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ART 208.01 Introduction to Sculpture

PROJECT THREE: Convergence

Initial Design Development Phase (20% of project grade)

You should begin by selecting the non-human object or phenomena you want to transform. Consider its identity in relationship to human form. What sort of meaningful analogy might arise from this relationship? Study it both as a visual and conceptual identity. Accordingly, what specific aspect of the body will you engage? Will you focus on a specific body part or passage, a type of gesture, a mode of sense perception, or even the entire body as a specific idea? Then think about the manner in which you might merge these two things. When should you choose to retain specific appearances and when should you take a more abstract route by evoking broader traits and qualities?

I recommend you muse on these specific questions (above) as you directly study your sources; let your responses flow from direct observation. Spend time with your sources; collect examples of it, observe it in its natural context, draw and photograph it in various ways. If your project takes a conceptual direction, consider some simple web based research as a way to explore meanings and ideas.

Your initial design development will take three forms:

Part 1. Visual Research: Create a visual source book that includes no less than 8 images (could be your own or found photographs) that will help you visualize your sources in terms of their transformative potentials. This source book may be digital only if you bring your laptop to the studio with you otherwise it must be printed so you can use it as a resource as you create your sculpture in the studio.

Part 2: 2D Studies (7 pages):

3 Pages of Brainstorming Sketches: These first three pages should be dedicated to brainstorming a broad range of ideas that explore the merging of your human and non-human sources. Consider using one or more of the project artists as inspiration (slides presentation is on BB). Consider a variety of approaches including drawing on top of source images, photo collages, or drawing as ways of observing your sources as mentioned above.)

4 Design Studies (full page each):

Review all of the ideas you’ve 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 you’ll need to work at it maybe needing to do more brainstorming pages before you can create 4 whole images.

Part 3. Initial 3D Modeling: Inspired by your sketches and using materials that will best approximate your final sculpture, create an initial model for your sculpture.