For the inspiration for my main project I looked to what my favorite things are. I wanted to really like what I’m creating since I’d be working on it for so long. That’s when I came to the octopus, I have always been fascinated by their tentacles, ability to camouflage, and ability to essentially shape shift so they can fit into tiny crevices. I then thought how will I create this and found the aesthetic of wood statues.
Wood statues have a fluid look but are stationary and this is something I thought would work well with an octopus because the flowing tentacles always look like fluid.
For the form of the piece I thought of different methods but came to laser cutting cardboard pieces and looked to the internet for similar animal laser cut statues. I then found a rhino that was laser cut in interlocking parts to form the 3D head.
I then thought a way to make this look like wood would be to engrave a wood pattern into the cardboard pieces.
Below is an attachment of the pieces of the head and tentacles, and the overview of the whole statue
This is the first version of the tentacle done in Rhino
To make the statue dynamic I will use led strips this will work best with flat pieces that give the illusion of of movement. The LED strips will change lights as time passes and will be placed where suction cups will be .
15 Master Artists Carrying on the Ancient Tradition of Wood Carving
15 Master Artists Carrying on the Ancient Tradition of Wood Carving
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1630310
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/sparkfun-electronics/COM-12021/1568-1153-ND/5673739?utm_adgroup=LED%20Lighting%20-%20COBs%2C%20Engines%2C%20Modules&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Shopping_Optoelectronics_NEW&utm_term=&utm_content=LED%20Lighting%20-%20COBs%2C%20Engines%2C%20Modules&gclid=CjwKCAjwmKLzBRBeEiwACCVihgd3QmZOG7JvviycSefLvgTdqpr87XDWQ6huWzwg4ixvr884DQy4OxoCM6cQAvD_BwE
Artist Uses Chainsaw to Carve Giant Octopus into a Fallen Redwood Tree
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Kaiya,
I love the octopus idea, I think its such an awesome animal and I think the choice of material is awesome. Using LED I think can work really well with the octopus due to their pulsing energy. I also like the choice to the natural choice of wood, I think the contrast between to wood and LED would work nicely together. Im sorry this virus is getting absolutely terrible, I hope the project ultimately finishes up good!
Hey Kaiya, really cool project! I really liked how you explained you’re new plan and adjustments for your project due to the limitations created by the COVID-19 virus. How much smaller do you plan on scaling your project? Do you think cardboard might be too fragile especially when cut into sharp shapes such as the tentacles?
Presentation Comments:
Statement of meaning – I love that the octopus is static yet the LED lights make it dynamic. I also think that if you put it on a bed side table, it could act as a night light if you happen to get up in the middle of the night.
Ben R.
This looks like an awesome project! I’m excited to see it begin to take shape! I’d encourage you to make the laser cut sections out of a thin wood as well, both to maintain the aesthetic with all wood as well as to ensure a bit more stability. Just a thought but keep up the great work!
Hello Kaiya! I’ve chosen to do a more in-depth critique of your design review as I really like the fluidity and sense of motion within the wooden octopus statue in your featured image.
As a statement of meaning, I like how you plan to add LEDs to make your statue dynamic, and I love the rendering of the tentacle shown from Rhino.
Please let me know if you have any questions for me regarding your main project to fulfill the “Artist Asks Questions” step of Liz Lerman’s critiquing methods.
As a neutral question, how many LEDs do you plan to add to the statue?
And finally, I have an opinion about how you can make the wood and cardboard mesh together to seem as one material, if you would like to hear it.
Best of luck proceeding with your main project!
-Justin Engbrecht