Faceless Portraits

Ever since I was young I've loved making handmade gifts.  Paintings, drawings, mosaic pieces & personal photographs are my go to pieces.  Having somewhat of a talent comes in handy when money is tight and you have a bunch of people to shop for during the holidays.  Thankfully, my friends and family are super appreciative of handmade items and it always makes me feel great seeing a personal piece bring a smile to their faces. 

This year I experimented with watercolor pencils to create portraits ..of the faceless variety..

 

I started playing around with pictures of myself.  Sketching out the figure and creating a focus on the clothing as if it were a fashion sketch.  I liked the look without facial features and realized you could still tell who it is. 

 

 

Friends started requesting drawings of themselves from memorable events we've had together.  Focusing on body characteristics, clothing & hair gives the impression of each person even without the literal eyes, mouth and nose.

 

 

 

Tried my sketching skills on images of my cousins from a day at the beach.  Realized that even without facial imagery, there is still emotion portrayed in each.  These became a gift for their mom (my cousin) for her birthday and she absolutely loved them! She knew exactly which photographs they were referencing.  

 

 

 

Being able to infuse emotion into these, I noticed that a sense of playfulness was a nice touch.  The one above is of a friend & I on a trip acting super touristy, peace sign & large camera in hand.  It really portrays the humor of the moment.    

 

 

 

 

This Christmas, I decided to do personalized pieces for most of my friends.  They became intimate 'photographs' of them and myself as a creative memory.  A little bit of a time (and nice frames from the dollar store) lead to some pretty sweet gifts ;)  

 

 

New Design Will...

I just created a new blog post on "My Life After Copenhagen" about things turning around specifically the fact that I have 3 potential clients to design spaces for and a new job that begins next week.  While these endeavors are extremely exciting, I am super nervous.  I honestly don't know where to start with these 'clients'.  Right now, it's kind of exciting just to say that word :)  Right after I clicked publish post on the other blog, I got a phone call from yet another potential client in Queens who wants to design their newly finished basement and I'm meeting with them next weekend.  This seems so surreal.  Although I went to school for interior architecture and I prefer the architectural side of things, interior design and decorating could open doors for me... who knows.  My new design life is sure to be super busy if these jobs work out.  Not only will I be working full time, but I will have 3 families looking for my assistance.  Why is it that everything happens at once?  Wish me luck!

Inspiration

So being that a blog is highly public, I don't feel comfortable posting my actual design ideas or hand drawn plans (just in case some of you are a tad insane and try to steal :-P).  However, here are a few images and spaces that have inspired me:

This image truly relates to my idea of an activity landscape indoors.  However, it doesn't account for those who are physically disabled.  I want to take the ideas of movement, play, interactions, and fun into a space that functions for physically disabled children without losing any of the qualities shown above. 

   

   

   

One of my goals is to create different scales of space, one being a type of treehouse-esque space with different levels of inhabitation that houses activities like play and crafts.

Because there are two areas on the building where roof top gardens could be added, I am starting to research roof gardens and aspects that will cater to the physically disabled like container gardens where they can learn about growing their own food and where wheelchairs can pull up near and under.

Since one of my goals with this activity landscape is to stimulate movement, development, thought, fun, etc, I am starting to look at how pattern and light could stimulate the children without being overwhelming. 

   

Architectural Gem in Manhattan

Last week, I had the opportunity to go see the site I'm using for my thesis project at 87 Lafayette Street.  Unfortunately, all I was able to get were some exterior photographs.  However, I contacted the company that now owns it and was able to take a look inside this past Thursday.  It truly is an architectural beauty.  While it is surrounded by steel and glass skyscrapers and concrete block buildings, it certainly holds it's own and has done so since 1895.  Originally a fire house built by Napoleon Le Brun & Sons, it now houses DCTV which is a media production educational facility.  The plaque above the entry says, "Today it seems surprising that such an elaborate design would be used for so utilitarian a structure.  The entire spirit of the building - with it's corner tower, steep roof, dormers, and stone and iron crestings - recalls a romantic fairy tale." While that description is perfect for the exterior, the interior is a bit different.  The building has housed multiple functions and companies since its construction and has undergone some changes on the interior.  Upon entering, the first floor is basically stripped to the bone except for the central entry/circulation space that includes the elevator and stairs.  Half of the first floor is unoccupied and used for storage and the other half is for parking.  Yes, I said parking.  I know parking in New York city is hard to find but I feel like parking your car in such a beautiful building is somewhat rude even though it's original intention was for firetrucks.  Either way, the first floor is not fully utilized.  The second and third floors are fully occupied and packed with small rooms and cubicles.  Walls and floors have been changed and added over the years, creating a mish-mosh of spaces.  While they are doing their best to create individual class rooms/media rooms, it feels a bit unorganized.  On the third floor, there is an original fire pole coming down from the small fourth floor near the old metal staircase.  Seeing these original details, along with the italian slate roof and hard wood floors, made me realize that this building is truly special.  Although I wasn't able to see the tiny fourth floor, I was sold.  All of the original details create a comfortable atmosphere almost like you're walking into a home.  This is aided by the pitched rood, dormers, and materials.  Choosing a building with character, a sense of comfort, and a 'fairy tale' quality all support some of my thesis ideas regarding creating an activity center for physically disabled children.  Creating a sense of normalcy in a space that feels like home yet has some fantastical characteristics will all aid in my design process.

                                             

     

Architecture vs. Sculpture

 " It is perfectly legitimate to create volumes whose spatial confines have an expressive function, and that is precisely the function of architecture, which is an art of hollows.  The specifically plastic sensibility involves three factors: a sensational awareness of the tactile quality of surfaces; a sensational awareness of volume or the mass encompassed by the integrated series of plane surfaces; and an acceptable sensation of the ponderability or gravity of the mass, i.e. an agreement between the appearance and the weight of the mass.  The 'language of space'... " - Herbert Reade, Modern Sculpture.

The development of architecture, sculpture, interior design, painting, etc, all deal with a sense of space whether 2D or 3D.  A sense of the physicality and balance of the piece becomes a key factor in its creation.  It's interesting to look at how the many disciplines within the broad field of design start to speak to each other and use the same language but create such varied works....

Gathering Activity Center

Being that it is my senior year, a thesis project seems to be the main focus.  With a theme of surplus hovering over my every move, this could get a bit tricky.  We had to come up with our own thesis project with the driving theme of surplus and our own definitions and research of it.  I won't bore you with the factual and interpretational aspects of it though.  I'll just jump to my conept for my thesis: a gathering activity center for physcially disabled children.  Sure, it may sound like a boring project that may focus on healthcare and toys.  However, it will be challenging because of the direction I plan on pushing it. While it will have a fairly simple program of healthcare facilities, a gym, playrooms, and classrooms, I plan on overlaying program dealing with development and creating a sense of normalcy.  This may include a theater/auditorium, a pool area, a garden, kitchen spaces, craft rooms, etc.  The goal is to create a space that focuses on creating a sense of normalcy for these children through spatial transitions, adaptability/flexibility, and levels of inhabitation.  My main idea deals with the interpretation of a playground.  A playground is a symbol of childhood play and activity.  However, physically disabled children can not utilize most of what a playground offers.  So the idea is to translate the idea of a playground into an activity landscape within a building.  

As for my inspiration,  I have to give credit to my cousin Emma.  She was born with spina bifida which deals with the exposure of the spine when born.  This can lead to many medical complications and often problems with mobility.  After interviewing her parents, teachers, and therapists I have begun to get a feeling for what they want and need and what seems to be lacking in spaces that exist today.  While this may sound somewhat boring to some of you, it is making me really excited.  I not only get to create the guidelines for my own project but I have a client, a site, a program, and motivation.  What more can I ask for? ...  

Creating a Sequel Blog

Hey there! This blog will be dedicated to all things design.  Unlike my other blog, My Life After Copenhagen, this one is geared towards my life as a student and designer.  I won't be posting about my worries or stresses and I won't be talking about serious life questions (unless they pertain to design).  This is an attempt to separate my personal journal-esque posts from my posts about interior design/architecture/art.  I hope you enjoy! blog topic suggestions are much appreciated :-)