The Art of Sculpture free essay sample

Long before man could record history, people were sculpting free standing figures out of bones rocks and other objects. It is said that sculpting is the art of the people, and it is a more powerful art than literature and painting because it can be touched and felt. When a sculpture is in a gallery our attention is sustained by an intensified visual engagement. This is what makes its fixed shape come alive in the viewer’s eyes. Before the 20th century, sculpture was considered a representational art; but its scope has now been extended to include nonrepresentational forms. Sculpting has evolved over many years and it has long been accepted that the forms of functional three – dimensional objects such as furniture, pots, and buildings can also be seen as expressive and beautiful without being any way representational. The art of sculpture has changed over the years and continues to grow everyday as seen through architecture and structural design. We will write a custom essay sample on The Art of Sculpture or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Sculpting as an art form goes back to the pre historic times. Sculpting was used in rituals and community gatherings, and has made a huge impact in people’s values and beliefs. During the 4th century, most people did not know how to read or write and therefore needed visual artifacts that they could embrace. Leaders of that time turned to sculptures which were then displayed in public squares, outside schools, and basically anywhere that people could see and embrace them every day. The history of sculpting would not be complete if religion was not mentioned as a heavy influence. Sculpture is often an expression of religion and has been central in religious devotion in many cultures. Religious leaders told stories and often taught people about their beliefs through pictures and sculptures. In Catholic cathedrals sculptures are intended to testify the permanent presence of the sacred persons who support the church of God until the end of time. Without the influence of religion; it is very possible that the art of sculpting would not have had as strong of an impact as it has today. Sculpting is meant to inspire people and show significance in history through a timeless piece of greatness. It reflects a vision of what the artist is thinking and it is a form of expression where the artist turns a basic idea into reality. It starts off with an idea of some sort and then the artist gradually shows what he or she is trying to express through their sculpture. For example, sculptures of great wars and military figures that are seen in many cities around the world are used to inspire people and bring pride and patriotism to the masses in every country. There are many different types of sculptures that artists use to bring forth their ideas. There are free standing sculptures which are sculptures that you can view in a full 360 degree range. Unlike a painting or drawing, which only evokes a third dimension on a two dimensional surface, sculptures actually exist in three dimensional forms. Two other types of sculptures are sound and light sculptures. The sculpting of an object that produces sound of any sort is what this type of sculpting caters to. This type of sculpting is usually done by composers or visual artists. Light sculpting is the sculpting of any type of object or picture of light. These sculptures are done to inspire thinking and creativity through sounds and light. Jewellery is another form of sculpting. Necklaces, rings, earrings and bracelets are all made through a form of sculpting. This type of sculpting brings forth beauty which attracts consumers to buy these elegant pieces of art and wear them. There are many different variations of sculpting in regards to the materials that can be used. Sculptures can be made from stone, wood, clay, metal, wax and ivory. The process of sculpting with stone while more difficult; is the same as in wood. The stone or wood would be carved using a knife or a mallet to chisel away bits of the material until the artist has shaped the form his mind sought. Clay has been used since early times to shape and build, sometimes for practical and much needed items such as shelter, bowls, and other everyday necessities. Although it created everyday necessities, clay eventually grew as a form of art because its abundance and ease of expression. Metal sculpture can be created by a combination of many methods. Sculpture can be created by cutting metals with shears and snips, by firing and hammering metals, or by joining metals with sheet metal screws, rivets and soldering. Wax sculpture is an art form that dates back to the ancient civilizations of Egypt and Greece. History documents that wax figures were sculpted for religious ceremonies. This was also a costly endeavour and therefore the practice was reserved for royal and religious hierarchies. Finally sculpture in ivory was used by the Greeks in combination with gold for monumental works. In the Middle Ages and in modern times ivory is often used for works of small proportions and it is particularly suitable for delicate and pathetic subjects. Linking the art of Sculpture to Leadership â€Å"An artist chisels away at the stone, piece by piece until they find the figure they seek. Leadership is like a sculpture. That is, it’s a creative expression of who we are after all the stuff has been chipped away. †-Unknown Not one person was born a great leader; as history and society can prove one must develop and evolve into a leader. To become respected and excel as a leader there is a sculpting stage in one’s life which takes place. Similar to a sculpture, a leader has different attributes and materials that when placed together in harmony can become a beautiful object that will shine above others. Any material that can be shaped in three dimensions can be used to create a sculpture. With that being said; any person that has the drive to make a difference, or impact the lives of others can be a leader. Certain materials, by virtue of their structural and aesthetic properties and their availability have proved especially suitable for use. As in an artist sculpting, there are certain people who by virtue are more suitable to be a leader than others. This is because leadership can only be taught to a certain extent. Personal work ethic and ability to thrive in a leadership role is not a characteristic for everyone. Regardless of training, an individual must sculpt their own attitudes and behaviours to become an ideal role model in a leadership position. To be an excellent leader requires some elements of personality and context such as integrity and respect that cannot be taught. Throughout different periods of time, society has left us with memorable pieces of art for which people today travel great lengths to visit. These great monuments were sculpted from raw materials to endure time and last an eternity. As stated the most important materials suitable for sculpting are stone, wood, clay, ivory, and metal. These raw materials placed together became icons that demonstrate power and stability. Historically speaking stone has been the principle material of monumental sculpture. The reason for this is because many types of stone are very strong and therefore highly resistant to weather making it suitable for external use. Stone is strong and everlasting; therefore it resembles some key qualities that leaders aspire to achieve. Leaders hope to make strong, powerful imprints in the lives of others and hope that they are able to convey stories that will be remembered even after their time. The most common and easily obtainable of all materials is clay. Clay is used for modeling animal and human figures long before men discovered how to fire pots and has been one of the sculptors chief materials ever since. Sculptors use clay as a material for working out ideas; for preliminary models that are subsequently cast in such materials as plaster, metal, and concrete or carved in stone; and for pottery sculpture. With sculptors using clay to work out their ideas it proves that artists will go to great lengths to portray a vision with staggering clarity so that there is no confusion to the viewer. Leaders can do the same in their leadership by bringing focused clarity (to their followers or team) so that there is no confusion about what the task or vision is. Sculpture is a traditional form of art just like drawing, poetry, and writing. It exists all around us and is very easy to identify. When an artist sculpts they want to portray a moment; that is something that draws us in and moves us emotionally. The more successfully an artist can portray a moment to the audience, the more powerful the artist is. Like artists, leaders also want to portray a moment. They want to be able to express a moment with such clarity, interpretation and confidence that it makes a connection with their audience, and draws them in. If a leader can convey emotion, then they can increase commitment and alignment. Creativity is the way artists choose to connect with their viewers. Sculptors unleash their creativity through their art work by creating three dimensional artifacts that portray meaning and emotion. Artists can in fact push their audience to go a certain way by their creativity. For example, sculptors will intentionally position their sculpture or light their sculpture a certain way because it will serve their intentional purpose of getting the viewer where they want to go. Leaders should use the same focused intention as creative sculptors do when leading a team towards an outcome. Choosing particular lighting for the sculptor; or in leadership terms, choosing one particular path over another must be done because it will lead to something or somewhere on purpose. Michelangelo; a well respected Italian artist was one of greatest sculptors in the 15th and 16th century. Michelangelo was a great leader in the Italian Renaissance as he set standards for painting, poetry and architecture. His sculptures have changed the meaning of art forever as he was noted for his use of color, light, tone and design. Michelangelo was a great leader through his art, and was able to capture that â€Å"moment† with his viewers and be remembered long after his time. With Michelangelo’s sculptures such as Peita and David to name a few, he has been able to inspire viewers to see the beauty in art, and make that beauty a part of their lives.. Many leaders should strive to be like Michelangelo; that is to make an impact in the lives of others, make connections with viewers, and be remembered long after their time. Sculptures will last long after the artist has gone; leaders hope that the impact of their leadership will be just as lasting.