3D Printed Sun Pendant: Remodel

I wanted to improve on my last project by making the circles on the sun thicker for it to print more clearly. 

3D Printed Sun Medallion

For this personal project I wanted to use Tinkercad in order to create jewelry. I am considering fiber as my major next year, therefore I wanted to experiment with how I could incorporate the 3D printer into my pieces. These medallions are meant to either be worn as a pendant or resized into earrings. My one regret for this project however, is that the patterns on the individual medallions weren't printed as visible as I wanted them to. To fix this mistake, I would resize the patterns to become higher for it to show more depth for the next print. 

Egg Drop Bunker

The goal of this project was to create a 3D printed egg bunker that would protect the egg from a 6 feet drop while being the lightest it possibly can. Caroline and I decided to focus more on protecting the egg rather than how much it weigh. We knew we wanted the egg to be tightly suspended by rubber bands. We accomplished this by creating two layers. The outer shell which was modeled after a icosahedron which has twenty triangular sides. We then carved out the triangles and only kept the outlines. The inner layer was a typical two piece egg shell with 3 hooks on each piece. We then tied the rubber bands around the icosahedron and attached it to the hooks of the inner layer, suspending it in the middle of the icosahedron. Although, the egg didn't survive the fall perfectly, our bunker managed to protect the egg very well with only a few cracks. If we were able to improve on this project, we would've add padding in the inner layer to protect the egg even further. 

Motion Project Take Away

I came into this class expecting almost anything could happen. However, my mindset was still set on the stereotypical classroom art setting of sitting around and creating a completed piece. My expectations went out the window as soon as Chris introduced us to a new material, bamboo. I've seen and used them my whole life, but actually working with them was a different story. The limited flexibility presented its own challenges. In the beginning I did not know the limitation of the bamboo, therefore I snapped a lot of them. This caused me to become very frustrated and wanted to give up. However after working with the bamboo for a few projects, I began to work with the bamboo instead of forcing it. Knowing when the breaking point of the bamboo became almost second nature. This taught me a valuable lesson of knowing what your materials are capable of. It is far easier to work with the materials than against it. The bamboo also helped me visually, by presenting a physical piece of work that shows the motions. The loops, line weight, and directions of the lines all play a major role in helping the composition of the piece flow. Details became more important and vital. Small details such as strings dangling from the bamboo could change the entire piece. Working with a three dimensional object also helped me see the importance of perspective. Viewing the piece from different angles completely changes the mood and motions of the piece. I’ve become more aware of the motions and movements within my own artwork. I’ve incorporate color contrasts and lines to guide the eye toward the most important part of the work. Chris wanted us to experiment and take risks throughout this entire project, and because of this I’ve personally felt that I’ve stepped out of my comfort zone more. Asking “what if” and then forcing myself to go through with it instead of just letting it become another random thought. The project has also taught me to let go of my perfectionist views. I don’t have to make a piece pretty. The pressure of having grades placed on my project disappeared. This allowed me to experiment more, to take more risks, and overall to just enjoy myself while working. My peers became an enormous source of inspiration. From just simply walking around the classroom and looking at everyone’s work to class critiques, I was able to push my artwork further than if I had worked on it all alone. I’ve learned so much more than I could’ve hope for within the first week, and I can’t wait for what’s to come.

Olivia Thompson and Hung Le : Bamboo Project

Olivia and I wanted to show the physical motions of the wind and how it affects the surrounding. We accomplished this by using fishing lines tied to the bamboo acting like puppets on a string. The motion then radiates outward from the fishing lines to the bamboo and finally to the surrounding areas. 

Bamboo Interpretation of Ballet Dance

The piece is inspired by the elegant yet very sudden movements of the ballet dancer. It starts from the bottom with loops and crescent shaped waves demonstrating the short hops and glide of the ballet dancer across the floor. The movements are then entangled in the middle with various loops and sharp lines to express the sudden motions created. Finally the energy and movements of the piece is released outward in an explosive motion toward the top right of the piece expressing the final movements of the dance. This piece is also meant to convey a sense of stress and urgency, because the dancer's movements mimic those of a marionette. Therefore in many areas within the piece the loops are bound by string imitating those of a marionette. 

Ballet Dance Movement And Motion Pieces

 Mimics the twirls and short hops across the floor of the ballet dancer.

Demonstrates the various movements of the ballet dancer such as arm circles, twirls, and hops.

The dancer's movements mimicked those of a spider or a marionette on a string. The movements were very graceful, however they also had very sudden stops which create the sharp edges. the circle in the middle represents the center of attention of the dance, the chair. 

Inspired by the ambiguous growth pattern of a plant with the potential to move in any direction searching for sunlight. 

 The movements created in this piece is radiating from a focus point, the middle. With the lines going in various directions outward, however those lines are contrasted with the curves moving inward towards the center.

The two sides contracts each other while still creating movement and balance. The left hand side has circles that never crosses, but instead laid on top of each other. Unlike the right side which overlaps.