S is for Sculpture

Arts Explorer #2: Instant Sculpture from Everyday Items

"The essential part of creativity is not being afraid to fail." -  Zig Ziglar    

I had a goal and it was to create a masterpiece. I started brainstorming, looking around my room, school and workplace for ideas. For a week I was asking everyone I came across – family, friends, customers at work, what kind of sculpture I could possibly make using everyday household items! I stressed, I tested out various things, stressed some more and then when I least expected it, something sparked me! I knew I wanted to make something that had such a design and composition that showed beauty and novelty but knew I had to use everyday items.

How did this masterpiece come about?

My first attempt was to make a mobile out of a wire hanger and recyclable items. I had this idea that I could bend the wire hanger into a hand and follow the theme of the five senses. However, it was a fail. Bending wire hangers is not so simple. So I was back to square one.  I panicked and all I thought was what next?! I left the sculpture project for a bit. Then, I have my mother bugging me to take out the recycling from the kitchen, so as I was stacking the items carefully without them falling everywhere, the light bulb came on in my head! In my hands I had the lid to a ferrero rocher box, cat food tins, and a one litre water bottle. I started fiddling with the objects and what seemed to be a centre piece came about.  I went for a hunt around the house to see what other objects or elements I could add to my sculpture. I stumbled upon some coloured rocks in the washroom and also took a candle. My sculpture incorporates an array of shapes and lines which help make it a unique masterpiece.  My sculpture can be a centre piece, a tray for holding everyday things (i.e. keys) or anything your imagination allows it to be.  When making my sculpture I kept in mind that my final design must be pleasing to the eye. I wanted my design to express team work – a variety of materials coming together to create a unified whole.  Let the wind blow where it will and the process of your masterpiece will come together creating a perfect design.   

PROCESS:

 

PRODUCT:

Design and Composition - What does that mean?

When creating a piece of art, the terms design and composition arise. The concepts design and composition defines the success and accomplishment of the creator (Schirrmacher & Fox, 2009).  The creator has a goal and the design is marked by completing this goal. According to Schirrmacher & Fox (2009), the design is deemed “good” when the objects, colours, lines and textures flow together. The design of a sculpture is what catches the viewers’ eyes; specifically there is usually a focal point which does this. Adults are usually more concerned with the design and composition of their art work, but children can slowly get into the process of understanding how design and composition affects their masterpieces.  Although  design and composition are not necessarily the focal point of children’s art works, educator’s can still emphasize and point out the importance of children’s planning and energy needed to create a piece of work (Schirrmacher & Fox, 2009). 

References

Schirrmacher, R., & Fox, J. E. (2009). Art & Creative Development for Young Children (6 ed.). Belmont, CA: Delmar.