Lesson video

Hello everyone.

How are you doing today? I hope you're feeling really well.

My name's Ms. Afzal, and I'll be your art teacher for today.

I'm feeling extremely happy about that because of the content and the subject of our lesson.

Our lesson is called "Exploring biomorphic sculptures using papier mâché".

Yes, we are gonna get into papier mâché! I wonder if you've tried that before? It's one of my favourite things to do, so I'm looking forward to it.

Hope you're going to enjoy it too.

And I'm also excited about exploring biomorphic sculptures, finding out about what they are and what inspires them.

Our lesson comes from the unit of work, "Recording artistic ideas beyond the sketchbook".

I love this.

I love sketchbooks, but I love when we get beyond the sketchbook as well, and we get really active and creative, and I hope you're gonna enjoy this lesson.

So if you've got some enthusiasm, some focus, and perhaps an aptitude for creating papier mâché sculptures, let's begin.

The outcome for our lesson is "I can develop biomorphic sculptures through drawing and taking inspiration from nests and eggs." We have some keywords in our lesson today.

Let's get into them.

Biomorphic, papier mâché, and joining.

Biomorphic are shapes that look like forms found in nature, such as plants, animals, or the human body.

Papier mâché is a material made from paper and glue or paste, used to create 3D models and sculptures.

We are going to be using that today.

And joining, connecting two or more parts of a sculpture or structure, using glue, tape, staples, or other methods.

These are our keywords.

Biomorphic, papier mâché, and joining.

Our lesson is called "Exploring biomorphic sculptures using papier mâché." It has three learning cycles.

First of all, drawing from nature.

Next, using papier mâché to form sculptural elements.

And finally, joining sculptural elements.

Let's begin with drawing from nature.

Take a look at this image.

How would you describe the sculpture, and what do you think it is inspired by? Pause the video and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

We could call this a biomorphic sculpture.

And a biomorphic sculpture is a sculptural art form inspired by organic shapes found in nature.

How would you describe this sculpture? And what do you think it's inspired by? Pause the video and share with someone.

Yep, you've got it.

It's a biomorphic sculpture, which is a sculptural art form inspired by organic shapes found in nature.

And these sculptures have been inspired by nests.

Have you seen any biomorphic sculptures in your local area or nearby public spaces? What do they remind you of? Hmm, take a look at the sculpture here.

Pause and share with someone.

What does it remind you of? Thanks for sharing your ideas.

It reminds me of an angel taking flight.

Check for understanding.

True or false? A biomorphic sculpture is a sculptural art form inspired by human-made geometric shapes found in cities.

Pause the video.

Is this true or false? Well done if you selected false.

And now I'd like you to say a little more about your answer.

Pause the video while you do this.

Perhaps you said something like this.

"A biomorphic sculpture is a sculptural art form inspired by organic shapes found in nature." Let's take a look at some artists who are inspired by biomorphic forms. They include Corrina Eastwood, who uses nests in her "Rokka Nixi", which included work from 2016 to 2022.

The use of nests is used symbolically in this work, as both sculptural objects and photographs.

Andy Goldsworthy's "Woven Branch Circular Arch", found in Dumfriesshire, 1986, arranges twigs to create a nest-like frame looking into the woods.

Some more artists who are inspired by biomorphic forms include Henry Moore, who created "Egg form: Pebbles", 1977, which employed smooth organic forms. Peter Gentenaar works with paper and bamboo to create sculptures which celebrate organic forms. Artists can record organic shapes and forms and colours in many ways, including taking photographs, drawing and working in nature, recording directly from organic forms. Artists can sketch from nature and simplify the structure to create an idea for a sculpture.

So in the left hand sketch, we can see there's more focus on fine detail.

And on the right hand side, there's a more simplified structure, which could help with moving towards creating a sculpture.

Check for understanding.

Which two sketches are most likely used to inform a sculpture due to their simplified structure? Take a look at these three images and choose two.

Well done if you selected images B and C.

These have more of a simplified structure, which will be helpful in terms of informing a sculpture.

Recording biomorphic structures.

Would a nest and eggshell be recorded differently to show their different textures and forms? What do you think? Take a look at these two images.

How do you think they'd be recorded? Quite similarly, or perhaps differently? Pause and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Let's hear some.

Here's Laura.

"I would use lots of overlapping lines for the nest." Yes, I can see why you would do that.

That makes a lot of sense.

Here's Jun.

"For this egg, I would use smoother marks recording form." Yeah, I love that.

So we can see there are quite different ways in which we would record these different textures and forms of the nest and the egg.

Over to you.

It's time for your first task.

I would like you to create three quick sketches of nests.

Focus on mark-making and forms. And you can use the images provided.

Three quite different nests, we can see there.

You can test drawing materials like charcoal, pen, pencil, graphite stick, chalk, or oil pastel.

So pause here and make three quick sketches of nests.

Focus on mark-making and forms. Great to be back with you.

There are many possible outcomes.

You may have created something like this.

Love these sketches.

And here's Aisha.

The overlapping lines in different thicknesses create a real sense of a nest.

You have great observation there.

Next part of your task I would like you to create.

Yes, you guessed it.

Three quick sketches of eggs and eggshells.

Focus on mark-making and forms. You could use these images provided as inspiration, and you can test drawing materials like charcoal, pen, pencil, graphite stick, chalk, or oil pastel.

So pause here while you create your three quick sketches of eggs and eggshells.

Focus on mark-making and forms. Okay, great to be back with you! So how did you get on? There are many possible outcomes, and you may have created something like this.

Here's some comments from Andeep.

"I like the way charcoal created the smooth surfaces, but I'm more inspired by the nests." Fine.

You'll each have your own preferences.

Let's move on to our next learning cycle using papier mâché for sculptural elements.

I'm excited.

Artists use various materials, including clay, metal, wood, thread, wire, or found objects, to create sculptural biomorphic forms. What material would you use to create a sculpture inspired by your drawings? Pause the video and share with someone.

Here's Jacob.

"Wire or thread might work well to show the marks and lines in this drawing of a nest." Yeah, I can see how that would be really effective.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Which of the following is most likely used to create sculptural biomorphic forms? A, clay, wire, and thread.

B, code and digital software.

C, fabric, body movement, and sound.

Or D, graph paper, calculators, and rulers.

Pause the video while you decide.

Well done if you selected answer A.

Yes, clay, wire, and thread, are all gonna be really useful to create sculptural biomorphic forms. Papier mâché is one method used to create biomorphic sculptural forms. The benefits of using papier mâché include it's lightweight and sturdy, the materials are accessible, it can be moulded over forms. Media like paper or thread can be manipulated to create forms and texture.

So much we can do with papier mâché.

Artists who manipulate media to create biomorphic textures include, Sonia E Barrett looped, braided, and twisted paper in her work, "Dreading the map, created as a map-lective" in 2021.

In his exhibition, "Kicking Dust" 2022, Igshaan Adams wove tangled and twisted wire with beads and knotted fragments of fabric.

Fiona Hall "Nests from Tender", 2016, sees her manipulate some US currency into a range of nest forms. Let's take a look at the process of papier mâché.

This can be, number one, tear paper into strips.

Next, mix glue with a little water.

After that, dip strips into the glue and remove any excess.

And then layer strips over your form or mould.

And keep repeating layers for strength, and then let it dry fully.

Layers of thread, leaves, or patterned paper, can be used in the final stages to create a surface design or texture.

The process of papier mâché can be, tear paper into strips, mix glue with a little water, dip strips into glue and remove excess.

Layer strips over your form or mould.

Oh, I love using a balloon there.

Repeat layers for strength.

And then finally, let it dry fully.

Let's check for understanding.

Which step is missing from this process of papier mâché after the materials have been prepared? Layer strips over your form or mould.

Mm, something missing in the middle there.

And then let it dry fully.

Pause the video and share with someone, which process has been missed out? Well done if you noticed that it was repeat layers for strength that was missed out.

It's now time for your next task.

I would like you to papier mâché over a balloon or a bowl to create nest and egg shape forms. Manipulate media to create biomorphic textures linked to your drawings from task A.

So first of all, you're gonna dip strips in glue and remove excess.

Next, layer strips over your form or mould.

Repeat layers for strength.

So pause here while you have a go at this very exciting task.

I'll see you when you're finished.

So, how did you get on with your task of papier mâchéing over a balloon or a bowl to create nest and egg shape forms? There are many possible outcomes.

You may have created something like this.

Here's Izzy.

"The ripped papers and thread create different textures, and it resembles a nest." Oh, I love those.

It really does.

Perhaps you embedded some natural material, or used some shredded paper.

Here's Laura.

"The lace makes a great material, but when working around an egg shape, it's important to leave a gap to remove the mould." Good point.

And now we are onto our final learning cycle.

Joining sculptural elements.

How could we develop these papier mâché forms to create a completed biomorphic sculpture? Here's Lucas.

"We could tape them together to create an egg shape." Sofia thinks we could hang them with a light behind to create shadows.

And Sam suggests we could stack them up to create a tall form.

So many great ideas.

Pause the video and share, what are some of your ideas? How could we develop these papier mâché forms to create a completed biomorphic sculpture? Thanks for sharing your ideas.

We can join our papier mâché forms to create a new biomorphic sculpture.

Some joining methods include sewing, taping, glueing.

Let's have a check for understanding.

True or false? A papier mâché form is a completed sculpture and cannot be developed or changed.

Pause the video while you decide if this is true or false.

Well done if you selected false.

And now I'd like you to say a little more about your answer.

Pause the video while you do this.

Perhaps you said something like this.

"We can join our papier mâché forms to create a new biomorphic sculpture." Great answer.

Some people believe that sculptures have to be heavy, strong objects, which are fully freestanding.

However, some sculptures are delicate and light.

Sculptural works can be presented in a range of ways, including hung, freestanding, stacked, or in relief.

Can you think of examples of delicate sculptures which are not freestanding? Pause the video and share with someone nearby.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Artists present their sculptural work in different ways, including, Ruth Asawa uses looped wire to create her hanging sculptures.

Sopheap Pich presented his sculptural work, "Buddha" 2019, coming off the wall.

It makes use of organic materials and lines.

Lisa Gunn's work, "Columna vertebralis" 2011, sees her stack elements to represent her damaged spine.

Can you think of any other ways to present a sculptural work? Pause the video and share.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Check for understanding.

Which is the most accurate statement about how sculptural works can be presented? Is it A, always mounted in frames? B, hung, freestanding, stacked, or in relief? C, only on flat surfaces like tables? Or D, only placed on the floor? Pause the video while you decide which is the most accurate statement about how sculptural works can be presented? Well done if you selected B.

They can be hung, they can be freestanding, stacked, or in relief.

And now it's time for your final task.

I would like you to join your papier mâché forms to create a new biomorphic sculpture.

You should use at least one joining technique.

Sewing, glueing , taping.

You could present your work as a hanging, stacking, or relief work.

Pause the video while you have a go at this task.

It's great to be back with you! So how did you get on joining your papier mâché forms to create a new biomorphic sculpture? There are many possible outcomes.

You may have done something like this.

Here's Alex.

"Stacking and joining with glue has created a secure work which reflects nest shapes." Love those.

Love those nesting nests! Here are some more possible outcomes.

Hanging, placed, carefully positioned.

And here's Jacob.

"Wow! Hanging your forms in a tree really makes a strong link back to nature." Yes, I love that.

Putting the nest back where it belongs.

I hope you enjoyed your task.

In our lesson today, "Exploring biomorphic sculptures using papier mâché", we have covered the following.

A biomorphic sculpture is a sculptural art form inspired by organic shapes found in nature.

Artists can sketch from nature and simplify the structure to create an idea for a sculpture.

Artists use various materials, including clay, metal, wood, thread, wire, or found objects, to create sculptural biomorphic forms. We can join our papier mâché forms to create a new biomorphic sculpture.

Some sculptures are delicate and light.

Sculptural works can be presented in a range of ways, including hung, freestanding, stacked, or in relief.

Well done everyone, for joining in with this lesson.

It was so interesting exploring, what are biomorphic sculptures? These sculptural art forms are inspired by shapes found in nature.

It was great to have you sketching and then creating your own biomorphic forms using papier mâché.

What a fun activity.

And then I love the way that you joined your sculptures together.

I hope you've enjoyed this lesson.

I've really enjoyed teaching you, and I hope we'll meet up again soon at another art lesson.

In the meantime, stay creative!.