PRINCIPLES L AND PRACTICE
LOUIS SLOBODKIN
DOVER PUBLICATIONS, INC. NEW YORK
Contents
\. $ INTRODUCTION L; 4,
FIRST SCULPTURE
Three primary elements. Clay without armatures. Modeling tools. Materials, subjects, methods.
DEMONSTRATION. Figs. 2-4 PAGES 20-2 1
Clay Sculpture DEMONSTRATION. Figs. J -22 PAGES 22-27
Building a Simple Modeling Stand DEMONSTRATION. Fig. 13 p n a E 29
MODELING A HEAD FROM LIFE
Portrait in Clay
Choosing a subject. Materials.
Structure of the Head and Neck
Method
Theory of Shape
DEMONSTRATION. Figs. 24- z 7 PAGES 32-33
Method for building shape. Theory of shape applied to head from life. DEMONSTRATION. Figs. 2 9 - 2 6 PAGES 3j-39
CONTENTS
Armature for Head and Neck DEMONSTRATION. Fig. 27 PAGES 40-41
Building a Portrait in Clay DEMONSTRATION. Figs. 28-36 PAGES 42-41
Care of All Clay Sculpture in Process
3 MODELING A FIGURE FROM LIFE
Studying the Human Figure
Anatomical structure of the human figure.
DEMONSTRATION. Figs. 43-17 PAGES 52-60
Basic Structure of the Human Figure
Principles of Male and Female Figures Compared
DEMONSTRATION. Figs. j8-64 PAGES 61-65
Building an Armature for Clay Figures
DEMONSTRATION. Fig. 5 j PAGE 67
Building a Female Figure from the Living Model
DEMONSTRATION. Figs. 67-72 PAGES 69-71
Building a Male Figure from the Living Model
DEMONSTRATION. Figs. 73-76 PAGES 72-74
Further Study of Human Figure, without Model
Study of parts.
Studying Animals in Clay
Armature.
Drawing for Sculpture
4. PERMANENT MATERIALS
5. PLASTER-AN INTERMEDIATE MATERIAL
Casting in plaster. DEMONSTRATION. Fig. 79 PAGE 81
Waste Mold Process
Materials. Mixing plaster. Method. Steps to waste mold casting. Test for set plaster.
Waste Mold Process Cast of Head and Neck
DEMONSTRATION. Figs. 81-98 PAGES 84-97
Casting with Brass Shims
DEMONSTRATION. Figs. 99- z 04 PAGES 98- 1 0 2
"Pulled String" Waste Mold Casting
Working in Plaster
Retouching, repairing, finishing plaster. Repairing blow holes and chips in the surface. Repairing and joining plaster pieces. Carving and finishing plaster. Modeling directly in plaster.
DEMONSTRATION. Figs. 1 05-06 PAGES 104-0)
Multiple Plaster Casts
Gelatine or glue mold.
DEMONSTRATION. Figs. 107-15 PAGES 107-1 1
Coloring Plaster
Weatherproofing plaster.
6. COMPOSITION IN SCULPTURE Principles of composition for sculpture in all permanent mediums.
7. CARVED MEDIUMS OF SCULPTURE
Stone Carving
Procedure. Picking your first stone. How to get your first stone. Method. Finishing stone.
DEMONSTRATION. FigS. 123-29 PAGES 12J-29
Carving Marble
Granite
CONTENTS
Egyptian Granite and Stone Carving
How to Split a Stone
Wood Carving
How to get a block of wood. How to carve your first wood. Finishing wood.
DEMONSTRATION. Figs. 136-qv PAGES 136-39
8. TERRA COTTA Materials. Direct modeling for terra cotta.
First Method DEMONSTRATION. Figs. 14 1-43 PAGES 142-43
Second Method DEA~ONSTRATION. Figs. 144-49 PAGES 144-46
Third Method
Multiple reproduction. Piece mold for clay squeeze.
DENIONSTRATION. Figs. 1 j3-62 PAGES 1 4 8 - ~ 3
9. CAST STONE Discussion on the durability of sculpture and pros and cons of cement casting.
Method for Cast Stone
Materials. Cement mix. Procedure for solid and hollow casts.
10. CAST METALS
Bronze Casting
Aluminurn, tin, brass, silver, gold, white metal, lead and iron. Methods. Sand mold process. Lost wax process (cire perdue).
Patining Bronze
Hot patine. CoId patine. Acid solutions.
Pros and Cons of Sand hlold and Lost Wax Casting
CONTENTS
1 1. RELIEFS-HIGH AND LOW
Discussion of principles of relief sculpture.
DEMONSTRATION. Figs. z 73-83 PAGES 17 1-76
12. ARCHITECTURAL SCULPTURE
Comparison of Ancient and Modern Methods of
Principle and Procedure
Essential Training for Architectural Sculptors
Blueprints, Scale Rules, Scale Models, etc.
Stone Sculpture for Architecture
Templet for Architectural Molding
DEMONSTRATION. Fig. z 8 j PAGES z 82-83
Bronze Sculpture (or Any Cast Metals) for Buildings
Enlarging Machines and Compasses
Discussion of scale. DEMONSTRATION. Figs. z 86-88 PAGES z 8~-87
Wood Sculpture for Buildings
Terra Cotta Sculpture for Buildings
Free Standing Architectural Sculpture
How to Get a Job in an Architectural Sculptor's Studio
A Practical Problem in Architectural Sculpture
Designing and Executing Working Models
High Relief DEMONSTRATION. Figs. 193-9j PAGES 193-94
Feather-edged Stone and Stone Washes
CONTENTS
Architectural Plaster Casting
Relief plaster cast. DEMONSTRATION. Figs. 197-200 PAGES 196-97
Armature for Architectural Sculpture
DEMONSTRATION. Fig. 20 1 PAGE 19"
Preparing Architectural Models for Shipment
DEMONSTRATION. Figs. 203-04 PAGE 201
1 3 . CONCLUSION Uncommon materials for sculpture. Contemporary American sculpture. What of personal style? Temperament and sources of inspiration.
A GALLERY OF GREAT SCULPTURE
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
INDEX
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
All photographs of work in process, demonstrations, sculpture tools and equipment (unless otherwise noted) were made by SAM SANDROF.
Bathsheba (sketch model). LOUIS SLOBODKIN Frontispiece
FIRST SCULPTURE
Clay modeling tools Subjects for first sculpture Plinth base and pedestal How to see Clay sculpture without armature (Lazy Man).
DEMONSTRATION
Clay sculpture without armature (Curious COW). DEMONSTRATION
Clay sculpture without armature (Girl on Rock) . DEMONSTRATION
Building a modeling stand
MODELING A HEAD
Anatomical chart of human head and neck General head structure Geometric variation of head shapes Egyptian fragment. Brown quartzite Theory of shape Theory of shape applied to human head Armature for head and neck Modeling a head from life (Portrait of Larry).
DEMONSTRATION
Barbara. LOUIS SLOBODKIN. Cast stone Fritz Steffens. LOUIS SLOBODKIN. Bronze. Photo-
graph by Gene Fenn Joseph Schron. LOUIS SLOBODKIN. Bronze. Photo-
graph by Gene Fenn A. Walkozuitz. Louts SLOBODKIN. Plaster. Photo-
graph by Colten Care of clay in process
MODELING T H E FIGURE FROM LIFE
Dormant and active muscles Dawn. MICHELANGELO. Detail de' Medici tomb Female model, front view Female anatomical chart, front view Male model, front view Male anatomical chart, front view Male model, back view Male anatomical chart, back view
Female model, back view Female anatomical chart, back view Male model, side view Male anatomical chart, side view Female model, side view Female anatomical chart, side view Male and female principles of core structure Cores of structure and growth Extremes of age cycle Bathsheba. LOUIS SLOBODKIN. Detail of life-size. Proportions of human figure after Vitruvius.
LEONARW DA VINCI 65 Proportions of female body. ALBRECHT D ~ ~ R E R 65 Proportions of mature male. MICHELANGELO 65 Armatures for clay figure 67 Armature in clay figure 68 Building female clay figure from life.
DEMONSTRATION 69-71 Building male clay figure from life. DEMoNsTRATroN 72-74 Armature for seated figure 76 Armature for animals 76
PLASTER
Principle of plaster casting 8 1
Plaster casting and carving tools 83 Seam for head '34 Plaster casting, head and neck. Waste mold.
DEMONSTRATION
Plaster casting with shims. Figure. DEMoNsTRATIoN Casting a free standing figure Repairing a plaster surface Multiple plaster casts, glue mold process.
DEMONSTRATION
Shulamith. LOUIS SLOBOWKIN. Patined plaster Shulamith. Weatherproofed plaster. Photograph
by Pinchos Horn Bathsheba. LOUIS SLOBODKIN. Plaster patined for
terra cotta Portrait head (Lorimer Rich). LOUIS SLOBODKIN.
Plaster patined for aluminum
STONE CARVING
Stone carving tools Godhead. LOUIS SLOBODKIN. Colorado stone
L I S T
%ather: LOUIS SLOMDKIN. Limestone. Photograph
one carving. oEMoWsTRATrohi . ,
Egyptian carving tools Egyptian granite sculpture in process Egyptian limestone carving in process Splitting a stone
W O O D CARVING
Wood carving tools Wood carving. DEMONSTRATION
TERRACOTTA
Gouged-out shapes for terra cotta Terra cotta demonstration. Method one Terra cotta demonstration. Method two Sailor's Music. LOUS SLOBODKIN. Terra cotta.
Photograph by DeWitt Ward My Friend. LOUIS SWBODKIN. Terra cotta Hula. LOUIS SLOBODKIN. Terra cotta Seams for piece mold Terra cotta demonstration. Method three
CAST STONE
Figure. WUIS SLOBODKIN. Solid cast stone Clay Model for cast stone Tunnelmen. LOUIS SLOBODKIN. Hollow cast stone Clay model for cast stone Iron rod armature for hollow cast stone Mohawks. WUIS SLOBODKIN. Hollow cast stone
CAST METALS
Young Lincoln. LOWS SLOBODKIN. Bronze. Photo- graph by Pinchos Horn
Roman joints. Photograph by Sam Sandrof Roman joints Sailor Coiling Rope. LOUIS SLOBODKIN. Bronze
RELIEF SCULPTURE
Principles of bas relief Principles of bas relief applied to head and figure Bas relief demonstration
ARCHITECTURAL SCULPTURE
Scale ruler Templet for architectural molding Machines for reproducing sculpture Three point compass method for reproducing
sculpture Colossus of King Ramses. Egyptian architectural
sculpture. Stone Darius Palace. Persian architectural sculpture Sketch for a monument Stone blocks for a monument
U S T R A T I O N S
Working model for monument. Built-up relief demonstration
Feather-edged stone and stone washes Casting reliefs and burlap ties Wood armature for architectural sculpture Method for enlargement Practical easel for relief (architectural sculpture) Crating sculpture reliefs
A GALLERY O F GREAT SCULPTURE
Hercules. Detail, Temple of Zeus. Parian marble z , , 135 Funeral Group. South of Italy. Terra cotta 212
'36-39 Archaic Apollo. Marble Archaic Apollo. Island of Paros. lMarble
213 213
Block Statue. Egyptian. Granite Nude Girl. Egyptian. Wood
"4 2'5
14' Cat. Egyptian. Bronze , 216 14j Baboon. Egyptian. Limestone 217
Servant Figrue. Egyptian. Limestone ar8 Seated Fentale Figure. Stone
2 I9 147 North W e i Maitreya. Chinese. Stone . zzo '47 Head of a Divinity. Indian, Cambodian. Stone 221
147 Female Polo Player. Chinese pottery figure 222
14' Chinese Warrior. Terra cotta z z z 149-53 Apsaras. Chinese relief sculpture. Stone 223
Deity as High Priest. Southern India. Stone 229 Indian Deity. Southern India. Copper 225
156 Yakshi. Indian. Stone 226
'57 Torso. Early Cambodian. Stone 227
157 Devi as Unza. Southern India. Copper 227 Journey to E7mmzaus. Spanish, S. Domingo de
Silos, Cloister. Stone 228 ::: A Prophet. Chartres Cathedral, France. . 239 Crucifix. Detail, Spanish-Romanesque m * Z ~ Q
Head of Christ. French. Limestone 23 Warrior. Assyrian. Alabaster 532 Kid-Bearer. Persian. Hard limestone 233 The Medicean Madonna. MICHELANGELO. Marble 234 Terra cotta sketch for The Medicea~z Madwizwa.
MICHELANGEW 235 Captive. MIMELANGEW. Marble 235 Madonna and Child. DONATELLO 236 Saint Giosanni. DONATELW. Marble 237 Carved lYood Door from Nigeria, Africa 238
'7' Wood Fetisb. African sculpture, Belgian Congo 239 172 Burghers of Calais. AUGUSTE RODIN. Bronze 240
'73-76 Portrait of the Sculptor's Father. RODIN. Bronze 240 The New Born. CONSTANTIN BRANCUSI. Bronze 24' Torso of a Yozmg Wonza~z. WILHELM LEHMBRUCK 242 Torso of a Wo??mz. LEHMBRUCK. Artificial stone 243
182 Ile de France. ARISTIDE MAILLOL. Bronze 244 Seated Nude. MAILLOL. Bronze 245 Portrait Head, c. DESPIAU. Bronze 245
'86 Penelope. EMILE ANTOINE BOURDELLE. Bronze 245 Portrait of Oriel Ross. JACOB EPSTEIN. Bronze 246
187 Standing Wonza7z. GASTON LACHAISE. Bronze 247 188 Boeotia figure. Terra cotta 248 191 Boeotia figure. Terra cotta 2 49 192 Primitive image. Island of Amorgos. Marble 249
Abmsives, r3q 131' 4bstract shape, 50, 1x9, 181 Acids for bronze, 162, 166-68 African sculpture, 238, 239 Afe cycb, extremes of, 33, 63 -4 abawer, 121, 123, 130, 232 Aluminum, I&, 168 American Indian sculpture, 51, 2 19 -- - - - - - *. anato&cal structure of human
figure, 72-65 female anatomy chart, 74, 56, $8 head and neck, 32 human figures* 52-59 male amt0m-y chart, $5, 57, 59 muscles, functlon of, 53 skeleton, function of, 5% 54
Anonymous artist, 250
Archaic Greek, 21)
L Architectucal sculptere. 177-202
blueprims, 178, r7gt 192 bronze sculpture for, 184 burlap ties, 196% z97 rabbage modeling, r 77
&g reliefs, I& contracts for, Ig9
l ~ m t i n and shipping, taz-ur kqasei B or, 2 0 6
,yptian methods, 184, 199 Lwging and reducing machines, I&, 18c. 186
8, I for
19
178 for . ,
1dhg?+, ~ 8 0 hben ta l , 1%
t machine, IQ problems in, rgr
k, 179, 180, 184, 185, 187, rpz
Architectural sculpmre (cantimedj setbacks, 180 sketch models for, 180, 192 stone blocks for, r92 stone scul turn for, 180 stme n-a J es, 195 templet for moldings, 182-83 terra cotta, 188, 189 wood sculpture for, 189 working model, ~ g 9
Armaturm animals, 76 back irons for, 66, 67 baseboard for, 46 butrerflies for, 41, 66 clay flgures, 66, 67 drawings and demonstrarion, 40-41 head and neck, 31 lead wire for, 66 seated figures, 76 wood armature for archirectural
sculpture, 198, ~ p g Art facets, 206, 2x0
Artist Tirtuoso, X 17 A~syrians, ~ Z I , 177
Back irons, 66, 67 Balance, 118 Base, zr, 43 Baseboard, 66 Basic structure of the human figure,
60-65 Beethoven, 117, 208 Block mgtue, Egyptian, l14 Boeotia terra cottaq 248, 249 Bourdelle, Emile Anmine, 245 Brancusi, Constantin, 246 Brass, 161, I@ Bronze casting
acids for parine, r66-68 bronze formulas, r6Q chaser, 162 cold patine, 167-48 core, 161, r62 crucibles, 163, 164 French sand, 161, 162 French varnish, 167, r68
19 at patme, 166-67
iran flasks, 16x, r62. 163 losc wax p i x o c ~ ~ (tire perdue), 161,
162-&, 1% method, 141
Bmnze casting ~coatimedl nitric acid, 162 origin, 161 pat%&, 162 patining bronze, 166-68 pouring bronze, 162, 164 raw bronze, 162 red wax replica, 142, 164 Roman joints, 161, 165 sand mold process, 161-62, 163, sand rnolders, 162 sculpture models for, 161 seams, 162, 164 silica, 162, 164 vents, 164
Brw1leschi, r8r BuU-paint, X 3 r Burlap ties, I*, 197 Burlap, use of, 8s, 95, 107, 196
Cambodian, 221, ~ $ 7 Gsst metals, E&-69 Gast stone
amhitectural sculpture, r 55 armature for, 155, 156, 158 cement, 154 curing, 155, 156 durablity, discussion on, 154
a datine mdd for, 156 oflow east, 156
method, 155-59 mix7 155 plaster mold for, 155, 158 positive and negati~a qualities
1 54 repa$ing, 159 steanne, 135 solid cast, 155 working surface, 155, 159
Cellini, 75, rbo Cement* 154, 204 Ckzanne, 207 Chartres Cathedral, 17$ Chinese, 60, 121, 140, '54, 177, ~ 8 5 ~ Chinese lacquer sculpture, 204 Chinese mud sculpture, 154, 204 Chinese wood sculpture, 11q0 Chisels, 82, 120, 131t 132% 135 Cire perdue, 161, 162-64, 1%
Clay modelin architectura f: models, 193-94 architectural molding, 182-83 care of clay in process, 48-49
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