Today's Class- We opened by looking at the plastics and other cast off manufactured materials based projects that were due, which were all graded and returned by the end of the day. Then we got started on something new.
Today the focus was on the concept of a canon of proportions, a standard of accepted proportions for portraying the human figure in both two and three dimensional art. They can be rigid rules for a whole society, like the Ancient Egyptian 1 body height = 18 fists rule, or proportions favored by individual artists, as in body to head size ratios in Classical Greek art. We also discussed the post-Renaissance Mannerist period, and how more extreme proportions are often favored in comic books and contemporary advertising (see above). Then the class started a portfolio exercise that will lead into a graded project in a few weeks.
How to make this up- Select a photo of a human. Can be male or female, any pose, as long as head to toe are all visible. I had the class pull them from a pile of magazines on a shelf, but any source is acceptable.
Reproduce your chosen figure as a 3 dimensional object using foam core and/or bristol board. Match the pose and body proportions within reason. It may be glued to a base to help it maintain the pose from the photo. After that, you will need to make a second figure with the same materials, but varying the body proportions in specific ways. For the second figure keep the head, torso, upper arms, thighs, and feet the same size, but change these other parts accordingly:
neck twice as long
shoulders twice as wide
waist/hips half as wide across
forearms, lower legs three times as long
The longer limbs may require changing the pose so that things can fit the space, but otherwise try to keep them as much the same as possible. Above and below are student examples from today and previous semesters. In each case, the smaller figure is the one based on the original photo.
These two figures are a portfolio exercise and must be completed by the end of the semester to receive full credit. However, the first figure, the one based on the proportions in your original photo, will be part of a graded project you'll be beginning in two weeks, so you should get that one done by then.
Homework- No new graded projects, but those who still haven't turned in back projects should get them done as soon as possible. After next week, I will not be accepting the Make 100 Module projects, and some still owe the foam core relief projects, and the plastics/garbage based graded projects.
The Museum papers are due on April 28, 2015, though they will be accepted as late (with a grade reduction) through the end of the semester.
For next class 3/31/15- We will begin a new graded project involving the use of natural materials. Students will be required to use only materials gathered directly from nature to create a sculpture based on an animal or person. I'll be giving more details next week, as well as providing some materials, but here are some examples from previous semesters to give everyone an idea of what kinds of materials will be acceptable for this project:
Bring a sketchbook and pencil, glue (hot glue will be best), and whatever assortment of wood, rocks, shells, seeds, etc you can gather now that the snow is mostly melted. You will also have two weeks beyond the next meeting to complete the project, giving you time to gather additional materials to help you finish whatever you are inspired to start next week.
