Wire Sculpture Unit
Assignment
Your assignment is to create two scultpures out of wire, one in the relief style and one in the round.
Objectives:
Students will learn to translate lines into 3-D forms.
Students will learn to draw and sculpt "Cross contour lines"
Students will learn a variety of wire connection techniques.
Students will create forms out of wire.
Students will create texture and detail out of wire.
Inspiration
Relief: Designed to be viewed from the front.
In the round: designed to be seen from all angles.
Continuous Line Relief Sculpture- Wire Sculpture #1
Your first wire assignment is to create a relief sculpture out of a continuous line drawing. The goal of this assignment is for you to understand how wire can mimic line and to get used to working with the wire as a material.
In Class Practice
Continuous Line Drawing Practice- 20 points
Learning Objectives:
Students will improve their drawing hand eye coordination
Students will see the contour edges of objects
Students will be able to draw contiuously or without picking up their pencil
What is a continuous line drawing?
A continuous line drawing is produced without ever lifting the drawing instrument from the page. This means that, in addition to outlines and internal shapes, the pencil must move back and forth across the surface of the paper, with lines doubling back on each other, so that the drawing is one free-flowing, unbroken line.
Step 1: Blind Contour Line Practice
What is a blind contour line drawing?
Blind contour line drawing is a continuous line drawing but it is done WITHOUT looking at the paper.
A blind contour drawing is more a lesson on SEEING than drawing.
The focus is on training your hand to go slow and follow your eye.
Directions:
Create 4 blind contour line drawings of people in the class. Cover your hand with a scrap piece of paper.
Have a laugh!
Step 2: Continuous Line Practice
Directions:
In your sketchbook create 4 continuous line drawings of objects of your choice.
These can be quick drawings, with a focus on not lifting your pencil and finding interior and exterior contour lines.
Step 3: Draw a Continuous Line Self Portrait
Option 1: Free hand contour line portrait
Continuous Line Portrait Drawing.mp4Directions:
Using your larger drawing paper, a marker, and a mirror, create a continuous line portrait drawing.
Do not pick up your marker. Create interior lines as well as exterior lines.
This drawing should take up at least half of a white sheet of paper.
Advantage: Larger in size- easier to use for wire sculpture, quirky, and original. Challenges you more.
Disadvantage: Tricky. Might take a couple of tries to get it to a place you like.
Option 2: Tracing a printed photo
Directions:
Print a large portrait picture
Using a marker, draw a continuous line over the picture. Do not lift up the marker.
Using a window or a light box, trace only the continuous line onto a blank sheet of paper.
Advantage: Possibly more proportional, looks more like you
Disadvantage: Small in size. Less original and quirky.
Step 4: Trace Portrait With Wire
Learning Objective:
Students will experiment with manipulating wire.
Directions:
Tape your continuous line portrait down to your tray.
Cut a long piece of wire and coil it at one end so that it is manageable to move.
Rip of several little pieces of masking tape and place them ready to go on the side of your tray.
Tape one end of the wire down at your starting point. Continue taping to hold areas down when needed.
Use your pliers to hold and to squeeze when making sharp turns.
WireReliefSculpture.wmvWire Sculpture in the Round- Sculpture #2
Your assignment is to create a 3-D sculpture of an living creature, real or fantasy, out of only wire.
In Class Practice
Cross Contour Line Drawing
What are cross contour lines?
A cross contour drawing contains parallel lines that run across the surface of an object (or radiate from a central point), such as those that appear on a topographical map or a digital wireframe.
Cross contour lines can give the illusion of volume because of the direction that they move!
Cross Contour Line Drawing Practice
Learning Objectives:
Students will be able to draw cross contour lines
Directions:
Cross contour line drawing practice:
Using the video provided here, practice drawing the cross contour lines of an apple.
Then, find another, more complex object from your home to attempt a cross contour line drawing.
Assignment:
Draw one cross contour apple
Draw 1 object of choice using cross contour lines
Summative Assessment
Create a creature out of wire.
Requirements:
Sculpture needs to be "in the round"
How the sculpture is supported needs to be considered. Does it stand on its own? Will it need a platform?
The sculpture should be no smaller than roughly 12" long or high.
Planning & Design
Learning Objectives:
Students will be able to draw a design from multiple angles
Students will be able to establish main lines and detail lines
Students will be able to draw designs using cross contour lines
Directions:
You should find reference photos to help.
Create two different designs for your sculpture (2 angles each- can be detailed shots)
Sketches should use cross contour lines.
