Another one bites the dust!

The completion of this semester marks ONE FULL YEAR of attending the Academy of Art University consistently at half-time. Being a full-time employee, mom of three kiddos (the youngest just turned 9 months!) an artist AND student has been quite the adventure thus far.

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I was not sure what exactly to expect from this semester. I took a Sculpture class and a perspective based class called Sketching for Communications.

Sculpture was amazing!

Project 1: Wax-to-Bronze - I greatly enjoyed working with wax to create a figure. After she was complete, I shipped her off to San Fran to be cast in AAU's bronze foundry. She has since been returned and I have started the patina process!

Project 2: Clay - I created a clay replica of a coyote skull cast. After I created a likeness I then was able to put my own spin on it. I really enjoyed creating the additional elements of this sculpture. I haven't worked in self-hardening clay before and it did not have grog (small dried chunks of clay) so it was VERY wet and mushy feeling while I was working it. In the end I am most proud of these two projects. This second project has spurred SO many ideas for future projects and I am so excited to take this concept and develop it into my own style and concepts.

Project 3: Soapstone - This sculpture was a bit challenging for me in that I felt that I was running out of some enthusiasm. I started off with an awesome idea that grew and grew and GREW. Which is a very common thing for my project ideas to do.. Until I realized, I needed to simplify my idea. There were too many elements, not enough surface space and my medium did not match my desired outcome. So I settled. I rarely like to settle. I feel like each piece that I create should be something that I am extremely proud of and ready to find a home or be put on display. I do not feel that way with this piece. Did I enjoy myself? Yes. Am I moderately satisfied with my craftsmanship? Yes. Could I do better if I were to repeat the assignment? Absolutely! So this means that there will be more sculpting with soapstone from me in the future!

Sketching for Communications was... well, tedious!

I must say that I have never sketched so slowly in my LIFE. BUT I also would never have been able to get the clean crisp lines that I was able to get without taking the time to follow the process. Each and every single line meant that I had to use my grid ruler and carefully make sure that mark was in the correct spot. It felt so tedious at first, and after a while almost mindless. Once I got the hang of the important aspects for drawing in perspective utilizing vanishing points, it was amazing how much easier it was to develop a space.

I have avoided depicting landscapes, city-scapes and building interiors (except for bird's eye view) because I was just not familiar with the rules of perspective and dimensional proportions. I am so glad that I pushed myself to take this class, I would never have been able to accomplish what I have without the instruction and practice that this class "encouraged"/required for completion.

So here is to one more semester down, one full year down and many more to go (approx 7) until I reach my goal of MFA in Fine Art.