3D Design

3D Design Course Reflection

From taking this course second semester, I have grown immensely as a 3D artist. With my background in ceramics, I was already comfortable with working with these types of materials, and I already preferred sculpture over 2D art. However, after taking this class, I have realized how much I love ceramics and sculpture in general. At the beginning of this course, I was planning on branching out from clay and trying new materials, like paper and wire. However, I quickly learned that those materials weren't interesting to me, and so by my third project, the clay animal, I used clay for my material as often as I could. Although I was tasked to use other materials, like plaster, I decided to use clay as my main material once we started our concentration series. I found that I like to used mixed media, like clay with sculpey, as seen in my first two concentrations.

My improvement since taking this class, I feel, has been very clear. I started with little confidence in any material except clay, which made me play it safe when it came to my paper sculpture and plaster hand. But, once I started my concentration series, it was obvious my passion for ceramics allowed me to be my most creative self. I feel as though through taking this course, my artistic message and style has blossomed. My pieces are consistently sending a specific message to my spectator, especially those in my concentration series. I also think my style of sculpture became more refined in that my pieces all look like they are made by the same person.

The most challenging thing for me while taking this course was time management. Because working with clay has many obstacles, like the drying process, firing process, and glazing process, it can be hard to complete a project when we have such limited work time. However, after a few assignments were late, I finally figured out a system that worked for me and resulted in my projects being on time. Most of the time, we were given four full classes to work on a sculpture. The first class, I would complete most of the sculptural part of the project, for example, with my second concentration, I made the head and bust form in one class period. The second period, when the piece was still drying out, I made the sculpey fish and flower and trimmed the clay form. In the third class, the clay had been bisque fired, so I used this time to glazed the head with a turquoise glaze. In the final class, I assembled the pieces and took final studio pictures in the light room, also finishing my google site and Artsonia upload. With this schedule, I was able to stay on task and not let the material be an obstacle for the deadline.

I am most proud of my growth in using clay as a material. I feel like I refined my artistic style and stepped out of my comfort zone, which made my work more interesting and thought-provoking. I think my work shows my weakness of skill in using materials other than clay and sculpey. My weakest pieces, in my opinion, are my paper and plaster sculptures. This is clear because the refinement and eye-catching aspect just aren't there. However, I think my strengths as an artist really show through my ceramic pieces. My attention to detail and creativity show most in these pieces.

Overall, I am so happy I took this course. I grew so much artistically and mentally, as I had to learn to work with even tighter deadlines than 2D design. This class has strengthened by sculptural skills and only made me love and appreciate art more. Lastly, the biggest thing I have learned through taking 3D design is how to appreciate the process. I have learned to love each and every step of sculpting, refining, and adding detail until I get my desired finished product.