Typography Relief Sculpture

Submitted by: Kevan Nitzberg,
Anoka High School, Anoka, Minnesota.
UNIT: Typography - Sculpture
Grade Level: High School (adaptable for middle school)

Note from Kevan:

Because I teach a very diverse population, I allow as many ways of accessing letter fonts as students need. Some do in fact freehand the letters while others rely on the computer to generate the fonts which are then blown up with either the copy machine or our "Artograph." Still others (typically some of my more challenged Special Needs students), will even resort to using pre-made stencils. However, I do have a worksheet that I have them all complete prior to creating their templates where they do have to draw out the 2 letters they plan on using in 5 different font styles. That is a hand done assignment.

Objective:

Create a relief sculpture utilizing letters as shapes

Disciplinary Sources: Art Production, Aesthetics, Art History, Art Analysis

            
Click images for larger views.

Disciplinary Concepts:

1) shapes used in lettering design can be used as components for various art projects including sculpture

2) different styles of lettering can be used towards creating different effects

3) lettering can help to convey feeling

4) negative spaces around the letters may be considered as additional shapes

5) compositional interest is enhanced through the combination of shapes and the spaces that are created around them.

Exemplars: Show students of how letters are utilized in existing works of art as well as elements of design – examples might include:

1) Love Sculpture by Robert Indiana

2) images of Egyptian hieroglyphics (See books below)

3) images of other alphabets: Arabic, Hebraic, etc.

Materials / Tools:

Metallic Acrylics, Gatorfoam Board (or recycled corrugated card board), primer, X-acto Knives, metal rulers, Drawing Paper, Scissors, White Glue (hot Hot Glue Sticks may also be used). (Note any kind of cardboard could be used for middle school)

Condition:

1) Complete worksheets: research typographical / font styles (plan letter designs on work sheets).

2) Create templates for letter shapes (2 letters) to size desired – minimum of 5 copies of each letter to be used (additional shapes around letters as well as additional copies of the letters being used may be included) – 10 shape minimum (See note above - for special needs students)

3) trace shapes from templates onto gator board – keep templates in folders (create an envelope to hold them). Letters / shapes should not exceed 8" on a side

4) cut / sand gator board shapes: X-acto knives / metal rulers

5) notch shapes for fitting pieces together (as needed – notches should be no wider than shapes are thick, and should be at least ½" deep)

6) paint using Metallic Acrylics (gold, silver, copper, brass) – only ONE color to be used in sculpture. Base may be same color, black, white, or a combination of black and white in a pattern that works with the configuration of the shapes (base should be primed if using black or white as color)

7) After drying, shapes to be attached to each other

8) Cut bases – 12" (30.5 cm) square particle board (NOTE: base could be Masonite or any kind of board. If on a tight budget, base can be heavy cardboard. Painting bases black gives a nice contrast)

9) Affix nail–less hanger on back of base – grind off points as they come through the particle board base as necessary (Other types of hangers can be used if bases are cardboard... a piece of scrap cardboard with a hole punched can be glued on as a hanger).

10) Attach / glue shapes - Cardboard spacers may be placed between letters to give more relief.

11) Critique/discuss finished work. Students write a reflection piece about their sculpture.

Books

Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs - While learning to decipher the language of the ancient Egyptians, readers will also learn about their history, social structure, and funerary beliefs.

Reading Egyptian Art: A Hieroglyphic Guide to Ancient Egyptian Painting and Sculpture - The art of ancient Egypt has excited imaginations for centuries. Here, for the first time, is an introduction to the symbolic language of hieroglyphics. 358 illustrations.

Typeface: Classic Typography for Contemporary Design - The book is organized using typographic classifications such as sans serif, serif, display, script, and dingbats. Each typeface is presented in detail, including its origin, main characteristics, and uses.

Vocabulary:

Typography, serif, sans serif, Roman, Gothic, Book (and other major fonts of your choice), relief sculpture, negative and positive space, pattern, movement, rhythm, repetition, contrast, variety, unity, emphasis

Assessment:

Rubric adapted from Marianne Galyk (Kevan uses detailed rubrics)

Rubric Submitted by Marianne Galyk

Student Comments:

Teacher Comments:

National Standards: