The Sculpture Sketchbook
During each quarter you must complete:
 ALL Preliminary homework assignments must include:
I.
RESERCH: Image/info research – documented sources
II.
SKETCHING: A series of sketches – with descriptions
III.
Portfolio info
IV.
CRITIQUE: A critique/reflection of the project at its completion
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Daily notes on what you accomplished (1-3 sentences)
Four Additional sketchbook assignments of project you want to create
For each project you will receive a project sheet that must be completed prior to the start
of the project. By thoroughly researching, will refine your ideas and will get better results.
RESERCH: Image/info research – documented sources
I.
1. Search the internet: viable sources like museums, libraries, artists’ sites, galleries,
ceramics and pottery sites. Stay away from commercial sites.
2. Find image examples: find 5-10 images to paste in your sketchbooks
3. Copy down the artist and site of the images – Document your sources!
4. Comment on the images. What physical characteristics do you like or dislike about
them?
II.
SKETCHING: Series of sketches – with descriptions
1. 10 sketches - sketching should show quality in thought and inquiry, and the exploration
and growth of an idea.
2. Make sure to try a broad range of possibilities, rather than several nearly identical ideas.
3. The object is to break away from your first cliché response and the first stale random
doodles that come out of your pen, to stretch your thoughts and grow a richer, more
interesting idea.
III.
Portfolio Info - For each of your projects, include the following information.
This information is extremely useful when entering contests and submitting portfolios to
colleges, galleries, etc. If you plan to go on in art, taking time to document your work as you go
is an extremely valuable habit to get into.
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Project name or work title:
Date finished (month/year):
Dimensions (height x width x depth):
Materials:
Techniques:
IV.
CRITIQUE: Project Critique/Reflection Guidelines
This reflection will be evaluated on the basis of the quality and honesty of your observations,
thoughts and analysis, and the learning you demonstrate.
1. Describe how your piece meets the project requirements. If the project is a functional object
(cup, bowl, plate, etc.) how well does it work? If your piece falls short of some of the
requirements, describe this also.
2. Describe three art elements or design principles you used (or attempted) to make your piece
aesthetically pleasing, and explain the reasoning for your choices.
3. Give an opinion (a complete sentence or two): What is your overall opinion of your project?
4. Analyze your experience. What do you think the reasons are for your project’s successes and
problems?
5. What would you have to change (about the piece) or work on (your own skills, knowledge
and work habits) in order to make your piece sellable?
6. Analyze how this experience could help in upcoming projects, or even beyond ceramics.
7. What are your thoughts about the assignment itself?
Example (Japanese tea bowl project):
I formed my shino tea bowl by pinching up a thick flat disc of clay, then carving down the wall
and bottom thickness. The walls are very close to ¼ inch thick, and the bowl fills both my hands
nicely – it’s large enough to hold a couple cups. The rim has a smooth low area to drink from, and
I sanded down the flat spots before glazing. The foot holds the piece stable and is a little wider
than 1/3 of the rim’s diameter, but doesn’t hold the piece exactly upright. The tea bowl still works
well – it holds a lot, insulates my hands from hot water, and the rim is very nice to drink from.
I left the texture rough from the carving marks on the sides, and let the line of the rim remain
wavy and natural to match. The angled notches in the foot create a circular movement, and keep it
from being a perfect circle. The red clay, black and orange shino glaze, and rugged form and
surface create a nice unity.
I’m happy with how this piece turned out. The shino glaze complements the form.
This tea bowl turned out well because I made the inside nice and large, with some interesting
fingermarks. I kept in mind tea bowls I had seen others make, and pictures of other tea bowls, and
how they had used tool marks, and tried not to carve mine too thin or overwork it. Practice on
many other tea bowls helped.
Before I sold this, I would
• Level the feet more – it sits at a slight angle.
• Sand the bottoms of the feet to make them smoother.
• Sign the piece with a stamp before I fired it.
This tea bowl helped me figure out notched feet and pinching up from a disc, and also some
carving tricks that I can use on my next cups, or carving down other things.
I LOVE this assignment. There is always something cool to try when making the tea bowl, AND I
get to dress up and wave a sword around – what more can I ask for?