First Ideas

I wish to capture nature and harsh lines architecture melting together. The first picture I took was at the RPI campus. Here I saw the glass EMPAC building fade into the sunset and reflect the natural beauty. I  was amazed that the modern building so effortlessly flowed into landscape. I wanted to compare these geometric lines of modern buildings to the organic free flowing lines of trees. I have decided that I want to play with scale and create a landscape on canvas with a normal scale with different Plexiglas object and play with the refection and scale of different objects in the painting. For example painting picture 2 and other pieces from picture three and arrange them outside the painting.

Picture 1: RPI EMPAC

Picture 2: A tree in Suzhou 

Picture 3: Landscape Suzhou

Project

I have started to sketch out ideas on how to fit the different elements together, however I am currently working sketches for a more traditional landscape in watercolor. I want to do this piece in a traditional Hudson River School style, but with a more modern twist that will allow me more freedom in the subject matter. I still want make this piece realistic and bring in some of the soft colors and strong composition that Hudson River School is famous for. I want to explore watercolor because it will allow me more room to experiment with new techniques.

Project Proposal

For my project I would like to combine paintings with sculpture. I would like to blend the natural world into the architecture and create a piece that starts on canvas and then is pulled into 3D components. I would like to create a tree inspired sculpture with plexiglas leaves or lanterns. This way I could merge the organic shape of the tree with the industrial feeling of modern society. I would use acrylic paint on the plexiglass to make different scenes of animals and nature combined with architecture. I wish to paint on the plexiglass because it shows the different layers of the paint. I want to start by exploring different mediums for sculpture and see how the different elements work together. I hope the viewer will be able to connect to the piece and feel as if they are standing in a dream.