Plaster Sculpture Reflection

How did you come to consider the idea or concept of “Metamorphosis” through your work in this project?  How does your work physically address that insight?

I think that my sculpture has changed and grown throughout this project. It has changed from a figure to an abstract sketch to a clay sculpture to a plaster sculpture. Through this transition I feel that my sculpture has changed to portray the motion more thoroughly. I was tying to show the viewer the tension in the arm protecting the figure, and how it cringed away from something above. I think that I did a good job in showing the movement.

How did you push yourself to gain a better understanding of the physical properties of the plaster?  In what ways to you come to better control the various tools you employed?

Throughout the plaster carving process I learned a lot of helpful information on what to use each tool for, mostly through trial and error. I had to closely watch what kind of texture each tool made on the plaster, and use these attributes for the better. I also learned how plaster crumbles and how to carve the plaster without causing damage to the final product. Overall this project was a large learning experience for me.

In what ways did your intentions change over the course of your project?  What opportunities or occurrences led to these changes?


 At the beginning of the plaster carving process, I planned on making a removable head similar to that of my clay sculpture. While working with plaster I realized that making this sphere would be nearly impossible. After learning of the physical characteristics of plaster I had to change my sculpture to make it work. I am content with the changes, and am glad because I have different sculptures between my clay and plaster sculpture.




Given what you know now about the material, how might you have changed your concept or approach to working?


Now that I know about plaster, I may have not have originally planned on making a removable head. Luckily before I made irreversible changes I contemplated the shape of my sculpture and decided against the head. After completing this project I realize that I have learned a lot about working with many different materials, and which tools to use for any given situation.

In Process Reflection

Someone Protecting Themself

I am working on showing the shape of the figure, the action is very natural and instinctual, so I am trying to portray this action as a fluid shape.

Degree of Exploration

How well do your drawings capture the gesture of the figure? 

     I think that my drawings capture the gesture of the figure well, as there is a clear sense of movement in the drawing that represents the models motion well. 

How thoroughly did you explore the process of simplifying and “abstracting” the gestures in order to best capture your intended form?

     The simplification started with my original sketches, in which I tried to just cut down the human form into very few lines, linking many limbs and body parts into one, flowing line. This simplified the figure into the key lines that I based my later sketches around. In my later sketches and diagrams of my sculpture I made these lines three dimensional, creating a simple, abstract clay moquette.

In what ways have your intentions change over the course of your project so far?  What opportunities or occurrences led to these changes?

     Originally, with my first motion drawings, I tried to simplify the models motion into the key lines of the figure. Once I had to make my figures three dimensional I could not have a stick figure, and thus i had to have some changes which included making lines into thicker, blobs of clay. This was the main transformation that I have encountered so far, and I am expecting to encounter even more transformations as I switch medium again, to plaster.

Motion Drawings

Value Final Post

I felt more comfortable in the drawing medium, as I could create and change the drawing as I went on. this is the opposite in the darkroom, as you cannot see your prints until you develop them, which makes it so you cannot change your prints and you have to start a new print rather than change the thing you are working on. I think that I was more in control of how the craft turned out with drawing, as I had the drawing in front of me as I worked rather than a blank piece of photo paper. Overall I think that I was able to express myself better through the drawing than the prints.

To better improve both my experience and my results in the darkroom I will take better, more in focus pictures originally, which will help provide me with a wide variety of good, in focus pictures.I am very happy with my drawing experience and results, which is why I enjoyed the drawing portion of this project much more than the darkroom portion of the project