THE CERAMIC PORTRAITFrom concept to clay: for 9-12 grades

PORTRAITS START AS 2-DIMENSIONAL CONCEPT

CA Sculptor Robert Arneson always started with drawings and photos

START WITH PICTURES AND SKETCHES

California Artist, 1982 (SFMOMA)

PORTRAITS CAN BE TRADITIONAL/REPRESENTATIVE

A PORTRAIT CAN EVOKE MOOD & EMOTION

HISTORICAL TONE CAN ALSO PROVIDE A MOOD

ADDITION OF OTHER ELEMENTS PROVIDE NARRATIVE

FACES EXPRESS EMOTIONS

REALISTIC VS. DREAMLIKE

SFX ARTISTS LEARN TO SCULPT IN CLAY FOR FILM MEDIA

MORE MODELS FOR SFX

FACIAL PROPORTIONS ARE IMPORTANT, MEASURE F IRST

PRESS INTO CLAY TO FORM EYE SOCKETS

ROUGH IN FEATURES BEFORE GETTING INTO DETAILS

ADD SMALL COILS OVER EYE TO CREATE EYELIDS

ADD/SUBTRACT CL AY TO BU ILD UP VOLUME & FORM

WHEN FIRED, USE COLOR TO ENHANCE DETAILS

YOUR PORTRAIT SHOULD SAY SOMETHING ABOUT YOU

MATERIALS NEEDED

• Examples of portraits from research, saved

• Selfies, from front, back and two sides of face

• Sketches of ideas for portrait• Ware board for moving work from table to

storage• Newspaper, blue tape, clay, tools• You may use glaze or learn under-glazing

for this project