Art Theses

Seniors Amy Durcan and Sarah Quickel have taken their thesis artwork beyond visual display – the actual process behind their work is an art itself. 

Amy Durcan ‘13, an art and math double major, has a unique approach to an art process as seen through her arts thesis. 

“My focus really is just to work with the spontaneity of the material as a process artist,” Durcan said. 

The fascinating aspect of her artwork is found in the creation of her medium. Durcan mixes paint with spices to make paintings that place emphasis on the natural elements that should be used in place of artificial flavors and fillers. 

“All of the paint I use is simply mixed from red, yellow, blue and white paints, and water. The spices I use are cumin, cinnamon, onion salt, and chili powder,” said Durcan.

“[I] give enough freedom to learn from the way the different materials interact with each other.” Also, with the use of more natural products in her paintings, Durcan not only stresses her organic message, but it is actually healthier to paint with.  “The powders used to make [artificial] paint are harmful and I had to paint with a respirator in the room,” Durcan said. 

At the end of this semester her art will be featured in a final exhibit in the Visual Arts building.

Like Durcan, art major Sarah Quickel ‘13 is also in the processing of putting together her senior thesis. She has chosen to draw life-sized portraits of her friends to portray emotions. Hand gestures and body language are a focus of these portraits. 

Over the last semester, Quickel bounced around from medium to medium before finally settling on drawing. “I found something I really enjoyed and something I was good at and that was drawing. I finally feel confident,” Quickel said.  

Quickel also had the help of her faculty advisor and review boards to guide her through the difficult portions of her project. She attended three to four reviews and constantly worked with her advisor, who also oversaw plans for the use of the project’s budget. 

 “The hardest thing to overcome is getting inspired,” Quickel said.  

Both Durcan and Quickel’s projects will be featured in the art exhibit in May.