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Figure Sculpture / ART 338.01 Fall 2014, 4 credits, TR 11-1:30 pm Professor Lisa Scheer Office:
Montgomery 146 Telephone:
202-236-1536 Email:
lnscheer@smcm.edu Office hours:
W 1-3 pm and by appointment Class meets: MH
135 Required Materials: $110 Materials Fee Course
Description This course focuses
on creating sculpture from observation of the human figure. Class activities will include drawing
and sculpting from anatomical aids and live models. We will begin by focusing on the
portrait bust and after mid-term move on to the full figure with both quick
studies and one long-term pose. We will draw regularly as a way to observe
and learn about the structure of the human form. We will become familiar with
some important figurative sculptors and consider the issues facing the
creation of figurative sculpture in a contemporary art context. All modeling
will be done in low-fired grogged clay. Students
will have the option of having their portrait bust and seated full figure
projects fired but all projects will be photographically documented. Course
Objectives á
Developing
visual observation skills aided by self-assessment and reflection writings,
studying human proportions, and working with scaled measurements. á
Learning how
to create three-dimensional representations of the human figure from direct
observation. á
Learning
about the practice of figurative sculpture in Modern and Contemporary art
history through slide lectures and research assignments. Course
Requirements and Evaluation Attendance
Class meetings
consist primarily of studio modeling sessions (see schedule).
Working from the model can only happen during class time therefore the class
will begin promptly and attendance is required. You will be forgiven
the standard two absences but each additional absence will lower your final
grade by 1/4 of a letter. You will also be required to attend no less than 4
evening life-drawing sessions (as
part of fulfilling certain drawing assignments.) Materials The material fee
for this class is $110 and provides 75 lbs of clay per student along with
supplies such as basic clay tools, armatures, and drawing materials and
subsidizes the expense of the live models. It is your responsibility to keep
your clay and sculptures in proper condition. If your clay dries out you will need
to replace it at an additional cost.
Sculptures that prematurely dry out cannot be completed or fired. Assignments
/Grades The class schedule
lists all class activities and assignments please refer to it often. There
are handouts detailing each assignment (access through links on class index or class schedule). All
assignments will be assembled at the end of the semester in a PDF-based
portfolio. All course materials are available online and linked to our
Blackboard site including PDFs of our slide lectures. You
will be held responsible for the on time completion of all assignments. Any
assignment handed in late is lowered by one letter grade. Acts of plagiarism
will result in automatic failure for the course. Refer to the below
assignment summary list for an overview of due dates and the final grade %
for each assignment. You can find your weighted grade average on the Black Board
grade center. Evaluations of assignments will be done on a 100 point scale
with final letter grades as follows: A 93-100, A- 90-92, B+ 87-89, B 83-86,
B- 80 to 82, C+ 77-79,C 73-76, C- 70-72, D+ 66-69, D 63-66, D- 60-62, F 0-59.
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