Relief sculpture
is an art form that is midway between painting and sculpture in the round. It
is a process in which the subject stands out or projects a surface from the
background. The surface can be several levels including high relief (deep or
almost in the round) or low relief (shallow) or anywhere in between.
To create their relief sculptures, seventh graders first learned about the difference between shape and form. A shape is two-dimensional (it has height and width) whereas a form is three-dimensional (it not only has height and width but also depth). Students experimented creating forms out of basic paper shapes by rolling, bending, folding and gluing them. After trying a variety of forms, students chose their favorite and created sixty variations of that form. Students then considered space and balance to position their forms into their final sculptural arrangement. These look awesome on display as they protrude from the wall- it's hard to really see the depth in these individual photos, but the shadows and dimension are super cool up close!
Some photos of the students folding, rolling, arranging and gluing:
To create their relief sculptures, seventh graders first learned about the difference between shape and form. A shape is two-dimensional (it has height and width) whereas a form is three-dimensional (it not only has height and width but also depth). Students experimented creating forms out of basic paper shapes by rolling, bending, folding and gluing them. After trying a variety of forms, students chose their favorite and created sixty variations of that form. Students then considered space and balance to position their forms into their final sculptural arrangement. These look awesome on display as they protrude from the wall- it's hard to really see the depth in these individual photos, but the shadows and dimension are super cool up close!
Some photos of the students folding, rolling, arranging and gluing:
Some views from an angle and up close:
These are stunningly beautiful. I love the zen simplicity of the single white colour.
ReplyDeletewhat is the list of supplies for this project if you don't mind?
ReplyDeletedont worry
DeleteBlack Railroad/Tag board for back. White drawing paper (I think I use 80lb paper), glue sticks, scissors, hot glue guns and sticks. Rulers or circular things to trace if desired. That's it!
ReplyDeleteI want to do this with a group of Seniors in Long Term Care who have limited fine motor skills, do you have any advice for me?
ReplyDeletelol!!! seriously?
Deleteprimecath- Keep the shapes large, possibly have some precut shapes for those who can't do it themselves, use less (I do at least 60) shapes... have fun!
ReplyDeleteI agree with the precut needs and keeping shapes large. Using many pieces will probably be fine IF I have them do the art as a group, that way each can add a few pieces along a general path that I will sketch on the backer board. Thanks so much for your examples and your comment.
ReplyDeleteHow long did this project take? These are really amazing!
ReplyDeleteWow! These are amazing. I can't wait to try these....do you think 5th grade would be too young if I scaled it down a little?
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love these sculptures. Any chance you might share your lesson plan?
ReplyDeleteBeth
I don't have a 'lesson plan' typed out or anything. I got this idea from the MArch 2005 issue of School Arts Magazine- it was a lesson titled "RElief Sculpture" (you could prob Google and find it online). Basically, we talked about what Relief sculpture is (subject stands out or projects a surface from the background), and talked about high vs. low relief.
DeleteThen we talked about shape vs. form (two-dimensional vs. three). The kids start by cutting out different shapes from white paper and then turn them into forms by folding, bending and taping or gluing them together. Once they find a form that they like, they create about 60 of them- in different sizes. The 60 forms are arranged together (insert discussion on composition, etc. here)on a black background and attached with hot glue...
That's the basic gist - hope it makes sense!
Going to try these with my 9th grade class thanks for such a great idea!
ReplyDeleteDo you think these forms will attach to the backing with rubber cement or glue stick? I don't have access to hot glue but really love this.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
I'd say probably? I would test it out first. The lighter paper you use for your forms, the better, I would guess.I do have the kids use glue sticks to hold the forms together and they just have to hold them together for about 20-30 seconds to get them to adhere, so i feel like they could do the same to get them to stick to the background (???)
DeleteDo you have templates for the different types of folds you had your students create?
ReplyDeletenope- I just have them experiment rolling, folding, etc until they find something that they like!
DeleteThank you! I'll be introducing this project this week! So excited!!!
DeleteI would love to do this project with my classes. How much time did you allot for this project? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI don't really recall- but prob around 8 class periods (ours are 45 mins). One day to intro, discuss form, etc. and for them to experiment; Maybe about four or five days to make the 60+ forms and then two or so to arrange/attach the forms to black paper...
DeleteDid you have an organizational strategy for the pieces so that they students would not lose them?
ReplyDeleteThey just store them in plastic grocery bags
DeleteI absolutely love this idea, and I would like to try it with my 6th graders. I know the magazine you got the idea can't be found, so if you have any advice to give, I'd love it. How did the student make the shapes? Did you give them different sized paper? I'd love as much info as I can get. I spent WAY TOO LONG searching for this article in School ARTS. Can't wait to try this! Email me at avazquez@rbuesd.org
ReplyDeleteIt is really really cool, I could think of Something
DeleteIt is really really,cool I could think of something.
ReplyDeleteFound a portion of the original article.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thefreelibrary.com/Relief+sculpture.-a0129629034
Does regular glue work?
ReplyDeleteit's just gluing paper together, so I don't see why not. You just have to hold it together long enough to get stuck. I bet glue dots would be ideal
DeleteI love this project, I have been doing it for 18 years and still gravitate back to it from time to time. The possibilities are endless!
ReplyDelete