Foil Sculpting: Advanced

 

Summary

Sculpture

What can you create with a single sheet of foil? Students will be learning the techniques necessary to use foil to bring their ideas to life. They will be developing a better understanding of 3D form and material manipulation through their work with the medium of foil. Students will learn methods of manipulating form and space, and how these can be used to best represent the 3D object they are trying to replicate.

 

Essential Terms

  • Form: An element of art, means objects that have three dimensions

  • Shape: A two-dimensional area that is defined by a change in value or some other form of contrast

  • 3-D / 3-Dimensional: Having or appearing to have length, breadth, and depth

  • Isolate: To be or remain alone or apart from others or things

  • In the round: When sculpture is viewed “in the round” it can be seen from all angles

Objectives

  • Students will be able to use limited materials to create a 3-dimensional object.

  • Students will be able to create a foil sculpture while keeping the sheet intact.

  • Students will be able to work slowly and carefully in refining their final product.

Master Artist / Historical References

  • Claes Oldenberg

  • Alexander Calder

 

Age Level(s)

10 - 14 years old

Needed Materials

  • Foil (we recommend Member’s Mark 9 x 9” foil sheets)

Learning Path

Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced

Downloads

Project Instructions (PDF)

Attributions

Content Creator: Douglas Shaw Elder

Curriculum Developers: Tamah Minnis, Augustine Smith

 
 

Step 1

Start with a sheet of foil that is about 9 inches long. You can buy precut foil sheets that are all the same size, but if you are working with a roll of foil, make sure to cut or tear each sheet to the same size. Consistency is key when you are trying to develop a new skill.

 

Step 2

Lightly pinch the foil rectangle into a capital “T” shape. This is a loose pinch, about an inch and a half down the long edge of the foil sheet. Your fingers should not meet.

 

Step 3

Gently curl the top bar of the T before scrunching. This will become your hammer head. Also curl the longer section of the T to form the hammer handle.

 

Step 4

Using soft scrunching hands, begin to make these sections firmer and smaller. The hammer head and claw can be pinched into shape but finished using pressure and rubbing against a flat surface.

 

Step 5

Use a popsicle stick or butter knife to create details, such as the indent around the hammer head or base of the handle.

 

Bonus Tips

  • Do you have a hammer laying around your house? Having the object in front of you allows you to work with your own observations and be more accurate in your creations. Gently pinch and press your hands around the hammer, so that you can understand not only what the hammer should look like, but also what those forms feel like in your hands.

  • Remember to move slowly and gently, foil is easier to crunch than to un-crunch!

  • Lightly “pre-crunching” your foil sheet will allow you to create curves and organic shapes in your sculptures. Without this “pre-crunch” the foil will want to fold rather than bend into shape.

 
 
Sculpture, Foil Sculpting, 10 - 14 years oldEmily Strickler10 - 14 years old