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Today's Class- Today we started a new graded project, making use of textures and colors from found objects, which in this case were cast off manufactured products. Using absolutely no natural materials, students were asked to create something based on an actual 3D item, which could be inspired by an object or a living thing. I posted photos of some good examples on last week's post to give students a chance to think about it and maybe find some suitable materials to bring in. I brought in various bits of packaging that I have accumulated since last year (some of which can be seen below).
Meanwhile, some students had brought in stuff from home, or went out dumpster diving, or even made some purchases at the dollar store, which can be a great source of inexpensive colorful junk.
How to make this up- There are two ways to approach this project. You can start with a bunch of plastic and junk and see if the items inspire any ideas, or you can start with an idea and then search for materials to make it. What you make must be based on a recognizable three dimensional thing. All visible parts must be made with discarded manufactured materials, such as plastic, metals, glass, synthetics. These items can be cut or broken up to make pieces that better suit the appearance of the inspiring item. All color and texture must come from your materials- you can't use paint. For size, it must be at least 8" in one dimension, but can be larger if you want. Below are some student examples from previous semesters.
Homework- This graded manufactured objects project is due at the beginning of class on November 17, 2015, three weeks from today.
***School is closed on Tuesday November 3, 2015 for election day. No class next Tuesday*****
For next class 11/10/15- We will continue with the canon of proportions project, the figures based on a magazine photo. Bring in the figure based on the measurements of the original photo, along with some foam core, bristol board, scissors and/or x-axto knife, and glue. We will explore the idea of the figure in an installation setting.
Today's Class- Today we opened with a critique of the natural materials projects due today. They were graded and returned this afternoon, or left on our shelf for those who weren't ready to take them today. Then we moved on to a class exercise involving the material of coffee trays. These are pulp cardboard trays designed to hold coffee cups, generally available anyplace coffee is sold to take out. The cheap disposable trays have a surprisingly complex design, so students were asked to spend a few minutes looking at the shapes found on both sides, and then see what was inspired (kind of like we started with the sea shells a few weeks ago) Below are examples from previous semesters, as well as some from today.
How to make this up- Everyone was present today for at least part of the class so you should all know the assignment. Essentially students cut up their trays and glued the pieces together to make new sculptures. Their new creations could be based on known objects or living things, or could be pure design and geometry. This is a portfolio exercise, so if you did not complete it during today's class, you can make it up for full credit any time before the last day of the semester.
Homework- Nothing new this week, though some still owe me some back graded projects, and getting your museum visit out of the way is always a good idea.
For next class 10/27/15- We will begin our next graded project in class. Sort of a companion piece to the recent natural materials project, our medium will be discarded manufactured materials, such as plastic, metals, and other junk. The student example below includes on old cell phone, plastic utensils, and parts of hair clips, among other things.
This project is partly inspired by Lisa Bagwell, a shore area artist I have known for years. She specializes in making sculptures from discarded materials, a mixture of stuff that has washed up on the beach and donations from friends who know her tastes. Below are photos of examples of her recent works.
Two views of a 3 foot "hoagie", where the bread is made from wine corks strung on wire, the garnishing olive from plastic bottle caps, and the filling from such items as plastic can lids, disposable razor blades, and old gloves.
These two birds are mostly made from thin white plastic tabs with care information, included in plants purchased from nurseries. Plastic mouthpieces for small cigars are used in the shell above and bird feet below. The egret at the bottom is mostly plastic utensils and #2 pencils.
The two main rules for this project will be no use of natural materials, and that all colors and textures must come from the used materials. Subjects can be anything you want, but the sculptures should physically resemble the intended subject. These are just a few examples of the kinds of materials that can be used for this project. Bring with you next week whatever you would like to use to start construction of your piece.
Today's Class- Today the topic was the idea of a canon of proportions, a set of standard proportions used by a specific artist or culture to portray the human figure. It might be mandated by the state (such as Ancient Egypt's body height equals 18 fist widths), or ones advocated by individual artists or art schools (such as classical Greek measurements that generally had body heights working out to about 6.5 to 8 heads tall). I also discussed examples of intentional exaggerations of body measurements, such as Italian Mannerism and contemporary advertising (see below). Then the class started a portfolio exercise that will be used as part of a future graded project.
How to make this up- Find a photo of a human, one that includes everything from head to toe. Any gender, pose, and amount of clothing are acceptable as long as we see the whole figure. The first part of the assignment is to reproduce the figure in three dimensions using foam core and bristol board (like the recent cars). Because you are basing them on photos, you will have to make educated guesses about what exists on the back side of the figure.
The second half of the exercise requires you to make a second version of the same figure, but this time with certain body parts changed in size. Heads, upper arms, thighs, hands and feet stay the same, but modify the following body parts:
neck- twice the length
shoulders- twice the width
waist/hips- half the width
forearms and lower legs- three times the length
Try to keep the poses the same, but if the new lengths require moving the positions of limbs, you may do so. You may attach the figure to a base to make it stand upright. Above are examples from previous semesters, and below a few from today's class.
This is a portfolio exercise, so the pair may be completed any time before the end of the semester for full credit. However, the original sized one will be a part of graded project in a few weeks, so you may want to make sure that one is finished sooner.
Homework- Nothing new, but the Stone Age natural materials project started last week is due at the beginning of class on October 20, 2015. There will be a critique and they will be returned graded by the end of the day.
Since we are at about the halfway point of the semester, I'm going to remind you that the deadline for withdrawing from the class is October 28th, and that the due date to receive maximum credit for the Museum paper is December 1st.
For next class 10/20/15- We will critique the natural materials project, then start a new portfolio exercise involving pulp cardboard coffee holder trays of the type available wherever coffee is sold as takeout. You should have at least two, but it doesn't hurt to have a third in case you need it. Also, x-acto knife or something else to cut with, and glue.
Today's Class- Today the class began a new graded project, creation of a figure piece (human, animal, or combination) made completely from the type of natural materials that would have been available to artists of the stone age. I showed a few slides of work from that era, then had students work on such an artwork of their own using pieces of shells and bamboo that I had brought from home, along with stones, natural woods, seeds, leaves, and other materials that they had brought from home or had foraged from the college campus. We also critiqued the foam core relief projects that were due today, and these were returned graded by the end of class.
How to make this up- Above is a life sized figure made entirely of sea shells glued together, seen in a recent group exhibition in Belmar. This would qualify for the project, but is much larger than you need- we'll settle for something that is at least 6 inches long. Excellent student examples from previous semesters can be seen at the end of last week's post on this blog. Using guide lines based on the kinds of art created by stone age artists, students had to complete a sculpture utilizing natural materials- wood (from natural pieces or milled solid wood, but not manufactured plywood), shells, rocks, seeds or seed pods, bones, and plants, with glue being the one modern substance allowed. Because it was also a part of typical cave art, students may use paint on their completed pieces. The subjects must be human, animal, hybrids (mythological creatures), or a significant piece of such a thing (such as an animal's head, etc). Also possible is a small creature(s) that are part of a complex scene that meets the 6 inch minimum size standard. In the ancient world, subjects were often dictated by the size and shape of the materials (inspired by a specific rock, stick, or bone being used to make it), not required for this project, but something you might find helpful.
Homework- The completed stone age inspired sculpture is due at the beginning of class on October 20, 2015.
The Make 100 module project and the Foam Core relief projects can still be turned in for partial credit.
For next class 10/13/15- We will be starting something new related to the concept of proportions. What is done in class next week will be considered a portfolio exercise, but the completed piece will be used later in the semester as part of a graded project. It will require materials similar to the recent car project, so foam core and bristol board, scissors and/or x-acto knife, and glue. I'll provide the subject.
