Lesson video

Hello.

My name is Mrs. Tipping and I'm really looking forward to learning with you today about sculpture and making a mask.

We're going to do lots of thinking, talking and exploring together in this lesson.

So shall we get started? Let's go.

By the end of today's lesson, you'll be able to use surface decoration to enhance the visual impact of a mask sculpture.

Before we start, I would like to introduce you to some keywords.

We'll be using these keywords during the lesson, so it might be a good idea to write these words down.

The key words we'll be using today are surface decoration, pattern, contrast, and symbol.

I'm gonna say those again and I would like you to repeat them after me.

Surface decoration.

Pattern.

Contrast.

Symbol.

Good job.

Now let's think in more detail about what these keywords mean by taking a look at their definitions.

Surface decoration is the process of adding patterns, textures, and colours to the exterior of an object to enhance its visual impact.

Pattern is a repeated decorative design used to create visual interest.

Contrast is the difference between elements such as colours or textures that makes them stand out.

Symbol is a mark or character used to represent an idea, object or relationship.

Pause the video here to make a note of these keywords, and when you're ready to continue, press play.

These are the learning cycles that we'll be working through together in today's lesson.

What is surface decoration? Applying surface decoration and completing the mask and evaluating your mask sculpture.

In the first learning cycle, we're going to explore what surface decoration is.

How can a 3D sculpture be enhanced to give it more personality? Pause the video here and have a discussion with your partner, and press play when you're ready to continue.

What did you think? What could you do to enhance that 3D sculpture, give it more personality? Well, we could add surface decoration, and surface decoration is the process of adding patterns, textures, and colours to the exterior of an object to enhance its visual impact.

Notice how surface decoration has been added to this sculpture to add personality and flare.

Discuss with a partner what surface decoration elements you could add to a sculpture to make it more visually interesting.

Pause the video here and have some time for that discussion, and press play when you're ready to continue.

What did you think could be added? Maybe some feathers or some nice foiled texture colours, like those on that mask there.

Lucas says, "I want to add bold colours and geometric patterns to my mask to exaggerate and draw attention to the facial features." Aisha says, "I will use sponges and thick paint brushes to create textured, bumpy surface decoration.

I think doing this will add character and depth to my mask design." Let's take a moment to pause and check our understanding.

What does surface decoration mean in art? Drawing on paper instead of using materials.

Adding patterns, textures, and colours to an object.

Or making a mask with no decoration.

Pause the video here and give yourself a moment to think, and press play when you are ready to continue.

What did you think? If you said adding patterns, textures, and colours to an object, you are absolutely right.

Well done.

Surface decoration might include adding colours, patterns, textures, or materials.

Texture can be created by using tools like sponges or brushes to create raised or indented patterns with paint.

You might also use carving tools to make marks that add more texture.

Colour can be applied through paint to highlight certain features like the eyes, nose, or mouth.

Using complementary or contrasting colours makes features stand out.

Pattern refers to a repeated decorative design that is often used to create visual interest.

You could add patterns such as geometric shapes, lines, or swirls to add details to your design.

Each colour, pattern or texture used for surface decoration can affect the appearance of a mask.

Using a combination of different elements can also add contrast, which helps to make things stand out.

Let's take a moment to pause and check our understanding.

Which of the following materials could you use to create texture on your mask? Paint.

Beads, fabric and glue.

Only marker pens.

Pause the video here and give yourself a moment to think about this question, and press play when you're ready to continue.

What did you think? If you said paint, beads, fabric and glue, you are absolutely right.

All of those things could create texture on your mask.

This brings us to our first learning task.

I'd like you to first of all review and refine the surface decoration for your mask.

You may remember creating a design for your mask.

Have a look at it and consider how you could refine the surface decoration that you decided.

You could consider the type of texture you want to create.

Do you want it to be smooth, rough, or bumpy? Think about colour schemes.

Do you want dark, bright, pastel or contrasting? Think about patterns.

Do you want lines, shapes, or symbols? And finally, think about materials.

Do you want feathers, beads, string? There's a few decisions there for you to think about, so pause the video here and give yourself enough time to review and refine your surface decoration for your mask, and press play when you're ready to continue.

How did that go? Well, you might've refined your design by including some more notes.

Maybe you've decided that string can be added to highlight the relief and create texture.

Maybe you're going to add some beads to add it to the symbol to create emphasis and make it stand out, and maybe you've refined your colour choices.

You maybe decided that contrasting colour palettes will work for a really dynamic design.

Well done for having a go at this learning task and refining your design for that surface decoration.

This now brings us to the second part of our lesson.

We're going to start applying surface decoration and completing the mask.

Refer back to your mask design and think about breaking down the surface decoration into separate stages.

It might be useful to paint a base colour over the whole mask before sketching the details, though this depends on your mask design.

So take a moment to have a look and make sure you decide what those stages are going to be.

You might want to use a pencil to lightly sketch guidelines for different colours or patterns.

Then you can start adding coloured paint to your mask.

Now remember, those pencil marks are going to be covered, so don't worry about having to rub them out or anything like that.

Now using the guidelines that you've created, carefully paint in each colour.

Now, some colours might need some more coats to stand out, so you maybe need to paint it one, two, maybe even three times.

It depends how vibrant you want that colour to be.

Now, you might also use sponges to create texture or use glue for attaching beads, feathers, sequin, or fabric to add depth.

Let's take a moment to pause and check our understanding.

When choosing colours for your mask, which of these is an important consideration? Ensuring the colours reflect the theme or meaning of the mask.

Only using black and white.

Choosing random colours that are easy to paint.

Pause the video here and give yourself a moment to think, and press play when you are ready to continue.

If you said ensuring the colours reflect the theme or meaning of the mask, then you're absolutely right.

Well done.

Masks aren't just about shape.

They can tell a story through their surface decoration.

The surface decoration on your mask brings it to life, reflecting themes, cultural significance, emotions or stories.

Each detail can help to convey meaning and impact.

Have a look there at that Venetian mask that features intricate surface decoration.

What emotion do you see in that mask, or what story do you think it might be telling? When a mask or character is used to represent an idea, object or relationship, this is referred to as a symbol.

Think about any symbols you want to use in your mask.

Your symbols may include colours to represent certain emotions, patterns to reflect a chosen quality, or a texture to make the mask look more dynamic.

You see there we've got a swirl, a sun or a moon, star, maybe a leaf.

After applying your surface decoration, make sure your mask has enough time to dry, and this will make sure that everything stays in place and maintains its texture.

Finally, reflect on your mask and consider if there are any finishing touches you would like to add to it.

Let's take a moment to pause and check our understanding.

What is the purpose of adding patterns to your mask? To cover the mask entirely with the same design.

To make the mask look messy.

To add visual interest and enhance the mask's theme.

Pause the video here and have a discussion with your partner, and press play when you're ready to continue.

What did you think? If you said to add visual interest and enhance the mask's theme, you're absolutely right.

Well done.

This brings us to the second part of our lesson.

Using the design created in the previous task, apply your surface decoration to your mask.

So you might use paints to create background colours and detailed designs.

You might add textures by applying fabric, beads, sequins, or other materials you have available.

Now, carefully consider the balance of colours, patterns, and textures to make your mask visually appealing.

So pause the video here and give yourself enough time to have a go at applying your service decoration, and press play when you're ready to continue.

How did you get on? Well, maybe your mask looks a bit like this one.

Hopefully, you've used the design created in the previous task to apply your surface decoration.

You've carefully considered the balance of colours, patterns, and textures so that your mask is visually appealing, and using the reference from the previous task, the mask was painted with a range of brushes and sponges to create patterns, textures, and varied surface decoration effects.

So well done having a go at applying your surface decoration.

We're now ready to have a go at the final part of our lesson where we're going to be evaluating your mask sculpture.

When approaching the final stages of a project, it can be useful to reflect and evaluate on the process.

So we had that drawing, the sketching out of the mask, then the creating of the cardboard base, and then layering the features on top, and then we applied that surface decoration.

An effective evaluation should be honest and thoughtfully made.

You might evaluate your project through writing in your sketchbook, discussing with a partner or presenting your artwork to a group.

In your evaluation, it's important to notice what challenges you found, which can help with your next art project.

It's also equally important to note what went well so that you can celebrate your achievements.

Let's take a moment to pause and check our understanding.

An effective evaluation should only focus on the positives.

Is that statement true or false? Pause the video here and give yourself a moment to think.

Press play when you are ready to continue.

What did you think? If you said that's false, you are absolutely right.

But why is that statement false? Pause the video here and have a quick discussion with your partner, and press play when you are ready to continue.

What did you think? If you said that an effective evaluation should reflect honestly on what went well as well as any challenges, doing this will help you with future creative projects.

You're absolutely right.

Well done.

Questions in an evaluation are often used to help provoke reflections, design choices, and future directions.

Some questions you might consider in your evaluation might be, how does your mask compare to the original design? Take a look at your drawing and then have a look at your final design.

Can you identify any cultural sources that were used for inspiration? Does the mask express the themes you wanted it to? How did you find working with the materials at each stage of the process? What could you have done differently or what might you do differently next time? Let's take a moment to pause here and check our understanding.

Questions in an evaluation are often used to help provoke reflections, design choices and mistakes, challenges, or future directions.

Pause the video here and give yourself a moment to think, and press play when you're ready to continue.

If you said future directions, you are absolutely right.

Well done.

This brings us to our final learning task.

I'd like you to evaluate your mask sculpture either by writing in a sketchbook, discussing with a partner or with a group.

Consider the following.

The process of designing your mask sculpture, the materials that were used to make it, what you like about it, and what you might do differently in the future.

Pause the video here and give yourself enough time to evaluate your mask sculpture, and press play when you are ready to continue.

How did that go? Well, hopefully you were able to evaluate your mask sculpture in one of those ways, by writing in your sketchbook or discussing with a partner or with a group.

Now, looking at this mask sculpture, it successfully incorporated a few different sources of inspiration from its design to final outcome.

The modroc and cardboard allowed for textured and dynamic surface decoration, and then the different colour combinations, they could be used in future projects.

So well done for having a go at evaluating your mask sculpture.

Before we finish this lesson, let's summarise what we've learned about surface decoration and the completing of a mask.

Surface decoration can enhance the visual impact of sculptures and masks.

Different textures and patterns can be created by using different tools, materials, and techniques, which helps to develop contrast.

By choosing specific colours, marks and characters, symbols can be created that can reflect cultural themes, emotions, and ideas.

Thank you for joining me in this lesson.

I hope you enjoyed learning about sculpture and how to make a mask.

I certainly did.

I hope to see you for another unit of learning soon.

See you then.