Project 4A: Carving Out A Story. Carvings Due October 23rd. Animated GIF Due November 5th.

Project Description

For this project, you will carve 3-5 (choose any number between three and five) objects from common household bar soap. You will then use your objects to create an animated gif that addresses the idea of narrative. Fear not! This is all explained below.



A. Important points on carving

Carving is one of the four basic techniques used to make sculpture. Carving is known as the subtractive technique, because you physically subtract, or remove, material from a larger mass to create form. For this project, your soap carvings can be either representational or abstract.

Representational Art- 
An art form that seeks to depict the physical appearance of reality; also called objective art and figurative art.

Abstract Art- 
An art form that represents ideas as opposed to depicting (or trying to directly recreate) the things we see in the the object world. This is also known as non-representational work. Abstract art is often communicating ideas through an investigation of geometric and/or organic form.

B. Important points on animated GIF

An animated GIF is a digital image file that shows motion by presenting a series of still images in sequence. Please see the example below. An animated GIF loops endlessly. The sequence of images doesn't stop until you close the file. That being said, the content of the animation may, or may not, have a defined start and end. It can look like a continuous action, or it can read as a linear progression. Animated GIFs are frequently used on the internet.

This is an example of an animated GIF, and also of narrative.

Rubric

You will be assessed on how will you meet the following goals. A project grade will be determined by looking at how well your work addresses each of the following categories: Carving, Interaction, and Narrative. In addition to the final project grade, you will receive a grade for your homework assignment (Due Oct 16th). 

Unfinished projects will receive no higher than a C. Late assignments will be reduced a full letter grade. 

Goals

This project has THREE PRIMARY GOALS: 

Carving

Goal- Practice the subtractive method of sculpting. 

Your carvings should address the following elements of design: positive and negative space, line, composition, texture, volume, contrast and similarity. Your goal is to achieve as much detail and to make the most interesting object that you can make. Craftsmanship and creativity count. 

Interaction

Goal- create an interesting relationship between your objects, by considering how they can relate to each other. The relationship/interaction between your objects should be BOTH physical AND conceptual. Here are some examples of things that have both physical and conceptual relationships: A nut and bolt. An acorn and a walnut tree. A peach pit, and a peach. A mother and her child. Note: These are not suggestions for sculptures, just examples of how things can relate to each other. 

Narrative

Goal- to create narrative using form, interaction, animation, and context. Your animated GIF will be between 15-30 seconds in length. 

Your main idea should be kept simple and be apparent to the viewer. Remember: Narrative is a form of story-telling. 

The carvings themselves, and their relationship to each other, should tell a story. 

Your animated GIF should reinforce the story you are telling through the carvings you make. The sculptures and animation should work together to communicate your main idea. Lastly, a decision should be made as to how you will address the looping quality of the animated GIF. 

Ok, so what is narrative? 

Narrative is the process of conveying meaning through story-telling in an art form. Many believe that the interpretation of an art form's narrative is subjective. In other words, different viewers may ascribe different meanings to the same sequence of visual images (or to the same grouping of objects). This is another way of saying that we all see the world from our own distinct viewpoint. We all see things differently. 

When we read a story, watch a movie, or look at a piece of art, the choice of meanings is dependent on the viewers' personal characteristics and experiences. The artist can try to communicate basic ideas, but the interpretation is ultimately up to the viewer. 

Your goal in this project is to understand the potential for story-telling in the making of both objects and through their animation.

Class Schedule

October 16th- Demonstrations, and studio work day. 

Homework Due: October 16th

Please come prepared to work, and with the following:

1. Four Patterns (see dog example below). These should be drawn to the actual size of the soap bar, and should include the 6 views: Front, Back, Top, Bottom, and both sides.  Note: I know that the example of the dog carving only has two drawings/patterns. You need to have six. 
2. Four bars of soap. Be sure to test their carving properties before coming to class. Also, think about color, size, and texture of the soap. Ivory soap is a good consistent soap to use. Stay away from soaps with lotions and moisturizers added to them. They don't carve well. 
3. Carving tools. Test out different things you have around the house that you can use as carving tools. You will have to make your own tools for this project. Please bring them with you to class. Ideas: Silverware, hairpins, wire, pins, needles, screws, dental tools, nail files, butter knives, X-acto, etc. 

Project Due October 23rd- at start of class. 

Please be prepared to talk about how the projects addressed the goals of the assignment. We will be using the same "sponsored speaker" system as last critique. 

Process

There is a lot going on in this project, and we will break it down into the three primary steps. 

1. Planning out your carvings (sketches, and patterns). 
2. Carving your objects.
3. Creating your animated GIF.

How to get started on the carvings

Here is a visual breakdown of the process of soap carving, starting from creating a pattern to the steps of carving. 

Please note: You should have a set of six drawings for each bar of soap. Six drawings per bar of soap x four bars of soap = 24 drawings total. The drawings should be the same size as your bars of soap. You will transfer the drawings onto the actual soap before you start carving.  

WARNING: Please do not make this dog, just look at the drawings!!

Click here for step by step instruction on the process of soap carving

Creating an animated GIF

Before you can make a GIF, you will need to take a lot of photos using a technique known as stop-motion animation. Click here for 

You can use your smartphone, digital camera, the built-in camera on your laptop, the built-in camera on your home desktop computer, or the built-in cameras on the computers in the school computer labs to take your photos.

You can edit them, and even create an animated GIF in photoshop, if you don't want to use an app or website.

Once you have your photos, you are ready to create your GIF.

Start with the following links to get information on how to create your animated GIF. There are hundreds of apps, websites, and ways to do this. Use your research skills and find the best one to fit your needs.



Gifmaker

Imgflip

How to make animated GIFS- PC Magazine

GIF app for iPhone

Turning in your GIF

Each student will save their animated GIF, and post it in the comment section of this blog post. We will view the animated GIFS on the first day of class, second quarter. 

YOUR GIF MUST BE UPLOADED BY November 5th. We will view them on November 6th. 

Good luck, work hard, and have fun!