This project can be divided in 3 parts.
1. "Toys."
2. "Crane."
3. "Character Pages."
To start with, I'll talk about the five toys that are the main feature of this work. Being that this a self-portrait type art piece, the toys are each characters representing different parts of myself, stylistically. Two positives, two negatives, and a neutral.
I started off with concept sketches, then used 3D modeling to design them as figurines, and then printed them using my 3D printer. Once all that was done, they still needed to be sanded and painted.
The crane is meant to be a display box. I've always loved claw machine games, whether I won or not. I wanted to bring this nostalgic aspect into my project, displaying the figures inside like a giant toybox.
To make it I simply sketched out how I wanted it to look, collected some cardboard, and cut and carved it into shape, gluing it together and finalizing it with some paint and 3D printed extras. Additionally, I designed fake packaging to fill the box.
Finally, the character pages are meant to bring the characters back to life in the 2D world. Using sketches and animations, adding some text to express their personalities and generally flesh them out. QR codes attached to the crane machine linked to each page.
What is a toy?
When you are a kid, a toy is a tool for developing imagination, narrative, and communication skills. The toys we choose help us to build stories. They are a reflection of our interests, personalities, and furthermore can be a precursor to the kind of person we will become.
My artist toy series is a self-reflection collage. As an artist I am inspired by fantasy and invested in narrative forms and world-building. As a person, I use fantasy to escape from the negative feelings and qualities of my everyday life. Combining these ideas, I’ve created other-worldly characters in the form of toys to represent the many different aspects of myself. Each toy has their own story, tied to my own. My hope is that the viewers will be able to see parts of themselves in these characters and reconnect with their childhood selves.
Nano Crane
An Artist Toy Series
Click to
Meet the
Characters!
This project was proudly on display at the Urban Arts Space in Columbus, Ohio, from November 30th 2021, to December 18th 2021.
This was an exciting project of self-exploration and a great opportunity for media experimentation. I was able to gain experience in character design, 3D modeling, troubleshooting, and overall project planning and execution.
