PROJECTS: You will complete 5 Projects designed around hand building techniques. See the ‘List of Projects’ or the ‘Assignments’ page in Canvas for specifics.
Homework
You are expected to keep pace with demos and lectures during class and use class time to your best advantage. Most of the class time is designated for individual work on projects. However, there will be demonstrations, lectures, and critiques that will also take up class time. Demos and lectures may not be repeated, but I do try and record them for you to watch on your own time if you miss a one. You should anticipate spending time outside of class to complete assignments. Students typically spend 1 to 3 hours a week outside of class.
Assessment/Grading
Grades are based on specific assignment criteria regarding technique, craftsmanship, design, and conceptual development, explained in written and verbal form at the introduction of each assignment. Supplementary slide shows and technical demonstrations will help further your idea development and working skills.
Grading will be based on the quality of your work. This includes effort, technical skill, creativity, progress, and completion of all assigned projects. Other factors that affect your grade are participation in class critiques, having projects completed on time, cleaning your area after each day.
Each individual Project will be graded using this Rubric:
Grading Criteria
Each Project will be assessed using the following metric:
- 1. Craftsmanship: this constitutes an understanding of the technique and intention. Pieces are made of a consistent thickness and desired shape. Rough and sharp edges are attended to.
Points: 1 to 25
- 2.Effort and Performance: The work shows effort. Perhaps the first attempt was unsuccessful, but the final piece was achieved through multiple variations or attempts. Class time was used wisely and out of class time was effective. The work was not produced last minute.
Points: 1 to 25
- 3. Surface Treatment: Evidence of consideration given to the glazing and overall look of the work. Attempted several approaches to decorating with slips, underglazes and glazes.
Points: 1 to 25
- 4. Followed all Requirements Outlined in the Project: Addressed all aspects requested in the assignment. Due dates were met, and critiques were attended and participated in.
Points: 1 to 25
(25 is most successful, 1 is least successful)
It is expected that all pieces will be finished and glazed at the end for your final critique. Unglazed pieces constitute unfinished work and can receive no better than a “D”. It is expected that students will pay attention to glaze demos and invest as much in design and craftsmanship in the finishing as in the building. If pieces are glazed in a haphazard manner your grade will be affected negatively. Meeting deadlines is crucial to a successful outcome, failure to do so will affect your grade negatively. It is ultimately your responsibility to keep track of your work through all stages of the process. If a piece gets lost or broken or dries out too much to work on it is your responsibility and you may have to remake the piece.
I will also give you an ‘In Process” grade on every assignment. The ‘In Process’ grades will be given on the due dates of each Project according to the calendar. If your pieces are not completed in the leather-hard stage by the due dates on the calendar, it will affect your grade. As the grades will be given to projects before they are fired and glazed, this will be a temporary grade to help you track and understand your progress throughout the term. I am unable to give a final grade on your work until it is completed through the glaze firing process. This means “In Process” grades can go up or they can go down. The outcome is up to you.
If a piece gets lost or broken or dries out too much to work on it is your responsibility and you may have to re-make the piece.
Notebook
Bring a notebook or sketchbook for note taking during lectures and demonstrations, it should contain idea development, drawings, and images of inspirations.
List of Projects for 3620
Project 1: Word Choice (15% overall grade)
For project 1 you must choose 1 word, then make all the letters of that word using slabs to create one piece. You must also use underglaze, sgraffito with terra sigillata and carving on your piece. Your piece may be designated as a wall piece, stand alone on the table or a combination. Whatever word you choose, your font choice and the way you compose your word must relate directly to what the word describes. For example, the word CHAOS – how would I make this word 3 dimensionally and have the font I choose the surface treatment and the glaze relate to this idea? Your smallest letter must be within a 6-inch dimension.
Project 2: Botanical Abstraction (20% overall grade)
Create an abstract sculptural form inspired by botany. Start by choosing a plant form or a part of a plant form and print out some images. The more the better. Next, you must develop a form based on your chosen image, but you have to abstract the form not create it representationally. Consider thinking geometrically. Your final form must attain 12 inches in one dimension. You must use coils or slabs for this project. Your piece will be assessed on strength of idea and how well the construction is executed. You must make a to scale drawing and have it approved before you start working.
Project 3: Cups and Bowls (15% overall grade)
For this project you are to make 4 cups using the slab technique and 4 bowls using the pinching technique. Your cups must have a handle and a coaster. Your bowls must have a foot. You may not use the wheel for either set of pieces. You may use a banding wheel. Your cups should be at least 5 inches tall in wet form and you must use 1.5 pounds of clay for the bowls.
Project 4: Self-Portrait (20% overall grade)
For this project you will make a human head approximately life size in its leather hard state using the soft slab and coil method. You must use your own face as a model. You are only required to make the head from the neck up, BUT if you would like to add additional body parts or other forms below the neck you may. You may also add other components to your self-portrait that are connected or separate from your head. We will finish the pieces using underglazes and glaze.
Project 5: Give Yourself a Hand (20% overall grade)
Using the coil method, you will make a human hand at least twice life size. Think about the pose of your hand. What gesture do you want to use? Your hand must also incorporate a small object that you make using the solid forming technique. The object may be attached to your hand, or it may be separate. That is up to you and what you are trying to narrate. You may use any decoration technique you would like. You overall design may be super representational, or it may be somewhat abstract. It still needs to be recognizable as a hand.
Project 6: Quiz (10% overall grade)
(see list of terms on the Canvas Home page).