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Today's Class- Today we began our Stone Age art project. As I've said before, I would have preferred to do this earlier in the semester and have it lead into other design projects. but the winter just wasn't going to let that happen. I opened with several slides of art from the cave dwelling era, ten to forty thousand years ago, pointing out that the primitive technology encouraged the art to be chosen based on the material being used- such as the dimensions of a particular reindeer antler, mammoth tusk, or animal bone. I started by having everyone take several shells collected from the beach and seeing what kind of shapes were suggested, kind of like with the coffee trays. Then I had everyone start working on the project, creating a sculpture from all natural materials that would depict a human or animal.
How to make this up- You will be making a three dimensional object that depicts a human or animal form, by far the most common subjects in that era. It may be something real, or mythological. It may be the complete subject or just a significant portion of it (like a head, for example). It should be at least 6 inches in one dimension, though it may be larger. Except for glue, you may only use any material that would have been available to a stone age artist. This includes natural wood (sticks, chunks of tree, solid planks, but not plywood), rocks, shells, seeds, bones (make sure they are cleaned of all other tissue), leaves, flowers, seeds, and similar items. Keep in mind that living plants will eventually wither and die, so if you are planning to use those materials, you may want to wait until close to the due date to attach them. Materials can be used as found, or can be carved or broken up as needed for your sculpture. You may use paint to decorate or color the item, as this was a common aspect of cave art. Above and below are student examples from previous semesters.
This graded natural materials assemblage project is due at the beginning of class on April 14, 2015.
Homework- Although the pair of figures we worked on last week is in itself a portfolio exercise, the one based on the actual proportions of the figure is part of next week's project. If you don't have it done by the start of class, you'll have to work on it first before you do the rest.
Those who have not yet turned in the cast off items (plastics) assemblage piece or the foam core relief panels (skeleton and related image) can still do so for partial credit. The longer they are late, the fewer points they will be worth in your final grade.
For next class 4/7/15- We will be constructing something related to the figures we made last week and the idea of proportions. Bring the original figure, a new piece of foam core, x-acto knife, glue, pencil and eraser. A ruler is recommended as well.
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.
Today's Class- We opened with a critique of the foam core relief sculpture panels project, which combined a skeletal image and one the student made up. After that I showed a few slides that emphasized suggested shapes and concave and convex surfaces. That was followed with a portfolio exercise using pulp cardboard coffee trays as raw material for sculpture. Those sculptures were looked at toward the end of class, along with a visit to the Howe Gallery to see the current student art show. The relief panels were returned graded at the end of the day.
How to make this up- Acquire two or three pulp cardboard coffee trays, usually available wherever cups of coffee are sold. These humble objects include an interesting combination of molded shapes, curves, and transitions between them. Spend a few moments looking at both top and bottom sides, noting the kinds of shapes that are involved.
When you are ready, use scissors or x-acto knife to cut the trays into pieces, and glue them together to make a sculpture. There is no specific assignment today, so you may make something representational or go for a pure abstract design. Try to make use of both inner and outer surfaces. Above and below are examples from today and last year. Additional student examples, and more specific instructions can be found here.
This is a portfolio exercise and must be completed by the end of the semester to receive full credit. Graded projects will become more time consuming as the semester progresses, so I recommend not waiting to long to make up any of the exercises.
Homework- The graded project involving using cast off found objects (plastic, garbage, etc) is due a the beginning of class on March 24, 2015.
****spring break from March 16th to March 20th****
****no class next week****
For next class 3/24/15- We will begin a new graded project relating to proportions of the human figure. Bring some foam core and some bristol board, along with pencil and eraser, scissors or knife, and glue.
Today's Class- Thanks to the never ending winter, the schedule for the semester was rearranged to postpone the natural objects project to a time when we hope that enough snow has melted to allow us to find natural objects. Instead, we started a graded project involving cast off manufactured items (garbage, essentially). I had posted online examples from an artist I know, along with student examples from previous semesters. I had instructed students last week to search for interesting and workable materials to bring in, and brought in a bunch of discarded household plastic for people to make use of. Some came in with a plan, some were inspired in the classroom. The class had the day to work on it, and will be able to acquire more garbage and finish it at home.
How to make this up- You can either come up with an idea and start looking for materials, or gather a bunch of discarded plastic and other manufactured stuff and see if it gives you an idea. Above and below are student examples from previous semesters, so you can see some of the materials used.
Your finished piece must be at least 12" in at least one dimension, and all visible surfaces must be made from repurposed manufactured items. Your sculpture must be based on a recognizable three dimensional item or scene, with all shapes, textures, and colors coming from the items you used. The materials may be broken or cut up, but no paint is allowed. Depending on what you are working with, hot glue or white glue may be used to assemble it. A base is not required, but may be desirable for certain things.
Homework- Your completed graded discarded plastics sculpture is due at the beginning of class on March 24, 2015. (thanks to spring break week, you get three weeks instead of two)
For next class 3/10/15- We will do a portfolio exercise in adapting complex shapes. For material you will be using pulp cardboard coffee trays, distributed in places where people buy cups of coffee. Have at least two, but three will be better. You will also need scissors or a knife to cut them up, and some kind of glue to assemble it.
