Reflections on milk vessel maquettes

Creating these maquettes was a valuable journey full of error learning and confidence boosts. 

On reflection, I embarked upon the process arrogantly. I had never worked with Perspex or any of the equipment I was using to manipulate it before. And my dyscalculia means that I can can struggle with numeracy and geometry. 

But because they were the only answer to the visual coding that I wanted(implying both sustenance/ nurturing as well as something lost or missing) I committed to the process.

I made 15 maquettes in total, most of which are possibly unfit for showing or use. But each one taught me a little better how to work with the material and get the desired end result. This kind of work can feel frustrating but it's an unavoidable step in getting really good at anything isn't it. Just doing it lots. Showing up lots. 

Once I let go of my frustrations/ fixation on the "end result" and properly connected with the process of working with the pieces, I enjoyed the repetition of it all. It felt mindful.

Making these has also helped me realise how strong an impact distilling a form can have. 

I have been messing around with various colours of Perspex and I am really really enjoying a shade close to bubblegum pink as a final choice. Bubblegum pink is a current trend slang for female genitals. And Baker-Miller pink is used in prisons regularly because of it's calming and aggression reducing psychological effects. 

I will definitely include these vessel forms in some way in my end of year show; maybe making a huge one or maybe creating multiple and having them as a collection of containers.