CSMA 1st & 2nd grades Insect Sculptures

Here are some insect sculptures made by first and second graders last summer.

Students started the project by making drawings of the insects in their habitats.

The armatures were built from wire and newspaper combined with masking tape.

This stag beetle was the largest sculpture.

I love all of the detail in the legs!

original armature for the stag beetle.

When students finished their sculptures, they focused on creating the environment where their insects would be found.

This grasshopper was made by a kindergarden student; he joined the class a few days into the project but caught on quickly and really enjoyed it!

Paper Mache African Masks

Students did a bunch of research on African tribes before completing these masks. They did initial sketches, made maquettes and then built the structures using chicken wire. Masks were finished using a few different techniques with paper mache. The sample I did for the class is the last image below.

3d Foundations 1B | 'In the Style of...' Sculpture Project

This project was the initial project for students in the second section of 3D foundations - these students have already taken the first foundations class, so they have lots of existing knowledge to draw from.

 

We looked at past and contemporary sculpture and discussed the elements and principles of design and how they combine to influence a work of art. Students were then asked to identify an artist whose work they would like to explore as a first project.

 Students completed initial project plans to identify aspects of their chosen artist' work they wanted to focus on.

They completed a series of initial exploratory drawings and some students created maquettes to understand potential challenges and considerations during the final building process.

 

When the work was finished, students spent time setting their work up for presentation.

 

Each student presented his/her work to the class. They discussed their chosen artist's work and they also identified the challenges and discoveries they made during the building process. 

3D Foundations Wire Self Portrait Project | Bay School | Spring 2011

We looked at the work of Alexander Calder ( http://www.npg.si.edu/exhibit/calder/ )and talked about how he used the elements of design to achieve expressive qualities in his portraits. Students were then to focus on 2 elements of design in completing their self portrait wire sculpture.

 

We also discussed portraits and proportions of the face as well as details to note in drawing facial features. Students then completed gesture drawings and continuous line self portrait drawings as an initial investigation for the final wire sculpture portrait.

 

Some of the goals for this project included demonstrating an economy of materials usage by efficiently using the wire to make connections and create features & form. 

 

We talked about form and function, and the fact that the connections have a functional aspect but also play a formal (aesthetic) role, so the connections should be well thought out in terms of how they support the piece in addition to adding visual interest.