INTRODUCTION TO CERAMICS:

Making a character.

Your figure must:

reflect stylistic influences from your research materials
convey an emotion (comic tragic) through stylization
exaggeration, distortion
be at least 8 tall
stand without support (balanced)
be aesthetically interesting/pleasing
be skillfully constructed reflecting skills, techniques and
concepts you have learned in both ceramics courses
be decorated to enhance the expressive power of the figure

ROMAN PORTRAIT BUST

WHAT DO FIGURES TELL US ABOUT THE CULTURE THAT PRODUCED

THEM?

VENUS OF WILLENDORF, c.20,000BC, stone

VENUS DE MELOS, GREEK, c. 130 BC, Marble, 6.5 High

STYLIZATION

MYCERINUS AND HIS QUEEN, EGYPT, 4TH DYNASTY

c2470 BC, SLATE, 56 HIGH

TERRA COTTA ARMY Mausoleum of First Emperor of China, Qin

Shi Huang, c 210 BC. Contains c.8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots and over
500 horses

Each figure has a unique face and head. They

range from young to old, with different
hairstyles and hats.

A poser?

MODIGLIANI

EXAGGERATION

ALBERTO GIACOMETTI, MAN WALKING,

c1947, Bronze,70.5 high

DISTORTION

KIKI SMITH

MAGDALENA ABAKANOWICZ, AGORA, c.2005, 9 ft. high, Bronze

HUMOR, CARICATURE

RED GROOMS

Your figure MAY:

Incorporate or include other
objects, media, materials
Be a head and shoulders
(bust)
Be headless, limbless, partial
figure

Judith Shea

CONGO, POWER FIGURE, 19th Century, wood,

mixed media, Metropolitan Museum of Art

NOK ritual head, Nigeria Africa, terra cotta,

200 AD (?)

NOK

GLEN PHIFER, HAITIAN

VOODOO DOLL, 2000,
ceramic

DEBRA FRITTS ceramic sculpture

TAISTO KAASINEN, 7 Brothers

KARIN SANDER

GASTON LACHAISE

PAUL SMITH

ROSENBAUM

LIZA MEYERS

Continue looking at figurative sculpture on line

Examples

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=pbxuFZhvl9o



https://www.youtube.com/watch?
feature=player_embedded&v=J1jvo1ZfREM





https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyyzzP9XQb4





http://characterdesignnotes.blogspot.com/2012/03/sculping-maquettewith-tony-cipriano.html