|
|
|
||||||||
Lesson ThreeArtist of the Week: Auguste Rodin 1840 - 1917 Here is one of my personal favorites. I guess I could say that every week! I'm not very tall and neither was the Frenchman Francois Auguste Rene Rodin. He was only 5' 4" and yet they say he gave the impression of being a large individual with a magnetic personality. He is often written up as being a very unconventional and daring individual. His work often shocked people and yet it drew more followers to him. What Monet was to painting Rodin was to sculpture. While both were alive their works were exhibited together in one gallery . From that showing Rodin at the age of 48 went from obscurity to coming into his own in the art world. He could take a lump of clay and make it come to life. His work in bronze is truly one of a kind. He left 100's of experiments at the end of his life where he had began and tossed away only to try a project over again. He is said to have worked very fast with his hands trying to complete quickly that which only he could see in his mind. Though he is mainly known for his sculptures he left over 7,000 of his drawings which have never been exhibited and are still held in his museum. He was also a draftsman and watercolorist as well as sculpture. Like other art masters Rodin was not bound by one medium. I personally like Rodins realistic detail and his textures in his works. As younger artists moved on towards abstract contemporary forms as Rodin was growing older he remained the same. His work was constant.
To see Rodins work and read more about him check out the following web sites:
Auguste Rodin, a personal view
Welcome to the Museum of Rodin
Mark Harden's Archives of Rodin
Site of the week: You can learn more about an artists work and casting at: Bronze Casting
Word of the Week: armature: a foundation on which clay or other sculpture material is built. Using an armature prevents the weight of the clay from making the sculpture sag and strengthens the forms that are most fragile. Armatures can be made from wire, wood or pre-baked clay.
Art Project:
You will need: pencil, paper, air-drying clay
Directions: This week we will be making small clay sculpture. Pick a subject. Rodin liked to do busts (heads) or bodies in clay. Choose what you will make with your clay. Using your pencil and paper draw your idea first. You can make various drawings if you like. Remember a sculpture can be seen from more than on angle or side. Next take your clay and start working with your fingers. For smaller areas you can use tools from around the house like chop sticks, plastic knives and forks. The fork tines would be good for making textures like the ground or hair. What can you come up with? In our class we are making small sculptures with one side flat. On the flat side the students are attaching a magnet or pin depending on if they want to wear it or hang it on the frig!
Optional Art Project:Edible Sculptures! Try having a fruit, cheese and marshmallow lunch party with your friends. Using toothpicks a build a sculpture from your plate (wash hands first!) and then after you've taken a picture of your master pieces you can gobble it up.
Optional Writing Project:Some sculptures are "musical sculptures." Think of wind chimes to give you an idea of what I'm talking about. Younger children can write about flying a kite on a windy day or listening to wind chimes. Older children can write a poem about the wind. Try to write your poem using all the words you can that start with _w_ for wind or _ch_ for chimes.
Optional Science Project:What types of materials can you find around your home that you could make sculptures out of? Can you tell me how long the sculptures will last if they are inside or outside? How do you think the weather will effect your sculpture. Use two materials in your home to make the same sculpture and write what happens. Here is a site that will teach you about Materials used for Sculpturessuch as Bronze and other metals.
Optional History Reading:Read the history of where Rodins work is now at: Paris Pages Musee Augustee Rodin I have a female artist you can read about: Artist Profiles: Camille Claudel served as Rodin's assistant for 15 years and worked in various art mediums herself!
page last updated March 11th, 1999
