Students in Art I used slab construction—flat pieces of clay—to create individual tiles based on a section of a larger image. Each student translated their assigned portion into a sculptural relief by carving away the background, a process often described as “drawing in clay.” These individual tiles were then assembled to reconstruct the full iguana image as a unified mural.
Relief sculpture is designed to be viewed from the front and exists in two primary forms: low relief (bas-relief), where forms project slightly from the surface, and high relief, where more than half of the form extends outward.
This project emphasizes 21st-century skills, including collaboration, visual communication, problem-solving, and attention to detail. Students worked both independently and collectively, ensuring their individual tiles aligned in scale, composition, and craftsmanship to contribute to a cohesive final piece.
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