Abstract Book and Serial Planes

Phase A: Altered Books:
 

     

    The initial phase of this project was to take a book and turn it into an art form that didn't resemble a book anymore.  I first started this project by researching ideas/ and previous artwork done with books.  Using google, I was able to see a variety of work with the altering of books, but none that exactly sparked my interest.  After sitting down and sketching ideas, I came up with the main idea of having a book which contained no pages.  The book would appear as if the pages had been blown out of it

         After getting a decent sketch down, I started to cut and alter my book.  I chose a hard cover so I could create something free standing (using the hard edges to prop the book up).  I soon noticed that my plan wasn't going to be as easy as I thought.  Not only was it hard to control how many pages my blade went through, but the cover of the book was also very fragile.  Soon enough.. my plan was flawed when a cover piece broke off completely.
          From here I decided to alter my plan and go back to the sketchbook.  My design no longer would create an X with the cover in order to keep it open.  My new design would keep the book propped up as if it were in a bookshelf ... or put against the wall.  The four legs (left) of the cover would keep it standing, resembling a flat V on the tabletop.  After I defeated the main difficulty of keeping it standing, the rest was simply tedious work of bending and folding pages in order to create an abstract "blown out" feeling.  After cutting through the entire book and folding for what seemed an eternity, I finally came out with a successful abstract piece.

Phase B: White Serial Planes Sculpture/ Object

          With Phase B, we were instructed to create a serial planes project out of foam board.  The purpose of this project was to satisfy a scale of 12 x 12 inches.   When I first started this project, I instantly began to think about structures outside of skyscrapers.  Something modern, sleek, and big in scale.  After researching "serial planes" through google, I decided to sit down and sketch ideas.
         After a few trial errors, I finally came up with a design I was satisfied with.  The sketch was built off of several ideas.  The main piece of the structure would resemble my desk at home, which also resembles a painting palette.  This piece would be angled by three curvilinear triangles.  
         When the main structure of the piece was complete, I decided it also needed an extra touch.  I then created a base which looked like streaks and blobs of paint.  I then made slits o the main "paint palette" piece in order to give it a modern look (and allow for a more see through appearance).  I found cutting slits like this (and cutting foam board in general) very difficult.  It was hard to be accurate and smooth with the cutting blade.  I also added to the piece by cutting out flat shapes (triangles and squares mostly) and gluing them above the cut slits.
          When all the pieces were complete, the three triangles were slid into the base.. and the palette was placed at a secure angle.  Overall I think the piece was successful in scale and in abstract form.