I solved the wrist

I found some clock parts in one of my jewelry supply drawers that would make a good wrist. I intended them originally for a vambrace or staff when stuck the three components together but could never find a good spot for them in any of my work...... I guess I finally found one.

Permanence vs Transcience

Hi everyone,

Last week I mentioned Buddhist sand mandalas as a source of inspiration. These mandalas are created over the course of days or weeks and then wiped away once they are completed.

http://www.visualnews.com/2015/11/04/3-creative-lessons-from-buddhist-monks-who-make-mandalas/

I also mentioned the oil painter Dennis Wojtkiewicz. His work explores fruit and light under close observation.

http://twistedsifter.com/2013/01/translucent-fruit-paintings-by-dennis-wojtkiewicz/

Both the sand mandalas and Wojtkiewicz's work take an immense amount of concentration and dedication. They are both based on colorful radial patterns and are dedicated to showing the transient nature of reality. Is oil paint an appropriate medium for art that is intended to communicate the short lived and empty nature of things?

My first piece

JThe first piece I'm working on is a mechanical arm prosthetic. Since I'm working with the idea of monstrosities I am not obsessing over mimicking the full look of the human arm. I am however keeping this first piece basic simple and straightforward. I am however kind of stumped on what to do with the wrist and the hand so I'm open to ideas. The elbow is going to be felt with using simple hinges. And I'm solving the left over negative space in the elbow with industrial flexible tubing that will give it a sense of interconnected internal circuitry. 

Architectural Trees in this video.

Tyler, take a look at this. Nature with a hard edge look, yet still the softness.  https://vimeo.com/151931854

Steampunk Hand Sculpture by onurcayliart

I was scrolling through my Facebook feed and came across this video on a page called Steampunk Tendencies that posts about all things steampunk, including architecture, art, and cosplay. I was instantly reminded of what Joe wants to do for his Senior Studio.

This is an example of steampunk sculpture that looks like it could work and move, but doesn't necessarily have to. I am actually not sure if it does or not, but if you watch the video on the link, there are some elements on the sculpture that have moving dials and such that make the sculpture more believable. 

Also the element of the real hand is interesting. I don't know if Joe was planning to make a sculpture that was wearable as cosplay or ornamentation, or if it was going to be more of a prosthetic. This sculpture seems to incorporate both, where the hand and the sculpture are melded together. Obviously, you shouldn't permanently do this to your own hand, but there is the interesting possibility of adding a human flesh looking element to the steampunk limb sculptures, where the resulting product could look part human flesh and part machine.

Check out the link below:

https://www.facebook.com/SteampunkTendencies/videos/933782190069481/?theater

Welcome!!

This blog will document the thoughts, hopes, and dreams of UMass Lowell Art and Design department students taking the studio concentration version of Senior Studio. Some are intending to graduate this spring while others will be taking the second class in the fall and graduating then. I hope you enjoy, as you watch some incredible young artists document their process of creation. -Michael

The image below was taken on Tuesday. This post-it was in one of the senior studio spaces.