Chabot College
Fall 2006
Course Outline for Art 17
BEGINNING SCULPTURE
Catalog Description:
17 – Beginning Sculpture
May be repeated 1 time
3 units
Construction methods in clay through design of three-dimensional and relief sculptures. Includes an
introduction to ceramic art history and fundamentals of ceramic glaze and firing technology. Elements
and principles of three-dimensional design are emphasized in oral and written critiques. This course
is designed for art majors as well as general education students. 2 hours lecture, 4 hours laboratory.
[Typical contact hours: lecture 35, studio 70]
Prerequisite Skills: None
Expected Outcomes for Students:
Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:
1. build basic three-dimensional shapes, cones, spheres, and cylinders that are the foundation of all
forms;
2. achieve basic technical skills constructing clay forms using hand building and plaster mold making
techniques;
3. master glaze and under glaze decoration techniques that reflect an understanding of basic glaze
and firing terms and technology;
4. compare and contrast the multicultural influence of Eastern and Western Ceramic Sculpture
traditions on contemporary ceramic art;
5. use clay to create personal authentic expressions through a variety of themes, both figurative and
abstract;
6. analyze masterpieces and students’ sculptures, and recognize the elements and principles of
three-dimensional design.
Course Content:
1. Hand building techniques for hollow construction of clay forms:
a. Coil building a cone, dome or sphere
b. Slab building a box or cylinder
c. Plaster mold making
d. Creating a portrait bust using hollow constructed or solid armature
2. Surface decoration techniques:
a. Creating texture while clay is still plastic by modeling, pressing stamps or other objects into
wet clay
b. Carving or faceting clay forms when leather hard
c. Decoration with slip, engobe, glaze, underglaze on greenware or bisque
d. Creating a graphic image using slip and sgratifito
3. Analyzing of masterpieces of Eastern and Western ceramic art, contemporary ceramic sculpture
and student creations
4. Recognizing elements and principles of three-dimensional design and personal style
Methods of Presentation:
1. Formal lectures with slides and video
2. Individual and group critiques
3. One-on-one instruction
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
Chabot College
Course Outline for Art 17, Page 2
Fall 2006
1. Typical Assignments
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Portrait Bust with solid armature.
Animal head (hand built hollow).
Abstract Totem (coil built).
Bas Relief (slab construction).
Ceramic terminology
2. Methods of Evaluation
a.
b.
c.
d.
Measure improvement of craftsmanship on class projects.
Vocabulary quiz on Ceramic terminology.
Individual and group critiques of assigned projects
Individual creative application of personal style (how did the student make the assignment
his/her own?)
Textbook(s) (Typical):
Reference book:
Hands In Clay, Charlotte F. Speight, John Toki, 5th ed., 2004
Periodicals:
1. Ceramic Monthly
2. American Craft
Special Student Materials:
List of required tools, supplies and clay is posted in the class syllabus each semester.
CT:mpc Art17-Fall2006 2/17/16