Soap Sculpture

 Raccoon Soap Sculpture

Medium: Soap

Dimensions: 4 1/4" x 1 3/4" x 2 1/2"

Beginning stage of sculpting

Mostly finished sculpture

Two soap sculptures with figurine

The more successful sculpture

"On Longing"

"The body is the primary mode of perceiving scale."

This image seemed to represent the quote; everyday, we see dozens of new bodies and faces. We use the body as a norm for determining sizes and for our brains to understand a relatable comparison tool. In this image, the body is the main focus and the mountains and landscape tower in the back. This quote allowed me to sort of step back and really think about how our natural world is in relation to ourselves.

"Capacity of objects to serve as traces of authentic experience."

I found this window while exploring Gatlinburg, TN with my best friends. This image reminded me of the quote because when I think of "capacity of objects," I think of fullness and many of that object. I was drawn to include this image because each window is completely full with cups; not a single window is empty. If one was empty, the image would be completely transformed to tell a different story. The experience of looking at the picture would be different and would create a focal point. Having all of the windows full of different colors and shapes of mugs and cups creates a balanced feel.

"The souvenir reduces the public, the monumental, and the three-dimensional into the miniature, that which can be enveloped by the body."

I found this miniature fairy garden out during a walk in gardens in South Carolina. It was such a unique thing to see; there were miniature doors attached to the base of tree trunks and small ceramic mushrooms spread out on the ground. When I read this quote, I immediately thought of something small that we are not accustomed to seeing, especially with the door. We are accustomed to larger, life-sized doors in which we can walk through when this door was about the size of my hand.

"To have a souvenir of the exotic is to possess both a specimen and a trophy."

This image displays an object in which a creature resides in yet also is something we admire and sometimes collect. My mother and I share a passion for collecting seashells and we always scour the beaches to find the most beautiful and unique shells. It is an accomplishment for us to be able to add new shells to our collection, which would definitely be considered a trophy. The uniqueness of each shell is captivating, as no two are the same.

"...the nostalgic input of the handmade in a 'plastic world.'"

This image was taken in an old coffee shop in Asheville, NC. It was adorned with hundreds of different antiques and I was drawn to photograph some of the elements. I like the way that the objects are placed in a box and are not just sitting on a shelf or hanging directly on the wall. It sort of places them in their own "world" and provides a nostalgic experience with the vintage camera, bottles, and picture.

Balsa Wood & Paper Sculptures

Balsa Wood Sculpture

Materials: Balsa wood, wood glue, and pins

Dimensions: 8 1/2" x 5" x 6"

 For my balsa wood sculpture, I used wood glue to act as the base to hold up the wood and a place for the tiny wood shavings.

 I used pins to hold the small bits of wood that I shaved off by using the utility knife. I carved a smooth and wavy design into each of the longer sticks of wood. I used repetition in the use of small, rounded strips of wood.

 The purpose of this sculpture is to use the glue and pins to hold the wood in a way that each piece looks like it is balancing on each other in a more natural way. I was inspired by nature and organic materials when sculpting this.

Paper Sculpture

Materials: Paper, balsa wood, clear packing tape, and pins 

Dimensions: 10 1/2" x 4 1/2" x 7 1/2"

 I used paper in square formations to act as the base and sides of my sculpture. The paper is surrounding a wooden support and small wooden sculpture within the overall piece. The clear packing tape was used to create a "window" effect on the sides and bottom. I enjoyed playing with symmetry and balance with this sculpture, but also use of a focal point.

 The final products:

Completed sculptures

Masking Tape Shoes

Masking Tape Shoes

Materials: Masking tape

Dimensions: 4" x 4 1/2" x 10 1/2"

Mock paper shoe

 For the right shoe, I added the parts of tape as I went. I learned that for the left shoe, it was easier to create all the pieces separately and assemble the pieces at one time.

 I created the sides of the shoe by doubling the tape and then used a hole punch to make the loop holes for the shoe laces.

Textured bottom of the shoe

 I used the bone and carving tools to create the texture of the shoe. The Xacto knife was used to cut out some of the tape to add more dimension.

Near-finished left shoe

Textured bottom

 

I used the carving tool to create the stitching texture on the sides of the shoes. 

Touch: The Skin Has Eyes

 

"What is a sense of one's self? To a large extent, it has to do with touch, with how we feel... Not that our sense of self is necessarily accurate. Each of us has an exaggerated mental picture of our body... Touch fills our memory with a detailed key as to how we're shaped. A mirror would mean nothing without touch... But, above all, touch teaches us that life has depth and contour; it makes our sense of the world and ourself three-dimensional." -Diane Ackerman

I chose this particular section because it is accurate how differently we view ourselves and how we have a different view than what others see. I wanted to demonstrate different perspectives with the mirror. The water was used to show the distortion that we sometimes see and the depth that our minds are capable of seeing. While taking the picture, it was interesting to see the difference between what I was seeing without the mirrors, the mirror on the left, and the mirror on the right. They contain the same content, yet a slight change in perspective changes the image itself. What we touch gives us a sense of what something looks like.

Touch: Hair

"Hair deeply affects people, can transfigure or repulse them. We can change its color ad texture when the mood strikes us, but in time it will return to its original form..." -Diane Ackerman

I chose this section because we do not realize how much hair really can affect us, as it is something we are used to seeing everyday. I never thought much about how hair can change the way we feel until my mother endured radiochemotherapy. Her main concern throughout the entire process was losing her hair. I found this strange as there were many seemingly more important concerns during the treatment, but it made me realize how we feel about our hair affects our self-esteem and the way we view others. We make certain assumptions about others based on their hair style or color. I composed and created this image to demonstrate the variety of textures and colors that hair can be.