ART 4975 Blog Expectations

 

Carlisle                                 ART 4975                                                                           SUMMER 2025

BLOG/SOURCEBOOK REQUIREMENTS

Utilizing a blog will allow your plans to move quickly into fruition by not spending entire class periods dedicated to idea generation.

It is your responsibility to check the blog for comments from your peers and critiques by Professor Carlisle.  (These will be in colored type) It is also your responsibility to alert Professor Carlisle if you have altered your blog, each time a change occurs. Email "Tag" to Professor Carlisle when you have altered your blog post.  

Professor Carlisle will do the same when she has responded to your post.

Weekly BLOG PARTICIPATION

• Blog each week on the same post per project-that is entitled your full name
• Inside Blog- 
•        Start from the Top Down..
•        Always list the date underlined to start
•       Make your images as large as they will go.
•       You will create a new post for each project.
•        Due every Sunday by 5pm

Treat it as a journal so you are blogging about aha moments, things you are thinking about and sketches to share. Add images of artist's work that you really like. Maybe you have found something not on a list given to you- share it.

# of words is not important for weekly blog posts, but the post should take time and be thoughtful.

See examples below.

Project Idea BLOG PARTICIPATION

Required :

• ·                     post listed with your name  ex.:   Ashley Carlisle_Project name

  ·                     In-class and homework sketches- Quality of images is important- take care in this- practice for  your own blog/Instagram, etc. one day.!

  ·                     Attached images of artist images (artists should be from AHC list, Art 4330 should have new artists placed here)Write about who they are, where are they from, what is their work about? Why have you chosen them?

  ·                     Writing- At least 350 words required to describe the idea. Paint a picture in words of what your piece will strive to express.  Write text in Word to count words used. *This is a practical application in that most art calls have a limited word statement that must supplement images submitted. Do not describe the process of making- focus on ideas.

  ·                     After a deadline to blog- if you comment you are asked to email Professor Carlisle with the subject line " tag you're it". This will alert Professor Carlisle that you have updated your blog.  She will do the same after she has commented.

• To bring your post to the top of the blog:

• When you are finished with your post, navigate to the right panel where it says: Published on. Click here and click on Automatic and then hit the Update button. 

Student Blog Examples:

Kate Tucker

Jacob Harkins

Go larger in your sketches. Give it a ground plane in another drawing and draw it at an angle.  THis is especially where you excel. You should due exhibiting your drawings of your sculpture.

         My original concept was to play on my ideas for fantasy and do this one winged miss-shaped angle form with a human face. However, after playing with my mockett I've decided to use the basic shape of my previous idea and create drawing of human emotion and how the arching form can resemble a humans character arc. The adjacent arch is show one of the commonly desired character arches while the main body will depict the start of human emotion development...peek at the climax where the arc then separates into two arcs one of a desired outcome and one that depicts the emotional struggles of staying on a linear course and ending up in an emotional depraved state.

At least 350 words..put this in Word..it is 118 words.  I ask for at least 350 because we are attempting to have a conversation about your idea. This allows me to have enough to respond to.  I think the form itself is lovely- why the face though?  Why give it a recognizable attribute? I think this may be two different pieces? Especially as one of your peers has added a face to his piece- how do you exhibit YOUR idea but set yourself apart from the artists around you?  This form is you. Go with this.

ARTIST INSPIRATION:

Odine Lang    beautiful work!  LOve the color and lack of color!

The piece above inspires me to use wax and yarn together.  The way something as delicate as a leaf can be welded together with crochet lace emphasizes the materiality of each material, which is something I want to replicate in my work and this piece specifically. Love this work! So delicate.

Shantel Wright
These are just examples of some "styles" I've been looking at. I love the first "ragged-ish" one, but not looking to go quite that rough.

I have been extremely inspired for some time by artists that use animal imagery figuratively to express human emotion, and those that push the sculptural qualities of the animal body.

Ellen Jewett

I love the elegance of these even with the visual roughness from a distance.

Beth Cavener-Stitcher

I want this type of emotion in the piece below..

Erika Sanada



Jane Alexander

Love these forms! The simplified nature of the figures as well as their interaction with each other.

Ishibashi Yui

 

Madelynn Kulmus - Project #1

June 16 

After our first discussion and some in depth research, I knew I wanted to start with something rooted in nature, but also have an abstract feel. I was drawn to the idea of working with organic shapes, something that felt alive and maybe even a little strange. I have always strived to create pieces that feel and look unique. When I came across the work of Andrea Graham, I started to get inspired. Her sculptures are very bold and textured, and they somehow feel like they could exist in nature, even though they clearly don’t. That balance between familiar and otherworldly really stuck with me.

So, I started sketching and playing with forms that felt like pods or vessels, things that could be growing or transforming. I ended up designing three different kinds of pods, each with its own personality. The yellow pod is how this cocoon starts off. Then it transitions into the blue and orange and finally finishes as a completely open pod. I imagined these as abstract life forms, part seed, creature, and cocoon. They're not meant to be realistic, but they’re definitely meant to feel alive in some aspect.

Color became a huge part of the process too. I went to Hobby Lobby in search of felt and found a pack of bright and vibrant colors. Personally, I enjoy using lively colors in my pieces to make them stand out and look unique. The contrast between the colors that I use in my sketch helps emphasize the shapes and textures, and I think it gives them a sense of movement or energy, even when they’re still.

I also thought a lot about how these forms would be displayed. I couldn’t decide whether to make one large, grounded piece or several smaller ones that hang from above. The hanging pods feel delicate, almost like specimens or suspended creatures/plants. But the idea of one large pod has more weight and presence. I’m still figuring that part out, but both options help express themes of growth, mystery, and transformation.

Overall, this piece became a way for me to explore organic forms with a surreal twist, something that feels like it belongs in nature, even if it’s imagined.

ARTIST INSPIRATION: Andrea Graham

June 22

Here is the first update on my naturalistic/abstract subject. I like to think of this creation as an alien plant/cocoon. So far, I have gotten a nice base shape and the form is firm. I have been layering thin wafts of felt to create the form. This has been creating the depth and roundness I want in my pod. The form is a tad off from my sketch but I do plan on filling out the green portion and turquoise parts. After I fill out the pod shape I plan on adding purple spots like designed in the sketch. I also may create a seed to go inside either the green portion or the blue depending on the time it takes to create the main form. 

June 29

I am nearly done with the plant/cocoon now, the base is done. While finishing the base form, I added a hole in the side to add to the abstract and alien feel. I don’t think I am going to add the purple spots to my piece due to time limitations. However, I am going to add the wispy felt to the bottom hole and possibly in the smaller hole. I also want to fix the upper stem portion by making it thicker because it still feels flat. I haven’t used only felt to create the shape before, so I think it's looking really alive. When I first did felt I used a styrofoam base and added felt to that. Overall, I really enjoy how this piece is turning out. 

June 30

Final Piece!

July 2 

Self-Assessment Questions

1. Artist Influence
   I drew inspiration from Andrea Graham for this piece. I was especially taken by her use of texture, bold organic shapes, and the way her work feels like it could exist in nature, but doesn’t. I was really interested in that in-between space she creates, where her sculptures feel both real and surreal. I took that idea and translated it into something that feels alive but not tied to any specific species or environment. My pods are imagined life forms, part seed, part cocoon, maybe even part creature. While her work inspired the tone and direction, I made it my own through my use of bright, saturated colors and by exploring a personal transformation theme across the pod stages. Eventually, I would like to create the other two plant/cocoon stages.
2. Technical Growth
   This was my first time sculpting an entire form using only felt, without relying on a styrofoam base. That was a big shift for me, and I think it pushed my skills quite a bit. I used thin layers of felt to build shape and volume, learning how to create depth and roundness through careful layering and shaping. It was challenging at times, especially when the form wasn’t matching the sketch exactly, but I adjusted as I went. I also explored adding openings and more abstract features to suggest movement and life. Looking back, I see growth in how confidently I handled the medium especially in shaping and firming the structure.
3. Material Relationship
   This piece is made entirely from felt, so the relationship between fiber and form became really important. I paid a lot of attention to how the texture and softness of the felt could enhance the organic and otherworldly feel I wanted. I used contrasting colors and varying thicknesses to emphasize certain features and suggest natural transformation. Even though I didn’t end up adding other materials, I considered texture, weight, and structure at every stage especially in making sure the piece held its shape while still feeling soft and alive.
4. Conceptual Development
   The main idea behind this piece was transformation, like a life form evolving or coming into being. However, due to the time limit, I decided to only create the last stage, the green and turquoise pod. I imagined this piece as a kind of alien plant or cocoon, something suspended between natural and imagined worlds. The final sculpture includes an additional side opening and an inner space, which I think really supports that idea. I also made sure to keep the waft of felt in the bottom hole of the pod. I knew this slight addition would definitely make my piece feel alive. This piece may not tell a literal story yet, but I think the abstract, surreal quality invites viewers to interpret their own meaning, which feels true to the concept I had in mind.
5. Craft and Detail
   I feel really proud of the care I put into constructing this piece. Even though I had to cut a few elements, like the purple spots and possible seed due to time constraints, I made sure that the details I did include were thoughtful and well executed. I chose a color palette that was vibrant and intentional, pulled from my sketch and materials I sourced myself. The transition from green to turquoise is carefully placed and is true to the original sketch. I also paid attention to scale and form stability, especially as I shaped the upper stem and reinforced weak areas. Overall, I think the craftsmanship shows my attention to both design and detail.

Keeley Hagen – Summer Independent Study

 06/30/25:

School Research:

Maryland Institute College of Art:

- Multidisciplinary, 2-year program with a small cohort (6-8). Has a little bit of funding but costs around 40k. The first round deadline is January 19th. 

Yale University: 

- Multidisciplinary, 10 students, 2-year program, but no facilities for metal casting or ceramics. I don't connect with any of the faculty's work, so this is a big no. 

Statement of Intent:

I intend to focus on some of the schools I researched last year and spent time further researching their faculty and alumni. I then went through all of their application requirements with a focus on their statement sections, so I can begin writing those papers in advance and get some feedback on those. The requirements for each school are all over the place, but range from short statements to 2-page statements, and they all require pretty much the same details.             

ASU: address artistic interests, why this program, and professional goals. 1000 word limit

UGA: Describe focus of research, why this program, and what I intend to accomplish. 1-2 pages

MU: goals for graduate study and description of current work

KU: goals for graduate study and wants me to specify the area of study. 1-2 pages

OU: goals for graduate study, why this program, and priorities specific to my work/research. 2-page limit

Kent: Goal statement- goals for graduate study and why this program (250-500 words) AND artist statement (250-500 words)

JMU: Artist statement (300-500 words) AND Statement of intent (300-500 words)

MICA: address portfolio of work and goals for the graduate study (300-500 words)

Project Plans and Sketches:

6/17/25

Paper & Steel #1:

I plan to utilize paper casting techniques, dry-brushing, and fiber inclusions for the paper portion of this piece. I've also been considering changing the soft material to fabric. I'll do some experimentation with both to decide which one I like better or fits the concept better. For the steel, I have some small pieces already plasma-cut that just need to be formed using blacksmithing techniques. Since I have a bit more time under my belt, I might expand the scale on this piece. The only things I need to consider are finishes for the metal, like what kind of patinas I should pursue to achieve a pink/skin tone kind of color, and how these pieces are going to fit together and ultimately stand. I want this piece to be in the round and on a pedestal. 

Artist Inspiration:

• Eileen O'Shea website – Instagram:
• A jewelry designer based in Washington who utilizes natural forms like lichen, moss, and fungi to influence the forms and color within her work. I really enjoyed and found inspiration by looking through her Instagram because it showed more experimentation and progress updates on her sculptural pieces. 

• Cal Lane website – Instagram
• For almost every sculptural project I set out to do, Cal Lane is a driving influence behind it. I really enjoy the way she combines fancy and light objects with steel and plasma cutting. I find that her messages and materials sort of align with me own. 

Paper & Steel #2:

This project is absolutely going to require the entire summer to complete. I intend to cast a variety of teeth in paper to create a plant-like hanging sculpture. I'm still trying to figure out a color palette, if one is needed. I think this piece isn't like anything else in my portfolio, so I am trying to figure out where this might be headed. I want to weld and fabricate a steel armature with forged ends that look like tendrils coming out of the paper elements. The paper-casting is going to require the most time, and I might be incorporating some of the cast metal teeth I've made throughout the last year. 

Artist Inspo:

• Naja Utzon Popov: website – Instagram
• Popov mostly works in ceramics and textiles in response to the natural world around her. She mostly creates site-specific sculptures and rugs. I connect with her hanging forms that replicate plant life and show gravity. I want to see how I can take that inspiration and combine it with my more quiet yet morbid and grotesque style of work.

• Ann Goddard: website - Instagram
• Ann Goddard's use of material and experimentation is inspiring to me. I really enjoy the works that have little tendrils of material extending from the main body of the object and want to take some inspiration from that. I also really enjoy the finish or treatment in her paper pieces. 

Component Piece:

Still working on ideas!

Fabric & Found Object Piece:

After many conversations about how to approach this piece, I think I want to replicate this object in interfacing and fabric. I want to recreate this object at the same scale or a little larger, but with fabric and then bead over specific points of the piece. I need to figure out how to make this object stand or hang on a wall. It might also be fun to cast fabric off of specific portions of the speculum with more shear fabrics or even knit thread. 

Artist Inspo:

• Kathleen Ryan: website - instagram
• Ryan is interested in utilizing mundane everyday objects with the meticulous craft of beading to explore ideas surrounding seduction and repulsion while also touching upon the idea of life and death. Ryan's beadwork is captivating and truly an inspiration to me, and I want to take inspiration from her use of color and texture to replicate naturalistic forms of decay or grotesque images. 

• Lorenzo Nanni: website - instagram
• Nanni utilized fabrics, fibers, and beadwork to depict organisms and extensions of the human body while also making some of his works feel and look alive. I really enjoy Nanni's use of color and find similarities within both of our chosen color palettes. He is mostly within my inspiration for his forms, beadwork, and textures he achieves. 

 Overall Goals

Projects:

June: Place finishing touches on all works created during the spring and take photos 

• Finish beading found object piece and add more fabric dripping onto floor. Get rid of the fabric rings
• Clean up paper on knit still piece and epoxy in hanging hardware of some kind. Dry brush and finish detailing said paper. 
• Continue to photograph the wood and fiber piece, and possibly add more components to it.
• Consistently make smaller things for the farmer's market!

Gather materials and begin planning out 3 major projects for the rest of the summer with deadlines and updates. 

July:

• Begin and complete paper and steel piece with fiber inclusions
• Begin and complete a component piece
• Begin cast paper teeth piece

August:

• Begin and complete the found object and fabric piece
• Finish the cast paper teeth piece. 

Graduate School Research:

Schools I've previously researched:

• Arizona State University
• 3-year program,  sculpture and multidisciplinary, has some funding, 18,600 per semester
• University of Georgia, Athens
• 3-year program, sculpture/multidisciplinary, fully funded
• University of Missouri
• 3-year program, sculpture, fully funded options, 12,500 per semester
• University of Kansas
• 3-year program, sculpture, liked the professor's work, funding?, 37,500 per semester
• Oregon State University
• 3-year program, sculpture, funding?, 9,000 per semester
• Kent State University 
• 3-year program, sculpture/multidisciplinary, TA stipend, 40k per year
• James Madison University
• 3-year program, sculpture, tiny cohort, funding?, 77k per year

Schools I still want to look into:

• 
  

Graduate School Requirements:

(Highlight once complete for all schools applying to)

• 20 Images of work
• List of Works – Title, medium, size, date
• 3 Letters of Recommendation
• Statement of Intent and/or Artist Statement
• Resume/CV
• Transcripts