Nature Sculpture Assignment Guidelines

Assignment
Design and construct forms inspired by nature. Sculptures will represent innovative, hybrid ideas. Do not create a replica of one particular object.

Examples
Search right column for "Nature Sculpture Student Examples".
Search right column for "Nature Sculpture Artists".
If you are viewing on your phone and right column does not appear, scroll to bottom and click "web version".

Objective
Freedom to explore a wide range of options for creative problem solving. Develop knowledge of spatial relationships and stable structures. Consider how design elements and principles can be used to visually communicate content and meaning.

Research

• At least five (5) objects from nature. Go outside and observe. More than five pieces of nature okay. Do not simply collect leaves. Look for items that have height, width and depth. Look for interesting shapes/forms. 
• At least two (2) botanical illustrations. Search online. Print out, bring to class. 
• At least two (2) photographs of exotic flora. Search online. Print out, bring to class. 

Materials. A few items available in the studio. All other materials in the kit from Reddi-Arts. 

• White Paper (can use scraps left over from Paper Architecture assignment and/or white copy paper)
• Mask Tape
• String. A yard of string provided for each student on the second day of class. 
• Black Ink
• White Ink
• Tracing Paper
• Wire
• Wire Cutters
• Gel Medium
• Brushes
• Cup for water. Available in the studio. Due to Covid-19 each student should write name on cup and keep with their art supplies. 
• Protective Eyewear (for when working with wire). Provided for each student on the second day of class. Due to Covid-19, each student will have their own eyewear. Use a sharpie to write your name on your eyewear. Protective eyewear needed if you wear glasses. 

Guidelines

• Sculptures will represent innovative, hybrid ideas. 
• All sculptures will address ideas about organic line and shape. 
• Do not create a replica of one particular nature object. 
• Do not create representational forms such as flowers, trees, insects. However, you can apply the lines and shapes inherent in these objects to your idea. 
• Gather research before you begin. Sketches are optional. 
• Consider how texture, shape, line, value, focal point, pattern, repetition contribute to the formal and subjective qualities of each sculpture. 
• Create six (6) sculptures with height, width and depth. 
• The sculptures must have at least one measurement (height, width or depth) of at least 6". Sculptures can be larger than 6". 
• Sculptures can be free-standing or hang on the wall. Do not hang in space/from ceiling - no "mobiles" 
• Three sculptures will emphasizes an element or principle of art and design.  Choose three terms from the list below. Each sculpture needs to emphasize one term. The remaining three sculptures are open - continue to explore an idea you discovered in a previous sculpture or investigate new ideas. See link below for a review of elements and principles in three-dimension. http://foundations3ddesign.blogspot.com/search/label/Elements%20and%20Principles%20Visual%20Examples
• Focal Point
• Texture
• Scale (contrast between large and small within one sculpture)
• Repetition
• Pattern
• Space (create an interior space)
• Symmetry
• Rhythm
• Value
• All six sculptures must demonstrate use of all materials. I need to look at all seven sculptures and check off the use of all the materials listed above. You have many options here. For example, one sculpture can utilize one material while another can utilize this same material with an additional two materials. 
• When all sculptures complete, photograph and write an artist statement. Details for photos and statement below, "What to put on your blog."

Ideas for materials

• Twist paper and tape to make a rope-like form.
• Use string to wrap or bound up to create a sphere.
• Weave the tape, paper and/or string.
• Create knots.
• Stack paper and/or tape.
• Create fringe with paper, string or tape. 
• Allow string to soak up ink. 
• Create a paper mold. Use white copy paper because it is thin. Soak paper and drape/mold over a form, remove when dry. See examples in student work (right column category, "Nature Sculpture Student Work").

What to put on your blog:

• The objects you collect from nature. Arrange objects neatly on a clean, simple background such as a black or white cloth. Photograph from above (aerial view). 
• Botanical Illustration inspiration images. Include source link. 
• Images of exotic flora. Include source link. 
• Sketches (optional)
• Required - At least one in-process image (can be for any sculpture). If possible, post one in-process image for each sculpture. Label each in-process image with the appropriate sculpture number or title. You can number the sculptures or give each a title. 
• Select at least two sculptures to photograph alone. Make sure you take at least three views of each sculpture. Photograph free-standing sculptures with a white or black background. Label each sculpture with a number or title. Make sure this number/title corresponds with the in-process image. 
• A professional image of all sculptures grouped together - or small groupings of the sculptures. 
• An artist statement. Take time to reflect on the research you gathered, how the research influenced your decisions and discuss the overall meaning you assign to the final solutions. Writing should be free of spelling and grammar errors. Use capitalization. Writing should be efficient - do not ramble. Do not submit the first statement you write. Take time to review and edit your writing at least twice before submitting. 

Video - Wire Tutorial 

The first half of the video demonstrates a square. 

Your assignment requires organic forms. 

However, you can still pick up tips from making a square. 

At 4:01 an organic form is demonstrated. 

Video - Wire Tutorial 

Tips on wire building. The video uses short pieces of wire to demo. 

While organic forms can be built with short pieces of wire, 

longer pieces are more suitable to achieve organic forms. 

Image Example - Apply Gel Medium Paper to Wire Form

Working with wire, gel medium and trace paper. 

Always wear protective eyewear when working with wire.

Coat front and back of tracing paper with gel medium, place over wire form. 

Once dry the paper will adhere to the wire form. 

Above images from Leslie Pearson. 

You can see her work and read an interview with her in the link below. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BpyNorcATXy/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1r5th4tbyzcip

Video - Viking Knit Chain Techniques

Advanced wire techniques. 

Can adapt/apply some of these techniques toward organic forms.