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Still Life Deconstruction
Still Life Deconstruction
Focus: Variety, Proportion, Scale, Unity, Repetition
Goal: Choose an object that you can deconstruct or take apart that is NOT electronic (nothing that contains circuit boards or power cords). Make sure that there are at least 10 parts that make up your object. Keep in mind that you may not be able to put it back together again, so find something that's old or broken that you don't mind getting rid of. Can't find anything at your house? Ask around. Look at garage sales. Thrift shops are a great place to find cheap objects that you can disassemble. Safety is your #1 priority! Be careful and don't take apart anything that will harm you, other people, or pets.
Instructions:
- Check out the artist Todd McLellan and his "Things Come Apart" series.
- Deconstruct your object and arrange the pieces in an interesting composition.
- Using the media of your choice, draw every component that makes up the object. Draw every screw, fastener, ring, pulley, gear, lever, etc....everything. Details are important.
- You're welcome to put your own 'spin' on the assignment as long as you draw the pieces.
- If you want to keep your object...reassemble it. If not, put the parts in a box and bring them to school.
- Protect your drawing. I'm sure you spent a lot of time on it. If you have fixative, spray the surface. If not, we'll do this at school. Cover your paper with a clean sheet of paper to protect it.
Todd McLellan has mastered deconstruction in his series "Things Come Apart" to show his viewers the intricate inner workings of everyday objects.
"Each photograph is itself a work of art and offers a reinterpretation of our familiar world. They connect people with the child-like joy of taking something apart to see how it works and will appeal to anyone with a curiosity about the material world."
“When you deconstruct something, you can’t quite put it back the way it was before. Looking at the same things and seeing them differently is, in my mind, the heart of creativity.” ~Ayse Birsel
Example Objects to Deconstruct
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