Sculpture Vocabulary
Sculptural
Name and Section: ___________________________________
Definition
Techniques/Processes
modeling
technique/process of shaping an object using a soft material,
such as clay or wax
carving
technique/process of cutting or chipping away the material;
subtractive process
casting
technique/process of pouring a hardening liquid, such as
bronze or plaster, into a mold
assemblage/construction
technique/process of constructing a sculpture from various
materials not initially intended for artistic purposes, such as
found objects
additive
sculptural process in which material is built up or added to
create a form
subtractive
sculpture formed by cutting away excessive material from a
block
List of Processes: subtractive, additive, assemblage/construction, modeling, casting, carving
Sculpture Vocabulary
Types of Sculptures
Name and Section: ___________________________________
Definition
representational
art that is recognizable; realistic; based in reality; not distorted
nonobjective
art that has no recognizable subject matter; the art elements
are the subject matter
abstract
art containing simplification of shapes and forms found in the
real world
relief
a sculpture that projects from a background of which it is a
part; high relief extends far beyond the background and bas
relief (low relief) extends only slightly from the background
freestanding
a sculpture that stands by itself; can be viewed from all sides
kinetic
a sculpture that contains moving parts and can be set in motion by air currents or a motor
installation
a sculpture that is created for a particular site wherein the
viewer is a participant
mobile
a sculpture constructed of shapes that are balanced and arranged on wire arms; suspended from above to move freely in
air currents
List of Types of Sculptures: abstract, representational, nonobjective, kinetic, mobile,
installation, freestanding, relief
Sculpture Vocabulary
Name and Section: ___________________________________
Vocab
Definition
maquette
a small-scale model of a larger sculpture
convex
curved outward, like the exterior of a sphere
concave
hollowed or rounded inward like the interior of a bowl
mass
a quantity of matter
volume
the amount of space occupied by a three-dimensional object as measured in cubic units
armature
a framework used to support material being modeled in clay
sculpture
a three-dimensional work of art (contains height, width, and depth)
mold
a hollow container that produces a cast by pouring a substance into it
and allowing the substance to harden
plinth
a block made of wood or stone to raise a sculpture off the ground
Vocab: concave, convex, volume, mass, maquette, armature, plinth, mold, sculpture