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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