MACKENZIE MILLER FINE ARTS PORTFOLIO CAPSTONE PROJECT
TABLE OF CONTENTS TITLE TABLE OF CONTENTS MUSIC/ABOUT THE ARTIST ELIGBILITY REQUIREMENTS ARTWORKS 1 // H A N D S 2 // J E W E L R Y 3 // F A B R I C P I L L O W 4 // G R A P H I C H E A R T 5 // F E A R S 6 // A N D W E R U N 7 // S E L F P O R T R A I T ARTIST CAREER EXPLORATION RESUME VIDEO PRESENTATION REFLECTION CREDITS MUSIC CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON BELOW FOR THE MUSIC TO OPEN IN A NEW TAB ABOUT THE ARTIST Mackenzie Miller is an 18 year old artist who specializes in graphic design, apparel, and illustration. Her self taught techniques and shape/texture based aesthetic makes her voice unique. Outside of school, she currently is the youngest member at Blue Elephant Creative where her artistic direction, entrepreneurial spirit, and millennial perspective guides the team on new projects. She plans to attend Georgia Southern University in Fall 2017.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS C O U R S E S C O M P L E T E D: A D D I T I O N A L C O U R S E S: Art History A/B Arts Appreciation (Dual Enrollment) Digital Design A/B Marketing Principles A/B 3D Modeling A/B Marketing Management A/B Introduction to Entrepreneurship A/B P A R T I C I P A T I O N: National Art Honor Society (2015-17) GAETC 2015 GACA Student Art Show C O M M U N I T Y S E R V I C E: LINK TOTAL: 44 Hours 2nd Place - 3D (2017) 1st Place - 3D; 2nd Place - Save The Earth (2016) SCAD Summer Seminars (2015-16) NC State Student Textile Exploration Program (2016)
HANDS Digital // 2017 Inspired by the concept of restriction and personal growth, I created this piece as an ode to one of my favorite songs. It was one of my first forays into the world of digital painting. In choosing colors, I selected bright, contrasting tones in similar hues so the picture was still tied together but each piece stands out as an individual element. Overall, I feel I achieved the message and story that I set out to do, and it is a conversationalist artwork to everyone I have shown it to.
3D PRINTED JEWELRY 3D Printing // 2016 Being blessed enough to be extended the opportunity to learn 3D printing at GACA, I jumped at the chance to take a 3D printing Wearable Art Class. The models were created in Tinkercad and the final pieces were printed on a Makerbot 3000 3D Printer.
.W O V E N F A B R I C P I L L O W. Digital Design Fabric // 2016 I applied to the Summer Textile Exploration Program (STEP) at North Carolina State University. In this week-long program, I was able to create and weave a throw pillow. Inspired by the influx of people in the city but similar feeling of isolation of the forest, I created this pattern in Adobe Photoshop/ Illustrator. I then upload the fabric to a fabric weaving machine, which used thread to make this dual sided design.
. IC H T. P R A A R E.G.H Ink // 2017 This piece was done entirely in ink. It is inspired by ribs and the way they protect the internal organs. A system so complicated and delicate is only protected by a cage of rib bones. In this artwork, I gave the organs their own graphic armor so they can protect themselves. Things that are hard can still be beautiful. The intricate lines show a delicacy and handiwork, but it is a shape-based work overall. I love simplifying items that seem so complicated by building with polygons and shading with lines.
FEARS: FASHION ILLUSTRATION Marker & Ink // 2015 Created at Savannah College Of Art & Design Summer Seminars, this fashion illustration is inspired by the top three fears around the world. From left to right: fear of heights, fear of monsters, and fear of spiders. This was an extremely enjoyable project. It was interesting to see how I could push myself to create clothes from abstract objects and ideas.
.A N D W E R U N. Mix Media; Watercolor & Paper Cut // 2017 This piece is a paper cut and quilling piece with a watercolor painted background and origami paper stars strung by string. The animal is a fox. Contained in the tail are elements that represent the animal, like stars, trees, and leaves. In addition, the fox is surrounded by stars looped on string. This is to show the juxtaposition between the beauty and grace of a fox, but also how many attempt to catch it and it must stay fearful. In the forest, under the stars, the foxes must always stay, but they will always find a new place to hide.
SELF PORTRAIT Digital // 2017 This is a self portrait in which I attempted to embody myself in a stylized fashion. I used the background, color choices, and art style to embody my loves, interest, and stylistic choices. I used a mix of cast cell shading and line/contour shading to create the highlights and shadows. In addition, I added lines to highlight areas to emphasize them. The background contains sketchy style constellation and planets. This is a representation of myself in the current moment.
ARTIST CAREER EXPLORATION My art is the embodiment of my soul stretched to the limits. Through my creation, I explore the deepest parts of myself by working my hands and pushing my patterns of thinking. I use art to visually show what I cannot say out of my mouth. From now and into forever, I may not have a voice to speak, but I have the hands to create. With the various mediums I use, I can demonstrate a message, a lesson, an emotion, a scene, a dream, and more. I am able to make quiet the internal sounds, make sense of the silence, and spread the lessons to anyone who wishes to view. Art is for everyone to create, consume, and develop from. Whether photographer, painting, print maker, or crafter, there is a place in the label of artist. For my career, I strive to use my knowledge to open a full service fashion company. With my business, I wish to provide services in fashion, home, and lifestyle while also creating our own marketing and graphic campaigns. In addition, I hope to provide my own modeling agency that extends to all sizes, genders, and ethnicities. It is my goal to have my company be staffed with artisans of many different talents, whether that be modeling, graphic design, or business and management. Those who work with me will be extremely dedicated to my main brand message-- Its For Everyone. This means that fashion, photography, wearable art, entrepreneurship, and everything my organization stands for can include any and all people. In addition, there will be a section of my company dedicated to helping other small business owners grow their fashion companies and provide them the overall support they need to succeed. To further my reach and benefit my community, I plan to campaign and win a spot as a local elected official with the platform goals of improving government/citizen relationships, supporting small businesses, equal rights, and overall well rounded representation in all aspects of the community.
RESUME AVAILABLE HERE
VIDEO PRESENTATION LINK
REFLECTION This was definitely my most challenging art project to date. This process allowed me to think more deeply about my artwork to find a way to explain it to others. While when I am making the art I think about the process, I often do not explain the meaning behind elements of my art. Now, I feel more comfortable with the process and can derive the related threads throughout all my creations. This process reaffirmed my love for art making. It made me strip down and find new meaning in why I create art. This process has connected me more to myself, my school, and the art making community. So many people rallied behind me in finishing this project. It is a culmination of my creativity, work ethic, skill, and heart. I have grown in this process, and I feel the final product is evident of every second in the dozens of hours I have put in.
P O W E R P O I N T: Base Layout by SlidesCarnival W R I T I N G (V I D E O): Inspiration by Sophia Farrar S O F T W A R E (V I D E O): Wondershare Filmora G R A P H I C D E S I G N A P P L I C A T I O N: Canva.com S P E C I A L T H A N K S: My parents, Ms. Aracich, GACA, and everyone who has supported me and my (he)art CREDITS M U S I C: Clean Remix (Reverse Reverb); Original by Taylor Swift