After being way behind schedule from my portrait bust and slab house, I decided I actually would take it a little easy on myself with the second Sculptural Response. And I actually did this time! As my inspiration, I chose the movie Step Up. I had watched it for the first time when I first started planning for this project, and I found it interesting that it took place at an art institute. I watched people jam out, having fun, and using their talents to have an amazing time together. And though it would have been idealized with good lighting and perfectly choreographed dances, I couldn’t help but think that that was what I wanted from my college experience. I wanted to be around people who have a genuine passion for what they do. Hopefully I’ll find that at CalArts.
I’ve always been fascinated by dancers, and the intensity of their career. Injuries, the mental pressure, and the way in which people just push themselves past such obscure boundaries reminds me of what I do myself with my art. Going to CalArts means I’ll be meeting many dancers next year, and that I’ll get to design for them. Such pain and hard work creates such beauty, and that beauty was what I wanted to portray.
I actually hadn’t completely finished the sculpture, but when I made the arms they were so fragile that I couldn’t even put plastic over them. My intention was to let it dry out just enough so that I could put plastic over it, but I forgot that I’d left it out. I came back and it was too dry to really do anything about it, but once it was glazed and painted I couldn’t tell that much. That’s why she has a club hand and a half-deformed head and a super creepy face. One arm ended up breaking off anyway, but I just glued that back on. Things breaking don’t even surprise or sadden me anymore--I’ve gotten used to it. I didn’t really know what to expect with the glaze, because it rarely turns out how I want it to, but I actually got the intended effect with the Blue Rutile glaze this time!
I’ve always been fascinated by dancers, and the intensity of their career. Injuries, the mental pressure, and the way in which people just push themselves past such obscure boundaries reminds me of what I do myself with my art. Going to CalArts means I’ll be meeting many dancers next year, and that I’ll get to design for them. Such pain and hard work creates such beauty, and that beauty was what I wanted to portray.
I actually hadn’t completely finished the sculpture, but when I made the arms they were so fragile that I couldn’t even put plastic over them. My intention was to let it dry out just enough so that I could put plastic over it, but I forgot that I’d left it out. I came back and it was too dry to really do anything about it, but once it was glazed and painted I couldn’t tell that much. That’s why she has a club hand and a half-deformed head and a super creepy face. One arm ended up breaking off anyway, but I just glued that back on. Things breaking don’t even surprise or sadden me anymore--I’ve gotten used to it. I didn’t really know what to expect with the glaze, because it rarely turns out how I want it to, but I actually got the intended effect with the Blue Rutile glaze this time!