Walken in Back Alleys

I just got the most sketchy looks in my life. I was in the back alley of an apartment building where apparently residents also exit the building occasionally. I can’t imagine the thoughts going through their heads. “There’s a girl out here burning Christopher Walken attached to an ugly jacket.” 

That’s meeee.

Surface Research and Destroy

I've been really getting into my surface research and destroy project because I get to make a lot of things that I had never pictured myself making and doing things to them that I never imagined myself doing. It's a very creative and interesting experience. I am recording my project in video format to create a sort of documentary of the process. As of now, I'm not planning to narrate.

To begin my project, I bought a hideous coat from Diversity Thrift. As you see below, this shitty excuse for a piece of clothing has blue-ginger faux fur. I picked it out for its extra flair.

Then, I got a seam ripper and took apart some of the brown lining inside of the jacket. Directly on that brown lining, I painted Christopher Walken's head in acrylic. 

My next step for the project is to sew his head onto the top of the jacket, as if he were wearing it. Then, burn his face off and part of the jacket, as well. I chose Christopher Walken because he has died in almost every film he's played a role in. In fact, before 2005, he's died in every film he's been in. So naturally, he is chosen to get destroyed. 

After Walken's destruction (he won't be Walken on sunshine anymore), I will create a tree from the ashes as symbolization of new growth. The blue faux fur will serve as part of the landscape. Then I will stomp on the tree, as things in nature, especially nowadays more than ever, get destroyed. Better said, they get stomped by society's wants for more wood to have more homes, stuff, etc. 

The process will continue from there until I have completed 7 creations and destructions. 

Representational Object and Pattern Acrylic Painting

For my acrylic painting, I put floral patterns around a self-portrait. These floral patterns, resembling, fabric, form my clothing. The painting as a whole is meant to look like a sort of unusual magazine cover, which is why I'm posed in the middle. I enjoyed forming my clothes out of the patterns because I love fashion. 

5 Abstract Pieces

For this Surface Research practice assignment, I was asked to create at least 5 abstract pieces, which used the color palettes of the 5 inspirational objects that I chose for my previous class. My pieces not only employ the colors of the objects, but their contents are inspired by the objects' physical qualities. 

Form through Shadow: Full Body Self-Portrait

This is my final product of the Finding Form through Shadow project. On a 30x44" piece of Stonehenge paper, I made a life-sized self portrait of myself through shadow. In my self-portrait, I am happily surprised by birds all around me. To achieve this affect through observation, I molded birds out of clay and hung them from the ceiling of my apartment with twine. I had a single lamp shine on my body and the birds from my left side. The lamp was positioned on a little stool, tilted upwards. Meanwhile, I put a mirror and a makeshift canvas (which I put the Stonehenge paper on) in front of me to paint. 

Hollywood Cemetery Adventures

When my Surface Research class took a trip to Hollywood Cemetery on Friday, I had a great time exploring the huge area. We were assigned to have at least five works of art completed by the end of the class period and we could use any materials we wanted. Since most of my time I was exploring the beauty of the cemetery, I didn't get an opportunity to use most of the copious art supplies that I stuffed in my backpack. I was, however, able to complete a little watercolor of a vase that had fallen down by a memorial as well as photograph my beautiful surroundings. 

2 Shadow Practice Portraits

My two shadow portraits were not easy to do as I had to hold a lamp in one hand, contort my face to these specific ways, while drawing from a mirror observation. My goal was to capture a contemplative and an angry mood in my two portraits. However, even though the task was a challenge, I really enjoyed the result of the work. Furthermore, even when I only painted shadow with acrylic paint, I am still able to make out both of my faces.