KINDERGARTEN . . . What is a sculpture?

We learned about 3-D art in Kindergarten this week! What is the difference between a sculpture of a person and a flat painting of a person? We talked about how a sculpture can be made of many different materials, such as clay, wood, plaster, cardboard and metal. We also saw how a sculpture can be seen from all around. You can take a walk around the sculpture and see the sides, the back, the top and the front. You can even see the bottom if it is displayed on a clear base! What happens if you turn a flat portrait around? You just see the back of the paper or canvas. You do not see the back of the person!

We started with white modeling clay. To dye the clay a color, we first learned a technique of applying a water based marker on the clay and then kneading the clay until the marker has turned the clay into whatever color we selected. Kneading clay takes time and a lot of muscle power!

To make our sculptures, we rolled part of our clay into a ball. That was the easiest step for everyone and so much fun! Then we rolled a smaller ball for the head and even tinier balls for the feet. Using the extra clay we had left over, we created ears, a tail, a horn, stripes or spots. Friends in class were also eager to share their different colors of clay to make very creative looking animals.

Here are some examples of our Kindergarten sculptures! To see all of our animals, click on this link for artsonia.com.
http://www.artsonia.com/schools/school.asp?id=114839

Cat by Vanessa

Unicorn by Lexi M.

Spider by Nathan

Bear by Brooks

Note to families...
This art blog will be updated regularly with new posts sharing our daily activities in the art room and news about upcoming art exhibits. To respect the privacy of our students, names will always be limited to first name only and identifiable photos will never be accompanied with a name. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to write in the comment box below or send me an email at blevine@ranneyschool.org. I would love to hear from you!
    In my class, students are given the chance to explore different materials and fun new techniques as they develop their signature style. Some young artists love to draw with a pencil, some like to paint on canvas or create images in a digital format, while others prefer working with clay and molding three-dimensional forms. In my classroom, we use a variety of materials allowing all artists to experiment and figure out which type of art they like the best. At Ranney School, we place a strong emphasis on originality and celebrate artistic differences, always nurturing and encouraging the imagination of every student.
     Remember to check out our display of finished artwork and student portfolios in the Ranney home page of Artsonia.com.  http://www.artsonia.com/schools/school.asp?id=114839