4/28/15 3D Design

Today's Class-  Including today, we had three remaining meetings this semester, so it was time to start the Final Project of the semester.  The idea for this project is courtesy of my grad school classmate John Siblik.  In school John was primarily a painter, but he also enjoyed sculpture, and on one occasion produced a large scale outdoor piece called Emergence, but commonly known as the Farting Machine

We are not doing that, but the traditional process he went through for the proposal is a good example of how large scale pieces are commonly done.  Our focus in this piece, creating a large scale inflatable sculpture comes from a project he has since done as a professor with good results.

How to make this up-  You will be creating a large inflatable sculpture in the shape of living creature, either animal or plant.  (no cartoon characters allowed- this isn't Macy's parade) The first step is to sketch out five ideas of possible subjects.  The second step was to create a small model of one of these ideas using foam core and/or bristol board.  The purpose is to help you gain some familiarity with the three dimensional proportions of your subject and to plan out the next step, and it's also part of your grade on the project.  Above is part of my friend's proposal for the project.  Below are some student examples of this first part from previous semesters.

The next step will be to create the final piece using clear plastic drop cloths (clear plastic typically used to protect things from splattered paint) and clear plastic sealing tape, both of which are available in any home improvement center or place that sells house paint.  Students may work individually or in groups of up to three (choose one of your three models to expand into the inflatable).  The final piece must be at least 8 feet in one dimension and must have some kind of articulations or extensions- you're not just making a ball or a long tube.  It works best if it all inflates from a single point, so that as air fills the body, it also fills all the legs, fins, tails, etc.  Below are some student examples from previous semesters.  

Homework-  This inflatable sculpture is due on our last day of class, May 12, 2015.  The sooner they are finished that day, the sooner you will be done, but you may have up until 3:15 if you need it.  

The book sculpting project is due at the beginning of class on May 5, 2015.

If you still owe any back graded projects, such as the figure and table installation, or the natural materials piece, they can still be turned in for partial credit.  Those who have not yet turned in a museum paper may still submit it for partial credit.

Next class 5/5/15- We will look at the results of the book carving project, but otherwise it's a general work day for the class.  Most of you will use it to work on your Final Projects, but you may use the time to work on anything related to the class.  Bring whatever you need to work on whatever you plan to do.

4/21/15 3D Design

Today's Class-  Today we continued with the book sculpting project that was begun last week.  We also took some time to look at the figure/classroom installation projects that were due today.

How to make this up- See last week's posting for information about the book project.

Homework-

The museum paper is due at the beginning of class on April 28, 2015.  Any reasonably complete paper turned in that day will be considered on time, and if it's missing significant information, I'll give you the opportunity to revise it and resubmit it for a better grade.  Papers will be accepted as late during the last two weeks of the semester, but that will reduce your opportunities to improve the grade.

The book sculpting project will be due at the beginning of class on May 5, 2015.

For next class 4/28/15- We will be starting our final project of the semester.  The first step will be creating a scale model for what will be a much larger final piece.  You will need a sketchbook and pencil, foam core and bristol board (enough to build a 6 to 8 inch model), scissors and x-acto knife, and glue.

4/14/15 3D Design

Today's Class- Today we started a new graded project in a new medium- book arts.  A book is a three dimensional object with a size and shape that can vary in its normal use, such as opening the cover and turning the pages.  The standard codex binding attaches pages to the binding on one side, and allowing the rest of the page to be moved around.  The pages can be turned in any order, and in any part of the book, each time with the potential to create a new object.  Traditionally artist books were a collection of bound two dimensional images, but starting in the 20th century some artists started realizing the three dimensional potentials of these portable, common, and easily manipulated materials.  

How to make this up- Find an old book that you don't mind cutting up.  Hard cover is more stable than soft cover, and you want at least 250 to 300 pages.  Sharp blades (x-acto or other utility knife) work better than dull ones, which are more likely to tear the paper than cleanly cut it.  You have two options for this project- either a continuously changing design, or a single deep sculpture.

A. Changing Design-

The concept is to create a design that changes as a viewer turns the pages.  In this student example from a previous semester, above is the view upon opening the front cover, with various negative spaces created in the block of pages.  Below, we see a later phase, in which some of the initial negative shapes are ended, while others continue through to later pages.  And new negative shapes are forming where they hadn't been seen before.  So some of the initial shapes should continue from one section to the next (try to have at least four distinct sections, but more are fine), while others end after the first section, but new shapes start forming elsewhere in the composition.  These negative shapes can vary as they move deeper into the pages, not requiring the same footprint from beginning to end, but still being part of a continuous void.  In this example the shapes are abstract geometric shapes, but you may do this with recognizable forms as well.  As viewers move through the pages, they see a continuously changing and evolving sculpture.

B. Single three dimensional view-

In this option, when the viewer opens the book to the starting point, the whole sculpture is revealed, no further turning of pages.  It can be a single object seen in deep relief, as in the portrait piece above, or a scene with at least four layers of objects creating depth, as in the scene immediately below, with the grass, trees and limbs, and hanging swing.  

Abstract/geometric design can be used with this option as well, as in the above student example, which took advantage of color reproductions on the pages to emphasize the different layers of shapes created.

General rules-

The book must be able to open and close.  Glue may be used to repair torn paper, or to reinforce delicate areas, but too thick an area glued together may restrict the pages ability to slide over each other as normally happens when a book is opened and closed.  

You may not draw or paint on the pages (the dark marks on the portrait piece that look like ink or paint are just shadows in deeply carved pages), but you may take advantage in your design of any images or colors printed on the pages.

This project is more time consuming than it may seem if you haven't done something like this before, so we will be continuing it next week in class and the final finished book will be due some time after that.

Homework- The proportional figure/classroom installation style piece is due at the beginning of class on April 21, 2015.  We will take some time away from the ongoing book sculpture to review the finished pieces.

The museum papers are due on April 28, 2015.

For next class 4/21/15- We will continue work on the book sculpting projects that were started today.  Bring your book in progress, or a new book if you haven't started yours yet or have changed your mind on what you want to do, x-acto knife or equivalent with spare blades, and white glue.  

4/7/15 3D Design

Today's Class- Today we continued with the idea of proportions that we started a few weeks ago.  For that one, we took a figure and made a distorted version, reflecting how societies will sometimes impose unusual proportions on figures, whether it be classical or heroic ideals, or the extremes of 16th century Mannerism or contemporary photoshop ads.  Today we took a page from the concept of installation art, creating a whole environment for figures.  Sculptor George Segal made a career out of creating small environments for his life sized figures from plaster life casts of people.  We worked with the more practical small scale from a few weeks ago.

How to make this up- The starting point is one of the figures you made on March 24th.  If you haven't made up that exercise yet, you will need to do so soon.  Use the one based on actual photo, not the extremely distorted version.  You will be creating a portion of our classroom that matches the proportions of your figure, using foam core and glue.  You must include your work table, with one of the clamp vices, one stool, and one other item from the room.  The one above from today includes a standing fan.  Other things made today include a broom, garbage cans, etc.  You can also go bigger as in the examples below from  previous semesters, and create portions of walls, cabinets, and other classroom furniture.  Use the body of your sculpted figure as a measuring tool; you decide what height it represents and make everything else fit along side.  Attach the table and other items to a base to act as your floor.  Bring the figure with you on the day your present it to the class.

This graded installation inspired project is due at the beginning of class on April 21, 2015.

Homework- The stone age inspired natural materials project is due at the beginning of class on April 14, 2015.

For maximum points, the museum paper should be turned in by April 28, 2015, though it will be accepted as late after that until our last meeting of the semester.

For next class 4/14/15- We will start a new graded project with the medium of book sculpture.  Books are three dimensional objects whose dimensions vary constantly as the pages are turned.  You will be carving those pages to create a piece that will be viewed after the cover is opened.  You will have two options for your approach:

Above is an example of a continuous change abstract style.  Viewers can start at the beginning of the book and as the pages turn, negative spaces (empty volumes) appear and disappear, constantly evolving and creating constantly varying three dimensional shapes.  Below is another option, to create a single sculpture viewed from one position in the book, which can be a scene with layers of depth, or like this one, an object in the round.  The dark "marks" seen are not ink or paint, but shadows created by light over the surface.

Bring two hardcover books, I suggest about 6" x 8" or larger, and at least 300 pages, though larger and thicker won't hurt.  Pages can be all text, but printed images on the pages can lend interesting effects.  You will be creating one for the class, with the second book as back up in case you have a need to start over. Also bring a sketchbook and pencil to work out some ideas, x-acto knife and extra blades are recommended, as dull blades are more likely to tear the paper than cut it smoothly.