Statement of Intent
To make multiple compositions of differing polyhedrons with complete digital drawings of their respective nets. Conveying either Modularity, Negative Space, Comparison, or Illusions.
Ideation
We began the first week of this project by making the “perfect cube” using a Net to construct the shape. We would use bristol and however many attempts it would take to make it accurate.
The following exercise was to make a polyhedron from a net. After browsing the internet for a bit I came across this image of an oblique pyramid. this shape piqued my interest so I began to make a net.
When making one of the forms, I read the 4th composition: Make a form from 3D shaped to create an illusion. So I decided to make a Penrose Triangle, a simple construction of 3 rectangular prisms to make a seemingly impossible triangle illusion.
This was a misunderstanding on my part of the assignment, nevertheless, I constructed the Penrose Triangle because I simply liked the illusion so I tried my hand at it. This was a small experiment of texting my handiwork with the geometry of the shapes and working with the bristol. Using the perspective to make the Penrose Triangle allowed me to hide the seams of the bristol better making the composition look more professional
I looked on the internet for more ideas for interesting and differing forms. as I looked on google images with the keyword of “3D Net” while searching I came across this image of an oblique pyramid.
I found its form very interesting because the top of the pyramid is offset from the base. So I began to research the math to find the proper relationship between the angles.
https://www.mathsisfun.com/definitions/oblique-pyramid.html
I found this website that allowed me to make my own pyramids so I used this tool to find the angles for my Pyramids.
I used this 
information to hand draw my own nets which I would then use as stencils to make many pyramids so I could move to the iterations.
Iteration & Production
My first iteration was a 3” scale of an oblique pyramid, after 3 iterations at that size I realized that it was an unsustainable size to make the iterations since I had only 5 sheets of bristol left. I followed up by making the following iterations at a 1” scale. With the 1” scale I explored differing radial patterns, and stacking among other arrangements for the iterations.
I would experiment with various arrangements and forms. Using some glue and tape to hold the shapes together,
during all of the various arrangements, I found using a radial pattern to be the most interesting.
After landing on the idea of making radial patterns I moved to Illustrator to make my nets. It was a simple and straightforward process.
on the date of October 25th, we were informed that the project was due on the morning of the 27th for a critique however on carmen the due date was the 31st. This set me in some sort of distress because I had not come to a final form. So I printed out 2 sheets of paper with as many completed nets as possible and I was planning for the 26th to be a day when I finalize the project. This led to the most difficult part of the project, I had to begin creating the final composition.
I sat down in hayes hall to work at 6 pm. With the small window to complete the work, I cleared my evening to finish the project. at around 10 pm, the others and I decided to have a sleepover together in the building. There was a lot of work to get done so it would be better to work in a social environment rather than an isolated one.
At some point during the sleepover, I found my mind wandering to other radical Ideas, such as making a spiral staircase of polyhedrons or constructing some sort of puzzle with my shapes. but since I had already printed out my nets I was stuck with my original radial Idea. Many times during the night I found myself wishing for a printer to be assessable in Hayes Hall so I could explore the more wild and more interesting Ideas that I had generated.
Overall the sleepover was a mix of fun and pain. Like being in Disneyworld with a killer headache. Since I was with my peers we were able to joke and make light of the situation but the truth was that we needed to finish our work.
I finished my project at 4 am. My final composition was inspired by the radial designs that I had been exploring prior and also I decided to tie in a space theme. So I made my composition based on the idea of a lunar lander. I believe my inspiration came from the ambient Youtube video named “you’re in an empty place for 10 hours and 3 seconds” This must have given me some form of cosmic inspiration. Nevertheless, I do enjoy the composition. Attaching the work on a string allows for someone to lift it and make it “fly” which I believe is a fun way of interacting with my composition.
Reflection
In retrospect, this project was a very grad and chaotic journey. I went through a great number of iterations and ideas. During much of the project, I felt that there was so much open area for exploration that it scared me in a way. because of the grand amount of freedom, I found myself too scared to truly explore my ideas for fear of messing up my composition and wasting my materials. The shape I chose was one that was interesting however very late on in the project I learned that since the base of these pyramids is a square base it didn’t allow for the shapes to fit in arrangements in ways that I would have preferred. Due to my fears of “ruining” my composition I was not able to thrive with the project as it was intended. There were moments when I would find myself looking at the fantastic forms my peers were creating and dreaming of more interesting and chaotic forms that I could make if I wasn’t already locked in with my shape (to iterate, I did not want to copy my peers work, I was only inspired by them)
My final thoughts about this project are that my final composition isn’t what I wish it was. I am unsatisfied with the craftsmanship, arrangement, and overall design. However due to my fear of ruining the “perfect” aspect of these shapes I couldn’t truly explore as I like to.