What makes a good sculpture

They might: Sell their work through galleries and exhibitions Work on private commissions for individuals or organisations Work on a publicly commissioned pieces of work Sculptors are required to be flexible and creative. Working with materials such as clay, plastic, resin, bronze, stone, metal or wood Using drills, knives, chisels, soldering or welding equipment Installing large pieces of work in public buildings or outdoors Networking with gallery owners, agents and dealers Taking up a 'residency', creating work and running workshops in a gallery, school, or other public place.

Dylan Shields, Photo by Dave Imms. Key Skills Creative imagination An understanding of form and materials Physical fitness if you want to create large-scale work, which can be physically demanding Manual dexterity, to use tools on a small or large scale Self-discipline to meet deadlines The ability to work alone or in a team Numeracy skills, to understand measurements for materials The ability to work to a brief, if you have been commissioned to produce a specific piece Good networking skills, to help promote your work.

How do I become a sculptor? University Although freelance sculptors do not need formal qualifications, in practice most sculptors have developed their skills and artistic practice by studying art and design or fine art, with sculpture as a specialism. Dylan Shields portrait, photo by Dave Imms. Featured sculptor Dylan Shields is an artist who predominantly focuses on sculpture, investigating the relationship between traditional, narrative painting and contemporary materials.

Proportion: This refers to how different parts or areas of the sculpture relate to one another in terms of relative size. Degree of difficulty: This is whether the sculpture as completed is a challenging project for an experienced professional sculptor. The factors considered here are usually those of fragility, physical balance and the structural limitations. Finish: This refers to the final treatment of the surfaces of the sculpture.

This can be smooth and polished, or textured. Whichever is the case, the uniformity and diligence with which the sculptor carries out his apparent intent should be considered. Creativity: This refers to the newness and originality of the design, which could include a new treatment of, or new viewpoint on, previously known ideas. Composition: This refers to the visual balance, static or dynamic, of the various elements of the sculpture.

Note that the piece should be viewed from all sides when judging it for composition. Expression of meaning: This is how well the sculpture makes its own theme clear to the viewer. Expression of emotion: This is the extent to which the sculpture can be expected to evoke an emotional response in the viewer.

Overall impression: This addresses the sculpture as a whole, and is often based on the first glimpse of the finished piece. Without regard to the other criteria, does it stand on its own as a good sculpture? Good question :. The first thing I notice is the way the piece makes me feel.

The mood it evokes is much more important to me that most other things. The show I recently attended had sooooo many pieces that made me recoil in disgust that I felt nausous by the time I left. But, I have difficulty enjoying such pieces.

That is not to say that I only enjoy sculpture that makes me feel happy…I like anything that can sucessfully evoke emotion well without removing the enjoyment of the artists statement about the subject. I like looking at things that have grace and fluidity, with a little stress somewhere for contrast.

Lastly, but extremely important to me is an element of surprise! Anyone thinking of giving this thread a star rating? We need 5 votes before the stars show — hint, hint. Thanks for the hint Sandra…. We need someone in here reminding us of these little things ocaissionally. I also think this is a very useful topic. Just thinking out loud……Could these be put into catagories so that one could ask for grades in each catagory? This obviously comes more naturally to some people than others, but the more you practice, the more your skills will develop.

As you shape, add texture, learn to scoop, and perform very fine, detailed work, you can also add sections and expand on your original idea.

Try to resist the impulse have impossible expectations at first. This is a learned skill, and will thus take time and repetition to master each step in the process. Curing is the process of hardening the clay.

Keep in mind that different types of clay require different curing methods. These methods include air drying or baking. Once the curing is complete, the final step is to add a finish or gloss.

Again, this step is more about preference. Do you want your sculpture to be colored or shiny? If so, this is the stage where you can add paint or glaze to give your work a more distinctive appearance.

Art is important for expanding the mind and nourishing the human spirit. Thus learning to express yourself is a great way to become your best self. Understand the basics of sculpting for beginners is easier than you might think. The key is to find a space where you can work, to gather the proper tools and materials, and to be patient with the process. If you found this article informative, be sure to check out our website for more great articles on a wide range of topics.

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