Journey Entry (Inquiry Term-Long Project)

   

What would you like to investigate/make as a term-long project? 

For my inquiry project, I would like to make a cute style mug.

What do you need to get started?

The reason why I want to work on this project is because of my mom. She really like mug and something cute, so I want to make a cute mug for my mom as a gift to thank her taking care of me. I would need to research some YouTube videos to learn how to make a mug with different shapes and how to glazed this multi-coloured mug. Besides, I need to design the mug first.

How will you begin the project?

I will begin this project with brainstorming a mug that I want to make, then use a paper to draw out the design I want to make. Throughout this project, I might meet some challenges, for example, the project might be cracked after the bisque, and it might be difficult to make the shape and colour. To solve this problem, I could ask Mx. Vittie or my classmate for help, or I could do more research before I start, to make sure that I would not make much mistake.

 

 

Week 2 | February 8th | Elements and Principles of Art Skill Builder

      

Core Competency: Creative Thinking: Developing Ideas

Vocabulary Word: Pattern

In this week, I learned about the Elements and Principles of Art Skill, it was the first time I learned about those elements. At first I found it hard to find the combination of two elements, however, I started to develop my creative thinking skills. I started to think creatively when I was trying to find different combination of these elements. Throughout this project, I learned more knowledge about art elements, especially during finding the art pictures from magazines, I could see many different type of art which brought me more ideas about those elements.

Pattern: Pattern refers to the repetition or reoccurrence of a design element, exact or varied, which establishes a visual beat.

 

Week 3 | February 12th | Life on Land Research

 

 

Human Threats to Arctic Foxes:

Arctic Foxes are being threaten by the over-harvesting; they have an extremely high quality pelt, therefore, human will hunt for their fur to fur trade. Besides, climate change affects the availability of sea ice, the habitat of Arctic Foxes and other animals is being reduced. Moreover, human presence in Arctic has disturbed the natural ecosystem, horribly created more pollution to the habitats of Arctic Fox.

Solutions to These Threats:

Government should promote more information about preventing the climate change, therefore helping Arctic living creatures not to suffer from the habitat loss. Also, government should increase financial resources to conserve and sustainably use ecosystem and biodiversity.

Core Competency: Social Responsibility: Contributing to community and caring for the environment

Vocabulary Word: Trace

In this week, I did some research about the human threaten to arctic fox. I realized how much the arctic fox has been suffered from human, such as fur trade, and even because of human desired (fur and technology), many arctic animals had been suffered from human and global warming. I think it is important to help those animal to not to loose their home and their life, therefore, I decided to make a arctic fox Piñata to try my best to spread out this information to people who see my artwork.

Trace: A copy of drawing or design by drawing over its lines on a superimposed piece of transparent paper.

 

Week 4 | February 23rd | Armature & Story

Core Competency: Social Responsibility: Contributing to community and caring for the environment

Vocabulary Word: Armature

In this week, I learned about how is an art work related into a story itself. An artwork might look simple, but there is always a story behind the artwork, it is the message that the artist wanted to spread out to the world. I realized that I am not only making a land animal piñata, but it is a message that I wanted to express.

Armature: simple inner skeleton usually made of metal, wire or wood, to support exterior material such as modeling clay, clay bodies, paper mache, plaster, etc.

 

Week 5 | March 1st | Paper Mache

Core Competency: Social Responsibility: Contributing to community and caring for the environment

Vocabulary Word: Paper Mache

In Indigenous Way of Knowing and Being, all animals, humans, and the land, are connected as one. However, because of the human desire, many animals are suffering the human threats. One of the example is the Arctic Fox, the land animal I am working on, is suffering from the fur trade. I realize that I need to spread the message to the world and help them out, I hope there is no more pain for those animals.

Paper Mache: French for “chewed-up paper,” a technique for creating three-dimensional objects, such as sculptures, from pulped or pasted paper and binders such as glue or plaster.

 

Week 6 | March 5th | Paper Clay & Story

Core Competency: Communication

Vocabulary Word: Paper Clay

In this week, I developed my communication skill through collaborating with my friends to make paper cry. We are all new to the 3D Art and we did not know to make paper clay. Therefore, we all asked Ms YaYa for help, and we all make the paper clay together. I developed my teamwork skill and felt satisfied from our group work.

Paper Clay: Paper clay is any clay body to which processed cellulose fibre.

 

Week 7 | March 12th | Paper Clay & Painting

Core Competency: Critical Thinking: Develop and Design

Vocabulary Word: Acrylic Paint

In this week, I quickly finished the Animal Piñata. However, Mx. Vittie advised me to add more details and texture on the animal. At first, I felt overwhelmed because I had never tried doing paper clay before, and I was nervous if I would make the project looked worse. But I trusted on myself, and I started to develop and design on my land animal, to make it looks more detailed and textured. Luckily, the project looks much better than before. I am really satisfied of my final product!

Acrylic Paint: a fast-drying paint made of pigment suspended in acrylic polymer emulsion and plasticizers, silicone oils, defoamers, stabilizers, or metal soaps. Most acrylic paints are water-based but become water-resistant when dry.

 

Artist Statement – Land Piñata

Arctic Fox

April 13, 2024

Paper Mache & Mixed Media

Rain Lam

The Arctic Fox is a small fox that native to the Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It is well adapted to live in cold environments. It is being threatened by over-harvesting; they have an extremely high-quality pelt; therefore, human will hunt for their fur-to-fur trade. Besides, climate change affects the availability of sea ice, and the habitat of Arctic Foxes and other animals is being reduced. Moreover, human presence in the Arctic has disturbed the natural ecosystem and created more pollution in the habitats of Arctic Foxes.

The solution to those threats is to help them not to suffer from the loss of fur; it is important to promote less hunting for their fur. Moreover, it promotes the harm of global warming; therefore, helps to reduce global warming.

 

Week 8 | April 3rd | Storytelling

    

 

Week 9 | April 9th | Brush Slug

Core Competency: Creative Thinking: Developing Ideas

Vocabulary Word: Thumbnail

In this week, I started to create my brush slug. At first, I did not know that the clay should not be higher than my baby finger. Luckily, Mx. Vittie reminded me that I should not do that. So we cut it in half and created a hole to let the air out, therefore it would not explode. I had developed my thinking skills through this experience and I would keep that in mind, to make sure I would not to do that again in the future. Besides, I had made a thumbnail of the wall decoration. I decided which design I want to work on, and also I drew out the shape and will cut it out when I start making the wall decoration so it will be more convenient. Moreover, I listened to Ms.T’s story, “Scared Bear”. I made the bear and the apple with the clay.

Thumbnail sketch: Thumbnail sketches are quick, abbreviated drawings, usually done very rapidly and with no corrections. Thumbnail sketches usually are very small, often only an inch or two high.

 

Week 10 | April 16th | Brush Slug & Thumbnail

Core Competency: Creative Thinking: Developing Ideas

Vocabulary Word: Bisque ware

In this week, I coloured my brush slug into bread colour. At first, I wanted to paint it into Arctic Fox colour, such as white. However, I accepted my friend’s opinion, I decided to paint my brush slug into bread colour since the shape of it. I developed my creative thinking skill by using the shape of the brush slug to determine how my product should look. Moreover, I got to communicate with my classmate while we looking at other classmate’s artwork. Me and my classmate communicate by discovering other people’s artwork and try to find out the art element of each product. Another thing I did for this week is to make the thumb nail for the character mug, brush slug, and wall decoration. From this thumb nail project, I also developed my creative thinking skill by using one of the designs, and try to create that design with different colours or shapes.

Bisque ware: a piece of unglazed clay, pottery, or sculpture, that has been bisque fired to Cone 04

 

Week 11 | April 26th | Character Mug & Thumbnail

The colours of the face were mixed together (Unknown reason).

The final product after I fixed the mixed colours.

My Character Mug before putting on the handle.

After putting on the handle and waiting to be dried.

The first draft of my Puppet Thumbnail.

More design of rabbit character after asking Ms. Tee for suggestions.

Art Gallery

Core Competency: Creative Thinking: Developing Ideas

Vocabulary Word: Bone Dry

In this week, I faced many challenges on my artworks. Firstly, the face colour of my Wall Decoration was mixed together with no reason. I was so worried and helpless, however, I carefully covered the mixed colour with the original colour therefore the final product looked normal again. Another challenges I made was the thumbnail of puppet. I designed two Chinese traditional character which is my own design, however I had no more idea for the other two design, so I used the character from other cartoon. I asked Ms Tee for suggestion and I told her the story of the rabbit character, which is one of the Chinese traditional character. She suggested me to use this character to extend the idea of design. So, I drew another four thumbnail of the rabbit character. Happily, I really like those designs. In both challenges, I developed my creative thinking skill and helped me to create some more better artworks that I felt satisfied. Also, I got a chance to go to the Art Gallery in Leigh square and got to see all those amazing artworks in the gallery which are created by my classmates.

Bone Dry: unfired clay which is warm (not cool or damp), dry, and dusty/chalky in feel. Ceramic ware needs to be bone dry prior to bisque firing whereby the physical (free) water has evaporated.

 

Week 12 | May 3rd | Character Mug & Puppet

Character Mug (After bisqueing)

Design of Puppet (Back & Side)

Armature of Puppet

Puppet (Before putting on the ear)

Puppet (After putting on the ear – Before getting bisque)

Core Competency: Positive Personal and Cultural Identity: Relationship and Cultural Context

Vocabulary Word: Greenware

In this week, my character mug finished the bisque. Luckily, it did not broke and looked better than I expected. Before I started to make the puppet, I made my side way and back side thumbnail of the rabbit. While doing this process, I was thinking about the purpose of making this project. And I realized that I could not forget about my identity and culture. Just like how the Indigenous Community gathered together and passed their knowledge, artwork, and music, down through all the generation. I want to remind myself to be who I am and remember who I am, every time when I look at this puppet. The problem I faced while making this puppet was that after I made the face of the rabbit, it did not look like a rabbit. In some stereotype of rabbit, it should look chubby and cute, however, when I looked at the painting of this rabbit character (Yu Tu), it looks more skinnier. I showed my artwork to my friends and some of them said it looked like a rat or a cat. But I kept how it looked because I am the only one to decide how it should be looked. After putting on the ears, it looks like the You Tu, especially after putting the moon in the middle of the face.

Greenware: refers to any state of raw/unfired clay. Including wet, leather-hard, and dry/bone dry.

 

Week 13 | May 9th | Puppet & Inquiry

Monster Mug (Before Glaze)

Puppet Head (Done)

Puppet hand

Inquiry (Development of Puppet Head Project)

Core Competency: Creative Thinking: Developing Ideas

Vocabulary: Underglaze 

In this week, I finished under glazing my monster mug and ready to be glazed. Moreover, I finished coloring my puppet head which I was very proud of my puppet head. I showed my puppet head to my mom and she was also very proud of my artwork, and requested me to make her a similar artwork similar to the puppet assignment. She wanted a leopard head ornament which I could use the technique that I learned from the puppet head assignment, to make a leopard head ornament for my mom as an inquiry project.

Underglaze: usually refers to pigments, applied to raw or bisque clay, that are normally covered with a glaze, such as commercial liquid underglazes like AMACO, chalks/crayons, and pencils. May also describe the technique of application of pigments such as washes.

 

Week 14 May 17th | Monster Mug & Inquiry

Puppet Hands (Before under glazing)

Inquiry (Leopard Head Ornament)

Monster Mug (Final Product)

Inquiry (Donut mini bowl)

Inquiry (Plate – Carp Pond)

Inquiry (Bowl)

Core Competency: Critical Thinking: Develop and Design

Vocabulary: Glaze

In this week, I finished making the puppet hand and two of my project. Firstly, the Leopard Head Ornament Inquiry. My mom was very impressed with this gift because leopard is her favorite animal. She gave it a name, Cutie. Secondly, I finished my monster mug project. My purpose of making this monster mug was because of a story of my life. I well protected by my parents when I was a kid, therefore I imagined the world was perfect and just like a fairy tale. However, ever since I started to see and learn more about this world, I realized there was a lot of dark side of the world. Therefore, I made a rabbit (which refers to young me) trying to escape from the darkness. This is the first time I ever felt the beauty of art because I felt that artwork is a story, it is not just an art but a part of life.

Glaze: a thin layer of glass fused to the surface of fired clay. Glaze can be smooth or textured, shiny or dull finished, and may be colored by a variety of oxides/carbonates. The raw unfired glaze never looks like what it will look like fired.

 

Week 15 May 24th | Inquiry & Critique Sandwich

Inquiry (Mini Bowl)

Inquiry (Noodle Pot)

Inquiry (Donut)

Critique Burger

Core Competency: Communication: Connect and Engage with Others

Vocabulary: Food Safe

In this week, I worked on my inquiry project. At first my inquiry donut was broken apart since it was not dried softly but dried with the strong sunlight. Before bisqueing the donut, I used water and slip to recover it to original looks, luckily, it worked after the bisqueing. Also I made communication and connection with my peer by working on my inquiry project. I wanted to make a pot bowl however I was hard to do by my strength, therefore I asked for help and I successfully made my bowl. I learned that it is a good idea to ask for help when I need. Moreover, I communicate with my group by doing the critique sandwich. I got to share my ideas and opinions and also got to listen to others’ thought.

Food Safe: Making ware that is safe to eat or drink out of

 

Week 16 May 31st | Inquiry & Puppet & Extension of Character Mug

Choosing fabric for my puppet

Extension of Character Mug (Comic)

Inquiry

Core Competency: Critical Thinking: Develop and Design

Vocabulary: Colour

In this week, I tried to start working on my puppet clothes, therefore, I went to the Textile room to pick fabric for the clothes. Also, I finished one of my inquiry, noodle bowl. The most important thing I did for this week is the extension of Character Mug. I made a six boxes comic for the extension. The story of the extension is the opposite story of the Character Mug. Originally, the story of character mug is scarier and more realistic. However, I do not want the bunny to experience those scariness. So, I recreated the story that the bunny fall into a black whole, into a world of unknown. Compare to the original story, the bunny got stuck in the darkness. I feel happier and released that the bunny could have a happy ending, which I hope I can also have a happy ending just like the story.

Colour: Color is the element of art that is produced when light, striking an object, is reflected back to the eye.

 

Week 17 June 7th | Thumbnail & Critique Sandwich

Critique Sandwich

Thumbnail (Self-portrait)

Core Competency: Communication

Vocabulary: Emotional

In this week, I worked on communicating with different people in different way. Firstly, I worked on the critique sandwich, which I further developed my thinking skill of an artwork by discovering and exploring. After working on the critique sandwich, I shared my thought to my peer and we appreciate each other’s artwork. I also worked on the thumbnail of my self-portrait for the 2D Art class. I asked Mx. Vittie and my peers for suggestions since I was struggling to make the drawing look more like me. At first, I was a little bit sad when I received the feedback from my peers because some of them were hurtful comment. However, I learned to accept those comment and try to learn from the mistake so that I can work better on my final copy. I also learned the importance of thumbnail.

Emotional: relating to a person’s emotions.

 

Week 18 June 14th | Puppet Clothes & Inquiry

 

Core Competency: Positive Personal and Cultural Identity: Relationship and Cultural Context

Vocabulary: Audience

In this week, I worked on my puppet clothes. I decided to make a hanfu (Chinese traditional clothing) for my puppet since I am making a Chinese traditional story character. Also, I thought that is my responsibility to pass down and share my own cultural story to other people, and let the story not to be forgotten.

Audience: the spectators or listeners of the work (or the intended group of viewers).

 

Week 19 June 21st | Inquiry

Core Competency: Communication

Vocabulary: Repetition

This is the last week of 3D Art Class and my high school life. I decided to do more inquiry project to leave some more memories for myself. One of my favourite inquiry is the ring with a brown poodle head. I made this ring because of my dog. Moreover, I worked on decorating graduation cap with my friend. In the process, I communicate with my friend and asked for devices.

Repetition: a recurrence of a particular line, pattern, shape, or other visual elements in a single or part of the series. The production of something which is repetitive yet at the same time exciting is a challenge, as many consider the recurrence as boring and still.