This document provides instructions for a ceramic sculpture project where students are asked to be inspired by the style of an existing ceramic artist. Students are to research an artist, study their work, and create their own original sculpture in a similar style. The sculpture should be influenced by the chosen artist's techniques and aesthetics, but should not copy their specific designs. Examples are provided of student works inspired by different artists. Guidance is given on finding an artist online or in books, researching their background and techniques, sketching ideas, and constructing the sculpture over several classes to meet the deadline.

1. Artist Inspired
Semester 1 - Final Ceramic Sculpture
Find a ceramic artist
that you find interesting
and whose work you
would like to study and
make your own version in
a similar style.
Create a piece that
reflects the artists style
and form, but is your own
creation.
Similar but different!
Adrian Arleo
Eric Van Eimeren

2. NOT Copying!
Influenced.
• Remember you
are not copying
the artist, you
are creating
something
inspired by the
artist’s style.
I was influenced
by Ron Mueck, but
didn’t copy his
work...I made it my
own. Human
sculpture with
more texture than
his.My sculpture
Ron Mueck

3. Here’s an example two artist’s
with similar but different
sculptures.
Cheryl Ann Thomas
accessceramics.org
Merete Rasmussen: http://www.ceramicsnow.org

4. * Remember you are not copying the artist,
you are creating something influenced by the
artist’s style.
http://www.ceramicsnow.org/tagged/Featured-artists
Kimberly CookBeth Cavener Stichter
www.followtheblackrabbit.com/

5. Example of student
work
& Artist inspired by
• Bobby Romero ’15
• Chris Stiles, Ceramic Artist

6. Artist Student

7. How to start?• 1. Find a ceramic
artist. -The
artist can be from
ancient to present
time.
- Use the websites
listed on the project
description sheet.
• II. Locate an artist
that you find
interesting and whose
work you would like to
study and make your
own version in a
similar style.
Elizabeth Shriver: Spherical Swirl Lantern, 2010
Found her on http://www.ceramicsnow.org/

8. Functional?• A piece you can use: cups, plates, bowls,
vases
Frank Martin
Jenni Brant

9. • Doesn’t have to be used for a purpose: abstract
forms, models of familiar or unfamiliar objects/things
Sculptural
Cindy Billingsley: http://www.ceramicsnow.org
“The pose or look of an endangered
animal or the presence of a figure in
clay is what the artist is saying about a
time, about a moment in nature or life,
to reflect humanity to itself, to hold a
mirror up to nature.“
- Cindy Billingsley

10. For inspiration:
Look in books or online
(websites listed on project handout!)
• I. Research ceramic artist
• A. Answer the questions
below in the table provided
on the handout.
• I. Who is the artist? Name,
age, where is he/she from?
• II. What type of work does
he/she do? why? Who or
what are his/ her
Influences?
• III. What type of techniques
does he/she use when
constructing a piece?
Coil, slab, drape mold,
pinch, or...?
Paula Bellacera, http://www.ceramicsnow.org

11. Once research is
done...
• Sketch in the
boxes provided
on the sheet.
-Two examples of the
artists work.
-Print 2 images by the
artist and staple to
your handout.
-Two sketches of
your ideas.
Brian Kakas' http://www.ceramicsnow.org
Carol Gouthro http://www.ceramicsnow.org

12. So many possibilities!
Choose an
artist that
interests you
and that will
challenge you!
Works in porcelain inspired by
the collections of the BDA
Dental Museum and its visitors.
Debra Fleury
While growing up near the ocean, I spent many
hours peering at tiny creatures and looking for
clues to their secret lives. This began a lifelong
passion for the the minute details, the battered
fragments, and the myriad patterns of organic
life.

13. 9 classes to construct
it.

14. Timeline of Project:
• Challenge yourself, but
be realistic of short
amount of time.
• Constructed Sculpture is
due: Monday, Dec. 7th
in order for it to have
enough time to be fired.
• Painted and ready to be
fired by Tuesday, Dec.
15th
• Completed glazed, fired
and ready for grading by
day of final exam.
* At the minimum, the piece will
need to be constructed. Some may
or may not have time to
fire/paint/glaze.