Wood Sculpture (10 credit points)

Pre-requisites for enrolment

No previous experience of working with wood required. Some previous drawing experience desirable.

Special Information

Materials and equipment provided for students as part of the course and included in course fee:

• Access to appropriate wood workshop for making sculpture
• To the use of a range of wood working tools and equipment

Materials and equipment available for purchase during the course: (Estimated cost: £10 - £50 depending of usage)

• A range of woods for wood carving and construction

Essentials Materials and equipment students will need to provide themselves: (Estimated cost: £30 - £50 depending on usage)

• Protective eyewear such as goggles
• cycling mitts or similar if hand skin is soft
• A notebook or sketchbook is useful

Additional recommended materials and equipment students can provide: (Estimated cost: £0 - £50 depending on usage)

• Wood will be available to purchase during the course although other materials, i.e. driftwood, or portable found objects that students might want to bring because they are of specific interest would be useful to take along where possible.

Content of Course

The course will cover:

• Introduction to the workshop - Tour and discussion of the facilities of the wood workshop including relevant health and safety information.
• Short discussion using visual examples of various contemporary and traditional wood sculptures.
• Short demonstration of 3D wood carving techniques and introduction to the main range of hand tools. This will also include an introduction to various materials. Students will then work on their own sculpture/s as they will throughout the weeks, out with the scheduled talks and discussions, with guidance from the tutor.


• Working on personal project and will include a talk and demonstration on further wood sculpture also including discussion of how to employ sketches, photographs and ideas into a 3D art work. A demonstration of relief carving.


• Continue sculpture working.
• A talk on construction and use of other materials within contemporary and traditional practice. Short group discussion.


• Continue sculpture working.
• A talk on Studio practice. Setting up of facilities, tool supplies etc. and things that are required if students wish to carry on making sculpture after the end of the course.


• Complete sculpture working.
• Demonstration on how to finish and present work ie colouring, sanding, oiling, photographing, etc. and group discussion on any other relevant information.

Teaching method(s)

This course will be based and delivered in specialist art studios or workshops and will typically include a range of practical exercises, introductions to techniques, processes and concepts, and set projects which lead to more focused and personal exploration. Each week, students’ progress will be monitored and supported by the tutor who will negotiate and agree a ‘directed study plan’ for work to be undertaken out with the class hours each week. This will include researching a range of suggested artists or designers and their associated movements to engender a contextual awareness of the discipline being taught as well as how to annotate and evidence this within a sketchbook and practical outcomes. Teaching will include practical demonstrations, one to one tuition, group discussions and critiques.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, through attending classes and engaging in directed and independent study, students should be able to:

RESEARCH

• Research and develop a range of visual ideas sympathetic for working in wood and in 3 dimensions which explore a range of established sculptural practices.

PRACTICE

• show competence in a range of traditional and contemporary wood-carving and construction techniques to complete a range of ambitious 3D studies and sculptures in wood.

PRESENT

• select and present range of sketches, studies, maquettes and finished sculptures in wood which demonstrate the use of research and individual enquiry.

Sources

Core Readings

BALKENHOL, S., 1998, Sculptures and Drawings, Hirshorn Museum, Ostfildern: Hatje Cantz
GIMENEZ, C., GALE, M., 2004, Constantin Brancusi -The essence of things, London: Tate Gallery
CURTIS, P., 1998, Barbara Hepworth, London: Tate Gallery

Web Sources

Specific Web resources will be determined by course tutors.

Class Handouts

Handouts will be provided.

Assessment

Details of the Art and Design assessment requirements can be found on the short course website. Please click on the following link for more information: Submission and Assessment Information

Studying for Credit

If you choose to study for credit you will need to allocate significant time outwith classes for coursework and assessment preparation. Credit points gained from this course can count towards the Certificate of Higher Education.

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email COL@ed.ac.uk or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.