Project 3: Inside/out is a project hat requires the usage of a soap bar and a clay–it was the shortest project out of the four we did this semester in 3D Design, yet it was still an immensely enriching experience! Until this semester, the only three dimension art project I’ve ever worked on in the past was a large snake shaped shoe made out of pasta. Thus, carving–let alone carving a soap–was something very new to me. Luckily though, I used to have a hobby in making miniature figures using clay, so being able to incorporate clay into my piece facilitated my making process. 

At first, I began by sketching out ideas for the project–what did I want to create? Looking at he smooth surface of the soap bar, I was reminded of the smooth surface of seashells. Wanting to create something elegant and tranquil, I decided to direct my project with the theme of an ocean; since I was expected to create something original and abstract, I did not look at reference photos and attempted to solely carve the soap based on my ideas on “oceanic tranquility.” I first carved the soap into a smooth, round shape. To make the model more interesting, I added textures on its surface to imitate coral reefs and seashells. Then, I used clay pieces to add final details to my piece.

Through this project, I loved being able to see how we could create so much with a single soap bar–although everyone was given the same materials, every project was so uniquely and beautifully done. I learned how to work diligently with fragile materials and being able to step out of my comfort zone by creating something completely abstract from two distinctly different materials was definitely enlightening, both conceptually and technically!