Browsing by Author "Williams, Grace, artist"

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Open Access
Grace Williams: capstone
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2023) Williams, Grace, artist
The artist's statement: As a graphic designer Grace Williams tries to promote change and awareness in her work. Her work is made to stimulate a change in the way people think. To either bring awareness about a specific issue or bring people together to create change in our world. Grace believes that she can use her work in a positive way to help better the world. The mediums used to create Grace's work are mostly digital. She uses a verity of adobe programs, along with an app called procreate. However, there is also a wide verity of mixed mediums, media, and materials used to create her work. In her work she has used many different analogue drawing mediums, fabrics, many different papers, and surfaces. There is no limit to what a project could need. The process of making her work is thorough and efficient. She first starts with an inquiry about the project. She uses this first step to gather information, requirements, and restrictions about the project. This goes for both personal projects and client-based projects. After the guides are set, she can begin her research and start sketching out the preliminary ideas. Then a first render of the project is made. This first render is the first look at what the project could become. There are usually a few options to choose from as well. Grace then runs a Q & A with the client or other colleagues to ask what is working, what's not, and what design is the most successful. This process of creation and following check points are the meat of what makes her work successful. After these initial first steps the project is fulling underway. The process in short repeats these steps as many times as need throughout the different paths of the project. Every project is different and will require a different way of working each time. This procedure was designed to be flexible and can repeat or shuffle to the needs of the individual project. Grace has worked on many different types and styles of projects in her studies. She has designed a layout for a magazine, illustrated a children's book, designed a brand from scratch, and much more. However, throughout her work there are similar inspirations and themes. These inspirations come from nature, history, and current issues. Nature has a chaotic systematic order for life that she can use as blueprint to create. History holds lessons that she can learn from and use in her work. While the current issues of the world provide her with a compass in which to guide her morals and subject matter. This inspiration comes from her own life experiences and what she holds most important to her. Each of these topics builds the backbone of why Grace became an artist. Grace's work is a representation of the world as she sees it and how she sees it could be. She sees her work as an avenue for people to come together. This avenue then being a stimulus for change. She wants to show the world through her work how life could be and how life is. Through her work she wants to represent a better world for everyone. She wants her work to give voice to those that have none, rally the people together, and show people the reality of our world.
Open Access
Grace Williams: capstone
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2023) Williams, Grace, artist
The artist's statement: This body of work is a collection of images that aim to show how societal stereotypes for women affect the female mind. This work is a journey through the experiences of different women and their stereotypes. The journey follows through the stereotype, how that stereotype affects them personally, and then finally how they see themselves. The images in the body were made to break the molds that have been set by society on women and show how much labels effect the human psyche. Through my work I want people, particularly women to see that they are more than just the label that they were given by society. The inspiration for this project came from personal experiences and struggles as a woman. As a woman I have battled with my self-image most of my life. This battle may not always be about appearance but also about who I am. As a woman there is this imposed list of labels or stereotypes that society has made for us. You must fit the mold sort of speck to be seen as a 'perfect' woman. These labels could be being a child-bearer, submissive, or wife. Whatever the label or mold may be, each one affects women and how we see ourselves. It changes how women present themselves and how we behave in our world. These labels and how they affect women are the main inspiration for this body of work. However, that is only half of the story. The other inspiration for this project is the destruction of these labels and the construction of our true selves. Through my images I want to show woman that being beautiful is to be yourself. These images were made using a mixture of analog film techniques, physical manipulation, and digital manipulation. All images shot for this body of work were shot on 120mm Ilford Hp5 Plus Black and white film. The camera used was a Pentax 6 x 7 with a 1-20m lens. After the shoot the film was developed and scanned for archival purposes. Then the images were physically manipulated. I would individually paint the B/W negatives with acrylic paint and later burn a selection of them. From there the now 'destroyed' negatives were scanned and digitally manipulated. The first and most important step of digital manipulation was to use an AI filter to turn the B/W image to a Color image. After this filter was applied, I could further edit the images to my liking. Finally, the images were printed on a printable fabric and stretched over a wood frame. This project has not only been one of self-discovery but also a journey of healing. Through my work I also got to learn about what it feels like to be other women and hear their stories. In learning these amazing women's stories, I learned what the definition of strength and perseverance is. This project has helped me stitch together what it means to be me. In doing this project I have found out what being an artist means to me. I have found my voice. I also know how I want to use my voice. I want to use my voice to make the unheard heard. To show the world the deeper levels of humanity.