Introductory Visual Arts: Art Media and Techniques - Sculpture Carving Wood Stone Ivory Modeling Clay Wax Plaster Casting Bronze LostWax Assemblage Construction Installation Kinetic Sculpture Soft Sculpture IceSand Carving

What It Is

Sculpture is a three-dimensional art form that can be created through various techniques, including carving, modeling, casting, assemblage, construction, installation, kinetic sculpture, and soft sculpture. One well-known example is Michelangelo's "David" (1501-1504), a marble sculpture that showcases the artist's mastery of carving and classical proportions. Understanding sculpture is crucial for analyzing and creating three-dimensional artworks.

Key Terms & Techniques

• Carving: Removing material from a solid block to create a shape. Example: Michelangelo's "Pietà" (1498-1500), a marble carving that demonstrates the artist's skill in depicting emotion.
• Wood Carving: Carving wood to create a sculpture. Example: African wood carvings from the Yoruba people.
• Stone Carving: Carving stone to create a sculpture. Example: Ancient Egyptian stone carvings from the Great Pyramid of Giza.
• Ivory Carving: Carving ivory to create a sculpture. Example: Chinese ivory carvings from the Qing dynasty.
• Modeling: Shaping a material to create a three-dimensional form. Example: The Venus de Milo (circa 130-100 BCE), a Greek marble sculpture created through modeling.
• Clay Modeling: Shaping clay to create a sculpture. Example: The Terracotta Army (circa 210 BCE), a collection of life-sized clay soldiers.
• Wax Modeling: Shaping wax to create a sculpture. Example: The wax casts of the ancient Greek artist, Lysippus.
• Plaster Modeling: Shaping plaster to create a sculpture. Example: The plaster casts of the human body created by the French artist, Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin.
• Casting: Creating a sculpture by pouring molten material into a mold. Example: The casting of the Statue of Liberty (1886), a copper sculpture created by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi.
• Bronze Casting: Casting bronze to create a sculpture. Example: The bronze statue of the Greek god, Zeus (circa 5th century BCE), created by the Greek sculptor, Phidias.
• Lost-Wax Casting: A technique of casting where a wax model is surrounded by a mold and then melted out to create a hollow space for molten metal to fill. Example: The lost-wax casting of the ancient Greek statue, the Venus of Milo.
• Assemblage: Creating a sculpture by combining disparate objects. Example: The assemblage sculpture, "Fountain" (1917), created by Marcel Duchamp.
• Construction: Creating a sculpture by building or assembling materials. Example: The construction of the sculpture, "The Gates" (2005), created by Christo and Jeanne-Claude.
• Installation: Creating a sculpture that is site-specific and often interactive. Example: The installation sculpture, "The Weather Project" (2003), created by Olafur Eliasson.
• Kinetic Sculpture: A sculpture that moves or changes shape over time. Example: The kinetic sculpture, "Mobile" (1936), created by Alexander Calder.
• Soft Sculpture: A sculpture that uses soft materials, such as fabric or foam, to create a three-dimensional form. Example: The soft sculpture, "Untitled" (1965), created by Claes Oldenburg.
• Ice Carving: Carving ice to create a sculpture. Example: The ice carvings of the Chinese artist, Zhang Yimou.
• Sand Carving: Carving sand to create a sculpture. Example: The sand carvings of the Indian artist, Nek Chand.

Common Misunderstandings

• Misunderstanding: Sculpture is only created from stone or marble.
• Correction: Sculpture can be created from a wide range of materials, including wood, clay, wax, and even ice.
• Misunderstanding: Assemblage is a type of sculpture that only uses found objects.
• Correction: Assemblage can use a variety of materials, including found objects, but also can be created from new materials.
• Misunderstanding: Kinetic sculpture is only created by using motors or other mechanical devices.
• Correction: Kinetic sculpture can be created using a variety of methods, including wind, water, or even gravity.

Quick Identification

1. Describe the sculpture, "The Gates" (2005), created by Christo and Jeanne-Claude. What type of sculpture is it?
2. Answer: Construction

3. Reason: The sculpture is a large-scale installation that was built and assembled on site.

4. Describe the sculpture, "Mobile" (1936), created by Alexander Calder. What type of sculpture is it?

5. Answer: Kinetic Sculpture

6. Reason: The sculpture is a mobile that moves and changes shape over time.

7. Describe the sculpture, "The Weather Project" (2003), created by Olafur Eliasson. What type of sculpture is it?

8. Answer: Installation
9. Reason: The sculpture is a site-specific installation that is interactive and changes with the weather.

Last?Minute Revision

The Terracotta Army was created through clay modeling. The Venus de Milo was created through modeling. The Statue of Liberty was created through bronze casting. The lost-wax casting technique involves melting out a wax model to create a hollow space for molten metal to fill. Assemblage can use a variety of materials, including found objects and new materials. Kinetic sculpture can be created using a variety of methods, including wind, water, or gravity. Soft sculpture uses soft materials, such as fabric or foam, to create a three-dimensional form. Ice carving and sand carving are both techniques used to create temporary sculptures. The Yoruba people are known for their wood carvings. The Great Pyramid of Giza features stone carvings. The Qing dynasty is known for its ivory carvings. The Terracotta Army is a collection of life-sized clay soldiers. The Venus of Milo is a Greek statue created through lost-wax casting. The Gates (2005) is a large-scale installation created by Christo and Jeanne-Claude. The Weather Project (2003) is a site-specific installation created by Olafur Eliasson. The Mobile (1936) is a kinetic sculpture created by Alexander Calder.