Artist Statement

How do the design and environment of a building reflect the overall purpose or function of the structure? Throughout my sustained investigation, I examined the intersection between the built and natural worlds, and how it can echo the purpose of architecture. The first piece I created for this portfolio, Coricancha Temple, was the catalyst for my investigation, as it was my first time layering printmaking with another medium. Through this experimentation, I was able to communicate the contrast between structure and environment, which is evident throughout my portfolio. Although I initially began my portfolio as purely an exploration of the relationship between the built and natural world, it evolved into also expressing the function of a building. After creating pieces like The Frari and Morning Laundry which contain small silhouettes, I decided I wanted to include pieces in my portfolio that contained people. Even though these figures are not the focal point of my work, I used them as a small way of showing that these buildings have a larger purpose. I continued to experiment with layering different mediums as my portfolio progressed. I used etchings and Micron pens to depict detailed and linear buildings, while I used monotype prints, acrylic paint, and Copic markers to show color. This portfolio has given me the opportunity to work with new processes and mediums in order to convey the purpose of architecture and its environment, and I plan to continue to use this information when I study architecture in the future.