The Cupcake Model Exercise - sorry, not for eating.

In week 2 of our studio study, we conducted a "cupcake model exercise". In this exercise, we aim to produce 25 models cupcake sized models based on a chosen artist. I took inspiration from the watercolour paintings of John Ruskin and the material/texture preferences of Kelly Wearstler.

John Ruskin (8 February 1819 – 20 January 1900) was the leading English art critic of the Victoria era, as well as an art patron, draughtsman, watercolourist, a prominent social thinker and philanthropist. He wrote on subjects as varied as geology, architecture, myth, ornithology, literature, education, botany and political economy ("John Ruskin", n.d.).

Kelly Wearstler, on the other hand, is one of my favourite designer. She has a very interesting approach twoards interior, product, and furniture designs. In her book of the Modern Glamour: The Art of Unexpected Styles, she mentioned "living without colour is like living without love" and "Everything is about colour, if you look at magazines and advertising and televisions, the thing you remember is the colour" (Wearstler, 2004). She creatively uses colour, textures and patterns to generate captivating atmosphere and experience, whether it is a wall paper design or a full blown Hilton hotel make over. This lady is all about mix and match different eras, diverse textures, unlike shapes and forms, unusual colour combinations. She is constantly being curious and create unexpected styles. She never fails to impress her audience.

From researches on these two very different people from unrelated time periods of history. I have chosen some commonality for my own studio practice this semester. They both use earthy, rich, high saturated colours, as well as light, low hued tones. I selected two main coloured materials for the models, mustard tan colour cow hide leather and duck egg blued linen. These two materials have very different properties and characteristics. Here are what I have produced.

References

1. John Ruskin. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrived 24 July, 2018, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ruskin

2. Wearstler, K. (2004). Modern glamour. New York: Harper Collins