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Education Needed for Sculptors

Like any other skill, sculpting needs to be nurtured and practiced. There are several ways an artist can gain experience and education, but as with any specialized talent, you need to know where to look. Depending on how far you want to take your skill, there are several options available for obtaining the education needed to be a sculptor.
  1. Material

    • There are many forms of sculpture, from wire to sandstone and everything in between. Each medium used is going to take different techniques, so it is important to learn about each. Most sculpting majors at an art school or university are going to take courses in the different products, and unless you want to use the same stone or wire to create your work, it is a good idea to broaden your knowledge.

    Welding

    • Many new sculpture pieces are now designed by manipulating metal and welding it together. Welding not only is useful in everyday practice, but it is an art form. If you are looking to sculpt using heavy metal material, you must know how to weld. If your school does not provide instruction on this topic, you can probably undertake an apprenticeship with a local welder or construction worker instead.

    Computer Design

    • When planning a new sculpture, many artists now use a computer to design and realize their upcoming piece. Designing the sculpture with software such as Photoshop, AutoCAD or Illustrator is a growing part of the trade, especially when working with metal and other large pieces. Programs such as AutoCAD are going to tell you if areas in the metal are too heavy for the structure, so taking computer design courses while enrolled in an arts degree is desirable.

    Practice Under a Master

    • When people look to commission a piece of work for their building, home or garden, they are not looking at your education credentials, but your skill set and previous work. This is one of the fields where talent is far more important than degrees. Some of the best knowledge you can acquire is from working artists who know the trade. Local sculptures may be willing to allow you to sit in with them while they create their work and possibly share some secrets of their trade.

Sculpture

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