3/1/17 3D Design

Today's Class- Tonight we opened by looking at the positive/negative space projects (skeletons) and having a quick critique.  They were graded and returned.  Then we moved on to the next project, what I usually refer to as the stone age project.  Art made in the days when humans were cave dwellers was made with natural materials- no choice as there wasn't anything else.  What we find in looking at this ancient art, is that often the shape and design of the artwork is very much influenced by the material used to make it.  For example, a living thing might have its pose twisted to fit the shape of a particular bone or rock it would be carved into.  We did a quick exercise where I had the students take several seashells from a supply I brought in, and see if they could make something based on the shapes and textures of the shells.  Based on that idea, students were asked to design and build a small sculpture using only natural materials and hot glue, with the subject being human, animal, or a mythological hybrid, the most common subjects of that era.

How to make this up-

The whole class was present tonight, and so everyone was able to start it in class.  Students were able to use the shells again, plus anything they had brought in, so lots of rocks, twigs, pine cones, sticks, and other natural materials were put to use.  Above and below are student examples from tonight.

Homework- This stone age graded project will be due at the beginning of class on March 15, 2017.

For next class 3/8/17-  We will continue this idea of using the inherent shapes of our art materials as and inspiration, and build something from pulp cardboard coffee trays, things generally given away wherever coffee is sold to go.  The objects have surprisingly complex surfaces with a variety of concave and convex shapes that reveal themselves with careful observation.  Bring  two or three of the cardboard trays, something to cut with (knife or scissors), and white glue.