For the final in-class timed project we had to bring in multiples of everyday materials that were loosely related to our theme for my project. Since, I’m focusing on animation I figured pencils are the foundation to which animation is created so I based my piece around that. Then, we had to brainstorm verbs for deconstruct and construct, to which we were eventually going to choose one from each side to apply to our material. I decided on Burn and Plaster, but instead of destroying first I wanted to try constructing my object AND THEN DESTROYING IT. Luckily Selena was cool with that idea. When coming up with an idea on how to start this project I only had one question in my mind, “Does plaster burn?” So I scurried off to the workshop to get the plaster ready for my pencil. Originally, I was just going to dip my pencil into the plaster, but then I spotted the scrap metal bucket and began rummaging through it. I decided to wrap a piece of sheet metal around my pencil so when the plaster was dried it would leave a spiral pattern. Unfortunately, the first pencil had no plaster left on it because the metal was wrapped too tightly for any of the plaster to sink onto the pencil, luckily I took a precaution and did a version 2.0. This time I wrapped the metal loosely around the pencil, but I didn’t think everything through because I didn’t know how long I should’ve kept the pencil dipped in the plaster. Fast forward the process…

Everything dried and pencil 2.0 was somewhat successful. Then metal came off nicely and created a smooth spiral service on parts of the plastered pencil. The overall pencil transformed into the shape of a bone. I wasn’t 100% thrilled with it, but when I started burning it with a lighter I grew more satisfied with my piece. 
I eagerly set my piece up on a chest-level stool in the middle of the room for people to easily view it. The overall feedback seemed pretty good and I was happy that my teacher liked the physical touch/weight of the piece. She encouraged me to try transferring this idea into a larger sculpture piece. I was glad I trusted my gut instincts with the plaster and I loved how the edges that were exposed to more heat has a marble-like finish to it.