New
New
Lesson 1 of 6
  • Year 10

Portraits and figures in 3D Design

I can review the range of ways artists create portraits and figures three dimensionally.

Lesson 1 of 6
New
New
  • Year 10

Portraits and figures in 3D Design

I can review the range of ways artists create portraits and figures three dimensionally.

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Sculptures allow for a physical interaction with the art, enabling viewers to appreciate the texture, scale and form.
  2. Artists can manipulate scale and perspective to explore how figures relate to their surroundings and to the viewer.
  3. Artists use figures to explore identity, race, gender, culture, challenging stereotypes and expanding representation.

Keywords

  • Monument - a large sculpture or structure built to remember a person or event

  • Figurative - an artwork that clearly represents recognisable human or animal forms

Common misconception

All sculptures of people are just made to look realistic or beautiful.

Artists often use figures to tell stories, express ideas, or explore identity, emotions, or social issues. A figure might be exaggerated, abstract, or symbolic to make people think or feel something.


To help you plan your year 10 art and design lesson on: Portraits and figures in 3D Design, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Greater contextual information on the artists' work can be found in the additional materials. You may wish to alter the imagery to better fit your project themes.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Access to the internet or a library of art books. Sketchbook or paper for recording ideas, pencils, pens.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

Loading...

Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
What does "scale" in sculpture usually refer to?

The artwork’s colour
The material used
Correct answer: The size of the sculpture
The texture of the surface

Q2.
A sculpture is a type of art that is , meaning it has height, width, and depth.

Correct Answer: three-dimensional, 3D, three dimensional, 3-D

Q3.
Which tool is commonly used in wood carving?

Correct answer: Chisel
Palette knife
Spray gun
Tweezers

Q4.
Match the term to its meaning:

Correct Answer:Sculpture,Art that is 3D or in relief

Art that is 3D or in relief

Correct Answer:Public art ,Art created in open spaces

Art created in open spaces

Correct Answer:Portraits ,Artistic images of people

Artistic images of people

Q5.
A portrait is usually an artistic recording of a person's and shoulders.

Correct Answer: head, face

Q6.
What does the term "public art" mean?

Art in museums
Correct answer: Art in open public spaces
Art owned by a celebrity
Art you make at home

Additional material

Download additional material