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ART 208.01 Introduction to Sculpture

PROJECT ONE: Translating the Body

 

Initial Design Development Phase (20% of project grade)

 

Part 1.

A. Artist Research: Conduct some online research on the project source artist (choose from Brancusi, Picasso, Calder, Smith, or Hesse) that interests you the most. Then, select one favorite sculpture by this source artist and faithfully draw it. Write (in your sketch book) about what you find interesting about this artist and the artwork you drew.

 

B. In-class studies: We begin this first project by observing from life with the goal of translating body forms and gestures into basic shapes and lines. In this way we will abstract the body, re-seeing it in a simplified way. We will spend one class drawing and collaging from a live model and one class where we will explore how these 2D images can become 3D forms.

Items due: No less than 3 pages of drawings/collages from the live model and 2 3D models inspired by something in your drawings.

 

 

Initial Sculpture Design

Part 2a: Drawings (7 pages):

Create a number of 2D studies that envision various options for potential sculptures. A 2D study can be any combination of drawing and or collage and should be done in your sketchbooks. In total you must complete no less than 7 pages of drawings:

3 Pages of Brainstorming sketches: These first three pages should be dedicated to brainstorming a broad range of ideas. These pages should contain multiple images. One of these pages should contain designs inspired by your selected project source artists (Brancusi, Picasso, Calder, Smith, or Hesse).

4 Design Studies (full page each):

Review all of the ideas youÕve drawn in your first 3 pages. Thoughtfully select a worthy idea from your first 3 pages and create four more drawings/ collages that explore various options within this single idea. If there are none that inspire you continue to brainstorm before you begin with these design studies. These four studies should be large (a full page each), detailed, and as specific as possible (try to draw complete things not bits and fragments of things). This will not come naturally youÕll need to work at it maybe needing to do more brainstorming pages before you can create 4 whole images. Of these 4 images you should try the following at least once:

á       Drawing with color

á       Collaging with cut shapes of paper

 

Additional pages: Any pages above 7 will get you extra credit.

 

Part 2b: Initial 3D Models (2):

Create 2 3D models that explore your design idea in different ways. These models should be created from facile 3D sketch materials (glue gun w/paper, cardboard, gator foam, wire, and found objects etc.) They need to be large enough to capture details but not too large that model materials structurally fail (12Ó in the largest dimension is a good size). Pay close attention to details including:

á   How the object is structured (stands up) and might be constructed in wood

á   How color and or surface treatments might be employed?

á   How composition choices best express what the pose expresses.

 

Be sure to develop your initial impulses into something sculpture worthy, something that excites you and has something to say!