Shady Suitcase

This drawing was done during the same day that we were thrown into the infant swimming pool of shading. I enjoyed the project, save the egg crate. I could not figure out how to draw and or shade it. It proved to be very frustrating, but I will not give up. I must learn how to portray this object on paper.

Closet Organization

The portraits you can partially see here have been individually posted in a previous post for you to view in full. What you are viewing here is the installation portion of the project. It is a closet for my self portraits, however, it also serves as a self portrait in and of itself. For example: I am a very organized person, so I designed a closet to represent me, and in turn organize the self portraits that I drew.
This project was one of my favorites even though my mental image of this project did not materialize into the final outcome, which is what you see here. One of the examples of this failed materialization was that the metal rope would not stay straight. As a result, the self portraits could not be equally spaced as I was hoping for. I also, in the time alloted, could not come up with a better way to hang the pictures from the rope. I played with some ideas which included: Hanging the pictures from both wires instead of individually, using fishing wire on both sides of the portraits and hanging them from the center of the two ropes, and using only one rope to hang all of the portraits. The reason for not using fishing line or any type of wire requiring me to thread it through the paper, was because I would not be able to remove the portraits, like clothing in a closet. As a consequence, I ended up with a design that did not meet my desired result. However, overall I am happy with how the project evolved, and I must say it is my favorite project thus far.

Shading Time

This is the first of many to come shading experiments. The image of a young child being thrown into a swimming pool before he is taught how to swim is what I juxtapose with how we were thrown into this exercise. Thus, out instructors have told us that we will take a step back, now that we have been exposed to this different characteristic of drawing. I am looking forward to learning how to portray the different values we see in everyday objects, and the way light affects our views of interiors.

Dancing Pumpkin

My girlfriend and I decided that we would carve pumpkins this year, so we went to the farmers market, and chose pumpkins that we deemed acceptable for each of our designs. This being my first time carving a pumpkin, I was not really sure what to look for. Nevertheless, I found and bought a pumpkin that I viewed as aesthetically pleasing and proportionally appropriate. Thus began the design process. As you can see, in various designs of mine, dance has been an important inspiration. As a result, I chose an image I thought would exhibit the dancers well, by having a copious amount of negative space. This pumpkin will be displayed at my atelier for those who wish to see it.

Silk-Wood

Project- We were tasked with taking the person who is above and below our name on the IAR blog, pick one 3-d object from each person and fuse them together. I chose to amalgamate a red silk clutch with a triangular pencil container. Here below are my initial ideas, and sketches for this fusion that is about to take place. The element that I am going to fuse is the texture of the two projects. I will attempt to coalesce wood, and red silk. I hope you will eagerly wait to see the outcome.

Stage One

Here we see that the clutch design has integrated itself with the pencil case. However, the pencil case is clearly more prominent in design, for it is the structure. The lace and the red cloth are visually distinguished, because of the nature of their color and covering effect. Concerning the lace, I wanted to to show that the lace was not as attached to the pencil case as it was to the clutch. Here, we can see that is entwined in the pencils, however its end is loosed .

Stage Two

As this project was set into motion, we the students, were inquiring of each other whether or not these designs should be purely functional or expressive. As designers, we are to decide for ourselves the direction in which we take our projects, and their intended purposes. In my three projects I wanted to combine function and artistic value. Here below is the middle ground of the two projects I chose, and I decided to make this design non functional and more expressive. The red clutch and lace have melted to form a puddle on top of wood pencils that have nothing left but wood. The cardboard case the pencils were held in has also been broken down, and left with nothing but a remnant of the original material.

Stage Three

Pencils in a white triangular box, and a red clutch with lacy trim. This is the outcome of blending the two, leaning more towards the clutch. Furthermore, the pencils were organized in the white triangular case, so I decided to organize them in this clutch as well.

Comic

Project - Draw two self portraits a day for 4 days, and on the fifth day present your self portraits in an installation that enhances our understanding of you. This is the first self portrait I created from this project. It is a comic view from the camera on my computer. The way the picture obscured my face appealed to me. I feel as if people do not really see me for who I really am at first. They have this blurred comic view of me. After all, an interior designer, fashion consultant, shopping connoisseur, United States Marine and ballroom dancer may be a little difficult to figure out right away.


















I call this a self portrait for the very reason that if you are ever exposed to my energetic side than you know I am all over the place. So, as you look at this self portrait you can see the lines are bouncing off the walls, are pulsing with colorful energy, and movement representing me on one of my energetic days.
P.S. Follow the purple lines.

Face Value

There are character traits that I see myself portraying, as well as people and activities that are a part of my life. I chose to display these character traits, and interests by pulling all of them out of my face leaving it obscured, and blank. When one looks at another he or she can not tell right away what that person's character traits, and interests are. He or she has to observe, and ask questions of that person to discover who they are. Do not take anyone for just face value. Invest yourself in their life.















Gardening, and landscaping is a love of mine, so I wanted to make a self portrait using God's beautiful creation. I accomplished this by making a mask to again, symbolize the fact that I have many interests behind my outward appearance. In addition to this initial meaning, this piece also portrays my love for the theatre, and for dance.

The Dancing Fashionista

I spoke of my love for restaurants earlier, and I feel analogously in regards to fashion. I how colors can accent, and compliment ones eyes, skin, hair and figure. Furthermore, texture can be visually, and physically rapturous. The scarf for example, entreats us to take it, and enjoy the softness it has to offer.
Dance is also a love of mine, but it is different from the above mentioned. Dance is my physical competitive outlet. I played sports all throughout high school so I needed something to release my desire to compete while still staying active, and dance was where I was led. Dance is so well suited for me because it also plays a role in many of my other interests. For example: Dance allows me to enjoy fashion, because everyone dresses up when one goes to dance or competition. Furthermore, people who dance also tend to be well dressed individuals. Dance also allows me express my desire to be chivalrous. I will most likely never be shunned for being a gentleman by escorting a lady by the arm, opening a door for a lady or pulling out a seat for a lady in the dance community.

Epicure

I have always enjoyed exploring, and critiquing new restaurants wherever my travels may take me. When I was in high school, I had no real expenses. As a result, I would take my friends, and an occasional date to new restaurants very often. The atmosphere, energy, warmth or coldness was always a novelty for me. I saw myself as a kid in a candy store exploring all my options. I cherish and appreciate those times, because at this point in my life I am counting pennies. However, I have found that I enjoy the taste of home cooking much more than restaurants. Having said this, nothing compares to the experience of a well designed novelty restaurant.

It has been said that the eye is the window to the soul, and if the eye is bad than the whole body is bad. I believe this, for I have observed it with my own eyes. It comes across to me that those who fill themselves visually with unwholesome images, results in their character not being very respectable. If this is not apparent from the surface, than one can normally observe the negative effects in his or hers' relationships. So, I have shown an eye here that is being filled with colorful, happy and energetic images, meant to portray wholesome perceptions.

Zine

Our project was to make a zine, which is a small magazine, and focus on the composition of the pages. The images you are about to see are of restaurants, boutiques and atelier's. What you are now reading is where the text will go in this composition. Also, as you browse through the pictures I would love to hear some feedback on what you think. Enjoy!

Relax For A While

The different seating areas in this restaurant give each guest a sense of personalization and privacy. Each returning guest can go to the same room they used in their previous visits and feel as if they have a sense of belonging and familiarity. The natural materials used also give one a feeling of peace and relaxation.

Warm and Inviting

Can you feel the warmth and coziness emanating from this picture. This would be a lovely restaurant to visit after a long day at work.

Boutiques

The raw look of this boutique make sit easy to find clothes and does not overwhelm the customers. The clothes become the center piece in the store, because they are the only primary source of color.





















Having the sunglasses in front of the window gives the effect that the sunglasses are being displayed and being used at the same time.