TITLE: Turning Figures into Forms

ART: Drawing

TEKS:

6.1 B 6.2 B 7.1 B 7.2 A 8.1 B 8.2 B

OBJECTIVE:

Students will observe a sculptural form and discuss its similarity to a human figure. Then they will draw from life altering lines to create their own abstracted forms.

MATERIALS:

• See image below
• Newsprint
• Drawing paper
• Charcoal pencils
• Live model

OVERVIEW:

On December 16, 1991, the Amarillo Museum of Art accepted David Rodgers' Continuous Line, 1982, into the American Collection of the Permanent Collection. As a gift from George Lokey, this seven-ton limestone sculpture rests in the garden of the South Sculpture Terrace.

The artist, David Rodgers, earned a BA in painting, an MFA in sculpture, and an MS in Interior Design all from Indiana University. He began his career as a sculptor in 1968, primarily using stone as his medium of choice. "My sculptures ceased to be just objects on pedestals devoid of contextual relatedness. I began to design with context, form and function considerations, and meaning, value, and identity in mind," he said of his work.

DISCUSSION:

Discuss the lines and form of the Continuous Line sculpture. Point out areas that resemble the human form.

ASSIGNMENT:

Have a volunteer pose in a way to represent the sculpture, other students observe and give advice. Give each student 3 pieces of newsprint and one sheet of drawing paper, along with a charcoal pencil. Using a live model in a pose of your choice, have students begin drawing what they see on newsprint. Have students complete a series of 3-10 minute sketches of the model, each time altering the lines more to abstract the figure. Students will make a final drawing on the good drawing paper. Students should be given adequate time to complete this final draft.