Chapter 2: Sculpture
By
Heather Apo-Ewers
Bridging the Arts
Sept. 14, 2014
I direct a women’s sober living house and in that house we have a bronze full rounded sculpture of a
woman goddess. I am not sure who sculpted it or when it was created but I do know that the feeling
that this statue evokes is a feeling of empowerment. It gives me the sense of what a strong being looks
like and exudes confidence, which is the message we relay to the women that reside in this house.
Through this I have watched the effect that this sculpture has on almost everyone that walks into this
house and I get to see how powerful emotions can be brought on by all types of artwork. This type of
sculpture is called the full round sculpture, one of the many details I had never considered when viewing
these different types of sculptures before reading this chapter.
A carved work is a subtractive type of work carved out of wood or stone and the base chunk of stone or
wood is cut away thus the word subtractive. The stones used can be igneous rocks, sedimentary rocks,
and metamorphic rocks. Additions starts small and adds elements to the sculpture, the word defines the
type of sculpture in itself. Substitution consists of a fluid that is molded into a sculpture and returned to
a solid state form. These are cast into a mold and the sculpture is hollow inside and are less prone to
crack. Because it is hollow inside it is also light and easy to ship. Manipulation technique describes
materials that can be shaped with the use of hands. This technique often uses clay and transforms the
clay rather than taking away or adding to the form.
This chapter discusses the composition elements such as mass, line, form, balance, repetition, color,
proportion, and unity. Sculpture differs from other forms of art work because a sculpture works in 3
dimensional forms. In art the line is a constructive tool, in sculpting it is more about the form than the
lines. Texture is also discussed as a characteristic of sculptures, whether they are rough or smooth, we
can feel and touch it in a sculpture so it is a crucial factor in the art of sculpting. Principles of sculpting
are proportion (relationship and balance of shape and forms), repetition in sculpting, and this chapter
discussed that there is a rhythm, harmony, and variation that create repetition. I never considered that
there is a rhythm and harmony in sculptures but when explained in this chapter it does make sense. It
creates that sense of flow when I see a sculpture that I enjoy. It creates a kind of balance within the
sculpture itself that appeals to my nature that innately needs balance in my life. These types of art
forms have always captured my attention.
B2: We have discussed the elements of art in class such as rhythm and repetitious patterns but I did not
consider those to be elements in sculpting. We have also addressed different types of sculptures in class
such as the full round bronze dog sculpture.