My parents got me a new camera for Christmas. This is a big deal, since I've been using my 35mm since 7th grade.
They got me a very very nice digital camera, with manual control and good macro focus.
So with that, I put 2 pairs of earrings up on Etsy for sale since I can take decent pictures of them. So my Etsy page is
www.etsy.com/shop/spyke927
Who Am I?
- John Harris
- I'm a designer of different types. I am a Metalsmithing major with a Photography and Graphic Design background. I also design haunted houses and props for America's Screampark, Frightworld. I play bass in a band called Thrown to the Wolves, too.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Saturday, December 19, 2009
The Abandoned Factory Memento Mori
Well I had some technical problems soldering my incense burner before, but with some time to clear my head and relax, I did manage to complete it. It also does work as planned (for once), so here's some pictures and a little video.
See you space cowboy.....
Friday, December 18, 2009
Final Critique
I was plesently suprised by the final critique. I really like good crits, but have noticed a lack in participation and objectivity through the past several. But this semester's final was much improved, so thank you all.
I felt that I worked very hard, and was well-prepared. I was disappointed in the fact that I could not solder the top of my incense burner completely, but I am not well aware of my limits, and know what I need to learn next.
To give everyone an idea of how much work I've put in this semester, the week previous to the final critique I had spent about 100/144 hours in the studio. This semester, I averaged about 9 hours a day in the studio, and the last week was about 15 hours a day in the studio. So I feel accomplished and excited to get back to working in the studio. I'M ADDICTED!
Anyway, I think I'll end my last post of this semester with a few words to others:
Enjoy learning and strive to learn more. Intellectual curiosity is a gift of sentience, so use it and push forward to find your way. If you want to be an artist of any kind, you must love it.
Congrats to Rachel, and good luck in the future. Have fun in grad school!
See you space cowboy.......
I felt that I worked very hard, and was well-prepared. I was disappointed in the fact that I could not solder the top of my incense burner completely, but I am not well aware of my limits, and know what I need to learn next.
To give everyone an idea of how much work I've put in this semester, the week previous to the final critique I had spent about 100/144 hours in the studio. This semester, I averaged about 9 hours a day in the studio, and the last week was about 15 hours a day in the studio. So I feel accomplished and excited to get back to working in the studio. I'M ADDICTED!
Anyway, I think I'll end my last post of this semester with a few words to others:
Enjoy learning and strive to learn more. Intellectual curiosity is a gift of sentience, so use it and push forward to find your way. If you want to be an artist of any kind, you must love it.
Congrats to Rachel, and good luck in the future. Have fun in grad school!
See you space cowboy.......
Thursday, December 10, 2009
3D Meets 2D
This is a really cool link.
It's the vido of a painter that hides in his photographs. Check it out. It's a great application of 3D interest in 2D art.
LINK!
See you space cowboy......
It's the vido of a painter that hides in his photographs. Check it out. It's a great application of 3D interest in 2D art.
LINK!
See you space cowboy......
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
I Just May Be on to Something!
So I was excited with this production work to A.) Finish it on time and B.) Have customers really like it. It was all Steampunk-based in design, which came from an Anthrometalic (I made that word up) study funded by a small creativity grant from Buffalo State. I learned a lot about the Steampunk aesthetics and ideals, and have incorporated the ideas from this fairly esoteric American gothic subculture into my own artistic productions. I did not know how well they would sell at the Student Sale, but all of my ear rings are gone, and the pendants are going fast as well.
And then it was brought to my attention that the Steampunk aesthetic approach is now becoming mainstream. My wife sent me a picture of the Victoria's Secret runway show on December 1st, and, well, I'll just show it to you. I don't think anyone will complain about looking at some models.
SHE IS STEAMPUNK!
She has the tuxedo-esque bustier with the forearm gloves!
AND LOOK AT THOSE WINGS! Brass gears with silver feathers! On top of that, this production has run me short on watch parts, so I looked online for some more. Last time I bought them, I had to hunt down an old man that bought and sold estates, and happened to buy one from a watch maker. He sold me a little baggie of gears, and we met int he Wegmans parking lot. It was skeavy and fun. NOW THERE ARE STEAMPUNK PART SUPPLIERS!
IT MAKES ME WANT TO PERMANENTLY TYPE IN CAPS!!!!1!!!
Anyway, I'm actually kind of proud for the fact that I hopped on the bandwagon before it was cool, so that I could hopefully ride this wave during its height of popularity for a while.
See you space cowboy......
And then it was brought to my attention that the Steampunk aesthetic approach is now becoming mainstream. My wife sent me a picture of the Victoria's Secret runway show on December 1st, and, well, I'll just show it to you. I don't think anyone will complain about looking at some models.
SHE IS STEAMPUNK!
She has the tuxedo-esque bustier with the forearm gloves!
AND LOOK AT THOSE WINGS! Brass gears with silver feathers! On top of that, this production has run me short on watch parts, so I looked online for some more. Last time I bought them, I had to hunt down an old man that bought and sold estates, and happened to buy one from a watch maker. He sold me a little baggie of gears, and we met int he Wegmans parking lot. It was skeavy and fun. NOW THERE ARE STEAMPUNK PART SUPPLIERS!
IT MAKES ME WANT TO PERMANENTLY TYPE IN CAPS!!!!1!!!
Anyway, I'm actually kind of proud for the fact that I hopped on the bandwagon before it was cool, so that I could hopefully ride this wave during its height of popularity for a while.
See you space cowboy......
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Been Busy
I have a feeling no one is reading this, so I'll write for sanity's sake. Lol.
So anyway, I've been very busy working on production pieces, as well as planning out my Chasing and Repousse assignment.
Production:
For the production assignment, I'm making about 13 pieces. 10 of which are Steampunk pendants, with custom clasps. 3 of the pieces are Steampunk ear rings. Here's a picture of those ear rings:
Chasing and Repousse:
For the chasing and repousse assignment, I was originally going to make a monicle. However, some recent literature that I have read changed my mind a bit. I am going to make a Memento Mori Candleholder. Memento Mori is a concept that dates back through all of human history, but picked up in importance in classical cultures, especially Rome (thus, the Latin wording). Memento Mori means "remember that you must die." It was a concept utilized by Romans to keep generals and other high-ranking officials modest. When a general accomplished something great, parades were done in their honor. However, the general would be followed by one or two servants that would say things like "Memento Mori," meaning "remember that you must die," as well as "Respice post te! Hominem te memento!" meaning "Look behind you! Remember that you are but a man!" Another common saying was "Sic transit gloria mundi" meaning "Thus passes the glory of the world." These sayings were uttered to keep the general modest and grounded to the fact that though he was celebrated in life today, tomorrow he will likely die in battle.
The concept of the Memento Mori was later adopted in Medieval Europe by the humble Christians. Tokens, often in the shapes of skulls, hourglasses, or bats, were carried to always remind the people of the impending end. The Grim Reaper is the most famous Memento Mori, in fact. The Christian adoption of Memento Mori lead to the celebration of Ash Wednesday, in which ashes are placed on the heads of worshippers. The common utterance is "ashes to ashes, dust to dust" meaning "from ashes, return ashes, from dust, return dust." We are born of the earth, and will return to it.
What I plan to do for my piece is a Memento Mori spanning centuries of humanity's fear of death. The piece will be a contemporary candleholder which serves the purpose of stacking candles (image below). This is a ritual done to show the passage of time, and the nearing of death. It will depict a somewhat Medieval style, showing the more Medieval interpretation of spiritual and religious devotion to death. The images around the candleholder will depict Ragnorok, which is the enevitable death of the Norse gods where Odin, Heimdall, Loki, Thor, and Freyr are all killed.
I figure, we're spanning about a thousand years there. The piece is being made now, using styles and concepts from 500 years ago, depicting a myth older that 1000 years ago.
Below are some pictures.
This is a stacked candle that I did when I was a teenager. It is a little over 2 feet tall, and contains over 100 candles. It took a little over a year to make.
This is a sketch of the base of the Memento Mori. It will have a domed top for the candle to rest. The front of the box will have an hour glass, and the two sides will have 2 battles of Ragnorok on each. Fenrir vs Odin, Freyr vs Surtr, Thor vs Jorgmundr, and Loki vs Heimdall.
It will be VERY basic, based on time. The back of the box will be blank for easy wall placement. It will be about 4 inches wide and 4 inches tall. Possibly smaller.
Sources:
Belanger, Michelle. Walking the Twilight Path: A Gothic Book of the
See you space cowboy......
So anyway, I've been very busy working on production pieces, as well as planning out my Chasing and Repousse assignment.
Production:
For the production assignment, I'm making about 13 pieces. 10 of which are Steampunk pendants, with custom clasps. 3 of the pieces are Steampunk ear rings. Here's a picture of those ear rings:
Chasing and Repousse:
For the chasing and repousse assignment, I was originally going to make a monicle. However, some recent literature that I have read changed my mind a bit. I am going to make a Memento Mori Candleholder. Memento Mori is a concept that dates back through all of human history, but picked up in importance in classical cultures, especially Rome (thus, the Latin wording). Memento Mori means "remember that you must die." It was a concept utilized by Romans to keep generals and other high-ranking officials modest. When a general accomplished something great, parades were done in their honor. However, the general would be followed by one or two servants that would say things like "Memento Mori," meaning "remember that you must die," as well as "Respice post te! Hominem te memento!" meaning "Look behind you! Remember that you are but a man!" Another common saying was "Sic transit gloria mundi" meaning "Thus passes the glory of the world." These sayings were uttered to keep the general modest and grounded to the fact that though he was celebrated in life today, tomorrow he will likely die in battle.
The concept of the Memento Mori was later adopted in Medieval Europe by the humble Christians. Tokens, often in the shapes of skulls, hourglasses, or bats, were carried to always remind the people of the impending end. The Grim Reaper is the most famous Memento Mori, in fact. The Christian adoption of Memento Mori lead to the celebration of Ash Wednesday, in which ashes are placed on the heads of worshippers. The common utterance is "ashes to ashes, dust to dust" meaning "from ashes, return ashes, from dust, return dust." We are born of the earth, and will return to it.
What I plan to do for my piece is a Memento Mori spanning centuries of humanity's fear of death. The piece will be a contemporary candleholder which serves the purpose of stacking candles (image below). This is a ritual done to show the passage of time, and the nearing of death. It will depict a somewhat Medieval style, showing the more Medieval interpretation of spiritual and religious devotion to death. The images around the candleholder will depict Ragnorok, which is the enevitable death of the Norse gods where Odin, Heimdall, Loki, Thor, and Freyr are all killed.
I figure, we're spanning about a thousand years there. The piece is being made now, using styles and concepts from 500 years ago, depicting a myth older that 1000 years ago.
Below are some pictures.
This is a stacked candle that I did when I was a teenager. It is a little over 2 feet tall, and contains over 100 candles. It took a little over a year to make.
This is a sketch of the base of the Memento Mori. It will have a domed top for the candle to rest. The front of the box will have an hour glass, and the two sides will have 2 battles of Ragnorok on each. Fenrir vs Odin, Freyr vs Surtr, Thor vs Jorgmundr, and Loki vs Heimdall.
It will be VERY basic, based on time. The back of the box will be blank for easy wall placement. It will be about 4 inches wide and 4 inches tall. Possibly smaller.
Sources:
Belanger, Michelle. Walking the Twilight Path: A Gothic Book of the
Dead. Llewellyn Publications, 2008. Print.Cotterell, Arthur. Ultimate Encyclopedia of Mythology. JG Press,
2008. Print.Keenan, Sheila. Gods, Goddesses, and Monsters: An Encyclopedia
Wikipedia
See you space cowboy......
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