Self Portrait Project
Project Description:
In this project our goal was to digitally enhance a self portrait in an artistic way. To take my photo I decided to find a small secluded place in the woods where I have built a fire pit and a few other minimalistic structures. I wanted to have fire included in this project somehow but I didn't want it to be small in any sort of way, as a solution I filled a camping pot with gas and lit it. Once I had sufficient enough photos I imported my favorite photos into my editing software (Pixlr). I cut out different parts of the flame form a variety of the pictures that I didn't use and used them as a template to cut into the background picture. I then found high definition pictures of various interstellar photographs and put them behind the places I cut out.
In this project our goal was to digitally enhance a self portrait in an artistic way. To take my photo I decided to find a small secluded place in the woods where I have built a fire pit and a few other minimalistic structures. I wanted to have fire included in this project somehow but I didn't want it to be small in any sort of way, as a solution I filled a camping pot with gas and lit it. Once I had sufficient enough photos I imported my favorite photos into my editing software (Pixlr). I cut out different parts of the flame form a variety of the pictures that I didn't use and used them as a template to cut into the background picture. I then found high definition pictures of various interstellar photographs and put them behind the places I cut out.
Artist Statement:
When I was thinking of what to do in this project the primary goal was to have an underlying layer of self control. To symbolize self control I have myself trying to control the fire/trying to repress it. I am alone in this photo because I believe that self control can only be learned through my own experiences as well as to say that I am a very independent person and like to do thing on my own. My hobbies are represented in this picture through two things the first is the universe flames which represent my passion for science and the second is the the outdoor location because I use that as my place to get away from everything and recharge. The metaphor in the shape of the fire does not have much meaning but I thought looked a bit like a glass or more towards my point a goblet which makes a reference to The Goblet of Fire from Harry Potter.
When I was thinking of what to do in this project the primary goal was to have an underlying layer of self control. To symbolize self control I have myself trying to control the fire/trying to repress it. I am alone in this photo because I believe that self control can only be learned through my own experiences as well as to say that I am a very independent person and like to do thing on my own. My hobbies are represented in this picture through two things the first is the universe flames which represent my passion for science and the second is the the outdoor location because I use that as my place to get away from everything and recharge. The metaphor in the shape of the fire does not have much meaning but I thought looked a bit like a glass or more towards my point a goblet which makes a reference to The Goblet of Fire from Harry Potter.
Do Your Own Art Project
Project Description:
My initial inspiration for this project were epoxy river tables and from then on I knew that I wanted to have a project that included pouring epoxy into wood. I started with a drawing that I already had which I scanned and digitally traced it in a program called V-Carve. This program allowed me to create a vector file with depth. I then put this into a CNC (Computer Numerical Control) router which carved out a test piece on MDF. After a few modifications I used the CNC router again to cut it out the final piece in walnut. After that I filled in the individual pockets with epoxy that I colored with mica powder and then did a final flood coat in transparent epoxy.
Project Reflection:
I am really happy how this project turned out and very little differed from my original design. However if I were to do this project again I would get rid of the smaller holes particularly in the mountain pockets which ended up collecting sawdust which was very difficult to remove. There was a lot that could've gone wrong in this project particularly while the wood was being cut in the router but other than that the process was relatively easy going. The only things that changed from the original drawing was the amount of detail I was able to put into it which I believe a more simple design made it better. I want others to see this project as something of a starting point as there is a lot of unexplored designs using this process and can lead to so interesting yet unexpected results.
My initial inspiration for this project were epoxy river tables and from then on I knew that I wanted to have a project that included pouring epoxy into wood. I started with a drawing that I already had which I scanned and digitally traced it in a program called V-Carve. This program allowed me to create a vector file with depth. I then put this into a CNC (Computer Numerical Control) router which carved out a test piece on MDF. After a few modifications I used the CNC router again to cut it out the final piece in walnut. After that I filled in the individual pockets with epoxy that I colored with mica powder and then did a final flood coat in transparent epoxy.
Project Reflection:
I am really happy how this project turned out and very little differed from my original design. However if I were to do this project again I would get rid of the smaller holes particularly in the mountain pockets which ended up collecting sawdust which was very difficult to remove. There was a lot that could've gone wrong in this project particularly while the wood was being cut in the router but other than that the process was relatively easy going. The only things that changed from the original drawing was the amount of detail I was able to put into it which I believe a more simple design made it better. I want others to see this project as something of a starting point as there is a lot of unexplored designs using this process and can lead to so interesting yet unexpected results.