Happy Wednesday Friends!
There are several different kinds of sculpture:
Who knows the difference between two-dimensional art and three-dimensional art?
Two-dimensional art is art that you paint or draw on a sheet of paper and it lays flat, not taking up room in the world other than that one sheet of paper. Three-dimensional art is art that you build or sculpt. These sculptures are not flat, and most of them allow the viewer to walk completely around it to see it from all sides.
Two-dimensional art is art that you paint or draw on a sheet of paper and it lays flat, not taking up room in the world other than that one sheet of paper. Three-dimensional art is art that you build or sculpt. These sculptures are not flat, and most of them allow the viewer to walk completely around it to see it from all sides.
Lets look at different types of sculpture!
Relief sculpture is sculpture in which images are slightly raised off a flat background (like a sheet of paper or canvas). A coin is a good example of relief sculpture: the inscription, the date, and the figure--sometimes a portrait—are slightly raised above a flat surface. When the image is only slightly raised, as with a coin, the sculpture is called low relief or bas-relief.
The ancient Egyptians sometimes carved figures into a flat surface. This type of carving is known as sunken relief.
The ancient Egyptians sometimes carved figures into a flat surface. This type of carving is known as sunken relief.
| Statues that are almost three dimensional but still are attached to backgrounds are regarded as high relief. Mount Rushmore is considered to be a high relief sculpture. We can see almost all of each head, but none of them are complete, and they are fixed against the mountain. |  |
 | Sculpture in the round is freestanding, attached to no background. Most statues and portrait busts are carved in the round. The statue Nike, or “Winged Victory” (c. 420 bc; Archaeological Museum, Olympia), is a famous sculpture in the round that was found in Olympia in 1875. An inscription on its pedestal states that the statue commemorated a victory of the Messenians and the Naupactians over an unnamed enemy, probably the Spartans. |
Let's Compare what we just learned...
Sculpture in the round has a front and a back. It is meant to be seen from all sides.
Relief sculpture is meant to be seen from only one side and it can be low relief or high relief.
Can you think of more everyday objects that have low relief like this penny?
Sculpture in the round has a front and a back. It is meant to be seen from all sides.
Relief sculpture is meant to be seen from only one side and it can be low relief or high relief.
Can you think of more everyday objects that have low relief like this penny?
Time to make some art!!
You are going to make your own low relief sculpture. Here's what you need:
Aluminum Foil
squeeze glue/ hot glue (with help)/ or a squeeze bottle of fabric paint
cardboard or another flat surface strong than a sheet of paper
one paint color of your choice
a pencil
Aluminum Foil
squeeze glue/ hot glue (with help)/ or a squeeze bottle of fabric paint
cardboard or another flat surface strong than a sheet of paper
one paint color of your choice
a pencil
First, draw a design on your cardboard with your pencil. It can be absolutely anything you want. I made flowers and fun patterns! It can be as simple or as detailed as you want.
After you have finished your design, go over it with your squeeze bottle of glue, your hot glue (with the help of an adult), or squeeze bottle of paint. By doing this, you are creating your relief! The more shallow you make your lines, the lower your relief will be. The higher you make your lines, the higher relief will be. Once you are finished, you must lay your relief to dry. The more glue you used, the longer it will take to fully dry. Try placing it in the sun to speed up the process!
After you have finished your design, go over it with your squeeze bottle of glue, your hot glue (with the help of an adult), or squeeze bottle of paint. By doing this, you are creating your relief! The more shallow you make your lines, the lower your relief will be. The higher you make your lines, the higher relief will be. Once you are finished, you must lay your relief to dry. The more glue you used, the longer it will take to fully dry. Try placing it in the sun to speed up the process!
Cover your relief in foil. Make sure you smooth out all the winkles! You will start to see your design emerge. After you are satisfied with your relief, you can add a little bit of paint with a paper towel to give it dimension, or paint the whole thing with a brush.
