ART MASTERPIECE: The Thinker, 1902 by Auguste Rodin · • Rodin went on to create many more famous pieces around the world. He died in 1917 at 77 years old. He is remembered for

ART MASTERPIECE: The Thinker, 1902 by Auguste Rodin

Pronounced: Oh­GOOST Roe-DANKeywords: Casting, modeling, carving, relief, constructive Casting - Bronze like the “Thinker”. A complex process in which the shape is modeled out of clay. Then the clay shape is used to create a mold. Next, the mold is emptied of clay and hot liquid bronze is poured into the space where the clay was. When cooled, the mold is pried apart revealing the metal sculpture Modeling - Using a soft material like ceramic clay, Plastilina or Play Dough to create an object. Carving - A block of stone or wood which is carved away to create a sculpture. Artists work the same today as they did thousands of years ago, only now some of them use power tools. Larger chisels and mallets are used to take away big pieces, then smaller files and chisels add detail, then finally it’s sanded and polished. Relief - A flat material such as wood or stone that is carved away to reveal figures that look three dimensional, rising above the surface. Constructive - Using found items and piecing them together to construct an object. Items may be attached using glue, wire, tape or in many other ways, including welding. This method may also be termed assemblage.Grade: 5th gradeProject: 3-D, Air Dry Clay PortraitPowerpoint: KGA websiteVideo: http://youtu.be/wdlr7F-NSFg (20:04 min - tutorial walks you through the lesson)Website: www.rodinmuseum.org DO NOT SHOW IN CLASS! This link is only for parents to view with their children, if they wish, since there are many nude sculptures.

Meet the Artist (5 min):• August Rodin was was born in Paris, France in 1840. • He loved to draw as a child and was very observant. He was known to sketch animals, people

and places he had seen from memory.• He was very good at art and applied three times to a very famous art school in France.

Unfortunately, they never let him in. (Their mistake as he is now regarded as one of the most famous sculptors in the world!)

• Eventually Rodin discovered the art of sculpting and became an assistant to a popular sculptor in France.

Property of Knox Art Masterpiece Revised July 31, 2013

• In 1875 he took a trip to Italy and studied the art of Michelangelo. This trip made a huge impression upon him and inspired him to work more artistically.

• Rodin preferred his models to move naturally around his studio. The sculptor often made quick sketches in clay that were later fine-tuned, cast in plaster, then forged into bronze or carved in marble. Rodin's focus was on the handling of clay

• One of his most famous works is a bronze sculpture called The Thinker. Rodin created a small plaster version of it in 1880 and then cast this large bronze version in 1902. About 28 original monumental-sized bronze casts of the sculpture are in museums around the world.

• The artwork was based on a poem called “The Divine Comedy”, written by a famous poet named Dante (born in 1265). The Thinker was supposed to be part of a larger piece and was originally titled “Poet”. Rodin pictured Dante sitting and thinking about his poem before he put it on paper. Then this idea turned into how man will dream or think of an idea and then those dreams or thoughts could be made into reality. Man is the only creature on earth that can contemplate. After this inspiration, he re-titled the artwork “The Thinker”.

• Rodin went on to create many more famous pieces around the world. He died in 1917 at 77 years old. He is remembered for his famous works for art and for his trademark. He was known to represent inner-beauty in his artwork by distorting the anatomy of a piece or leaving an area unfinished.

• Rodin is generally considered the founder of modern sculpture.

Discussion (10 min): • What is a sculpture? • How is sculpture different from a painting or a photograph? (a sculpture has three

dimensions; length, width, and depth). • Have you ever seen a sculpture? Where have you seen it? • Have you ever touched it? How did it feel? • Why someone would want a sculpture rather than a painting?• Discuss all of the different ways to sculpt; casting, modeling, carving, relief and

constructive. (Descriptions and definitions are at the top of the page).

Project: 3-D, Air Dry Clay Portrait

Project Materials: Crayola White Air Dry Clay, 5oz per student (@ the size of a racquet ball-but be sure to weigh out using a digital scale!) Carving tools, sharpened dowels, skewers, popsicle sticks, plastic knives, etc. 5”x6” squares of black mat board (or poster board with cardboard glued to it for strength) White glue (6-8 bottles) Parent Letter, 1 per student White scrap paper, 8 1/2”x11” Sturdy cup, one per table for tool caddy Big Ziploc bag, for unused clay (if student doesn’t use all 5oz) Snack sized Ziploc bags, class set

Property of Knox Art Masterpiece Revised July 31, 2013

Advance Preparation: Copy and cut Parent letters Cut black poster board into 5”x6” squares Cut cardboard into 5”x6” squares Divide clay into 5oz balls and place back into original bucket - SEAL LID TIGHTLY IN TWO DIFFERENT BAGS OR CLAY WILL DRY OUT! Use digital scale to measure the clay. They will be approximately the size of a racquetball. You may wish to use a wire clay cutter to section the clay before you weigh it. Mini Lesson (5 min):• The object of our project today is to model a face out of clay. • The clay we’re using is air dry clay, which will take several days to dry. It should not be

baked in an oven, microwave or a ceramic kiln.• The clay should be moist, soft and pliable. Small amount of water will help revive clay,• Explain how to work with clay;

• Pinch a piece and roll between both hands in a circular motion to create a ball• Pinch a piece and roll on table with one hand, forward and backwards to create a long

coil or “snake”• Place these shapes onto the face to create facial features.• Use tools, sticks, skewers, dowels, etc to make marks and impressions in the clay for

added features on the face.

Process (30-40 min):• Hand out one piece of white scrap paper, and a Ziploc baggie to each student.• Place one cup of tools on each table.• Hand out the balls of clay, one per student.

At this time, watch the 20 min. instructional video. It was designed to walk students through the process, but feel free to pause and rewind at any time so that it’s paced along with them. The following describes the steps shown in the video, in case you aren’t able to view it)http://youtu.be/wdlr7F-NSFg (20:04 min - start now and follow along. Pause as needed)

• Tell them to pinch off approximately one half of the clay, and set aside in a Ziploc bag. This will be used for adding details to the face but needs to stay moist until it’s needed.

• Flatten out the larger part of the clay into an oval, like a human head, no bigger than the mat board. (5”x6”).

• Take a stick and gently carve lines to assist with the face proportions. • One line will go down the center vertically and another will go across the center

horizontally (the halfway mark). The eyes go on the horizontal line.• Notice the proportions of thirds on the face diagram. You can show this to the students.

Property of Knox Art Masterpiece Revised July 31, 2013

• Poke two dots where the eyes should go, then draw the outline for them. Use your index fingers or thumbs to make a slight dent for the eye socket. Alternately you may add on small pieces of clay and poke with a tool for the pupil.

• Pinch a small piece of clay and shape into a triangle. Add to the face to form the nose. Flatten out the bottom part of the bump and poke two holes to make nostrils.

• Push clay just under the nose and from the cheeks and chin to make a mouth. You'll want to make a crease in between the lips.

• Press the edges of the clay to shape the chin.• Roll a small amount of clay into a coil (snake) and place above eyes for eyebrows.• Use small pieces of clay to add details; eyelids, hair, ears, earrings, etc.• Use tools to make marks or add texture to hair, teeth, etc. • Look at a classmate for inspiration. Notice different indentations for chin, mouth, eyes, and

forehead. • The clay’s fine texture enables you to add many details to your face. • Press down on clay pieces that have been added so that it will stick together. • ALL LOOSE PIECES MUST BE ATTACHED OR THEY WILL BREAK OFF.• Once completed, write name on Parent Letter and glue to back of mat board. • Lastly, use white glue to adhere moist sculpture to mat board, lay flat to dry.• These sculptures will take several days to dry. • They may be painted with bronze craft paint when they’re dry, to look like “The Thinker”

Clean up: Make sure that any leftover clay (from the students original 5oz), is immediately placed into a Ziploc bag. Do not throw it away or place back into bucket because it can be reused but will will need to be weighed again.

Make sure that the lids on the clay buckets are TIGHTLY SEALED or clay will dry out!!!

Property of Knox Art Masterpiece Revised July 31, 2013

Property of Knox Art Masterpiece Revised July 31, 2013