be a part of the group!