Embedded Files
The Studio Habits of Mind that will be explored in this unit are Develop Craft and Envision.
Develop Craft
Develop Craft
To develop our craft as artists we must learn to use the tools (such as patterns and pencils), materials (such as foam and clay), and practices (artistic conventions like shape language) of a particular art form. We must also learn to care for them in our studio space through proper cleaning and maintaining. Developing craft in an art form is also cultivated and continued over time through practice and exploration.
Envision
Envision
To envision as artists, we must learn to picture, in our mind's eye, an idea (an aim, purpose, or concept), message (an important point or theme), feeling (an emotion or belief), or personal meaning (an intended communication of personal importance) as a visual artwork. This imagining should include symbols and metaphors as a visual representation to convey meaning through various artistic conventions. Another way artists envision their work is by imagining all of the steps in the process to create it.
Just as in all of the other Studio Habits of Mind, the ability for an artist to learn more about their craft as well as to envision an artwork and the process of creating it takes repeated practice and time.
Give an example or two, outside of the art room, where you've developed your craft?
Give an example or two, outside of the art room, where you've envisioned an outcome or the process in creating it?
Artistic Concept
Artistic Concept
A concept is an abstract idea. They are the fundamental building blocks that lead us to think, act, or create in a certain way. Artists use different concepts to take their ideas from abstraction to reality. The concept being explored through the lens of the Studio Habits - Develop Craft & Envision is Exploration.
Together let's define the concept!
Together let's define the concept!
What does it mean to "explore?"
What does artistic "exploring" look like?
How well do you know how to explore? Rank yourself using the scale on the criteria we wrote as a class.
Exploration lies in an artist's ability to try a number of new things with an open mind. These new things may be within or outside of the artist's comfort zone. An artist explores new media, ideas, practices, and techniques by taking risks, making mistakes, and learning from all outcomes.
Knowing what we now know, why is it important to be able to explore as artists?
What Will I Create?
What Will I Create?
Creature Maquette
Maquettes are sculptures made of a self-drying clay and often used in the animation and entertainment industry to give other members of the production team an overall feel for the character in three dimensions so that an accurate depiction of it can be presented from any angle in the round.
add my example
For this project, each puppeteer will be creating a static maquette that is sculpted in a dynamic pose and based off of an original character that is designed to reflect the character's environment. The final piece will be painted in such a way to show depth and layers that accentuate the detail in the sculpt.
Let's get started!
What makes a good character?
What makes a good character?
Character design is a complicated area of art. Find out what Pixar does to create memorable characters and try to incorporate that into your own work. These ideas are by no means everything that makes for a great character, but are an excellent place to start.
Let's make a list. What are some memorable characters you enjoy? What makes them stand out to you?
What did you learn from the video? What are some things that make a good character?
Time to Design:
Time to Design:
Let's explore what our character for this maquette is going to look like. Based on our definition of exploration, how can we use this concept in this part of the project?
Star Wars - ILM
Spiderwick - Tony DiTerrlizzi
Trolls - Brian Froud
Faeries - Iris Compiet
Element of Art & Design
Element of Art & Design
The elements and principles of art and design are the foundation on which all art is created. They can be thought of like a recipe. There has to be ingredients in order to make a certain dish; no ingredients, no chocolate chip cookies. The elements of art are like the ingredients. Without the elements - line, shape, color, value, texture, space, and form - there is no art. That doesn't mean that all elements of art must be used in an individual artwork, but at least one must be present.
Develop Craft & Envision will focus on the following element of art & design:
What element of art and design will help create an interesting character?
Discover some interesting aspects about the element of art and design: shape
Learn more through the completion of the shape guided practice.
How does shape figure in to character design?
How does shape figure in to character design?
Through Artistic Conventions:
Through Artistic Conventions:
A convention is an accepted way in which something is done. It's a variety of things that artists do to create a piece of artwork. Artists use their knowledge of the numerous different artistic conventions with corresponding methods and techniques to portray meaning in an artwork.
create shape language image - 3 shape based characters
This convention refers to an artist's ability to use their knowledge of different shapes - and the associations that the majority of people have with each - to design an artwork that appeals to a certain group or mindset.
This convention refers to an artist's ability to use a variety of sizes of shapes in different combinations to make an interesting overall design or composition.
big box - photo examples; small box - video explaining process
Let's Explore!
Let's Explore!
Using our definition of exploration, it's time to sketch a number of basic shape combinations that represent the essence of our character in terms of how they relate to their world and their personality.
Time to check in on our concept!
Time to check in on our concept!
What does it mean to "explore?"
Has your definition of exploration changed?
How well do you know how to explore at this point? Rank yourself using the scale on the criteria we wrote as a class.
Principle of Art & Design
Principle of Art & Design
If we think of the elements and principles of art & design like a recipe, with the ingredients being a metaphor for the elements, then the principles of art & design are the instructions. The way in which you put together the ingredients dictates how the recipe will turn out. Adding the ingredients in a certain order, using different methods to cook them, and doing things for the right length of time all change the outcome of the final dish. The principles of art and design are the way in which an artwork is arranged. They are the instructions for putting together an artwork. Does the work appear uneasy, or relaxed? How you put it together using the principles would determine that. Without the principles of design - pattern and repetition, contrast, movement, emphasis, balance, rhythm, and unity - an artwork would not have a unique look and personality to it. The principles of art and design are more subjective as well. This means that they can be viewed and interpreted by one person differently than they are viewed and interpreted by another.
Develop Craft & Envision will focus on the following principles of art & design:
Discover some interesting aspects about the principle of art and design: movement
Learn more about the principle of movement through the completion of a guided practice worksheet.
art by GRIZandNORM
This convention refers to an artist's ability to use a simple, curved line to describe the essence of a pose and the action that is taking place. Line of action shows dynamic movement.
art by Redford Fawkes
This convention refers to an artist's ability to create poses for a character that are full of energy and movement - not stiff and static - that tell a visual story.
How does movement figure in to character design?
How does movement figure in to character design?
Through Artistic Conventions:
Through Artistic Conventions:
A convention is an accepted way in which something is done. It's a variety of things that artists do to create a piece of artwork. Artists use their knowledge of the numerous different artistic conventions with corresponding methods and techniques to portray meaning in an artwork.
Let's Explore!
Let's Explore!
Using our definition of exploration, it's time to sketch a number of dynamic poses for our character that begin with a line of action.
big box - photo examples; small box - video explaining process
Composition
Composition
Composition refers to the arrangement of the elements of art & design according to the principles of art & design in any given artwork.
Composition is the key to creating a strong, aesthetically pleasing artwork in any medium. Other courses explored some of the guidelines to creating strong compositions in 2D artwork: rule of thirds, leading the eye, depth of field, negative space, and focal point or emphasis. These guidelines still apply to 3D work, but this video explores how the guidelines can be applied to 3D forms or objects to be viewed in the round.
**This video contains sculptures from early eras in Art History and shows unclothed figures**
Gather References
Gather References
Find a lot of different images for your character to build a sketch off of. Think of, and find images for anything and everything that you need to make your character come to life. Consider the following:
Body types
Clothing
Accessories
Gadgets/technology
reference collage
add time lapse video
Bring it All Together!
Bring it All Together!
Using everything you've learned so far, create a detailed, final sketch using the information that you wrote about your world and character, and your previous sketches as starting points.
Remember to consider the following:
your world and how your character evolved there
the language of shape
proportion and size variation
line of action
dynamic posing
composition in the round
Time to check in on our concept!
Time to check in on our concept!
What does it mean to "explore?"
Has your definition of exploration changed?
How well do you know how to explore at this point? Rank yourself using the scale on the criteria we wrote as a class.
Now We Sculpt!
Now We Sculpt!
Maquette created by Isabela Lopez
What is a Maquette?
What is a Maquette?
A maquette is a small scale sculpture of a character usually made for the entertainment industry. Maquettes are highly detailed and painted sculptures that show the character in a dynamic pose. They can be used to ensure consistency or be stand-alone art pieces.
Jim McKenzie
Jim McKenzie
Jim McKenzie is a sculpture, painter, filmmaker, and toy designer best known for his character sculptures and process art videos. His art has been exhibited throughout the world.
Sculpture Basics
Sculpture Basics
Creating an Armature
Creating an Armature
Learn how to build an armature that will be the basis for the pose as well as give your sculpture strength.
Adding Volume
Adding Volume
Learn how to add volume to your armature using tin foil and masking tape.
Fine Tuning/Detailing
Fine Tuning/Detailing
Learn how to fine tune your sculpture and add detail.
Time to check in on our concept!
Time to check in on our concept!
What does it mean to "explore?"
Has your definition of exploration changed?
How well do you know how to explore at this point? Rank yourself using the scale on the criteria we wrote as a class.
Now We Paint!
Now We Paint!
what element will help us finish/polish the look of a maquette -
element - color; explore color with guided practice sheet
what principle will help us finish/polish the look of a maquette -
principle - contrast; explore contrast with guided practice
explore color palettes - adobe color and printouts
painting with layers tutorial
how did you do "exploring" by the end of the project? rank yourself based on our criteria again
Self Reflection
Self Reflection
Reflect on the work that you produced for this project and the techniques you used to create it. Think about how you used the artistic concept of exploration. Reflect on what you learned and how you used the concept of exploration throughout the piece by completing the self-assessment.
Report abuse