Erin
student work
Slab Shrines
For this project the students were asked to think of a memory and a type of sculptural architecture that could be combined to create a shrine. They had to incorporate the use of a drawer or door to create an intimate compartment. They were told to incorporate one found or alternative material, and as you can see some used more than one.
Creature Cup Set
This project used the combination of slab, thrown and modeling techniques to create a cup set series. The students were asked to create a theme for the cups that were then given a narrative with the base.
Slab Cup Sets
An essential challenge to handbuilding is cup sets. The students were asked to create a themed set of cups to coincide with learning slab techniques.
Self-Portrait
To exercise the student's basic modeling techniques they were asked to create a a self-portrait. Each representation focused on a nararative about an altered perception of their identity. They were encouraged to use alternative materials to further their depiction.
Thrown Containers
Students were asked to throw containers with at least one lidded piece to complete a matching set. They took inspiration from food storage and tea and coffee services.
Vessels
For this series of pieces the students were shown various surface techniques, which included sgraffito, in-lay, wiggle wire and soda silicate crackle. They were then instructed to create a variety of those surfacing onto thrown forms.
Group Exquisite Corpse
This last project for Ceramic Survey was used to incorporate a group effort towards an installation. The project began with drawings that were divided into three sections that create a figure. I different person creates the additional sections without seeing the previous image completely. They see only a few continuing lines and know the portion of the body they are supposed to render. The three sections were divided up amongst the students and rendered in coil built clay that was glazed. Dry erase boards were added to include outside participation in the installation.
One-Minute Sculptures
This was the final assignment for my Design 1 class. The requirements were to photograph themselves in an environment of their choosing. They were asked to pose in such a way that their presence would integrate easily with the objects already present. Their presence interacting with mundane objects was used to reimagine the things we see on a day-to-day basis.
This project is based on German artist Erwin Wurm's work called "One Minute Sculptures"
Balanced Color Scheme Collage
Each student had to create three collages that dealt with symmetrical, asymmetrical and radial balance. Then chose a different color scheme for each design and find colors from magazines to collage their pattern. They were told to be conscious of each color's relationship to the color next to it in order to make the pattern stand out.
The Value of a Self-Portrait
This project introduces Design 1 students to painting value rendered from a photograph. They were first asked to write a story that pertained to an emotional event in their life. From that story they were asked to photograph themselves portraying the various emotions. One was chosen and reproduced using only white and black acrylic paint.
Fractured Spirit Animal
Self-Portrait
This project introduces Design 1 students to painting value rendered from a photograph. However, for this assignment I had them integrate two photographs - one of themselves and another of a pet or spirit animal. They were asked to repeat attributes they felt they had in common with the animal. The repetition and use of value created a direct correlation of the two subjects into a dynamic fractured portrait.
Line Expression
The first element of design to master is Line. These pieces were designed to give students an understanding of the degrees of abstraction through the use of line to create shapes within a composition. They were asked to start with a focal point that was representational in its depiction based on illustrations from specimen books. Then they were to create more abstract representations of movement and pattern inspired by their specimen for the rest of the composition.
Figure Ground Reversal
The students were asked to make these images with contrasting figures and grounds from the opposite sides of the value spectrum. This shows the importance that high contrast can have to illustrate figurative details and then to reverse it to see which can be more affective.
Value Scale Tool
Before Color is introduced to Foundations students they are asked to create a value scale. The scale begins with white that has 0% black, adding 10% to each step of the value scale. Their middle value #5 is placed onto each swatch. This allows the value range to have a relationship to its central point. A hole punched at the end of each swatch arm is useful for checking values on other sources. The students are introduced to value first in order to transition them into identifying the values of color.
Gestalt Grouping
As students are introduced to the Principles of Design Gestalt Groupings help to explain their potential complexity. It's important to find a simple form that students can understand that will give them a base of knowledge from which to expand. For this project we focused on the element of shape to express some of the Gestalt Groupings such as Closure, Proximity, Grid, Pattern, Containment, etc.