Hello! My name is Amanda, but I often go by Mandy. I’m from southern New Hampshire, about an hour away from campus. For me, art is a hobby, a de-stressor, and sometimes a good coping mechanism. As for art in my life goals, I hope to always continue creating and learning about new ways to make art because it’s a much larger world than I realize. My experience with traditional art is stronger than my digital, I took a few drawing and pottery classes in high school and really enjoyed them. I got a few awards for some of my pieces, as well, and it was a fun opportunity to see others enjoy my art on display. I also did theater in high school, but more for the people than the actual theater. I took a digital art class here at WPI and it was pretty fun but mostly when I basically turned the assignment into drawing on a tablet. I also got to take Art in the Makerspace this past year, using the laser cutter to make things. At first I kind of felt like a cheat, I guess for not being the one to physically carve out my designs, but the finished products are always way more than just the laser cut pieces. I gravitate more towards traditional art, but I have insane respect for all these new (and old) technological aspects people are using in their work, like we get to witness this new era as it forms. I have basic knowledge of programming, but not enough currently to do much with it. I know how to solder, and I took the ECE intro course so in theory I have some basic knowledge of circuits and how they work. My lack of knowledge in these areas will only hold me back in the ideas stage of projects, however, as I won’t know what is even possible to create. Once I get excited about the concept of a final product, however, that excitement carries over into whatever steps I need to take or new skills I need to learn to get there. Some artists that I love:
KAZLAND, kazlandart.co.uk
He makes these amazing abstract paintings with fantastic composition and utilizes depth in a way I find really enticing.
Heather Hansen, heatherhansen.net
She’s a performance artist that makes these large black and white charcoal pieces that come out with such a symmetrical and almost geometric look because of the way she uses her entire body in the creation process.
Ted Chiang
Ok hear me out, he’s an author, and I bought two books of his science fiction short stories this summer, but after reading them I would absolutely consider them art. He writes these short stories like they’re fables, but instead of teaching lessons about morals, it touches on some interesting philosophical concepts. If you have seen the movie Arrival, it was based off of one of his stories. If I had to make a list of the top 10 greatest people alive right now, he would be on my list no question, so maybe I am just including him because I want to share my joy in his work and I’m a bit biased but I consider his skills with words to be an art.
Cute! I love the Tangled-themed lamp. The usage of different materials to get different levels of light is such a good idea. I especially love the side with Rapunzel and Eugene on the boat underneath all the lanterns. The laser cutting may have felt like cheating but I imagine it would be an incredibly painstaking process to get that level of detail by hand.
Colorful. I like your use of colors on the hand and the Borns works of art. I like how the colors through the background of the BORNS piece are melted together, but when it come to the face it’s white and black. The hand rocks, I love the choice of vibrant colors to construct a realistic looking hand. The use of a single color for a background complements the outline of the hand.
Colorful! You have pieces that vary from using lots of color to being monochromatic. I appreciate how deliberately you use your colors or the lack there of to define and strengthen your pieces.
Colorful! I really like the piece with the different sheets of colored paper all cut differently and layered to create the hand. I think this is a very unique method and also like the laser cut lamp. I really like the affects of the light coming through the lamp and how the light was diffused through it.
Colorful! I especially like your piece with the hand, the use of color and depth is very descriptive and reminds me of topographical maps. I also love the lamps you made, the different warm shades they cast out are very pretty!
clever! I really like how you incorporated the starfish as a handle to your sculpted mug.
Colorful! The intricacy of the paper cutouts for the hand is super complex. Did you trace and cut them by hand?
QUIRKY! I’m really drawn to the interesting shapes of your ceramics works and the lamp. I was also surprised by the colorful hand – I only realized it was made of several layers after a second look.
Gorgeous works well for your art! I really like the look of those lamps. And the paintings. And the pottery. The layers of paper give off a cool effect. I get the sense that you like doing 3D stuff.
Also, cool that you mentioned an author!
Colorful! I really like the colors on the hand and the depth it creates. I also really like the details on the lamp, it looks so clean!
Impressive – Mandy, I have always thought your pieces were impressive and inspiring. To me, your art tells a story, and that’s not something you can say for everyone. Seeing the behind the scenes of your work last year was also impressive, seeing how many ideas you came up with was amazing.