book of life

this is my favorite project to date of both semesters. i loved the idea and the craft behind it and i felt as if or the first time i really grasped a project. i left the class with my initial idea, which was to sew the 6 canvas squares into 6 separate frames. i stamped every word by hand, distorted and altered the 6 illustrator images, iron transferred the images to the squares, and then stamped another supporting element. due to unforeseen circumstances i was forced to alter my original idea and create the cube made of 6 sets of needle working stretchers. i then sewed the panels in and i couldn't be happier with the end result. the words displayed on the panels of the cube are memories that have influenced me and my perception of the male population. the memories are simplified to the overall gist of what i took from those particular moments. the piece is nostalgic for me and it allowed me to look back over the past 3 years.

distorted self portrait

i was kind of stumped when i first sat down with this project. was the change meant to imply a physical grotesqueness, an inner change, or something superficial? My underlying layer is just that, a superficial or physical representation of what i look like, not so much who i am right now. the top layer is a bit more in depth. it isn't a changed variation of who i am, but who i do not want to become. i have transformed myself into an androgynous  businesswoman on a computer. the background text is a collection of various quotes from ayn rand's work. the quotes i choose are a contradiction to the image; they speak of individuality and pride. the business woman persona is a terrifying aspect of middle aged life for me. one of my worst fears is living within a cubicle for 20 years. the quotes are comforting and reassuring that we have a chance to be what we desire. 

"here are my rules; what can be done with one substance must never be done with another. no two materials are alike no to sites on earth are alike. no two buildings have the same purpose. the purpose, the site, the material determine the shape." 

text-tastic

the ocean's electric will you marry it? 

and fill it with the things you'll miss? 

we're waiting and waiting to come. 

i don't necessarily know if anyone will think this pertains to the future but i see it like that. it seems nostalgic yet optimistic in a slightly cynical way. its a collection of lyrics from a trio that cares more about what they say than how they seem to others. i explained it in the underlying layers of my illustrator project, but the ocean, to me, is a passageway to new worlds and new lives (metaphorically speaking of course) . it's as if you're caught in a wave; you forget about breathing and just let the wave take you wherever its going. it's only after you regain your balance that you realize the severity of the situation. but for an instant, the tranquility opens you up and lets you breathe, without the physical action. i don't want a set future. 

i want to go wherever the circumstances may lead me. 

the second line is a reminder that we all come from somewhere and we carry little bits of that along with us even if we aren't aware of it. i want to remember what made me the way i am, for the most part, and bring in new experiences as well. 

learning triptych

so the triptych...the way i did it was really meticulous but besides hours of snow blindness from my computer i'm actually really happy with the end result. i started out with exact rendering of what i wanted to do and then as the piece moves on i took more chances with some of the layers and background. the piece begins with my family and the family values they instilled in me. family is a big part of my life and i choose to illustrate this image because it's a kind of feel good image. they've taught me to love what i was given and to accept their pros and cons. my middle image is my cousin jen and i cruising around. though seemingly insignificant, it again stems to my family values. my cousin is a huge influence and a big support for me and it just symbolizes the time we spend together and how we help each other out when in need. my final image is me sort of dangling over abyss. i'm not sure where i'll end up in life and the tree is what i've learned so far and how its helped me climb higher and higher in my life. 

illustrator still life

i really liked this project, well i mean i didn't love the criteria but i liked illustrator. i had never used it before, i bought the whole CS3, which apparently i'm like the only person on the planet who bought it, and never used it's features. it has so much potential, i see things everyday that i think, i could probably do that with illustrator. even with just basic knowledge i can still produce images, such as this particular piece, that meets requirements without me floundering under the numerous tools and applications. with this project i tried to represent my still life realistically and now, after seeing everyone's, i wish i could have experimented more. i just didn't realize those things were possible and its really exciting, well i mean as exciting as computers can be. 

truth, laugh, lie

so i overall enjoyed doing this project, the actual execution but wasn't too excited for the critique. i mean i wanted to see the other works but when it came time to do so everyone sort of died verbally and as everyone knows our critique seemed forced. it's difficult with a project like this because we being asked to divulge information when many are reluctant to do so. it not even so much as everyone was nervous about sharing deep dark secrets when generally most projects were light-hearted, but just the act of sharing is uncomfortable. besides my sweaty palms and stammering i am still happy with how my project turned out, people have their opinions but i put effort into it and it means something to me. it was a fun experience, i enjoyed bringing my family into it and it was an opportunity to do something other than let's say an 18 by 24 charcoal drawing. 

supersuits of america.

i don't really know if i'll do very well as an artist. i mostly want to be a photojournalist in third world countries, or even fancy countries who  knows, because i don't. i want to be in uncomfortable parts of the world, taking pictures, and constantly appreciating the life i have. i don't have a drive to be famous because then some high society supersuit might take a fancy to it and then my art would be hanging in a foyer next to the umbrella stand. i just want people to be aware of other people. besides exploiting people in pictures i love to read but not awkward teenage coming of age tales, those authors should leave their puberty ridden stories in their own memory, but hey if you like them go for it, just my personal opinion. i enjoy novels that seem to have a purpose and make you think, like ayn rand, now you could feel differently it doesn't really matter. if it isn't obvious i love literature and i'm thinking about a minor or a double major in english. that goes back to the photojournalism because if i can't see what's happening i want to write about it. on that of that educational mess i also want to minor in french. awesome. besides academics, my cousin is my best friend and we spend most of our time together when we're not at school. i'm really close to my family in general and see them almost everyday because there's not much else to do where i'm from. so overall, i'm caitlin and bonus i love my cat. my dogs are pretty awesome too.