Students had to think, plan, create - and make a mess! All good stuff in the art room!Art 9/10 students started this project by looking at realistic proportions for figure drawings. They were then encouraged to exaggerate, distort, and elaborate on their understanding of the human figure in order to create a character! As well as detailed drawings in their sketchbooks, students were required to draft a short character sketch to help bring these figures to life.
The really challenging part came when I asked them to bring their characters to life in a 3D paper mache sculpture. I provided them with a random pile of chicken wire, bamboo skewers, Styrofoam, cardboard, balloons and other stuff... Each student had to figure out the best way to create an armature to wrap the paper mache around. The was no, one, right answer. They had to think, experiment, and help each other out!
Oh, and then it got messy! Paper mache paste - if you've never used it before - is delightfully slimely. Add in some soggy newspaper and you create an icky goop. It's not easy to control this stuff, but with creativity and diligence, the end results can be amazing!
Some of the characters created include:
- Sir Williamson, the snake oil sales man, billionaire,
- Amena, the Muslim woman held back from her true potential
- Liza, the newly brought back to life, ballerina,
- Ozzy, the shy, but smiling unicycle rider,
- Pablo, the 70 year old candy shop owner,
- Maria, on her wedding day - being dead doesn't interfere with her life,
- Master Shio, from a long line of Samuri warriors,
- Senor Fred, the overeating, Italian Mexican guy,
- Madame Melon, the Spanish Goddess of Fruit,
- The teenage girl who is physically empty on the inside
- Stephan, the Easter Island Moai, who is on vacation in Hawaii to relax and unwind.
The results were terrific!
Each unique character really did come to life!
