The third project was intended to be a design centered around the idea of 'chaos' and how to communicate that in an Illustration.  Specifically, what it represents to us.

In class, we saw a jungle-themed piece with some tigers and bears that was laser-cut, and I was thoroughly impressed. As a personal tie-in, because of the animal subject matter, I immediately thought of the Faroe Islands pilot whale massacre (https://youtu.be/HYOTkwFhe-w). This is a topic personally touching to me.

Whale killing pool concept

I saw in my mind's eye a composition of the whale killing lagoon.  Whales, seen from above, could be drawn in curved, swimming motions, circling each other, trapped and bleeding.

In speaking with Doug, I was dismayed not to be able to use this piece. After discussing it, I started to understand the details of the process involved in laser cutting. I would have to focus on very simple lines which could be burned into the wood surface, and be wary of crossing those lines over, lest they become a big brown blob of burned wood.

We also discussed extensively my penchant for making mandalas, and developed the concept of a butterfly mandala, to express the concept of "A butterfly flaps it's wings in africa, and start a hurricane in Florida." How a chaotic chain of events can be started by a single, seemingly insignificant event.

Some other ideas included a messy, chaotic room. Originating from my own small apartment, filled with massive bookcases and painting supplies strewn about. Because it's ironic how creativity and beauty can come about from such a chaotic place.

Another idea was a meat grinder.  It would be putting in beautiful things such as butterflies, and spewing symbolic images such as money and a briefcase and a gun.  The idea was to express the effect the "daily grind" can have on beauty and natural impulses. Twisting them into carbon-copied, violent expressions of pressure of everyday life.

The next concept was a hand, held in the shape of a gun, and held aloft by butterflies. Doug thought this would make a good Mandala.

I felt REALLY good about my concepts for this project. I felt as if the strong emotions associated with my first association (whales) helped keep my creative juices flowing, and brought on the other strong concepts.

Meat grinder

Floating hand

Butterfly mandala

Cluttered source of beauty