Earth is the basic material used in adobe, rammed earth & cob homes. And earth is the primary ingredient in strawbale wall plasters, earth ovens, earthen floors, benches and sculptures! When simple local ingredients (sand, clay and fiber) are mixed together, a very durable natural material is formed which you can use as a sculpting medium or plaster to naturalize your existing dwelling, or use in a future natural structure you will build.
Students will identify and critique the work of Barbara Hepworth and Constantin Brancusi by their works as motivation for creation of a plaster sculpture. The plaster sculpture will be complete by implementing the subtractive sculpting method. Form and movement will be concentrated on because of the dominance of the two elements in Hepworth and Brancusi’s work. (See the blog on Henry Moore)
After the game, the following class period is to return to the routine of setup, work, and cleanup for plaster sculpting. Once the deadline of the project is reached, then a critique is to be completed. For the critique each student will be given a number. They are to write their name on the back and place it in front of their sculpture at their seat. The students will be given a small group critique sheet. The students are then to be counted off into groups of 3.
This video sculpting tutorial shows how to make a mold out of plaster. The mold demonstrated is subtractive, requiring an initial sculpture that the mold is based upon. This original clay sculpture can easily be duplicated by making a plaster mold. Watch this instructional video and learn how to sculpt a one part plaster mold.
