EricaSchmerica Studios

A Million Years

2011-10-23T03:48:00.001-07:00

...So it's been approximately 1 million years since I posted something new. I apologize. New stuff is on the way- I swears it! =)

2011-03-23T14:50:00.000-07:00

(in progress)

Cupcake Earrings

2011-03-22T17:08:00.001-07:00

More Rings!

2011-03-20T22:54:00.000-07:00

The Tiny House

2011-03-12T16:27:00.001-08:00

Teeny Furniture

2011-03-12T15:38:00.000-08:00

Digital Photography 2011, Final Project: "Shame"

2011-03-02T11:22:00.000-08:00

Erica Hardin
ARTO354
March 9, 2010

Final Project Reflection and Analysis

The theme I chose for my final project is “shame.” I feel that all of us either have, or have had, something we feel shame about in our lives. These tend to be things we hide from each other, things we would rather not remember. Making photographs about these issues is in opposition to their very nature, and therein lies the power of these images. Or at least I hope that I’ve begun to approach a place that makes the viewer think, or feel a little uncomfortable.

All the photos feature friends of mine, who will remain anonymous for obvious reasons. I brought some of my last project forward into this one, asking my friends to collaborate with me in the process. Some of the photos are based on their actual shame while others are staged. In each of the images the concept was created through a partnership between the subject and myself. I feel that having an intimate dialogue and relationship between the model and photographer really enhances the end result. In my (admittedly short) experience, I’ve found that when the model has a say in what is going on in the development of the project, they tend to relax and be more open to trying new things.

Ultimately I think I got some good shots. I had some bumps in the road- such as accidently leaving my tripod somewhere resulting in the last two shoots being hand-held, and having scheduling conflicts. I also had a difficult time with some of the formatting. It wasn’t the difficulty I suppose, I just kept losing a DNG file here and there and having to go back and re-edit and save my work. It was just tedious, but I’m sure as I get more used to the programs I’ll be able to maneuver them more effectively.

I’m pretty happy with the composition in all of the photos. I think I pretty much achieved the feeling I was hoping to evoke in most of the images. If I were to do this project over again, I would definitely replace my tripod. Unfortunately both the bar shoot and the romance novel-bathroom shoot ended up being quite shaky. I over compensated by taking a LOT of photos, and managed to get a couple good ones as a result. I would also use a semi-gloss paper. It seems like the blacks just don’t pop as much as I’d like them to on the matte paper. At this point in the term, however, I’m completely out of money, so I worked with what I had. Unfortunately, the paper I have isn’t listed in the paper profiles offered in the photo lab. That most likely has something to do with the color shift that I see from the screen to the prints as well. They just seem duller than I’d like. Shame is a kind of dark topic, so I think I can get away with the prints I’ve ended up with. My tendency is to have a preference for over-saturated images, so maybe this was a blessing in disguise!

I really enjoyed this project, and look forward to continuing to explore this medium. It’s been such a great change of pace for me, as I usually tend to work in acrylic paints and polymer clay. The instant results of digital photography are really satisfying for an impatient gal like myself. Hopefully next term I can afford to purchase a camera of my own and continue to pursue this artform.

Jesus Saves

2011-02-13T18:58:00.000-08:00

Ad-jamming project for class last term...

Custom Mini Finger Foods

2011-02-13T14:02:00.001-08:00

Aluminum Lost Wax Sculpture, 2008

2011-02-10T01:50:00.000-08:00

Nude Paintings

2011-02-10T01:42:00.000-08:00

Hunky Dory Mural

2011-02-10T01:37:00.001-08:00

Old Drawings

2011-02-10T01:20:00.000-08:00

Space Kitties- Illustration Series from 2010

2011-02-10T00:29:00.001-08:00

Drawings from 2010

2011-02-09T20:38:00.000-08:00

I made these images in a drawing class last year. Many people have read them as being made in homage to fertility goddesses, but I made them with the intention of addressing the feeling of being awkward in one's body and feeling self conscious and raw. Darker than I usually go for, but these just kind of came out of me.

Buy my Stuff! If you want....Ya know...

2011-02-09T11:37:00.000-08:00

Custom Lobster Stuff

2011-02-09T11:35:00.001-08:00

Bookcase and Chair Earrings!

2011-02-09T11:34:00.001-08:00

These 'lil beauties are constructed from thin cardboard, paint, and glue. Cardboard is one another of my favorite mediums to work in.

Photography

2011-02-08T16:01:00.000-08:00

Junk Food Collection and Veggie Collection

2010-09-22T18:18:00.001-07:00

Miniature Sinks

2010-09-22T18:16:00.001-07:00

These were made custom for a lady off Etsy. I had so much fun with this project!

Paintings Summer 2010

2010-09-22T18:13:00.000-07:00

Check out my interview with the "Meet Your Maker" show!

2010-09-20T14:26:00.000-07:00

http://meetyourmaker.net/node/104

September 2010 Paintings

2010-09-07T12:42:00.001-07:00

Barrettes!

2010-08-22T20:52:00.000-07:00

Custom Breakfast Barrettes by EricaSchmerica

2010-08-14T01:23:00.000-07:00

New Castle Rings!

2010-08-08T02:26:00.000-07:00

New Mini-Mini Rings- Part 3

2010-07-23T14:54:00.000-07:00

All these new rings measure only approximately 1/2 inch across!

New Mini-Mini Rings- Part 2

2010-07-23T14:52:00.000-07:00

New Mini-Mini Rings- Part 1

2010-07-23T14:50:00.001-07:00

Blueberry Pie Pin for my Grandma!

2010-07-07T02:22:00.000-07:00

By EricaSchmerica

Chocolate Chip Cookie Earrings

2010-06-24T12:27:00.000-07:00

Cheese Cracker Earrings

2010-06-24T12:25:00.000-07:00

Pink Cassette Tape Earrings

2010-06-24T12:24:00.000-07:00

Mint Chocolate Chip Hot Fudge Ice Cream Ring

2010-06-08T14:32:00.001-07:00

Summer is upon us! And so are my new ice cream rings!

Cafeteria Tray Necklace

2010-06-07T11:22:00.000-07:00

I remember cafeteria lunch being gnarly at best, but it sure is cute as a necklace! Purple trays would have been cool too instead of that institutional sea foam green 1960s plastic. Although that has a certain charm about it as well.

2010-06-01T02:57:00.000-07:00

A'ight, y'all know you want a sweet pancake ring. I think my favorite pancake memory is not a "pancake" memory, but a "hotcake" memory, which is what my grandma calls her sourdough pancakes. They are AMAZING. She makes a sourdough starter, which I believe she learned from HER Mom. I seriously cannot express the awesomeness. They make their daily morning appearance at family gatherings, and I'm really going to have to get the recipe to share- they are seriously that good!

2010-06-01T02:49:00.000-07:00

Italian food is one of my weaknesses...Mmmm...I favor tortellini, but spaghetti is a close second. But DAMMIT I love the cheese pillows =)

Fancy Schmancy Chocolate Marshmallow Castle Ring!

2010-05-31T11:11:00.001-07:00

2010-05-28T00:44:00.000-07:00

2010-05-28T00:42:00.000-07:00

Super Sweet Hot Dog Earrings

2010-05-24T18:08:00.000-07:00

These are totally available for sale in my etsy shop. I do love me a hot dog...BBQ weather is SOOO close!

Sugary Castle Ring

2010-05-24T18:05:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I love castles, right? And I love teeny food, right? Ya follow? =)

Pancake Earrings

2010-05-24T17:46:00.000-07:00

Martini Painting

2010-05-24T17:45:00.000-07:00

Super Mini Bakery

2010-05-24T17:43:00.000-07:00

Mushroom Painting

2010-05-24T17:41:00.001-07:00

Pendants

2010-05-24T17:37:00.001-07:00

Green Sun Bowl

2010-05-24T17:21:00.001-07:00

Mini Cupcake Paintings

2010-05-24T17:20:00.002-07:00

Untitled

2010-05-24T17:20:00.001-07:00

Sandwich Painting

2010-05-24T17:19:00.000-07:00

Mural Work

2010-05-24T17:14:00.001-07:00

s
Some mural work I did at Southtowne Lane

2010-05-24T13:06:00.000-07:00

Check out my Etsy store where you can buy my work!

Sweet Ass Sushi Ring

2010-05-24T12:58:00.000-07:00