I’m looking forward to continue working in my studio during the fall and continuing taking some of the ideas I explored this summer even further!
Final post
To finish my last piece I extended the base to capture all of the shadows created by the different layers. I cut a large clear acrylic piece and attached rice paper to the surface.
Central Rotation 3.0
This week I created a third and final version of the central rotation piece. I opened up the layers even more and switched the speeds so that the top layer moves the fastest and the bottom layer the slowest.
Central Rotation 2.0
Today I began re-working the central rotation gear system, I created new pieces with a more simple, open layout. I also created a base to hold the motor and allow the whole piece to sit on a surface rather than hanging off the end.
New studies
Today I worked on creating another piece using the rice paper and the wire brush effect on acrylic. I designed a piece that would feature all three materials.
I also experimented with using the laser cutter to create a series of overlapping grids within a circle. I created two small shapes within the grid that I filled with a one way mirror, you can both see a reflection and see the single grid behind the shape.
Paper experiments
In the past week I’ve finally had a chance to experiment with the Japanese paper I ordered a couple weeks ago. The first piece I made also addressed questions of dimensionality, something I had been experimenting with several weeks ago. I created a small piece of the sculpture that includes three identical squares, each protruding at an angle.
The second piece repeats several rectangular forms, in which I explored emphasizing the overlaps.
I also spent a day re-organizing my studio, I built some more shelves and was able to spread my work out a little bit more.
After creating new shelves I did several wood surface and acrylic tests. I created raster effects, stained, spray painted, and used a knife to cut up the surface. I also used a wire brush to scratch up the acrylic in a few different directions.
More Irregularity
I continued working on irregularity today, I created two pieces, one with layers like some of my previous work and another following in the same vein as the work from yesterday, featuring fractured pieces with acrylic in the negative space.
Break the rules
This week so far I’ve been focusing on adding more irregularity into my work.
I was inspired by the small detail below to create a piece that incorporated some of the themes I have been working on, while taking the concept of negative space a step further.
Central Axis Rotation
Over the last few days I’ve been working on creating a gear system that allows four layers to rotate from the same point at different speeds.
New Gear System
Today I started a new gear system. It includes four separate layers which move independently and are each connected in a series of cylinders. This gear system will allow multiple forms to rotate on the same axis at different speeds.
Motorized Gears
The last two days I created a gear system that connects to a small motor so that it rotates on its own.
Gears 2.0
Today I continued working on the gears, I created a transparent gear system and three forms that overlap.
Gears
Today I started working on incorporating gear systems. I created a transparent series of gears and attached three small forms on top to explore how motion could add to my ideas.
Projections
I spent most of today experimenting with projecting the pieces I had been working on using a projection box I built in the fall. I eventually discovered the best camera settings to capture the images, I plan on printing a few of them onto canvases.
I was also able to complete a piece I had been working on the previous week combining the rotated layers and acrylic.
New Materials
Today I experimented with completely new materials, aluminum mesh, and lenses. I created one prototype using each, while trying to continue down the path of one of my previous, stacked prototypes.
More Shadows
Today I created a new prototype following in the same vein as yesterday in terms of trying to replicate shadows. This time I created four ‘shadows’ at different angles.
I also created another hybrid piece, this time intermingling the two types of shapes rather than separating them.
I also did some experimentation with tolerances and rings.
Replicating Shadows
Today I tried a piece with two parts, one part being an angled version of the first part to replicate the shadow. I attached this piece to a wall in my studio and experimented with a single light source and creating shadows with it.
I also tried to replicate a drawing I had done previously and started to play with the concept of different parts of the piece overlapping each other.
Next steps
Today I decided to take my work in two directions, one prototype taking the work I did over the weekend a step further. I created a hybrid piece where half is plywood with acrylic in the spaces, and the other half is acrylic with wood in the spaces.
The other piece I made is a next step from the three-dimensional pieces I was working on last week. I combined the layered pieces with the three-dimensional piece by creating three layers which are separated using small wooden pieces.
Experimenting with new directions
Today I explored a few new ideas. I began by creating a prototype where the shapes (which are usually plywood) were cut out in acrylic and the inner pieces (usually acrylic) were cut in plywood. I first did several tolerance tests, which were not completely successful, then created a prototype with purple acrylic and a few pieces of wood covered in iridescent film.
I didn’t really like this effect so I tried again using clear acrylic and plain plywood. I eventually explored using a combination of plain plywood and plywood coated in iridescent film. I even created an outer shell to place greater emphasis on the clear acrylic shape.
I also experimented briefly with organic shapes.
Finally I created a matching piece for the clear acrylic one, using the opposite materials but the same design.
Exploring Iridescence
Today I created a new piece using both types of iridescent paper. I connected the two by using a single piece of clear acrylic. The blue/purple paper is much easier to use and I had a lot of difficulty using the orange/red paper which tore easily. I also made part of the design too thin and it ended up breaking.
