Sculpting with clay!

So who doesn't love clay? From play-doh to sculpey to the potters wheel there is something pretty timeless about clay! It appeals to ALL ages!

Clay helps develop fine motor skills!

We started back in February with clay reliefs and the results were adorable! Then we were walloped with snow days and finally, as the weather broke, we were able to devote the time we needed to building armatures, wrapping the wire and finally applying the sheets of thin clay over the armatures. 

This week we'll be finishing the sculpting, painting and firing the pieces.  Take a look at the few pieces and be impressed! Remember-These are their FIRST sculptures!

Collage of process!

The process

works in progress

We'll be doing more, but with animals, in our summer art camps this June and July! These will be held at our mini-farm north of Wake Forest and all details and information can be found here at the link at the bottom of the page!
http://www.artstudentacademy.com/Summer-Program.html

Glue and twine and balloons sculptureDrying in the heat

Balloon sculpture drying

So we dipped hemp and yarn into watered down glue and wrapped them around balloons......what a fun mess!

Sculpture is not all about 3-D. The students had to figure out some basic logistics such as How do you wrap a round object without the twine falling off? :-) It was a challenge for most of them! I had  them think of the "logitude" lines on a globe to make it easier.

 The same thinking applies towards popsicle  sticks and glue.....How do you make them stand? What geometric forms make them sturdier?  Now they are grasping that Sculptural Art is an all inclusive brain exercise in logistics!

Modeling, casting and building in summer camp!

By Midweek in Art Student Academy's Sculpting camp,  the students have built, hand coiled pots, free standing forms, made  armatures and learned casting...oh did we mention the all popular craft stick building and balloon sculptures?

A few lessons in tool handling, some painting and they had some amazing work by Thursday!