Unconventional Self Portrait

22.8.2014, Week 1

2-Dimensional Design

Semester 2 is finally here and we already have our first assignment; Unconventional Self-Portrait. Ms. Lisa wasn't able to come to our first day of class because she's not around at the moment. She did gave us assignment through facebook to do. This assignment is a 2 weeks time.

I sketch out my ideas to show her on week 2.

However, Ms. Lisa told us that she wanted us to do our Unconventional Self-Portrait somehow 3D. I had to change my ideas all over again. It was a bit challenging for me to think of something in 3D as I hardly do that. It took me quite some times until I was managed to came with an idea.

This is just my rough sketch idea.

Ms. Lisa like the my idea and I got her approval.

My progression:

The mannequin 

I measured the container I bought before I did the mannequin to make sure it fits perfectly. 

 This is the stand for the mannequin.

I just use a stick and some wires.

Making the base for the mannequin.

I just use mounting board and some foam which I found laying around the house,

After some minor adjustment, the stand is complete.

Now, for the mannequin body shape.

It was a bit hard at first because I wasn't able to construct it the way I wanted it to be. But after a few hours later, I started the know what to do. By using mounting board, I did the base of each of the mannequin shape would looked like and I divided into 5 parts. Each side of the parts, I’ve measured where the holes for the wires to go through. 

 After I’ve managed to connect the stand with the body, I’ve finally done with my mannequin. 

 I sprayed both of the container cap and the mannequin black

 And I'm done with the mannequin.

Butterfly dress:

I was inspired by the butterfly dress I seen since my younger days and always wanted to do my very own style. Because of my obsession with butterfly, I decided to dress up my mannequin with a butterfly dress for this assignment. 

colouring the butterfly wings I drew. 

I did a bunch of the butterfly wings in different shape and sizes. 

Because the wings I made is flat, I wanted to create volume underneath so I cover with some black tissue paper.

 time to stick the wings onto the dress.

 For the top of the dress, I cut some of the wings.

The completed butterfly dress,

The roses:

 for the rose, I discovered an easy technique to do.

The final outcome:

(It was a bit hard to put into the jar since the dress are too volume.)

When we were asked to do unconventional self-portraits, I keep on thinking what should I do? What represent me? It was difficult because there times people see you the way u didn’t notice about yourself. 

I will know explain what I did for my self-portrait for this semester. 

The mannequin is part of the fashion industry when doing clothing, a doll with a perfect figure shape, a shape everyone wanted to become, a shape we all have in common. It works differently on different people. As for me, it would be due to the fashion industry and I always wanted one. 

I love butterfly, because they symbolized a powerful transformation and it’s true. From a fat caterpillar, into a beautiful butterfly. It makes me believe that everyone can be beautiful too. I’ve colour the wings purple because it my favorite colour and it hold a lot of meaning such as royalty, nobility, luxury, power, and ambition. 

As for the roses, different colour of rose holds different meanings. The colour I chose also represents emotions.  

As for the jar, it’s actually a part of my life, even since I was small, I have a lot of restriction from my parents, for example, I can’t go out to the playground with my friends to play, I can’t even go outing with my friends. It’s not that I’m complaining, I understand they don’t want me to be involve with something like that as I was still a child. Even now I’ve grown up , I still have curfew. I’m not really completely free but not completely caged either. That’s why the jar is transparent. It’s a part of my life. 

Presentation day:

During the presentation day, I was so nervous until I can’t speak at all and I’d embarrassed myself in front of the class. It was the first presentation for semester 2 and I messed up pretty bad. Even Ms. Lisa told me to work on my speech better in the future. 

This assignment was fun and I enjoyed doing the butterfly dress the most, rather than doing the mannequin. It was good experience, doing something on 3D. I haven’t craft for so long and this makes me realise how fun it was again.