While I did not work with clay in this sculpture course, my experience in the ceramics studio served not only as inspiration but also as the grounding mindset that I brought to each of the four projects this term. I hoped to become technically proficient in the tools and techniques of the course, expand my conceptual development skills, and, most importantly, to converse with my classmates about the value of art in their lives. This course moved quickly, with a new project introduced before the previous one was completed. While I’m an efficient worker, I need time to develop my concepts. Since time is in short supply, risks become riskier as time and effort you put in should help you progress towards a final product. I had to learn to lean into challenges, especially challenges that resulted from seemingly rushed decisions.
My favorite aspect of this course was the multi-stage process of all four projects. The reference and research stage contextualized my work and gave me direction for developing concepts and techniques. The 2D sketching stage allowed for complete conceptual freedom, which the 3D sketches built on. The 3D models provided crucial points of reference throughout the entire creation of the final projects. The course’s focus on material experimentation profoundly informed and inspired my artworks. Learning how to manipulate materials and presenting those manipulations with intention was a major learning experience for me. Finally, I gained insight into best practices for presenting the final sculpture and discussing critiques and developments with classmates. This final stage has also taught me the value and joy that comes with photographing one’s work. I rely on documentation to reflect and improve my art. Taking and continually examining photos gives perspective on my work and lets me see the piece through the eyes of a viewer.
Art requires commitment. From the start, I treated the class as a priority out of the recognition that the more hours I spend in the studio, the more I’m motivated to come in and work. I poured a lot of ambition, time, and intention into my studio practice. This dedication involved consistent, disciplined effort in creating and refining work, deep engagement with processes, and the embracing of risks. The all-class critiques were among the most instructive in the development of my projects. Although I’ve long struggled with letting others into my process before I have a final product, these class critiques encouraged in-progress adjustments. The collective creativity and thoughtfulness of these critiques brought fulfillment to the work.
Lastly, while most studio art courses leave me with a stack of work to store and save, I dismantled and discarded everything I made in this course. It was freeing to unscrew and throw out the products of my labor. In ceramics, it’s always been about the process. A lump of clay turns to something functional and then back into a lump of clay, although somewhat changed. In this class, my projects evolved from raw materials to an assembled creation, and then back to an altered form of their original state. This cycle reinforced the idea that the process and the learning that comes with it are more important than the final product. This mentality has shaped my approach to art and life, reminding me to value growth and transformation over static perfection.