The Art 10, 11 and 12 classes are working on sculpting as one of their last projects. All art classes sculpt at some point. Art 10 General, teaches how to sculpt animals. “We sculpt animals because the image of an animal is more forgiving. It has to look a little like the animal, but it can be a little looser,” said Jacquelyn Collins, one of the art teachers at Riverside. In Art 11 Foundations, the students move on to the anatomy of the head and sculpt only heads.
“I was really excited about sculpting heads because it seems like a challenge. And then I heard it was head portraits and I was even more excited because I don’t usually use myself as a reference, but it sounded like fun,” said Maia Karwowska, an Art 11 student. The students were quite delighted with the activity. “I was impressed with myself after finishing my sculpture. I don’t think it looks like me even though my teacher says it does. I think the hair was definitely a challenge,” said Karwowska.
In Art 12, students sculpt the whole body of a human being. “The reason why we do the head and the whole body is because it’s the one object in our world that we are most critical of. So, this forces you as an artist to hone in your skills and get better,” said Collins. “I loved how much freedom I got to have with it, and the process of creation,” said Kennedy Rud, an Art 12 student. Although she was nervous at first, her work turned out beautifully. “I was really nervous but excited, because I knew that I would have to get the proportions right so the body wouldn’t look strange,” said Rud.
Collins compared the great Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci and their views on sculpting and painting. A sculpture is greater work because it is a painting from every angle; it takes a lot of talent. This is what she teaches her students and uses the story to illustrate it well. All students have worked very hard on their pieces and will be painting each of their sculptures to their liking. “You have to be able to walk around a sculpture and each direction has to be artful in its own painting, its own work of art,” said Collins; and all of the sculptures turned out to be.
