FIGURATIVE RELIEF SCULPTURE - NYAA
This class will concentrate on the theory and methods of relief
sculptures made during the Renaissance. We will analyze in great
detail the relief sculptures of Donatello, Quercia, Ghiberti, Bertoldo,
Verrocchio, Leonardo and Michelangelo. We will explore how these
ideas could be used in a modern context today. The class will begin
with a two-dimensional drawing on plywood using oil based clay. The
drawing will be developed into a low relief study from a live standing
model. The class will learn basic skills of figure bas-relief modeling to
create the illusion of a three-dimensional figure. The lesson is
ideologically connected to the concept of painting rather than threedimensional sculpture. The first relief study will take four to five weeks
to complete. The student’s second project will be the creation of a
draped figure from a live seated model. We will use a
low/medium/high or (bas/mezzo/alto rilievo) technique. At this time
we will also explore the sculptural techniques of drapery on the
human figure with special emphasis on transparency. We will review
the seven basic drapery fold concepts. This lesson as we move
toward high relief will be ideologically closer to sculpture in the round.
This last relief study will take five to six weeks to complete.
Randy McIver