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Written
by: Judy Decker
Lesson Plan: 6th Grade Art
Unit: Abstraction in Art - Animal
Sculpture
Scenario: This “design staff” has
been hired to create a fanciful playground.
They
will be working with Internationally know playground artist, Alexander Lihl.
Mr. Lihl is well known for his colorful sculptures and art projects with
kids. His intention is to give young people a chance to decide what their
immediate environment should look like. So Alexander co-operates with
authorities and companies planning playgrounds, schools, kindergartens, or
youth clubs. In the planning stage young people (the users-to-be) are invited
to participate in workshops to design buildings, sculptures or equipment for
playgrounds.
http://www.alexander-kinderkunst.de/index.htm.
My
students will create “macquette” sculptures, which would be models for larger
playground pieces.
Vocabulary:
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armature
plaster addition
Macquette
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craftsmanship
simplification
proportion
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abstraction
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Materials:
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cardboard
styrofoam scraps
plastic containers
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wire
wire cutters
acrylic paint
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old scissors
plaster gauze
paint markers
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It
should be noted that some students might still be working on
technology/weaving project. This unit
is designed so that all students are kept busy everyday. Compensations are made at the end for
students who are straggling behind.
1.
Present/review vocabulary. Demonstrate process of building
armature
2.
Construct an armature for plaster sculpture. Scenario:
"You have been commissioned to make an animal sculpture for a children's
playground. The sculpture will
eventually be cast in cement, but you will need to provide a macquette for
approval. The theme is 'Fantasyland'"
3.
Make armature for animal using styrofoam blocks,
cardboard, wire and masking tape. Drawings from printmaking or weaving project will
serve as a guide. Think 'whimsical.' (Students may change design- but new
drawings would have to be a homework assignment). (see examples: http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/middle/6thsculpt.htm)
Attach
to Styrofoam block base. Wire leg supports should extend about 1 inch into
base.
This animal is part Unicorn- Pegasus -ChiWara. |
This shows an armature in
progress....It is one that is over ten years old that I am now finishing
for garden art. You can see that scrap cardboard was used - color did
not matter. I removed much of the old tape and covered with new masking
tape. The masking tape helps keep the cardboard from getting too wet
when plaster gauze is applied. Darker colors of cardboard do bleed
through the plaster.
Two pieces of cardboard are cut the same
size for body - Blocks of Styrofoam are trimmed to separate the two
sides for a geometric look. A strip of cardboard is cut to fill in along
back and belly - thinner strips between the head. Wire is used to
support the legs and wings. This was given a complete new layer of tape
before plastering. (See
Garden Art - scroll down) |
4.
Apply layers of plaster gauze over armature. My
students found it easier to plaster the entire base first - then start the
sculpture with the legs - then do the belly. Then set the sculpture into the
Styrofoam to finish plastering...and secured it to the base last. A little
glue into the hole made by the wire helped make them stronger.
5.
Paint with acrylic paints- accent with paint markers and
fabric paints. Students
who straggled behind painted theirs with spray paint. I had a few colors to
chose. Those who didn't have time to do painted details gave theirs a bronze
patina with spray paint.
6.
Assessment:
Student evaluation and critique
Class critique
Modified rubric: Armature problem
solving, plaster addition, painting skills, and patterns.
7.
Write a story (myth) about the animal you have created.
What event or happening will you try to explain? What Fantasy
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