1. I was inspired to create a sculpture similar to one of the pieces we discussed in class, which had an abstract/spiral design. To create a similar sculpture, I started off by drawing someone hugging their body and focused on the person's torso. This gave me the spiral design that I was looking for. Another major aspect of my sculpture was the type of lines in the sculpture. By carving dramatic lines, especially in the middle, I was able to make the sculpture more intriguing and interesting. I also noticed that some of the sculptures had different textures, so I created a contrast in textures by making the top rough and keeping the rest of the sculpture smooth. I also wanted to add a base with a reddish tone, similar to the sculpture we talked about in class, to make the white plaster stand out more.
2. When I first started carving my plaster, it was still wet and crumbly. I definitely did not expect my plaster to be like this, and I refrained from using any bigger tools so that I could become more used to it. I started by using the needle file, which allowed me to start off with an idea of how I wanted to carve it. Once I had a better feel for the plaster, I made some major changes by using the hammer a chisel. Then I used the grater to smooth it out and regain my smooth, cylinder shape. I started to experiment with the different files, and I used a variety of them to create the deep line in the center, the rough side on the top, and the two center ridges.
3. Surprisingly, my intentions didn't really change as much. From the start, I wanted to make an abstract sculpture inspired by one of the sculptures we looked at in class. However, at the beginning, I didn't really think too much about the textures or other technical details such as the lines, but as I was more into the process of carving it, I realized that they were important parts of the sculpture that tied it all together. As a result, I focused more on bringing those aspects out while trying to maintain the abstract feeling of it.
