Art Appreciation

CHAPTER 6
SCULPTURE

INTRODUCTION

Sculpture, an artistic form in which hard or plastic

materials are worked into three- dimensional art objects. The
designs may be embodied in freestanding objects, in reliefs on
surfaces, or in environments ranging from tableaux to contexts
that envelop the spectator. An enormous variety of media may
be used, including clay, wax, stone, metal, fabric, glass, wood,
plaster, rubber, and random “found” ast, wrought, welded, sewn,
assembled, or otherwise shaped and combined.

In this chapter, you will know the origin and importance of

sculpture, the types, media, and techniques of sculpture. This will
be give you the ability to make your own sculpture at the end of
the chapter.

LEARNING OUTCOME

At the end of this lesson, students are expected to:

• discuss the origin of sculpture;
• recognize the importance of sculpture;
• demonstrate knowledge about the type, medium and technique of sculpture;
• display an ability to make sculpture.

CONTENT

The Origin of Sculpture

Sculpture is from the Latin word sculpere which means “to carve.” The tools used in sculpture are
varied and is changing throughout history. It engages our sense differently than paintings because it
occupies space as a three-dimensional mass through carving, casting modeling or assembling materials
(Sheldon, 1968). It has sought to produce artworks that are as permanent and is working in durable and
expensive materials such as bronze granite, limestone, marble, and stone. More rarely, precious metals
such as gold, ivory, jade, and silver were used for chryselephantine works. More common and less
expensive materials were also used for broader consumption, like cast metals, ceramics, glass, and
hardwoods.

The sculpture has long been one of the most popular forms of fine arts and one of the most
beautiful representations of the humankind. It was also used to represent societal concerns, such as
morality, politics, and religion (Witcombe, 1997). For many of years, scuplture has filled many roles in
human life. For example, the earliest sculpture was made to supply magical help to trackers, to represent
gods, and to hope of making their ancient kings becomes immortal.

Most common purpose of sculpture during the ancient time is associated with religion. Different
images like a human-made object revered for the spirit are familiar in many cultures. One of the oldest
sculptures discovered is an ivory statuette, dating approximately 30,000 BCE from a cave at Hohlenstein-
Stadel, Germany called Löwenmensch (which means a“lion-human”). This Paleolithic period statue is
about 12” tall and depicts a human figure with a feline face.

Another very iconic and famous piece of sculpture is “the Sphinx” of Egypt. This sculpture of an
image of the pharaoh Khafreand is part of a funerary complex for the pharaoh. Egyptian sculpture and
all Egyptian art were on the belief in a life after death wherein the body of their ruler (the pharaoh) was
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preserved carefully and buried with some goods with him to provide for his needs forever. The Egyptians
often combined features from various creatures to symbolize ideas. For example, the head of the
pharaoh Khafre is added to the bowing figure of a lion to form the Great Sphinx. This type of masterpiece
suggests the combination of human intelligence and animal strength. The Great Sphinx of Egypt is an
enormous sandstone sculpture, measuring 240’ ft. Long and 65’ ft. High.

Importance of Sculpture

The sculpture is a perceptive-regeneration of reality through the use of three- dimensional form.
As a specialized work of art, its objective is to exemplify a concept by forming a visual equivalent. Since
the shape is the dominant characteristic of sculptures, the human body and animals have been its primary
subject. They are constructed using bronze, clay, ivory as their mediums.

Likewise, the making of Sculpture is with the idea of expressing religious, personal, and political
views. This kind of artwork is meant to create a sense of patriotism, pride, greatness and spiritual respect.
Statues and sculptures have always been an integral part of museums and art history. They become
more popular as decoration items in private homes and office facilities. Sculptures and miniatures have
also become more popular as decoration items, and in the long term, valuable art investments.

Types of Sculpture

• Bust. A bust is a sculpted and painted representation of the upper part of the human figure such
as the head, neck, shoulders, chest or breast.

• Statue. A statue is a life-size or a larger size of a sculpture of a person or an animal, made of

metal, stone or wood. The world's tallest statue is the 420 feet (128 meters) Spring Temple
Buddha in Henan, China.

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• Architectural. Architectural sculpture is a universal classification used to describe a structural

design such as buildings, bridges, burial chamber and other big projects. It is from a brand of
materials which includes carved stone such as brownstone, cast iron, machine pressed sheet
zinc, terra cotta, concrete and other architectural supplies.

• Relief. The term relief is from latin verb levo which means “to raise”. To create a sculpture in relief
is to give a notion that the sculpted materials have been raised above the canvas. This type of
sculpture is projected into three-dimensional space. The back of the relief sculpture is not meant
to be seen and the entire design can be understood from a frontal view. It has three types namely,
high relief, sunken relief and bas relief.
✓ High Relief- the figures in the sculpture are dramatically raised from the background. They
are sometimes nearly sculpted in the round.
✓ Sunken Relief- (also known as incised or intaglio relief) Relief that is created by having
an image carved down below the surface of the sculpture.
✓ Bas Relief- (also referred to as low relief) Characterized by figures that are only slightly
raised from the surface of the background.

Medium and techniques

Sculpture techniques have the aim of providing practical and technical support through several
procedures. These processes are either additive (added material) or subtractive (material is removed or
carved out). Sculptures primarily use four basic techniques, namely:

1. Carving. It is a procedure in which the artists cut away objects until

reached the desired form. Various tools are used, depending the
materials to be carved and the statue to which the work has
progressed.

a. Stone carving- It is a type of sculpture which requires patience

and planning. It is a shaping activity of pieces of rough natural
stone through the use of essential hand tools like hammer and chisel.

b. Wood carving- It is the art of shaping objects of wood using cutting tools. It is done through a
specialized carving knife (used to cut or smooth the wood), the slicer saw (used to cut off chunks
of wood), the chisel (used for lines and cleaning up flat surfaces), and the gouge (used in carving
hollows, rounds, and sweeping curves).

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2. Casting. Casting is a method by which a liquid material is usually

poured into a frame or pattern, which contains a hollow cavity of
the desired shape, and then allowed to harden. It has two types,
namely:

a. Glass casting- It is a shaping activity of pieces of rough natural

stone through the use of essential hand tools like hammer and
chisel.

b. Slip casting- It is a technique for the mass-production of pottery,

especially for shapes not easily made on a wheel.

3. Molding. Molding sculpture is an additive process. It is the working of soft or plastic materials
(like clay and wax) by hand to build up or shape to create a form.

4. Assemblage. Assemblage or assembling is an additive process of gathering and joining different

materials to create an assembled artwork. An example of assemblage is Martin Puryear's network
of welded and sandblasted stainless-steel tubes whose joints are bound together by strands of
silver and patented bronze.

Basic Sculpture Terms

a. Armature- It is skeleton-like framework used to support the building of paper-mâché, usually

made or stiff wire.
b. Base- It is the portion of the work on which the sculpture rest.
c. Craftsmanship- It is a skill with which one uses tools and materials in producing art.
d. Plaster of Paris- It is an excellent white powder which sets hard when blended in the water.
e. Freestanding- It refers to a method when a sculpture is intended to view from all sides.
f. Manipulation- It is a process of shaping an object by a skilled worker.
g. Replica- It refers to a precise reproduction of an artwork.

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LEARNING ACTIVITY

ACTIVITY 6
SCRAPtures

Materials:
• A variety of recyclable materials (e.g., cardboard, plastic bottles, bottle caps, tin cans,
newspapers, fabric scraps)
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks
• Scissors
• Paint and brushes
• Markers
• Construction paper
• String or wire
Instructions:
1. Brainstorm and Plan:
o Choose a theme: Consider themes like animals, nature, fantasy, or everyday objects.
o Sketch a design: Draw a simple sketch of your sculpture to visualize your idea.
2. Gather Your Materials:
o Collect recyclable materials that match your design.
o Cut and shape the materials as needed.
3. Construct Your Sculpture:
o Base: Start by creating a stable base using cardboard or a plastic bottle.
o Main Structure: Build the main body of your sculpture using larger materials, like
cardboard or plastic bottles.
o Details: Add smaller details using materials like bottle caps, tin cans, or fabric scraps.
o Assembly: Use hot glue to securely attach the pieces together. Adult supervision is
essential for this step.
4. Decorate Your Sculpture:
o Paint: Use acrylic paint to add color and texture to your sculpture.
o Markers: Draw details like eyes, mouths, or patterns.
o Construction Paper: Cut out shapes like leaves, flowers, or hair to add to your
sculpture.
o String or Wire: Attach smaller elements like feathers or beads using string or wire.
Tips:
• Don't be afraid to experiment and make mistakes.
• Use your imagination and creativity to bring your sculpture to life.
• Work safely and responsibly, especially when using hot glue.
• Clean up your workspace when you're finished.

Remember, the possibilities are endless! Let your imagination soar and transform ordinary trash into
extraordinary art.

CRITERIA:
Creativity and Originality - 50%
Craftsmanship and Technique - 30%
Artistic Impact and Visual Appeal - 20%
100%

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