Reflection on Term Three

 

The last term of my time at DMUIC! I feel ready to join DMU proper. 

Contrary to last term, I started this term with loads of ideas. I learned about a lot of techniques early on, so this time I knew what I wanted to apply to my jewellery pieces before I started them. I knew I was not going to be able to visit the jewellery workshop often due to the technicians being on holiday, so I prepared for this by planning my time at the jewellery workshop well. Despite my improved planning, this term still felt quite turbulent. I felt more stressed and unhappy due to personal situations and anticipating my acceptance into the Design Crafts course. Luckily, most of these were resolved. I always find that my emotional state reflect into my art, which was definitely the case for this project. I feel that every part of this jewellery collection conveys a different emotion, with one overlapping thought. I have been working on my own dungeons and dragons campaign, set in my own high fantasy universe. Making decisions on that helped me finalise my designs and influenced the fantasy aspect of the collection. This is when I discovered another theme in my work; fantasy. My time at DMUIC has helped me discover a lot about my 'creative identity' and my style, which I have learned to apply to any skill. 

For the first time in my time here, I have actually researched artists that I relate to and felt directly inspired by. I think it helped that this project did not have a theme this time, so it was easier to find artists that I could genuinely relate to. 

I enjoyed learning the skills that involve jewellery making, such as wire weaving and soldering. I realised how accessible it is and that I could simply do it for hours on end at my desk while watching a show. Next time I would like to learn how to engrave. Unfortunately, I did not have time for that this time. Again, I created designs that ended up to be very time consuming to create. I thought I made it more simple this time, however, six pieces (eight if you count the pair of earrings and the two parter brooch) is quite a lot to create in the three weeks after finalising my 2D designs. My friends and family needed to step in once I started working all day every day and forced me to have at least one day a week for myself. Luckily, I do not feel burned out just yet and I feel comfort in not knowing what is waiting for me in the new academic year. I am thankful for feeling like I have earned this coming break and for how much I have learned over the past three terms. I feel now that I can do this and that I will enjoy doing it, no matter how hard I have to work for it. I am one academic year in and have not lost my motivation, I have only gained more. Which is a good sign for me!