liz g.

[elizabethgrelock]

Project Four Proposal

For this project, I plan on 3D printing cookie cutters and making traditional sugar cookies with them. First, I will model the cutters on Tinkercad. When completed, I will run my print on the 3D printers in the digital fabrication lab on the second floor of Sherzer. Then, I will take them home, make a homemade sugar cookie dough, roll it out, and use my cookie cutters to shape the cookies. After they are all baked, I will frost them and decorate them with sprinkles. I will then display them inside bowls on top of a Christmas-themed tablecloth.  

The concept behind this piece is essentially home. The shape of the cookie cutters are modeled after the three places that I’ve lived in my life--my childhood home, my parents’ current home, and my current apartment. The reason that these are sugar cookies is because when I was younger, my grandmother started a tradition of baking and decorating sugar cookies together every year right before Christmas time. The cookies were never complicated, just any old sugar cookie recipe, and the icing was basically just powdered sugar and water. For decoration, we’d mostly use the little sugar crystal sprinkles. My cookies are displayed in the bowls because they are bowls that my grandma had in her house that I’d use every time I would go over there. Seeing and even hearing the clinks of the ceramic takes me back to my childhood immediately. This piece has a lot of personal and sentimental value behind it. 

[elizabethgrelock]

Project Four Research Journal

Simon Rodia, Watts Towers, 1921-54 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watts_Towers

Process: Rodia worked only with hand tools and used rebar to make the framework. He used wire mesh to wrap around concrete. He also had no predetermined design, so he worked freely to construct these towers.

Form: These pieces were created with steel rebar, concrete, and wire mesh, and are decorated with found objects such as old bottles, figurines, and mirrors. 

Content: Rodia said that you either have to be good good or bad bad at something to be remembered for it, so he wanted to try to accomplish either of these things which is why he built the towers.

Raphael, School of Athens, 1509-11, fresco mural http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/famous-paintings/school-of-athens.htm

Form: This is a fresco painting. 

Content: Raphael wanted to combine the greatness of both the worldly and spiritual minds and intellect, which is why he depicts many philosophers and other notable individuals in a space together. 

Process: Raphael was commissioned to make this painting, so he came up with the idea and created this painting using the fresco technique.

Albert Namatjira, Central Australian Landscape, 1936, watercolor on woven paper https://www.artistsfootsteps.com/html/Namatjira_centralaust_landscape.htm

Form:  Namatjira used watercolor paints over pencil on woven paper which was then loosely attached to a board.

Content: During a trip, the artist painted some of his first landscape paintings of his view in Australia. 

Process: Namatjira created this work from observation, using pencil to outline some forms and then going over those marks with watercolor paints. 

[elizabethgrelock]

Project Four Ideas

For my first project idea, I’d like to make a sort of performance piece. My idea is to have images of places that are significant to me (ie. my childhood homes, my current apartment, my boyfriend’s aunts house, places where I’ve accomplished the most, etc) and use these images to be projected onto my body using a projector. For this, I’d need to gather images most likely by taking them myself, and editing them. I’d either leave them as a whole rectangular image or crop them so as to make them the shape of my body. I could also take another approach and find these locations on a map, possibly drawing them out myself, and then putting a pin on top of the location and positioning myself so that the pin is on top of my heart. The concept behind this idea is the simple phrase “home is where the heart is”. Additionally, I’d like to be able to take my art to a different level. I’ve never done a performance piece and I’d like to push myself to experience that.

 My second project idea is to make a sort of artifact of a place or places significant to me. To do this, I could use a technique called photogrammetry where you take a ton pictures of an object, or in this case a house or building, from many different angles, load them into a program, and it gives you a 3D scan of what you took pictures of. I would then use these scans to create prints. With these prints, I would then vacuum form them, giving me a sort of mold or the houses/buildings. From there, I could either make silicone castings, or I could use a food-grade plastic to vacuum form and make either little pastries or chocolates or even little pierogi of these forms. This would be signifying an overall home-y feel, as there was an amount of baking in my household, and the pierogi would appeal to my polish culture and be a sort of tribute to my late grandmother. This piece would also be commentary about how nothing lasts forever and how although you lose pieces of yourself and your past, those memories have still been consumed by you (eating and brain remembrance) and will stick with you.

 For my final project idea I would be making a collage of all of the places significant to me. I would probably print places out and take clippings from maps to physically collage them. The material and/or shape that I would be collaging these images on to would have to be significant to solidify the symbolism behind this idea. For this one I could also go take current pictures, and have “before” pictures as well, or images from the past. This would be particularly interesting with my childhood home, seeing as my family hasn’t lived there for almost ten years.

[elizabethgrelock]

Project Three Proposal

For the identity project, I’m showing a sort of portrait of myself, but in an abstracted and augmented way. To start this project off, I took a 3D scan of myself from the shoulders up. I then put this scan into Meshmixer and started editing my form. I cut the top of my head off, trimmed some of the sides of my shoulders, and put a hole in the top of my head to act as a planter. I then printed a small prototype, and will continue to edit and tweak the image until I am ready to print. After printing, I’ll paint my piece with blue, pink, and purple acrylic paints, symbolizing the bisexual flag since that is a huge part of myself that I often struggle with accepting.

This project is communicating the need for self love as well as tying in my vegetarian/plant-based lifestyle. The idea started off with possibly planting a flower in my head, but then evolved into a succulent, not only because they are low maintenance and “aesthetically pleasing”, but also because succulents are a symbol of endurance and endless love. This symbolism ties in to the meaning of self love. The things that I have endured over the course of my life, especially the internal struggles coming to light in the past few weeks are the main inspiration of this piece. I wanted to show that I can make it through all of these rough patches and come out stronger on the other side, eventually learning to love myself.

[elizabethgrelock]

Time Post Number Four

This painting used mostly wet on wet techniques again, but this time I expanded this to the background as well. This was made on 10/24, which was actually a quite nice, warm-ish day, which is communicated by the light yellow wash I used to start this piece and the lightness of the pigment on the right side of the tree as opposed to the left. The sun was harsher than in the other days/paintings as well.

[elizabethgrelock]

Time Post Number Three

This painting used more wet on wet technique than the last, as I wanted to experiment with how far I could push it with it still communicating the way its supposed to. This was made on 10/15, which was a slightly overcast day with a decent amount of sunlight, but not the type of weather where the sun is shining and casting a warm glow over everything. This was made around 12:00 pm which is reflected by the shadow. These paintings are also all showing different angles of the same tree. 

[elizabethgrelock]

Time Post Number Two

This painting was made on a chillier and drearier day than the last, on 10/10. The sun wasn’t shining much, but would peak through the clouds every so often, thus prompting me to suggest a lighter, less defined shadow for the tree. I used mostly wet on dry, but started experimenting more with wet on wet within the tree itself and the shadow.

[elizabethgrelock]

Time Post Number One

This painting was made on 10/3 while observing the tree on a bright and sunny day. I used traditional watercolor techniques, such as painting wet on dry. This was made around 3:00 pm.

[elizabethgrelock]

Project Three Ideas

For my first project idea, I want to make a piece that shows my sexuality. I am not super open about it, so I want this piece to show it loud and proud. I’d like to make a sculpture of the bisexual symbol. I plan to do this by using the laser cutter and cutting out thin pieces of wood and eventually glue them together vertically and have them form the symbol. I’d also like to alternate the colors of the pieces and have them represent the flag’s colors. 

For my second idea, I want to 3D print a self portrait. For this, I’d like to take a scan of either my full body, or just from the shoulders up. I could either do a plain self portrait, edit and manipulate the scan, or make a sort of collage upon my portrait. I’d also consider using different colored filaments throughout the print, making each section a different color of the bisexuality flag. 

For my third idea, I’m thinking about making a sort of physical collage within a shadow box. Within this, I’d add things that I believe make me, me. I would add things such as a computer mouse, pencils, paintbrushes, plants, mementos from my childhood, and mementos from my relationship, such as ticket stubs or jewelry. I can also include things that I want to shape my life and identity, sort of like vision board. I’d orient these things in a specific way, such as putting things from my past in the background, things from my present in the midground, and putting my vision board inspired things in the foreground. It’d also be interesting to see a light shining from the top in the middle of the box.

[elizabethgrelock]

Project Three Research Journal

Mauricio Paz Viola, Identity series, mixed media on paper, 2019 https://www.mauriciopazviola.com/identity-series-2018-2019/portraits-of-women-from-new-york/

Form: This is made with mixed materials on paper. Content: The artist took pictures of people from New York City and created works that showed the diversity of people and the expansion of the self outside of the body. Process: The artist went to New York City to take pictures of civilians, and then proceeded to make abstract portrait of them using mixed media.

Jabbar Muhammed, Eve 3.6, acrylic on canvas, 150 x 150, 2017 https://indoartnow.com/artists/jabbar-muhammad

Form: This is a painting made with acrylics on stretched canvas. Content: This is a portrait of a person who seems to be in motion, but is still at the same time. It shows two different facial expressions, and therefore different feelings and moods, or identities, as well. Process: Muhammed either used a live model, painted from a reference, or painted from memory to paint this image using acrylic paints on a canvas.

Minji Sohn, Turn Right, Turn Left, 2017 https://mirkaart.com/exploringtheheartofit/2017/9/20/expressing-identity-through-art

Form: This piece is a four-channel video installation. Content: Sohn intended to make the viewer of this piece feel connected to her intense identity. The piece is situated in the small room to cause the viewer to feel this sort of discomfort and disorientation that she felt during parts of her life. Process: The artist filmed the subject who is trying to choose which way to go, and then used a video editing software to add in text and flashing lights. Sohn then displayed this on a television screen in a small room.   

[elizabethgrelock]

Project Two Proposal

For project two, which focuses on language and storytelling, I intend to tell a story that transcends language through woodburning and painting. I will do this by using small round wooden plaques, about 5” to 7” in size, and woodburning holding hands onto them. I will then paint a different nation’s flower onto each using acrylic paints. These will be about five of these in the series, and the nations that I will focus on could be any of the following: America, Mexico, France, Spain, Germany, Japan, India, Egypt, Australia, and Syria. These pieces will be hung on the wall to be displayed. 

The idea of this piece is to show unity between all people no matter what language is spoken, what religion is practiced, etc. I chose to use woodburning for the hands to show the strength and permanence between this unity which could not be shown with something like pencil, as it can easily be wiped away. The paint is a good choice for the flowers because it can be mixed easily to show the diverse colors, and it will display the organic nature of the plants as well. 

[elizabethgrelock]

Project One Proposal

For project one, which focuses on time, I intend to document the passing of time and the cycle of life and death through painting. I will go to Eastern’s greenhouse once to twice a week, choose one plant, most likely in its early stages of its life, and follow its growth throughout the semester. This will be documented through sketching and watercolor painting on pieces of watercolor paper. The size will be fairly small, somewhere around 4” x 6” or 5” x 7”, as they will be put in frames for display. These frames will most likely be thrifted or bought in bulk. 

I chose to use watercolors on paper for the materials because life is fragile, just like paper, and watercolors will accurately portray the organic nature of the plant. With time, these pieces will slowly decay which also shows the effects of time. Additionally, these drawings and paintings will be displayed in frames because when I think of picture frames, I often think of them as showing subjects from our past, which also plays into the subject of time and it’s passing. 

[elizabethgrelock]

Project Two Ideas

My first project idea involves using text messages between me and my friends, as well as any pictures we have together, showing the story of our relationship through them. This could be done by collaging in a digital or physical way, or they could be painted or drawn. This would most likely be executed on a large sheet of paper. I would like to use either markers or possibly even charcoal. Markers could be used to depict the good in the relationships/text, and the charcoal could be used to depict the bad or messy parts. 

My second idea is to show the idea of a political movement through art. The subject would most likely have to do with freedom of speech, possibly involving LGBTQ+ matters. This could be done one of two ways--drawing an image of people in the LGBTQ+ community coming together in a peaceful way and collaging headlines of what good has been done in the community on top of/surrounding the drawing, or it could show some of the worst times that have ever been experienced by those in the community, such as the Orlando nightclub shooting, with negative headlines incorporated into it, showing the loss and hurt that has been endured so as to raise awareness. These two ideas could also be combined, showing a positive image with negative headlines, or vice versa. This would most likely be done with pencil, colored pencil, and charcoal. 

My third idea involves wood burning or etching. I want to be able to show an image of unity between women of all shapes, sizes, ethnicity, language, etc. I would like to wood burn the words “girl power” into a wooden board over and over in all different languages, and then have a drawing depicting unity etched into the wood, or vice versa. This could also be done with paint on wood. The idea of wood burning really intrigues me though, as I’ve never experimented with that medium before. I may use a rounded piece of wood, paint an image of something such as hands joining together, and put the words around it. I’d want this to be a fairly large piece, possibly the size of a small side table.

[elizabethgrelock]

Project One Ideas

My first project idea involves painting. I’m leaning more towards using watercolor paints, as I’m in a watercolor class right now, but acrylics are also an option since I have previous history with that medium. When thinking of time, I initially think of life and death. The idea is that I will go to the greenhouse on campus, pick one plant, and document its changes throughout the semester, visiting once or twice a week. For the composition, I’m still playing with a couple ideas. One is using a sketchbook and documenting the plant on the days that I go on a separate page each time, showing the movement, growth, or death of the plant throughout the book which you could then view as a flipbook. My second option is to use a single page of paper and overlap the paintings every day, which will then affect the paper in different ways, making it heavier, thicker, and disform it in some way. My third option is to use a different material to paint on, such as wood or linen.

For my second project idea, I want to make a wooden sculpture of a clock. However, I don’t want to make the clock working with batteries. I want it to intentionally be made out of solid wood. This shows the concept of time quite literally, but takes the purpose and intent away from the clock which is supposed to portray the movement of time. For this idea, I will need to be working in the woodshop. I may also make multiple clocks of all different types. Round wall clocks, cuckoo clocks, a miniature grandfather clock with the swinging pendulum, et cetera. These individual sculptures, that I may form into one large piece or just leave as separate pieces, make time stand still, or at least give the perception of standstill time. 

My third project idea involves the use of collage with some drawing and/or painting mixed in. I want to make this idea a bit more personal. I plan to make a collage of family photos, from before I was born, to when I was a child, up to now. I want this to show the growth and falling apart of relationships over time. Throughout, I can incorporate actual time stamps of the photos with drawing or painting. This would most likely be displayed on a large wooden slab or a very thick and sturdy poster board. 

[elizabethgrelock]

Project Two Research Journal

David Shirgley, Untitled (Can’t Wait to Hatch), 2018 http://davidshrigley.com/category/drawing-painting/

Form: This work is created with painting on paper. Content: There is a chick inside of what is assumed to be an egg, and it is thinking that it can’t wait to be hatched, and that it’s really looking forward to it. Process: Shirgley most likely painted this using acrylic paints on paper, and put good humor into this piece. 

Mike Edwards, Elton John Superstar, date unknown http://mikeedwards.co.uk/gallery/prints/Elton_John_Superstar.htm

Form: This is a digital typographic image printed on paper. Content: Using language, Edwards created a portrait of Elton John. He used type that related to his music and his life. The language used here is not the most important part of the work, but it’s form is. Process: A program such as Adobe Illustrator was used to create this work digitally. It was then printed out on paper and prepared to be displayed and sold. 

Norman Rockwell, After the Prom, 1957 https://www.nrm.org/thinglink/text/AfterProm.html

Form: This is an oil painting on a canvas. Content: The story of a couple after their prom is depicted in this piece. You can see the same type of inviting smile on all of the subjects in this painting, giving it an inviting feeling and telling the viewer that the prom went well for all parties involved.  Process: Rockwell used reference images to create this oil painting on a canvas.

[elizabethgrelock]

Project One Research Journal

Arthur Ganson, “Machine with Concrete,” 2009, Art Electronica Museum of Future. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/time-art_n_4519734

Form: This work is created with gears and other mechanical elements.  Content: The gears take so long to turn that the last gear would not be able to move for billions or trillions of years. The catch is that even if enough time has passed for that gear to turn, it wouldn’t be able to because it is embedded in concrete. Process: Ganson created this by setting up machines with mechanics to move the gears extremely slowly, thus causing it to take so long for the last gear to turn. 

Salvadore Dali, The Persistence of Memory, 1931, oil on canvas https://www.wikiart.org/en/salvador-dali/the-persistence-of-memory-1931

Form: This work is created with oil paints on canvas. Content: This painting is said to depict the relativity of time. The melting of the clocks is to show that time is not solid nor a deterministic influence. Process: The Persistence of Memory is inspired by the thought of the theory of relativity and Dali’s central thinking of softness and hardness. He then brought a dream he had to life within this oil painting. 

Christiane Baumgartner, Nordlicht - 6.08pm, 2018 https://cristearoberts.com/artists/54-christiane-baumgartner/works/2440-christiane-baumgartner-nordlicht-5.59pm-2018/

Form: This work is a woodcut on Japanese paper, and is one of four in the set. Content: Baumgartner takes still images from her own moving videos and makes her works of art based off of that freezing of time.  Process: For these works, stills are rendered into pieces of wood by making horizontal reliefs that are narrowly spaced on the surface.