Learning Objectives

Demonstrate an understanding of the visual elements and principles of design.
Develop and refine problem-solving skills to enhance creative thinking.

Objective(s)

Create a sculpture that emphasizes volume through sheer size. The resulting project will be an open form.
Create a sculpture that is abstract.
Utilize the elements and principles of design, focusing primarily on formalism.
elements – line, shape, form, value, color, texture, and space (positive/negative)
principles – pattern, rhythm/repetition, contrast, balance, unity, emphasis, movement
Create a sculpture 6 feet in at least one direction (either length, width, or depth).
Create and use a maquette.

Important Terminology

Volume: refers to the space within a form
Plane: that element of form which can be described in two dimensions, predominantly characterized by surface, or any flat or level surface (planar materials include: cardboard, sheet metal, paper, fabric, etc.)
Maquette: a small sculpture made as a preparatory study or model for a full-scale work

Space: refers to distances or areas around, between or within components of a piece. Space can be positive (the object itself) or negative (the area around the object), open or closed, shallow or deep and two-dimensional or three-dimensional. Sometimes space isn’t actually within a piece, but the illusion of it is.
Formalism: The concept that a work’s artistic value is entirely determined by its form–the way it is made, its purely visual aspects and its medium. Formalism emphasizes compositional elements such as color, line, shape and texture rather than realism, context or content. To put it as simply as possible, formalism deals with formal properties of art primarily and deals with concept secondarily or not at all.

Materials

Sketchbook
Posterboard (for maquette) – (you must make/show your maquette and get approval prior to final project) – final project should be exactly like maquette – bring maquette to final critique
Masking tape (for maquette ONLY)
several sheets of plain brown cardboard (purchased from Art Supply store or found. Avoid beat up or heavily printed cardboard)
Corrugated cardboard – (optional – good for curves or texture)
Paper tape (shipping) brown with adhesive on back – could use tape aesthetically – “reinforced gummed adhesive” found at Office Depot & Staples
Sponge and water container
Utility knife with lots of replacement blades (not an x-acto blade, a UTILITY KNIFE)
Scissors (only heavy duty ones will work, like kitchen scissors)
Ruler, Protractor, Compass, Calculator
Glue gun & glue sticks (as reinforcement to tape, not to be used alone)

Instructions/Considerations

This project is similar to the recent “Geometric Mass” assignment with a few exceptions.
The size is much larger, what most people would call life size because one side of it will be at least 6 feet.
The form should be open and appear light weight yet strong.
This piece will not be painted.

References

Go online or to the library. Research shows itself in your work.
Paper models of polyhedra
Geometric Nets
Richard Deacon
Lisson Gallery
Artsy
Artnet