Relief Sculptures


by Krish Beachoo on Aug 9, 2021

Image: https://unsplash.com/@kmitchhodge
Edu Level: NCSE


Methods

Subtractive method (carving, cutting) Additive method (mold making, build up) Construction method (fabricating with assorted methods eg. welding, gluing, nailing)

Relief Sculpture

Relief sculpture: A relief is a wall-mounted sculpture in which the three-dimensional elements are raised from a flat base. Any three-dimensional element attached to a basically flat wall mounted work of art is said to be in relief or a relief element. https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/r/relief (relief sculp. def.)

Low Relief (Bas Relief) Middle Relief High Relief Sunken

Types of Relief Sculpture

Low relief (basso-relievo, or bas-relief), where the sculpture projects only slightly from the background surface; High relief (alto-relievo, or alto-relief), where the sculpture projects at least half or more of its natural circumference from the background, and may in parts be wholly disengaged from the ground, thus approximating sculpture in the round. [Sculptors may also employ middle-relief (mezzo-relievo), a style which falls roughly between the high and low forms]; Sunken relief, (incised, coelanaglyphic or intaglio relief), where the carving is sunk below the level of the surrounding surface and is contained within a sharpely incised contour line that frames it with a powerful line of shadow. The surrounding surface remains untouched, with no projections. Sunken relief carving is found almost exclusively in ancient Egyptian art, although it has also been used in some beautiful small-scale ivory reliefs from India.

Sculpture techniques:

Stone carving Wood carving Wire Bending Papier mâché Jewellery Mosaic

Papier Mâché pieces of paper mixed with glue or with flour and water, used to make decorative objects or models:

Armature is used to create the skeletal frame of a papier mache piece. It is hollow not solid like a subtractive piece.

Review chapter 9 Three Dimensional Design (Ref. page 154 Longman Visual Arts for Secondary School.) Page 163 Papier Mâché defined is a French term meaning “chewed-up paper”. It is a handy and environmentally friendly technique that reuses paper… (Ref. Longman Visual Arts for Secondary School.)

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