4/26/16 3D Design

Today's Class- Today was the second to last meeting of our 3D class.  We started nothing new, continuing the final project (inflatable sculptures) we started last week.  We also looked at the book projects that were due today, and spent a few minutes doing the student survey regarding the semester.  Some late arriving museum papers were turned in.

How to make this up- Information about the current assignment can be found in last week's post.  By the end of the day today most students had made progress on the project.  Those working with a partner or group had chosen the subject for their final piece, and in most cases had started working on it.  Some had even completed the basic construction and had even tried a test inflation to make sure it was working.  

Homework- The Final Project, the inflatable sculpture project, is due next week, 5/3/16, our last meeting of the semester.  We will start looking at Final pieces as soon as students are ready to show them, and once the pieces have been shown and graded, you will be able to leave.  You may have until the official end of class next week to complete and show your final piece.  Sketches and models related to the Final are also due by next week and can still be turned in for full credit.  This will be your last chance to turn in any work for the class, so if you owe any back assignments, including the museum paper, bring them to class next week.  Once the class ends, no work will be accepted.

For next class May 3, 2016- Bring whatever you need to work on whatever if is you need to do.  If you haven't finished your Final Project before arriving, bring clear plastic drop cloth material, and clear plastic sealing tape.  Extra tape is recommended, as unexpected leaks are common during the last day and you may need to do some patching.  I will bring in one hair dryer, but having your own (with a cool setting) means you won't have to wait in line for a chance to use it.  Before you leave that day, make sure I have seen everything you completed for the class.  If you are unsure about anything we've done this semester, use this blog to check due dates, requirements, etc.

4/19/16 3D Design

Today's project is our final- creating a large inflatable sculpture.  We'e going to put to use a lot of the things we've done this semester.  

This project was inspired by one of my grad school classmates, who shared the results with me.  20 years ago John was primarily a painter, though he also dabbled in sculpture.  During our time in the midwest, he decided to participate in an outdoor sculpture competition.  Following a traditional approach, he came up with an idea, worked out in sketches.  A model was created (don't have a photo to show you, but that was used to get into the show) and once he was accepted, he built the final piece.  I helped him install it.  His piece was not inflatable (made from metal, canvas, machinery, etc), but the inflatable piece was one he was doing with his 3D class in Iowa years later, and he had good results.  I've used it several times and it also works well here in New Jersey.

How to make this up- The first step is to sketch out some ideas.  With pencil on paper, choose 5 possible subjects for your piece.  The subject must by either an animal or plant.  Should be based on a real thing, not a cartoon character.  (we're not Macy's)  After you've shown me your 5 sketches, choose one of them to expand into a small model, using foam core and bristol board.  This will provide a guide in building the final plastic piece, allowing you to work out proportions (so you know how big to cut the plastic sheets to make the planned piece) and to consider how to work the inflation.  Below are some examples of sketches and models.

You may work in groups of up to 3 students, though you can work by yourself if you prefer.  For those who work in groups, the initial sketches and models will be part of your individual grade for the  project.  Everyone must do sketches and make one model.  For those who work in a group, you can choose one model to expand into the final piece.  Below is an example of a model and the resulting inflatable piece.

The resulting piece must be at least 8 feet in one dimension, and must have articulations (not just a tube or sphere) such as body segments, legs, fins, wings, a tail, or whatever is suitable for your subject.  Last week's blog post includes a link to all of last semester's finished pieces.  Below are more good examples from past semesters.

Homework- This inflatable piece is our final project, due on the last day of class- May 3, 2016.  We will start looking at the resulting pieces as soon as people are ready to inflate them that day.  If you need the whole 6 hours to finish your piece that day I'll be there, but if you are finished early and have nothing else to show me, you can leave early.

The book project is due at the beginning of class on April 26, 2016.  They will be graded and returned that day.

Those who have not yet turned in their museum assignments should get them to me as soon as possible to receive partial credit.  

For next class 4/26/16- We will continue on the Final Project. If you haven't done the first part yet (drawings, model) bring the materials for those.  If you are caught up on those, make sure you have your clear plastic drop cloth, some clear plastic sealing tape, and scissors.  

4/12/16 3D Design

Today's Class- Nothing new was introduced today.  We continued on the book carving project started last week, except for taking a break late morning to look at the proportional room/installation project.  Since I have posted all the good book student examples that I had over the past two weeks, I've decided to show some good examples of the new project, in which an environment was created for one of the canon of proportion figures from several weeks ago.   Choosing a theme was up to each artist, some being influenced by the original photo source, others looking at the pose and seeing what it suggested to them.  The other rules for this installation was that a defined space was to be created, and it should be of a scale related to the figure.  Any materials could be used.   

Homework- The book projects begun last week will be due at the beginning of class on April 26, 2016.  

The museum papers are due April 19, 2016.

For next class 4/19/16- We will be starting the final project of the semester, creating a large inflatable sculpture.  The subject will be an animal or plant.  It must be a minimum of 8 feet long in at least one dimension and it will be made from a piece of clear plastic drop cloth (used to protect carpets and furniture in interior painting) and clear plastic sealing tape.  Inflation will be done with a hair drier.  Everyone will start by doing some pencil sketches of ideas, and create a small model using foam core and bristol board.  For the inflatable piece, students may work individually, or in groups of up to 3 students on one piece.  Below is an example from a few years ago.  The whole set of last semester's projects can be seen on the blog page from 12/15/15.

You will have the final 3 weeks of class to work on this, which will be due May 3, 2016- our final meeting.  For the first week you will definitely need a sketchbook (or sheets of loose drawing paper), pencil and eraser, foam core, bristol board, scissors and x-acto knife and glue to build a scale model.  If you think you may be ready to start building it next week, have a clear plastic drop cloth large enough to make your sculpture and tape to hold it together. If not, you can use your model to calculate how big a piece you'll need build the project you have in mind.  

4/5/16 3D Design

Today's Class-  Just 5 weeks left in the semester.  I spent a few minutes discussing the career of Buckminster Fuller, a significant designer of the 20th century who has been an influence on how I teach this class.  Then we looked at the manufactured materials projects that were due today.  After that, we started the next graded project of the semester, the book carving project.

How to make this up- Although I know of no example of Bucky Fuller working with books as a medium (he was more of an architect/inventor type), there is a relationship to this project.  In the 1950's and 1960's he was a design professor at Southern Illinois University, where he had a student named Buzz Spector, who went on to have a career as an artist and educator, currently teaching in St Louis.  Spector has often used books in his artwork as a sculptural medium, and when I was first putting together this class, I decided to turn to a fellow Saluki for inspiration.

A book is a three dimensional object, made mostly from wood derived materials (paper), and thus can be sculpted.  It can be opened and closed, the pages turned, and still be returned to its original state.  The common codex format (front and back covers, with all pages bound along a spine between them) was a Roman invention, but it still works well- one can easily access any part of the book without disturbing the rest of it.  And as one opens a book and works through it, one is changing the dimensions of it, creating the opportunity to use these three dimensions in a variety of ways.  You can choose one of two approaches for this project:


A. Single View

In this approach, the book is opened at a particular point (front, middle, or whatever you like) to reveal a sculpted image.  Negative spaces in the block of pages create the scene.  Everything left behind must be part of a page still attached by its original binding.  You may make use of printed text and illustrations from the publisher as part of your design, but you may not draw or paint on the pages.  There should be at least three layers of objects/space in your scene. No specific assignment, so what you produce can be a recognizable scene (as in the student examples above and below) or it can be an abstract design.  

B. Changing view

In this approach, you will create a series of negative spaces that change through the book.  Some spaces may pass through the entire book, while others may end or be revealed as more pages are turned.  Aspects of the sculpture change continuously as the viewer moves through the book. There should be at least 4 distinct sections of the book.  Above and below are two views of a single student project from a previous semester.

Additional examples of both varieties can be found in last week's blog post.

Some general rules-

The book must be able to open and close repeatedly.

All pages must remain attached by the original binding.

Glue can be used to repair torn pages, but not to build structures.

Homework- This book sculpting project will be continued in class next week.  Due date for the completed piece will be announced after I see our progress.

The installation sculpture (figure in space you create) is due at the beginning of class on April 12, 2016.

The due date for the museum assignment is April 19, 2016.  All reasonably complete papers turned in by then can be resubmitted for a better grade before the end of the semester.

Next class April 12, 2016- We will continue with the current book sculpting project.  Bring your book in progress (or a new one if you want to start over), x-acto knife and spare blades, and glue.