Leeson 7 - Sculpture As Avisual Art

• A new awareness of sculpture as an art separate from
painting may be experienced as we explore the historical

development of sculpture.
• Like painting, sculpture is a visual art, but it is something

more than merely visual.
• Sculpture appeals to the tactile sense of touch
• It is not only intended to be seen; it is also to be touched,

or, if it cannot be touched, at least the participant feels an
implicit invitation to touch.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this lesson, 90-95% of the students

should be able to:
1. List down the different meanings and
elements of sculpture
2. Present the sculptures according to
materials and methods of treatment
3. Make an artwork made of soap, paper,
clay, wood using the elements of sculpture
SCULPTUR
E AS
AVISUAL
ART
Sculpture
- Davis of Arts Today defined sculpture as:
“the visual art of creating and
organizing all other arts”
- the carving modeling, casting,

constructing and assembling of materials
and objects into primarily three-dimensional
works of art
Elements of Sculpture
1. Subject- tells what the sculpture is all about
2. Medium- the materials used by artist in the

completion of his work
3. Texture- the touch of the skin against the surface

or the body of a given sculpture
4. Space- the portion or area where the piece

stands
The Process of Creation
1. Subtraction - deducts parts of the medium to form

a designed image with perfect
lines and angles.
What is Subtractive Sculpture?
• The art of sculpting dates back to about 40,000
years ago and is one of the most prominent artistic
forms of human ideas and expression.
• Be it Michelangelo’s David or Auguste Rodin’s ‘The

Thinker,’ some of the most exquisite sculptures
have been carved out of a singular medium, using
a technique known as subtractive sculpture.
• Subtractive sculpture refers to the school of
sculpting that starts with a singular piece of
medium and involves removing material until a
desired form is reached.
• In simpler terms, the sculptor carves and chips

away at the material until the finished form
takes shape.
• Subtractive sculpture is the oldest form of
sculpture known to man and is one of
sculptures most common forms.
How does the Subtractive Process work?
• When beginning a sculpture using the
subtractive process, an artist will start with a
solid block of material and begin slowly
chipping away at the material until a form takes
shape.
• The subtractive process can be used to sculpt

two basic kinds of sculptures, a freestanding
sculpture or a relief sculpture.
• With a freestanding sculpture, the artist can
create a sculpture that can be viewed from
every angle.
• These sculptures are also called ‘sculpture in

the round’ because they can be walked around
and observed from every direction.
• The second type of sculpture that can be created
using subtractive techniques are relief sculptures.
• Relief sculptures combine two-dimensional and

three-dimensional worlds to make dynamic pieces
of art.
• In this type of sculpture, either the subject of the
artwork or the background of the artwork is raised
in comparison to each other to give a 3D effect.
• These sculptures are only meant to be viewed from

specific angles.
What materials are used in Subtractive Sculpture?
• Subtractive sculptures use various materials.
• These commonly include wood, stone, and clay, but

can even be created from innovative mediums like a
stick of butter!
• Stones like marble, alabaster, basalt, gypsum, granite

and soapstone are often used to create a wide
plethora of sculptures, from the smallest of pieces to
the most colossal of statues and figures.
• Marble is widely used in these sculptures for its
moderate hardness and lustrous texture on the
outside.
• However, any medium that can be easily carved,

chiseled or sanded can be used to make subtractive
sculptures.
• For instance, wood is a great medium that allows for

easy and quick carving.
• It also gives the sculpture an earthy look when

polished.
So how do the artists make these sculptural masterpieces
happen?
• When it comes to the subtractive process, there is

almost no room for mistakes.
• Every small chip and cut counts and contributes to

the overall splendor of the sculpture.
• That is why artists use an array of tools and

implements to make the procedure accurate and
the result immaculate.
• The artists begin by marking an outline on all of
the faces of the material block.
• They then start carving and use calipers to ensure

the perfect measurements for their artwork.
• Historically, many sculptures have used nails to

measure angles, and make sure that the
dimensions of the piece are correct.
• Conventional artists adhere to the traditional
hand-held tools like saws, chisels, calipers and
sgraffito tools to make the artworks.
• However, the modern school of sculpting uses

cutting-edge tools like automatic saws, rotating
blades, and sanding machines among others.
An artist using a
set of chisels to
carve a piece from
wood.
• Most artists of the bygone times
used interesting methods to ensure
accuracy and detail in their
sculptures.
• Donatello is famous for his

subtractive relief sculptures and
used to study his sculptures
beforehand with model wax statues.
• He would carefully examine these

model wax figurines and would try
to emulate the detail and beauty in
his original finished sculptures.
• Michelangelo, who famously
believed that there was a
splendid statue waiting to be
revealed inside every block of
marble, used to draw intricate
and detailed sketches of his
projects from different angles.
• He would then study these

sketches and produce some
of the best sculptures the
world has ever seen.
Examples of
Subtractive Sculptures
• Some of the world’s greatest monuments

are examples of subtractive sculptures.
• The well-known Mount Rushmore is

one of the grandest sculptures made by
using the subtractive process.
• The mountain was shaped using

dynamite and manual chiseling until the
desired effect was achieved. It is an
amazing display of human civilization.
• The amazing statues of David and Pieta serve as
exemplary results of the oldest form of sculpture and truly
portray the artistic genius of Michelangelo.
The Gommateshwara statue of Lord Bahubali in
Kamataka, India is a 57-foot-tall subtractive sculpture
carved from a single rock.
• Even the
Hawaiian and
South Pacific Tiki
statues you see
around are made
by carving wood
and stone.
• They symbolize
deities of the
Maori tribe and
are very
interesting to look
at.
Final Thoughts
• Subtractive sculpture is well represented in the
world of sculpture in terms of practitioners and
acclaimed art.
• The art of removing material to create a finished

work has been one of the most common
sculpture forms and continues to be so today.

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• A new awareness of sculpture as an art separate from

painting may be experienced as we explore the historical

• Like painting, sculpture is a visual art, but it is something

• Sculpture appeals to the tactile sense of touch

• It is not only intended to be seen; it is also to be touched,

At the end of this lesson, 90-95% of the students

- the carving modeling, casting,

2. Medium- the materials used by artist in the

3. Texture- the touch of the skin against the surface

4. Space- the portion or area where the piece

1. Subtraction - deducts parts of the medium to form

• Be it Michelangelo’s David or Auguste Rodin’s ‘The

• In simpler terms, the sculptor carves and chips

• The subtractive process can be used to sculpt

• These sculptures are also called ‘sculpture in

• Relief sculptures combine two-dimensional and

• These sculptures are only meant to be viewed from

• These commonly include wood, stone, and clay, but

• Stones like marble, alabaster, basalt, gypsum, granite

• However, any medium that can be easily carved,

• For instance, wood is a great medium that allows for

• It also gives the sculpture an earthy look when

• When it comes to the subtractive process, there is

• Every small chip and cut counts and contributes to

• That is why artists use an array of tools and

• They then start carving and use calipers to ensure

• Historically, many sculptures have used nails to

• However, the modern school of sculpting uses

• Donatello is famous for his

• He would carefully examine these

• He would then study these

• Some of the world’s greatest monuments

• The well-known Mount Rushmore is

• The mountain was shaped using

• The art of removing material to create a finished

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