PROJECT: PAPER SCULPTURE
DURATION: 4-5 sessions
KEY CONCEPTS: form, sculpture, tearing, ripping, curling, folding, moulding, cutting, planes
MATERIALS:
´ Paper
´ Scissors
´ Glue
´ Tape
FEATURED ARTISTS
´ Wet folding (developed by Akira Yoshizawa)
´ Pureland (developed by John Smith)
o Simple origami
´ Lukasheva Ekaterina
o Echinos (2009)
o Bird (2010)
o Gloriosa (2009)
o Septima (2010)
´ Junior Fritz Jacket
o Masks
o Coralys
o Bonhomme Cannelle
´ Neiman Marcus
o Pop up book (2007)
´ Jim Woodring
o Pulpit (2007)
o Jungle Head (2007)
o Cage (2007)
´ Peter Callesen
o Fall (2008)
o Impenetrable Castle (2005)
´ Jeff Nishinaka
o Ana Hotel, Tokyo: for 5th opening anniversary
o Nisei Week Festival, Little Tokyo, Los angeles
´ Ingrid Siliakus
o 4th of a series inspired by Escher (1999)
o Palicio del Marques de Salamanca (2007)
o Signature Revived (2008)
´ Eric Joisel
o Arle
o Orange Fish
´ Richard Sweeney
o Shell (2010)
o Figure (2002)
STEPS
- Exploration: class #1
SIDE ACTIVITY:Origami is paper art. Literally translated from Japanese, it means paper folding. Set up stations where students can come fold origami to get acquainted with paper as a medium for sculpture.
At some point during the class, watch how the artists in the FEATURED ARTISTS (I created a slideshow on a DVD with all the images) section use paper to create a work out of simple materials. Notice the differences between each and their different levels of complexity. So much can be done with only paper.
FOR HOMEWORK: find 3 reference images that will help you create your paper sculpture project. You can bring in images from magazines or photos, or printed from the computer. If you don’t have access to a printer, sketch out your 3 references and bring them to next class.
- Prep: class #2
SIDE ACTIVITY: you have 5 minutes to run around the class and its surroundings (cafeteria and corridor) to go make some rubbings of different textures. Watch how the paper reacts: the relief you are creating on your paper is called embossing.
You need to have a plan:
´ start by sketching what your final product will look like, from 2 different angles. Make sure it has a minimum of 5 planes or 3 dimensions. For example: you can make a star or a character (3d objects) or you can create a layered scene with background, middle grounds, and foreground. Think of how adding light can affect your image. Do you want to play with the transparency of your paper, or will the light serve to give it a more 3d look?
´ Next, figure out a color scheme for your sculpture. Remember to use contrast and harmony: your most important element needs to stand out (using contrast) and your surrounding elements must appear to blend in together (that’s harmony).
´ You then need to make 2 lists: one of the materials you’ll need for this project, and one should be a list of the step you’ll be taking to create your art piece (you should also include the amount of time each step is going to take you).
- Final work: class #3 & 4
SIDE ACTIVITY: paper mache: Have a table covered with newspaper with a canvas or wooden board set up. Include a bucket of paper mache paste (either flour and water, or diluted glue or medium) and strips of newspaper. Encourage the students to build up a structure from the board upward.
Start your final piece. Use the materials and steps from your plan to create it. You have 2 periods to work on this.
NOTE: You might be allowed a third period to work on this depending on how the first two periods go.
NOTE: if a student has no idea, give them a project to do: get them to choose 3 reference images from National Geographic magazines (they should be landscapes). From this inspiration, they must make a 3D maquette with at least 5 planes.
- Justification: class #5 (or 6)
This will be done as a 1 1/2 page written assignment or sketchbook page. You can write it by hand as long as I can read it properly, otherwise, I suggest typing it. Note that you will get more points if you answer the question and explain WHY. The following questions will have to be answered:
´ name what went right, what went wrong, and how you could improve.
´ name one thing that impressed you about the works in the Featured Artists section, and explain how it inspired your own work.