Skills week - Sculpting the Figure

Today on skills session we were sculpting the figure using clay, wire and wooden base. This exercise and learning will be helpful with our Art Portfolio project which is based on 5 sculpture pieces in my case. I found it very interesting and it reassured me that sculpture making is my favorite thing in art. 

We started with cutting and bending the wire to create initial shape of the figure. 

In the next steps we had to make it look more like a human figure with arms and legs....

Then we could proceed to apply the clay and create the character from the photo.

Artist research - Veronika Richterova

 Veronika Richterova is a Czech artist who creates a unique type of art called "animal art". This art form involves transforming plastic bottles into various animal shapes such as fish, birds and insects.

Flying Fox, Veronika Richterowa, 2007

Her work has a deep connection to nature and the environment, which is very similar to my marine animal sculpture project. By recycling plastic bottles, it draws attention to the damage that plastics can do to the marine environment.

 This is very important for my project, because I create sculptures that are supposed to draw the recipient's attention to the problem of extinction of marine animals.

In addition, both projects hopefully encourage people to think about their own consumption and waste and how it affects the world around us.

Richterova's pet-art works are not only beautiful, but also carry a powerful message about sustainability and environmental protection.

I can draw inspiration from her work to further emphasize the importance of my sculptures of marine animals. Her work shows that art can powerfully convey social and ecological ideas, and through my own sculptures, I can also raise awareness about the need to protect the environment.

Jellyfish, Veronika Richterova, 2019

Reference:

Basingstoke (2018) Veronika Richterová bringing plastic creations to festival place, Basingstoke Gazette. Available at: https://www.andoveradvertiser.co.uk/news/regional/basingstoke/16399479.veronika-richterova-bringing-plastic-creations-festival-place/  (Accessed: May 2, 2023).

Bidiville, E. (2017) Veronika Richterova: An enlightening plastic inspiration, The Universal Sea. Available at: https://universal-sea.org/inspirations/artwork/veronika-richterova  (Accessed: April 27, 2023).

Comprehensive guide on polyethylene (PE) (no date) Polyethylene (PE) - Properties, Uses & Application. Available at: https://omnexus.specialchem.com/selection-guide/polyethylene-plastic  (Accessed: 02 May 2023).

Richterowa, V. (2010) Veronika Richterová, Veronika Richterova. Available at: https://www.veronikarichterova.com/en/  (Accessed: April 27, 2023). 

Spagnuolo, S. (2021) Plastic bottle art by Veronika Richterova, Artemperature. Available at: https://www.artemperature.com/plastic-bottle-art-by-veronika-richterova/#:~:text=Richterov%C3%A1%2C%20who%20worked%20for%20the,production%20of%20recycled%20art%20projects.  (Accessed: April 27, 2023). 

Image references:

Cihlář, M. (2007) Flying Fox, Veronika Richterowa. Available at: https://www.veronikarichterova.com/en/dilo/pet-art-sculptures/animals-and-trophies/  (Accessed: April 27, 2023).

Cihlář, M. (2019) Jellysish, Veronika Richterowa. Available at: https://www.veronikarichterova.com/en/dilo/pet-art-sculptures/sea-and-water/  (Accessed: April 27, 2023). 

Material research

 For the sculptures for my project, I decided to use modroc plaster which will be based on a wire skeleton, then to smooth the surface I will cover it with plaster powder, when everything dries, I will sand it and paint it in the right color. I'm not sure what color I will use yet...

This is modroc

this is plaster powder

wire construction

I chose modroc because it dries very quickly, is easy to manipulate and achieve the right shape. It also combines very well  with other materials and is easy to wash off any surface. The only one disadvantage is that it can't be sanding because of the fabric in it, that is why I have to cover it with the plaster powder. 

I hope everything will go smooth and without any problems :) 

Primary Research Plan

1. Goals of research:

- understand the history of abstract sculpture and its main artists.

- gather inspiration and ideas for my abstract sculpture project from existing sculptures.

- explore the different materials and techniques that are used and that I can use myself in my abstract sculpture project.

2. Research methodology:

- Literature review: I can conduct a literature review on the history of abstract sculpture and its key artists. These can be books, articles and internet sources.

- Visual Research: I can research existing abstract sculptures by different artists and styles to get inspiration and ideas for my own design. Make notes on the materials and techniques used.

- Research on materials and techniques: explore the different materials and techniques used in abstract sculpture and learn about their properties, applications and limitations.

3. Interpretation and conclusions:

- Based on all the research, I should draw conclusions about what I discovered during my research and how it affected my project and how I can develop for future projects.

Reference:

University Of Southampton (no date) LibGuides@Southampton: Primary research: Home, Home - Primary research - LibGuides@Southampton at University of Southampton Library. Available at: https://library.soton.ac.uk/sash/primary-research#:~:text=Primary%20research%20involves%20gathering%20data,go%20out%20and%20collect%20yourself.  (Accessed: 01 June 2023). 

Primary and secondary research exercise

PRIMARY RESEARCH

Obserwation studies - Accurately capturing a subject in a drawing or painting is the goal of observational art. The image must be created from real life, not from a photograph or the artist's imagination. One of the subjects may be a still life, figure model, portrait, or landscape.

Today, instead of sitting in the classroom, we went outside. We should think about our Project sign off and the visual/concept research. For this task we had to make observations of the terrain, nature; make sketches of the forms and shapes created by nature, observed in my case. We also had to take pictures to capture the most interesting observations  and quick 5 sketches (see pictures below). 

Lauren advised me to focus on shapes, organic forms and textures. I drew the ones with the most bizarre shapes and those that remind me of marine organisms. For example, a tree with a semicircular crown is visually similar to a jellyfish, and undeveloped fern leaves are a bit like a seahorse. All shrubs can be compared to sea anemones, sea sponges or corals.

I took pictures of trees, bushes, leaves, flowers that have such amazingly shaped branches, leaves or petals because when I look at each of them I can imagine something completely different. For example, tree branches remind me of octopus arms and tulip petals remind me of shells. Each of these strange and unusual shapes and forms will help me design my sculptures.

SECONDARY RESEARCH

In the second part of the excersise, we went to the library to find and borrow books for research on our sign off artists. Sam suggested to me two artists who create abstract sculptures Henry Moor and Barbara Hepworth. Their work, materials are they used can help me with my project. 

Reference:

Gale, A. (2023) How to create an excellent observational drawing: 11 tips for high school art students, STUDENT ART GUIDE. Available at: https://www.studentartguide.com/articles/realistic-observational-drawings (Accessed: April 26, 2023).

Major project plan

 This is my Project Plan witch is filed with information till week 6. The rest will be filled in week 7. 

Experimentation with creating and visualization of organic form

Today I started my first experiments consisting in visualizing and creating an organic form from a 2D drawing. 

With the help and guidance of my tutor, I started by drawing the shapes of my sea creatures by holding a pencil on a long stick.

 Later, looking at the form, I had to transfer the pattern to cardboard or cardboard and cut it out. Then create an organic form from it, a very simple sculpture that was meant to show me how I could work with shape.

This exercise helps me visualize the shapes and form needed for my project. When I took a closer look at what came out in the end, I realized that visually it reminded me of an abstract octopus. On the other hand, I like how this exercise influences my perception of art from a different perspective. I see an octopus and my task as an artist is to reflect the intended effect so that the recipient sees the same. Although in art each recipient has a different perception and interpretation of what he sees...

Here you can see a short video of the drawing process... :)

Sign off

 Today I had a project sign off with the teacher about accepting my project idea. My project is to create 5 sculptures that will reflect the Oceanic theme, containing elements of abstraction and animals or sea monsters. Now I have to do proper research of artists and relate to their work and works. I am also waiting for some interesting experiments with different media, such as ceramic mass, which I have never done before, and mosaic. 

As a Fine Art student, I love creating 3D work and sculptures from various media. I hope that this project will be more satisfying for me and I will be able to achieve the intended effects also at the stage of research and creation. My only concern is time, which is often lacking. I need to improve my time management and focus on self study.

Creating Studies

 A study in art is a drawing, sketch, or painting created as practise, visual notes, or as a beginning to a full creation. Studies are frequently used to comprehend the challenges of presenting themes as well as to prepare the components that will be employed in finished works, such as light, colour, shape, perspective, and composition. Studies can have a greater impact than carefully planned work since they provide the artist new perspectives on the subject. The thrill of discovery can breathe life into a study. The viewer is more likely to experience the artist's sense of discovery when the layers of the work demonstrate modifications the artist made as more was understood. Written comments with visual representations increase the piece's significance by letting the viewer participate in the artist's process of understanding with the subject.

Reference:

What Are Art Studies and How to Do Them – Monika Zagrobelna. 2023. What Are Art Studies and How to Do Them – Monika Zagrobelna. [ONLINE] Available at: https://monikazagrobelna.com/2022/01/06/what-are-art-studies-and-how-to-do-them/. [Accessed 20 April 2023].