Post 11- Final Papercraft Object

 Post 11 - Final Papercraft Object

When you think about an object of significance, your first thought most likely would not be a weapon from a video game, mainly because most people would not tie significance to an object that is not real.

I however have a slightly different approach.

While the object of my choice was never anything 'real', I believe it's significant to me not because it is something that I had a physical connection to or a possession over, but because of the memories attached to both the thought and visual of it.

It is a memory of joy and laughter. Childish entertainment amongst friends playing the same MMORPG video game in a community space, where computers were available to all.

The endless adventures of running around maps in big groups, hunting down the bosses we could handle hunting, and the tireless struggle of leveling up our characters.

I chose this sword especially because it reminds me of the people I played with. The people I talk to, and the people I have talked to. The people I saw last summer, and the ones I will never see again. The ones waiting for me back home, and the ones who have gone their separate ways, now, living an adult life of work and responsibility somewhere on the planet.

The video game in question is nothing like what's offered to us now. It is old, with terrible graphics, and an incredibly time-consuming level cap mountain to climb. A game that aside from yearly events hasn't seen change in ages, whether it be mobs or quests. The level cap is still 115, and the economic system is still broken, just as they always were.

And yet, there is a sense of comfort that resides within its world. That same old familiarity and a nostalgic feel. It is a time capsule, frozen where it was left off. Although it may not be worth playing anymore, and my social circle is long gone, I still find myself logging on every now and then. 

It is that little place of mine, where I can go back to any time without the need for a plane ticket. A place that I remember from some of my youngest years, the one that I can reach. 

While my idea may not be the most creative of all, I am happy that I created this little reminder and brought it back into my life.

Sentiments aside, the creative process of this project was quite an incredible experience. It was a long journey of experimentation and problem-solving, which I believe have greatly improved my skills in overcoming creative struggle and bypassing issues head-on. 

Overall, I am very happy with the results and proud of the way it turned out.

   

One of the more difficult parts of the process was putting together the model. This has taught me that it is better to refer to the material provided for extra help than trying to figure everything out on your own.

Following that was the creation of blueprints for my project, which did not come easy either. Although it took a lot of thinking and prototyping to figure out the logistics of papercraft as an art form, the results were very worth it.

The Final renderings of my work in Rhino also did not turn out half bad. I thought my model looked very good, and the structural form of my creation was quite pleasing.

Despite the difficulties, I consider this project a big success. The best part about it was the amount of self-reflection and skill-building that I did throughout its course. Regardless of the outcome, I am grateful for the opportunities I was given to develop myself further as both an artist and as a person in its duration. 

I am proud of the final result, and very happy to be able to own such a lovely reminder of my childhood days.