Develop Craft

The Studio Habit of Mind that will be explored in this unit is Develop Craft.

To develop our craft as artists or potters, we must learn to use the tools (such as sculpting and carving tools), materials (such as clay and glaze), and practices (artistic conventions like composition) of a particular art form. We must also learn to care for them in our studio space through proper cleaning and maintaining. Developing craft in an art form is also cultivated and continued over time - we're always learning.

Just as in all of the other Studio Habits of Mind, the ability for an artist to learn more about their craft and the process of creating it takes repeated practice and time.

Give an example or two, in the art room, where you've developed your craft?

Give an example or two, outside of the art room, where you've envisioned an outcome or the process in creating it?

Artistic Concepts

A concept is an abstract idea. Artists use different concepts to take those ideas from abstraction to reality. The concepts being explored through the lens of the Studio Habit - Develop Craft is Exploration, Perseverance, and Practice.

Exploration lies in an artist's ability to try a number of new things with an open mind. These new things may be within or outside of the artist's comfort zone. An artist explores new media, ideas, practices, and techniques by taking risks, making mistakes, and learning from all outcomes.

Perseverance lies in an artist's ability to find something that is important to them and/or important to a client or targeted audience to devote their attention, time, and creativity to. It lies in an artist's ability to develop and sustain focus on an artwork, process, and medium through trial, error, and repeated practice.

Practice lies in an artist's ability to keep trying at improving and learning more and more about a particular art form, technique, or medium over and over again with a growth mindset. Practice, especially when "stuck" or frustrated, can be difficult to sustain or focus on, but is necessary for artist's to grow, improve, and develop. Practice is a habit that needs to be developed over time to be able to "stick with it" through successes and failures to see a project through to completion.

Element of Art & Design

The elements and principles of art and design are the foundation on which all art is created. They can be thought of like a sentence. There has to be words in order to make a sentence; no words, no sentence. The elements of art are like the words. Without the elements - line, shape, color, value, texture, space, and form - there is no art. That doesn't mean that all elements of art must be used in an individual artwork, just like not every word has to be used in a sentence, but at least one must be present.

Develop Craft will focus on the following element of art & design:

Shape

Discover some interesting aspects about the element of art & design: shape

Shape Guide

Principle of Art & Design

If we think of the elements and principles of art & design like a sentence, with the words being a metaphor for the elements, then the principles of art & design are the ways in which the words are arranged. The way in which you arrange the words of a sentence dictates the feel and meaning of it. More descriptive words, and the sentence gives more detail; less words, and the sentence reads sharp or abrupt. The principles of art and design are the way in which an artwork is arranged. Does it appear uneasy, or relaxed? Without the principles of design - pattern and repetition, contrast, movement, emphasis, balance, rhythm, and unity - an artwork would not have a unique look and personality to it. The principles of art and design are more subjective as well. This means that they can be viewed and interpreted by one person differently than they are viewed and interpreted by another.

Develop Craft will focus on the following principles of art & design:

Pattern and Repetition

Discover some interesting aspects about the principle of art & design: pattern and repetition

Pattern Guide

Composition

Composition refers to the arrangement of the elements of art & design according to the principles of art & design in any given artwork.

Composition is the key to creating a strong, aesthetically pleasing artwork in any medium. Other courses explored some of the guidelines to creating strong compositions in 2D artwork: rule of thirds, leading the eye, depth of field, negative space, and focal point or emphasis. These guidelines still apply to 3D work, but this video explores how the guidelines can be applied to 3D forms or objects to be viewed in the round.

**This video contains sculptures from early eras in Art History and shows unclothed figures**

Composition In the Round Guided Notes

Artistic Conventions

A convention is an accepted way in which something is done. It's a variety of things that artists do to create a piece of artwork. Artists use their knowledge of the numerous different artistic conventions with corresponding methods and techniques to portray meaning in an artwork.

Each Studio Habit of Mind will explore different artistic conventions. In this example, the artist is using the artistic conventions that this unit will explore - variety of sizes, and overlap. Variety of sizes can be seen in the repeated horn shapes. Overlap can be seen in the lips hanging over the teeth. Exaggeration can be seen in the distorted proportions of the teeth and eyes.

Overlap

This convention refers to the artist's placement of an element of art & design in front of or in back of another element.

Size Variety

This convention refers to the artist's use of an element of art & design in different sizes. Some big, some little, and some in-between.

Exaggeration

This convention refers to the artist's use of taking at least one area on a form and altering it to represent something different than it really is. Exaggerated elements of art & design - such as line, shape, etc. - tend to become an area of emphasis. Exaggeration can be achieved in numerous ways.

Artist Connection

ReCheng Tsang

Recheng Tsang is a ceramic artist who works primarily with porcelain as a clay body. She works on both large installation pieces that are site specific, and smaller sculptures. Her larger installation pieces are a combination of pulled, pinched, torn, and rolled shapes that are repeated hundreds, if not thousands of times to make one piece. She explores the fragility and malleability of the medium of porcelain in her work, as well as the tactile and sensual feeling of the sculpture as a whole.

Class Discussion

How does Tsang's body of work relate to this project?

How can you imagine using the key characteristics of their work in your own?

Getting Started

add finished speaker example here

Instructor Example

Project Specifics

Using pinching techniques as the major way in which to build the form, create either a kiln guardian, phone holder/speaker, or a ceramic whistle. If you chose the kiln guardian you will be creating a creature - either real or fictional - that is meant to protect your pieces as they are fired in the kiln. If you chose the ceramic whistle you will craft a functioning piece that is styled after what it will be calling.

Thumbnail Sketching

Create 3 different thumbnail sketches of what the final piece will look like using the artistic conventions of overlap, size variety, and exaggeration. Consider the guidelines discussed in the project specifics and the key points on creating a strong composition in the round.

How to:

The Basics

Wedging

Clay Basics: wedging the clay

Pinching

Clay Basics: pinch pot method

Attaching: Slip and Score

Clay Basics: attaching clay to clay - "slip and score"

Objectives:

To apply the basic techniques associated with working with clay.
To translate a sketched idea into a 3D form.

National Art Standards

Anchor Standard #1: Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.
Anchor Standard #2: Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
Anchor Standard #3: Refine and complete artistic work.

Project Specifics

For this project you will be creating your choice of either a functional ceramic whistle, or a sculptural kiln guardian using the pinching method of hand building for the majority of the form.

Ceramic Whistle

Follow along as the instructor creates a ceramic whistle.

Kiln Guardian

Follow along as the instructor creates a kiln guardian.

Glazing

There are three basic ways to glaze a ceramic form. These methods will be demonstrated in class, but are as follows:

Pouring -
Dipping -
Painting -

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