SKILL LAB

What are the most effective ways to externalize and materialize complex emotional phenomena (such as imposter syndrome, default guilt, and alexithymia) through physical art forms like soft sculpture/plushies, in a way that aligns with my personal artistic expression and emotional experience? I had to relearn a lot of sewing skills and make a test dummy first in order to try them out. Lots of mishaps but in the end I'm happy with it.

How can memory, generational trauma, and national identity be expressed through re-imagined wartime portraits, where the absurdity and tragedy of war are heightened by replacing human figures with simplified cartoon cats? By contrasting innocence and brutality, cartoon simplicity and historical realism, my work seeks to explore how the past continues to shape the present, how empathy transcends lived experience, and how remembrance can become both an act of mourning and of pride.

The prompt was to draw two people eating at an all-you-can-eat buffet, located underwater, celebrating your birthday. This was made with cardboard, purple glue stick glue, colored pencils of varying sizes, one pencil, and 3 stickers. The “all you can eat buffet” is the accumulated marine snow on the sea floor and the “birthday cake” is a pile of marine snow. You can have as much marine snow as you want! I had to put them in deep sea exploration suits because they'd immediately die from the pressure, but I think you can still celebrate and/or eat in them. No hot glue, so I had to carve holes into the cardboard to slot in pieces and use my purple glue stick. It was a time limited ordeal, so no process photos. Very fun to make!

A cat paw on denim pants. Her name is Vitani.

This was inspired by previous prints made a few years before (pictured in the third and fourth photos). Practicing planning, carving, and printing.

Practicing different skills and subjects digitally with a focus on range.

The picture I painted this based off of was taken at Foxton Beach, Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand. The van on the right actually got stuck in the sand on the beach and had to get towed out!

Two small poseable sculptures. Materials: three types of yarn, sculpey clay, acrylic paint, doll clothing.

Large poseable sculpture. Materials: two types of yarn, sculpey clay, acrylic paint, recycled batting, decorative jewelry chains, flower picture charm

8.5" by 6" art piece applied onto a spray-paint can, originally in digital format. Inspired by the Young Poland (Młoda Polska) modernest period. Materials: paper, ink, spray modge-podge, glue, spray paint can

Practicing different skills and subjects with basic pencil and paper.

October 2-31 with some missing days.

Digital, 2353 × 3277. I love the rugs and the atmosphere is charming.