Sculpting, Dimples, Smiles, and Hands

Song: "You Make Me Smile" - Kyle Andrews

"I like that rainbow pair of gym shoes that you wear.

I like the chance you take. I like the mess you make.

I don’t know why I love you. 

I just know I can’t stop thinking of you

Oh wait... 

It’s cause you make me smile

You always make me smile."

Syllabi days are awkward and overwhelming.

This morning I trudged through tons of unplowed snow in pursuit of my first class of the day, "3 Dimensional Design." It is a required class for my Graphic Design major. You tell me, blog readers, what you think this class is. Computer graphics, right?

Wrong. Oh so wrong. 

If only I had realized this before I entered my "classroom" - a giant sculpture art studio.

"Sometimes people seem to have the idea that this is a computer class when it is, indeed, a sculpture class." - Todd, my "collaborator"

So there I was, trying to wrap my brain around the fact that I was going to have to be able to sculpt things for a grade. I mean, I didn't think this would blow my mind too much, but the more he talked the more it did. This isn't like ceramics. I'm not making useful objects. I'm making abstract sculptures, like the ones that look like butts and lips and kitchen tools that make you ask yourself, "Why?!" Yes, I'll be doing this. For this reason, I began to fear that it would be an entire semester of pretending. Pretending I have a reason for twisting the wire that way or gluing the object there. Pretending I have a goal for my piece, to hopefully cause the observer to feel a certain emotion.

Sculpting. I mean, think about it. It's cool, but never ever have I thought about doing it myself. Even when I decided to dive in to this art major thing. Ceramics, pottery... sure. But wire and metal and pliers and wood and nails and objects that make no sense, but really they're supposed to? Oh boy. 

Today we had to analyze a clump of snow outside. I mean I get it, I do. But sculpting! I've just never had to think about it personally before.

I think I'm being brainwashed. I may never be able to cloud watch so innocently ever again.

My teacher is fascinating, though. When I wasn't freaking about about the class, I was kind of analyzing him. Wondering about his life. This is what I learned: He has the best hands I have ever seen. Large, sturdy, flawed, flexible, large-knuckled sculpting hands. He picked up some clay and was molding it effortlessly as he talked. He's married to a woman who loves books (but he wasn't wearing his ring -- assuming it's a sculptor thing), has four little kids whom he adores, and he has displayed his sculptures in so many different countries. He is first a foremost an artist, and wishes to be our "collaborator" not a teacher. He doesn't particularly like speaking to groups of people, so he always is doing something with his hands with clay or some material. Those hands, I tell you, are good hands.

And he has dimples.

Anywho. Then I went to my drawing class. I feel so out of my element in these classrooms. Not because I don't want to be there, just because it's so different, and I never had proper experience with all these art student things that normal art students know. Like, the desks in this room were arranged in a circle with a platform in the middle of all of them. The seats attached to your drawing easel-type thing were like saddle type seats. When I sat down, the girl next to me was sitting side-saddle. To me, this seemed more proper and less... awkward, so I did also. However, all the people across from me were sitting saddle style. This is something I will have to get used to. Also, I must always remember to never get holes in the crotch region of my pants. This would make for a excruciatingly long 3 hour class period.

Let's just hope I don't have to draw naked people... this is a art student norm that I wouldn't get used to. Or even be good at, for that matter. Really.  I'd be like Lena in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 when she's faced with this. But then she dates him. This wouldn't happen. (Although a girl who I really liked in my last art class said her boyfriend is a nude model for the life drawing art classes here. She said it pays really well. Okay, no thanks.)

But I, again, am fascinated by my teacher. He young, rather short, attractive, and fascinating. He has his BFA in Printmaking and BA in French. He spent a few years teaching at universities in France and Scotland. He got his masters while in Scotland and took more classes in France. This, ladies and gentlemen, is a great life game plan.

Neither of my teachers today are stereotypical looking artists (disheveled, eccentric.) They just look like put together upper 20 - 30 somethings. I am quite glad I enjoy the two teachers I am spending 6-12 hours a week with.

Sigh. So many thinks in one day.