Feline images have been an element in much of my work since 1981. These cat images were usually included in self-portraits. As my work progressed, the feline images increased in importance until 1985, when I abandoned the self-portraits almost entirely and began working predominantly with the cats. Although the feline image has been an important aspect of my work for several years, I never attempted to discover what these images symbolized or meant. I rarely thought consciously about the content of my work, as i arrived at my images primarily in an intuitive manner.

For the problem in lieu of thesis, a series of ten works were created in which a male image replaced the female image; I continued to utilize the same materials, format, and centralized frontal figure. A record of the work was accomplished by maintaining a written and visual journal on progress and outcome. Some research was made into topics related to the work, and the findings from the literature comprise chapter two of the paper. In executing this body of work and researching related topics, I hoped to better understand my conscious and unconscious processes and motivations in creating both the self-portrait series and the new series.

The purpose of this study was to give information on watercolor painting in combination with printmaking and secondary media. The objectives of the creative problem were stated in two parts. The first dealt with the exploration into kinds of secondary media which affect the printed surfaces and the watercolors, and the second dealt with the investigation into the kinds of secondary media that can be effectively integrated with the collograph and the monoprint.

I examined and evaluated three sets of gallery installations and related handmade books. The following questions were considered foremost: 1) Visually, how different from and how similar to the gallery installations are the books? 2) What verbal elements are adapted from the installations to the books? 3) How does the difference in format (that is, the books) alter or affect the content and meaning of the installations?

The objectives of the creative problem may be stated in two parts. First, the utilization of the self-portrait theme in order to explore a variety of drawing techniques, media combinations, and surface manipulations; and second, the maintenance of a sketchbook-diary which accompanies the study as supportive data. The sketchbook entries include not only pertinent visual material but also verbal commentary. The sketchbook-diary is sequential and denotes the various stages of development as well as the progression of the study.

The purpose of this project was to investigate the use of non-traditional painting techniques on the images of my work. The following questions were specifically considered. 1. When and why in the process do decisions occur concerning the following: A. Subject or idea or motivation? B. Materials? C. Shaping? D. Color? E. Texture or embellishment? 2. Does the motivation change at any point in the process? 3. With the emergence of the final form is there an awareness of content (or intrinsic meaning) which was absent or completely nebulous at the inception?

The problem being dealt with concerns the investigation of the conceptual and expressive potential of mold-formed units in combination with other media and processes. The questions under consideration are as follows: 1. Do the concepts of pieces vary with the materials and process being used? How? 2. What alterations occur in the visual image as a result of the change in media and processes? 3. What mechanical and technical problems are involved in the mold-formed process?

As much as I like the effects of low-fire salting, I hesitate to use salt. The hydrochloric acid released into the environment during the salting process creates a dense fog that is not only toxic, but visually offensive as well. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to find a source of sodium that would achieve aesthetic results as equally exciting as the effects of salt.

I endeavored to investigate how temporal forms could be used as an avenue for addressing my sculptural concerns. These concerns included the relationship of form to material, the temporary manifestation of enduring principles, and responsibility to materials and their meanings. My pursuit of this investigation arose from both a search for alternatives in a field with a tradition of permanent object orientation and an effort to expand my own perceptions of what constitutes sculpture and the activity of sculpting.

The purpose of this project is to provide a record, much like the ones left to us by Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, of the personal influences which motivated the present artist to function productively as a sculptor for a period of one semester: from September 1, 1975 through December 12, 1975. The methods involved in charting such artistic transpirations consisted of two types: a written diary, daily recorded, which indicated the progress, regression, frustration, inspiration, and perceptions which were experienced by the artist during the three-month period; and a series of personal, emotional self-enquiries.

The purpose of this project is to investigate the sculptural possibilities of warp distortion and manipulation through the utilization of the weighted-warp process. A secondary purpose is to explore the technique of warp weighting beyond a single fabric layer. It is projected that a weighted layer can be combined with one which is tensioned evenly and tied onto the floor loom (loom tensioned). In this manner, the loom-tensioned layer remains stable. The weighted layer is free to move through the heddles while maintaining tension on the warps.

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate how imagery evolved in my work, in dealing with the relationship between body and landscape and the relationship between image and abstraction. Five paintings were created for the investigation of the evolution in my imagery. A journal of notes was kept concerning each piece while in progress and immediately following its completion. The analyzing method was a visual analysis of the structure and content, as well as the process through which the imagery evolved.

My problem was to investigate some of the possibilities which have arisen through my previous work by producing twelve fabric pieces and eight paper pieces. Specifically, the following questions were to be examined: 1. Are there traditional designs or techniques in quilts of the past that can be utilized in my own work? 2. Are the primary colors (red, yellow, blue) in manufactured unaltered fabric more effective than painted or altered fabric? 3. Is there a correlation between the color and imagery in the paper pieces and those of the fabric pieces? 4. Of the project pieces, is there a size that generally appears to be more successful than others?

My concerns relate to the process of imagery development and the process of utilizing suitable materials to execute my work. These concerns are dictated by the themes in a particular piece and revolve around an acute sense of loss. These themes are frequently presented with humor.

Although clay has been used throughout history as an embellishment of architectural structures, clay elements have usually remained subordinate to existing architectural forms. Three-dimensional ceramic modules which divided an existing space, altered or obscured architectural forms, and intersected with or penetrated established planes provided a greater interaction between clay and architecture. I explored the use of clay as an integral three-dimensional element which interacted with an architectural space, rather than merely surfacing it. Because the installation of these works was temporary, methods of connecting the clay elements to the architecture were also investigated.

The act of putting anything on a base isolates it and makes it seem more precious. The base separates the viewer from the sculpture and affects the relationship between the sculpture and viewer. The problem for me was to remove the base and experiment with the possibilities now opened to my work. The purpose of this study was to explore the presentation potentials of sculpture freed from the constraints of the plinth.

The objective of my problem in lieu of thesis was to produce twenty hand-built porcelain objects which reflected this conception of beauty. To review the success of my project, I asked three questions to evaluate my work. 1. Was there significant structure to my works? 2. Was there significant discord within these structures? 3. Did the tension created through the interaction of these two elements of my work create beauty?

In order to arrive at a more consistent and clear personal understanding of the nature of art, I examined the ideas about art and aesthetics which were reflected in my works of the past several months. Some of the specific questions i asked in my investigation of the works were: 1. What are my thoughts on the role of content and form in my visual art? 2. What are my thoughts on the role of the viewer in visual art? 3. What are my thoughts on the role of permanence in visual art? 4. What are my thoughts on the role of appropriated imagery in visual art? 5. What are my thoughts on the role of expression in visual art?

The purpose of this study was to examine the difference between language and the use of visual imagery to represent experiences and ideas. It focused on the following questions: 1. Can the meaning of a painting be ascertained by analyzing the referents of the images and their relationships to one another? 2. How does the purely formal part of the painting function in the creation of meaning? 3. What is the difference in the meaning created by language and visual imagery when they were used to represent the same idea or experience? 4. Where do my ideas come from?

a. How does the use of different materials such as string, screen, fabric or wire personalize the work? b. How does the addition of subtly recognizable imagery change the reductive field? c. How do processes such as wrapping, printing, dripping, and other techniques infer meaning? d. How does the choice of color and scale affect the work?

The goal of this problem was to incorporate clear nylon monofilamnet in a series of weaves traditionally chosen for their absorbent virtues that in these cases would achieve interesting textural effects and light-reflective qualities in addition to varying degrees of transparency.

In the fall of 1972 I was required to read Dee Brown's "Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee" as an "atmosphere setter" for a seminar on artists of the westward expansion in the United States. When I first started making drawings of some of the Indian leaders, I had no idea of doing a series. I also had no idea that Indians and more especially those of the West, would be consuming so much of my time and thoughts for such a long period. In the beginning the drawings were prompted by a fascination with the bone structure of the Indian faces. The high cheekbones, the prominent noses and unusual eyes caused marvelous patterns of light and dark, making the faces very conducive to caricature. As I began to know these faces as individuals and personalities, however, I knew that caricature was not the direction which i wanted to pursue.

Two ways of apprehending reality were intimated; reality as a function of purely visual stimuli and reality as a substantial object. The problem was, therefore, an exploration of reality as a purely visual sense and reality as concrete form. In pursuing the project, I explored how each reality distinguished itself by separating each in the prior conception of the work and in the subsequent discussion.

As a painter, I have been working the past few years to develop a mature pictoral image and the concepts of space that were flexible enough for me to produce what I believed was a valid art statement. I have investigated several avenues for improving my work, i.e., acquiring certain technical painting skills, reading more to broaden my concepts and imagination, and visiting various art galleries and museums. During an earlier critique it was realized that the majority of my paintings were all very similar in scale. I decided to approach my work on a much larger scale than previously attempted in the hopes of discovering a better, or at least different painting concept.