Chapter 3 - Lesson 3

Sculpture
Unique Quality of Sculpture
• Exists in space
• Viewed from all sides
• Actual space rather than illusion of
space
• A sculptor sets out to fill space with
original, visually appealing forms.
• These forms may echo reality,
express powerful emotions, or
communicate ideas.
Vocabulary of sculpture

• Bas relief
• High relief
• Sculpture in the round
• Modeling
• Carving
• Casting
• Assembly
• Kinetic art
Relief Sculpture
• Not all sculpture can be viewed from
all sides.
• Relief sculptures are 3-d forms
mounted to a flat surface.
• Like paintings these sculptures are
designed to be viewed form the
front.
• Bas relief – the sculptured forms
project only slightly from the
background
• High relief – the sculptured forms
extend boldly out into space
Bas Relief- Donatello - Feast of Herod
High Relief – Andrea della Robbia – Madonna & child
Sculpture in the round
• Any freestanding work
surrounded on all sides
by space.

• Not all freestanding

sculptures are meant to
be viewed from all
sides.
Processes of Sculpture
• Modeling – is a process in which a
soft, pliable material is built up and
shaped into a sculptural form.
Clay Wax or Plaster
Sculptor will gradually add more and more material
to build a 3-D form, this is known as the additive
process
Processes of Sculpture
• Carving – is cutting or chipping a
form from a given mass of material to
create a sculpture.

Stone , Wood
Removing material in order
to create a sculpture is
known as the subtractive
process.
Each type of stone has
unique characteristics
which create individual
challenges and textures.
I saw the angel in the
marble and carved
until I set him free.
Michelangelo
Processes of Sculpture
• Casting – a melted-down metal or
other liquid substance is poured into
a mold to harden.
• This method allows the artist to duplicate an original
sculpture done in wax, clay, plaster or some other material.
• Most widely used
• for is known as
• the “cire-perdu”
• or lost wax. Well
• over a thousand
• years old
• method.
Processes of Sculpture
• Assembly – The artist gathers and
joins together a variety of materials
to construct a 3-D work of art.
Assemblage is a modern technique
usually utilizing found items.

Kinetic Art – is a sculptural form that

actually moves in space. (both
externally and internally.)
Sculpture
• No one can predict what the
sculptures of the future will look like.
In one important way, however, they
will be like the ones of past and
present: They will continue to record
the full range of human experience
in ways that are sometimes
shocking, sometimes touching, but
always thrilling to see, to touch, and
to appreciate.