Inquiry Term-Long Project
Research (PURPOSE + PROCESS)
I want to make a crochet stuffed animal because it is something I have wanted to do for a while and know I would really enjoy the result. I have seen both my cousin and aunt create many crochet pieces and wanted to try to make something as well. This has been a common art form for many years and so many people have made their own version of a stuffed animal, whether its cute, silly, or even ugly (in a fun way).
One challenge I might face in the process is the string breaking. if this occurs, I can quickly research online on how to reattach a string or learn how to switch out the old one for a new roll without undoing my work.
Ideation and Sketching
Process
Final Product and Artist statement
Steve the Bunny was created as a symbol of comfort, warmth, and companionship. My artist philosophy focuses on making art that feels simple and approachable. Steve the Bunny was created to represent comfort, warmth, and a sense of companionship. The bunny connects to childhood and storytelling, reminding me of soft toys and the comfort they can bring during difficult or lonely moments.
I chose crochet and yarn as my materials because their softness directly supports the theme of comfort. This handmade quality adds character and shows the time and care put into the piece, making it feel more personal than something mass-produced.
The main themes of this artwork are comfort, innocence, and connection. My vision was for Steve the Bunny to feel friendly and calming, inviting viewers to pause and remember the value of gentleness and care. Through this piece, I want people to understand that simple materials and simple forms can still tell meaningful stories and create emotional connection.
Week 16, January 9 2025
…
Struggle: getting all of my work done in time for the break
Goal: finish tall my projects before Friday
Success:completing the underglaze for my coil pot
Potters Wheel – Thrown Vessel Project
Research and Ideation (PURPOSE + PROCESS)
I will use positive space in the solid clay form and handles, while the negative space inside the mug and around the handle will highlight function and balance. I will use line through subtle wheel marks to keep the design simple and consistent across all three mugs.
Ideation and Sketching (PROCESS)
My theme is nature, specifically the look of a tree stump. I plan to use positive space in the raised coils and textured bark details to make the tree stump feel solid and grounded, while the negative space inside the pot will emphasize its hollow, natural form. I will use line through layered coils and grooves to mimic the rings and cracks found in a real tree stump, helping create movement and realism.
Process
I showed Mr Rossington my cut cylinders and got feedback in person
Final Product
Coil Vessels Project
Research and Ideation (PURPOSE + PROCESS)
I started by looking at all the different types of coil pots possible on the internet. Once I decided to stop looking for specific coil pots, I started looking for things that inspire me, where I noticed that tree bark swirls the same way as a coil pot.
Ideation and Sketching (PROCESS)
My theme is nature, specifically the look of a tree stump. I plan to use positive space in the raised coils and textured bark details to make the tree stump feel solid and grounded, while the negative space inside the pot will emphasize its hollow, natural form. I will use line through layered coils and grooves to mimic the rings and cracks found in a real tree stump, helping create movement and realism.
Concept Drawing
Final Product
Artist Statement
My coil pot is inspired by a tree stump, which represents nature, growth, and the idea that even after something ends, it still holds a story. I feel personally connected to this theme because trees show strength and resilience, and I like how stumps show the history of what a tree has been through rather than hiding it. I used the coil pot technique with clay because it allowed me to build organic lines and rough textures that resemble bark and wood grain, making the piece feel natural. My goal is for viewers to see my work as a reminder that nature, and people, carry stories beneath the surface.
Week 15, December 12 2025
This week, I worked on under glazing all my pieces and trying to get them dry in time to get them done for Christmas gifts.
Struggle: getting all of my work done in time for the break
Goal: finish tall my projects before Friday
Success:completing the underglaze for my coil pot
Week 14, December 5 2025
This week, I continued to make mugs while my coil pot was still drying (it has just finished drying today). I also make a glasses plate.
Struggle: finding ways to be productive while waiting fo army coil pot to dry
Goal: finish trimming the rest my cups next week and glaze my coil pot
Success: getting faster at making mugs
Week 13, November 28 2025
This week, I started to learn how to use the wheel (making the cylinder). I then started to make some mugs.
Struggle: getting consistent wall height and a proper base height
Goal: finish trimming all my cups next week
Success: completing a mug
Week 12, November 21 2025
This week, I worked on creating the entirety of my coil pot.
Struggle: making it actually look good
Goal: underglaze my coil pot by next friday
Success: completing my coil pot
Week 11, November 14 2025
This week, I worked on figuring out the theme of my coil pot piece with my partner and then creating ideations. I also completed my concept drawing for my coil pot.
Struggle: finding a theme for the pot
Goal: finish my coil pot by next friday
Success: completing my concept drawing
Week 10, November 7 2025
This weekend, I brought home my soapstone to finish carving. Due to some complications, I unfortunately not able to bring the soapstone back to school until Thursday, where I complete the sanding and started to put mineral oil on it. During my free time, as there was no other project to complete, I worked on some small ceramic trinkets. Doing them, I learned how to create small works of art and how to attach small pieces of clay with slip.
Struggle: finding something productive to do without my project present
Goal: finish my soapstone by Tuesday (the mineral oil)
Success: completing tiny things
Soap Stone Project
Research and Ideation (PURPOSE + PROCESS)
I started by looking at many different types of sculptures from different countries, specifically Italy and Mexico, but I couldn’t really find any inspiration for my soap stone. From there, I decided to look at artists instead of a whole country. This is where I found Bill Prickett, a wooden sculpture artist. (https://www.billprickett.co.uk/sculpture/marine-sculpture-collection/)
Ideation and Sketching (PROCESS)
Concept Drawing
Carving with Soap Stone
This week I continued to carve my soapstone. as I was close to finishing the general shape I wanted, my stone had broke. A huge piece had come off that affected how my sculpture was supposed to look. From there, I had to figure out what to do with the stone as the break had gone through the middle of the sculpture, and I would not be able to use any of the prior work I had done. I sat with the stone for a bit to figure out the new orientation and had to stray away from my concept drawing so that my sculpture would work with the stone.
Presentation: How will your sculpture be viewed? Does it require being fastened or hung? Will you need a plinth or base?
The sculpture is to be viewed sitting on a surface. All side appart from the base should be viewed.
Final Product
Photos will be uploaded when mineral oiling is complete (3 pics)
Artist Statement
Creating this soapstone frog allowed me to turn my thoughts into something physical while giving me a calm break from my busy life both at school and at home. I chose the only green piece of soapstone because its colour connected strongly to the idea of a frog and its natural colour. During the carving process, the stone unexpectedly broke, which forced me to adapt and change my original design, letting the shape of the stone influence and guide the final shape of the frog. I used elements like form, shape, and texture by making the frog’s body smooth and rounded so it feels natural and real. The frog’s balanced posture makes it look steady and grounded, and I used contrast between the shiny, polished parts and the smaller carved details to make the important features stand out and make it interesting to look at. Overall, the frog represents my interest in both nature and family (as my mom’s name means frog) and I hope it makes people pause and look more closely rather than just seeing the surface.
Week 9, October 31 2025
This week I continued to carve my soapstone. as I was close to finishing the general shape I wanted, my stone had broke. A huge piece had come off that affected how my sculpture was supposed to look. From there, I had to figure out what to do with the stone as the break had gone through the middle of the sculpture, and I would not be able to use any of the prior work I had done. I sat with the stone for a bit to figure out the new orientation and had to stray away from my concept drawing so that my sculpture would work with the stone. Additionally, I glazed my pumpkin. for the lid, I wanted it to be fully covered in glaze. to do so, I had to create a hook with wire to glaze the top.
Struggle: regrouping and finding motivation after my stone broke
Goal: finish my soapstone carving by Monday
Success: completing the glaze for my pumpkin
Week 8, October 23 2025
This week I worked on carving my soapstone. For this sculpture, I used some of the techniques I had learned from doing my soap carving, most notably, working on the general shape before carving any specific details into the stone.
Struggle: figuring out where to start carving on the soapstone
Goal: finish my soapstone carving by next week
Success: finding a green soapstone to match the theme of my design
Week 7, October 17 2025
This week I completed the underglaze for my pumpkin and am now waiting for it to be bisqued.
Struggle: choosing how I wanted to colour my pumpkin
Goal: finish my soapstone carving by next week
Success: completing the underglaze for my pumpkin
Week 6, October 10 2025
This week I completed my concept drawing for my soapstone sculpture along with the ideation. I also began my pumpkin sculpture.
Struggle: drawing different angles for my concept drawings
Goal: complete my pumpkin
Success: creating a lid for my pumpkin
Week 5, October 3 2025
this week, I started on my Research and Ideation (PURPOSE + PROCESS) project. I started by looking at many different types of sculptures from different countries, specifically Italy and Mexico, but I couldn’t really find any inspiration for my soap stone. From there, I decided to look at artists instead of a whole country. This is where I found Bill Prickett, a wooden sculpture artist.
Struggle: finding a style of art
Goal: creating my concept drawing before Tuesday
Success: finding a specific artist that inspires me
Week 4, September 26 2025
I have completed my first soap carving which was a turtle. looking back on the process, I found that I preferred using one specific carving tool in the shape of a triangle to do most of my carving. I found that it worked really well to carve out the general shape of my art piece first before adding any specific details. If I were to do it again, I would focus more on the general shape of my material before carving any lines or details. For my second soap carving, I decided to make a key to focus more on the general shape of my art piece. Doing the sculpting a second time helped a lot with getting the exact shapes I wanted and I was able to get much better at smoothing it out.
Struggle: focusing on the general shape before putting details in for the soap carving
Goal:find a style of sculpture or an artist that inspires me.
Success: understanding the best ways to carve soap.
Week 3, September 19 2025
This week, I finished my charcoal drawing and handed it in. I also started my soap carving and completed my artist philosophy.
Struggle: learning how to properly blend charcoal
Goal:have a good day🙂… and complete the soap carving by Wednesday
Success: finishing the charcoal drawing.
My Artist Philosophy
Ciara McLean
I create art because it gives me a way to express ideas that I can’t always put into words. Sculpture lets me turn those ideas into something physical and real. I have a very busy life in and out of school and art has always been an opportunity for me to relax and take a break. Some of my favorite styles of artwork are romanticism, baroque, neoclassicism, and Hellenistic art. These movements inspire me because of the way they combine detail, emotion, and storytelling. I love the expressive figures in romanticism and the dramatic energy of baroque pieces, because they show how art can stir deep emotions and make people pause to think more carefully about what they are seeing. I also admire the balance and harmony in neoclassical and Hellenistic sculptures, as they show how structure, material and proportion can add meaning and give a sense of strength and beauty to the work. Additionally, I specifically love statues like Michelangelo’s David where they carve such fine and dainty details, like veins, into stone. When I create, I think carefully about the materials I use and how their texture and weight affect the final piece. Sculpture feels powerful because it is not only something to look at but also something that takes up space and can change the way people interact with it. I want viewers to pause, notice the details, and reflect on their own interpretation rather than just seeing the surface. In this way, my philosophy is to create art that is both personal to me and open for others to connect with in their own way.
Week 2, September 12 2025
This was my first full week in 3D arts. I was in this class in grade 10 with Mx. Vittie. This week I worked on and completed my 4 Square Skill Builder and started my still life drawing. I completed the sketch in my sketchbook and have started my charcoal drawing.
Struggle: Trying to blend watercolour on non-watercolour paper (it became very grainy and I almost ripped a hole in it)
Goal: Finish my still life by next week.
Success: the tree that I made in my 4 Square Skill Builder looks really good. while I was watercolouring, I wasn’t liking how it looked, but now I am very happy with it.
Week 1, September 5 2025
this was the first week of school, I did not do much, I think I might have done the knife safety quiz???
Struggle: waking up in time for school
Goal: start a project
Success: 100% on knife safety quiz 1st try