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Lesson 1: Intro to Figurative Sculpture
Lesson 1: Intro to Figurative Sculpture
In Visual art a figure is a full image of a human body.
A sculpture is a three-dimensional work of art that can be viewed/experienced from multiple points of view.
Our Artist Inspiration:
Our Artist Inspiration:
Edgar Degas (1834-1917)
Edgar Degas (1834-1917)
Edgar Degas was a French impressionist painter most famous for his paintings of ballet and the theater life.
See, Think, Wonder:
See, Think, Wonder:
Let's look closely at the paintings of ballet dancers created by Edgar Degas:
What do you see in each painting?
What do you think as you are looking closely?
What do you wonder about each painting?
The Dance Class, 1874
The Dance Class, 1874
Dancers at the Barre, 1880
Dancers at the Barre, 1880
Edgar Degas Little Dancer Aged 14
Edgar Degas Little Dancer Aged 14
Edgar Degas was not a trained sculptor. However he was a risk-taker. He was curious about sculpting a ballet dancer. He experimented with a variety of ways to create study poses, create the armature or skeletal structure of the sculpture, and used real fabric and hair to create the softer textures of his work.
His figurative sculpture, “Little Dancer, Aged Fourteen” was not well received while he lived. Art critics thought the sculpture was ugly and disliked his choices to create the sculpture with mixed materials. Embarrassed by the poor reviews, Edgar Degas kept his other sculptures hidden in his studio for the rest of his life.
Nudity in Art
Nudity in Art
Professional Artists who create work centered around the human figure, often use nude models in order to correctly understand the shape and details of the human body.
Nude is when a person has no clothing and is unashamed.
Naked is when a person has no clothing and is ashamed.
We are about to view a few of Edgar Degas small nude sculptures of dancers, with the intent to see how he uses contrapposto. Contrapposto describes how humans naturally balance their weight by shifting from one side to another.
Our Project:
Our Project:
To create an active free-standing figurative sculpture that shows contrapposto
To create an active free-standing figurative sculpture that shows contrapposto
Steps for our project
Steps for our project
Day 1
Intro and Figure drawing Simplified Skeletons
Day 2
Designing our active figure
Day 3:
Intro & Building our armature
Day 3 pt 2:
Posing our figure on the base
Day 4:
Plaster the lower half
Day 5:
Plaster the top of the figure
Day 6:
Paint the Figure
Day 7:
Finish painting the figure and Reflect
A simplified skeleton is a drawing that uses a minimalist approach to communicate the action of a human body.
The simplified skeleton helps the artist and the audience focus primarily on how a body is posed, and less on tiny details
Lesson 2: Building an Armature for our Sculpture
Lesson 2: Building an Armature for our Sculpture
The Little Dancer's Armature
The Little Dancer's Armature
An armature is the understructure of a sculpture that helps it maintain its shape. An armature of a sculpture acts like the skeleton for a sculpture.
Degas used hollow pipes to create the armature of "The Little Dancer"
Did you draw an Active Figure
Did you draw an Active Figure
Building our armiture
Building our armiture
We will use Aluminum foil to create the armature of our figurative sculpture.
Please watch the video below
Lesson 3: Designing our Figurative Sculpture
Lesson 3: Designing our Figurative Sculpture
Sculptors transform simple objects into engaging works of art.
We must take our time and do our best while we create our designs.
We will choose a pose to finalize for our sculpture.
Please watch the video below
Draw a simplified Skeleton in an active pose
Draw a bubble around the skeleton to make the thickness of th body and clothing.
Define the details and erase all unnecessary construction lines
Color your design
Lesson 4: Attaching our Figure to the Base
Lesson 4: Attaching our Figure to the Base
As we build our figurative sculpture we need to think of how we pose it in order to make our sculpture unique. Our sculpture will follow a similar structure as our own human bodies, with the skeletal armature holding things together as our own skeleton holds us together.
When building our sculpture it is important to make our bases heavy first before we begin to plaster the whole body.
Watch the video below, follow the directions, and allow the base and lower half of the body to harden for 24 hours before plastering the next phase of your sculpture.
Please watch the video below
Lesson 5: Plastering the Lower Half of your Sculpture
Lesson 5: Plastering the Lower Half of your Sculpture
Sculptors use a variety of media to make the outer surface of their works strong enough to last.
Plaster is a powder made of ground gypsum that goes through several changes in the curing process.
Plaster gets wet, gets sticky, gets warm, as it hardens it gets cold and is no longer sticky. It stays cold for 24 hours. After 24 hours the plastered object can receive additional plaster, glue and other materials.
Order of Class
Order of Class
Whole Group Sketchbook Check
Set Up Tables for Plastering
PJ live instruction
Plaster Lower Half of bodies
Clean Up
Reflection
Supplies needed to build your project
Supplies needed to build your project
Human Armature on its Base
Plaster Gauze
Scissors
Water
Please watch the video below
Lesson 6: Plastering the Top Half of the Figurative Sculpture
Lesson 6: Plastering the Top Half of the Figurative Sculpture
Sculptors use a variety of media to make the outer surface of their works strong enough to last.
Plaster is a powder made of ground gypsum that goes through several changes in the curing process.
Plaster gets wet, gets sticky, gets warm, as it hardens it gets cold and is no longer sticky. It stays cold for 24 hours. After 24 hours the plastered object can receive additional plaster, glue and other materials.
Please watch the video below
Lesson 7: Painting the Figurative Sculpture
Lesson 7: Painting the Figurative Sculpture
The fun thing about painting a sculpture that is covered in plaster is that you can rotate the sculpture as much as you please without worrying about it breaking if you apply too much pressure or dropping it.
We are painting our figurative sculptures
Look at your design. Draw lines to separate your hair, skin, clothing and base.
Paint your sculpture in this order
Skin
Clothing
Hair
Base
Please watch the video below
Figurative Sculptures Reflection
Figurative Sculptures Reflection
Reflect Together
Reflect Together
Name the artist we are studying?
Tell us a brief story about the artist and their artwork.
What is contrapposto?
What did we create?
In your own words describe how to create this project.
Refine
Refine
Paint all open white spaces
If you created an accessory, finish and attach the accessory
Create a label for your art. Hot glue the label to the bottom of the work.
Take a selfie and a rotation video of your work.
Create a Reflection Video on iPad "ART_003"
Create a Reflection Video on iPad "ART_003"
Use the prompt below to record a 2 minute or shorter reflection video using the iPad " ART_003"
My name is _______________ and I am in 5 ____ (A, B, C, or D)
I created a figurative sculpture of _______________.
I was inspired by __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
First I ___________________________________,
Next I ______________________________,
Last I______________________________
Explain what you discovered, or how you had to change your idea while working.
What do you love about your finished sculpture?
Finish your sculpture!
Finish your sculpture!
Finish painting and refining your sculpture
Write a reflection
Use a label to write your name, class and brief description.
Take a photo of sculpture with Mrs. PJ
Put sculpture on 5B sculpture shelves.
Clean Up any and all messes.
Help Mrs. PJ with Tidying the Art Room:
Break down cardboard and tidy Cardboard stack
Tidy and organize supply carts
Free draw
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