Portraits in sculpture

Portraits have always been an important subject of visual art “record keeping” before technology of cameras Subjects interesting and readily available Thought of as a challenge to the artist A way of paying tribute to someone - monuments

Facial Proportions Symmetrical balance Proportion Form/shape

Contour drawing You will begin by completing the worksheet on facial features and proportions Next you will draw your partner twice: once in profile and once facing forward as a contour drawing

Wire portrait Get 3’ or so of wire to start (you can get more as needed) Measure against your facial proportion sheet or your contour drawing to get approximate size and cut wire with cutters. Shape face shape

Eyes and nose Look at the parts of the eye and duplicate as best you can in wire – it is important to leave 1/2 “ wire as “tails” to attach to face shape. Make eye the same size It’s easier to use one continuous piece of wire for each eye than individual parts (pupil, lid, etc) Don’t attach yet!! Make nose next – any way you like but should NOT be flat

Mouth and ears Mouth comes next – basic mouth is an “M” shape on top and a curved bottom As seen in this contour drawiong

Ears can be somewhat simple or more details Use your computer for reference pictures – it is most important that they are balanced and the same size.

Finally… Put it all together joining the wire with your pliers – don’t use your hands that hurts!! Though there is no one way to do this, it may be easiest to put nose on first, paying attention to proportion, then add eyes and mouth then ears When features are on add back of head and neck so it is free-standing **hair is optional!

Calder wire sculptures

Sten Holland

Considerations: It will be important to leave a small amount of extra wire at the end of eyes and mouth, nose so that it can be attached to the head. You don’t want too much extra wire, you aren’t making a barbed wire fence. Your sculpture should be comfortable to hold without poking someone. Cut any extra hanging wire.

Grading Worksheet and drawings are complete Sculpture is based on drawings Features include: eyes, eye brows, nose, mouth, ears, neck. Hair is optional. Aesthetically your sculpture looks human, is well proportioned and symmetrically balanced. Piece is painted.