Gargoyles
Objectives
I can:
1. Understand the significance of gargoyles and their
relationship to architecture, symbolism and art
history.
2. Create a clay gargoyle with realistic and/or imaginary
animal features.
3. Construct a clay sculpture using a variety of hand
building techniques
4. Demonstrate skill and craftsmanship in working with
clay and glazing.
5. Exhibit problem solving skills- plan and execute plan
for animal with minimal assistance.
State Standards
• 1.3.b. Use selected design concepts to organize the
elements of art and principles of design to convey ideas,
thoughts, and feelings
• 2.3.a. Identify subject matter, styles, and techniques
representative of various cultures and periods of art history
• 2.3.b. Incorporate attributes of representative subject
matter, styles, and techniques from various cultures and
periods of art history in personal artworks
• 3.1. b. Select and use a variety of tools, materials,
processes, and techniques safely to solve specific visual
problems
• 4.2.c. Establish and apply a set of criteria for assessing
personal artwork
Legend has it that gargoyles ward off evil spirits - are any
protecting your castle and loved ones?"
"
Protectors
from Evil in
an
Imperfect
Man-Made
World
Gargoyles & Grotesques
Originally a gargoyle was a water
spout and directing water away
from a building so that the water
would not erode the mortar. Over
time the word gargoyle became
the term used to describe any and
all the fantastic creatures on a
cathedral or other building.
Gargoyles & Grotesques
After the introduction of the lead drain in the16th century, gargoyles
primarily serve a decorative purpose.
This guy — on a
church in the
South of France —
is a true gargoyle.
One can see how
the water would
leave the building
and travel along
the gargoyle and
out the mouth.
Gargoyles
• Folklore held that gargoyles are good luck and
frightened away evil spirits — while serving its
practical function of carrying rain water away.
• "One can think of wyverns (a two legged winged
dragon of medieval legend) as sort of 'holy pit bulls,'
whose job is to dispel the evil forces, lightning,
plague, war, and other calamities that may threaten
the cathedral and the city.
They are often a
fantastic display
of inhuman
birds,
impossible
animals, and
half-human
mammals that
are crouching,
grimacing, and
ready to spring
into space and
pounce upon
the world!
What You Do:
• You are to create your own gargoyle designs.
• You have to draw sketches of your creations,
then you have to hand sculpt your forms in
clay.
Working With Clay:
Clay artists throughout the ages have invented
many ways to shape things out of clay.
• PINCH - Use your fingers to pinch and poke a
single lump of clay into any shape.
• SLAB - Roll the clay into flat sheets (like a pie
crust) to cut apart and assemble.
• COIL - Roll out long snakes of clay and twist
them into coils and shapes.
• WHEEL - Spin clay on a potter's wheel to form
pots and vases.
What To Do:
• Clay is a wonderful sculpting material and
experiment w/a small piece of clay before you begin
your sculpture.
• Different techniques to use: coils, slabs, pinch etc.
• Build the clay up slowly using small bits and adding
more and more clay. Moisten the clay when it starts
to get a little dry.
• Using your fingers, popsicle sticks, plastic forks etc.
details can be added like a nose, eyes, mouth etc.
(Did you include some of the following: tongues
sticking out, horns coming out of heads and huge
eyes! )
Studio TO DO:
1.
Create multiple sketches of different views for your clay gargoyle
2.
Begin working with clay using different handbuilding techniques to
create your gargoyle
3.
Build the body using two joined pinch pots or joined coils
4.
Use slabs, pinched clay or coils for the arms/legs
5.
Shape the face using your fingers & clay tools
6.
Texture, Texture, Texture: wings, scales, fur, etc…
Some Tools to Use When Working
with Clay:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Your fingers
Rolling pins and canvas
Popsicle sticks and toothpicks
Plastic bags
Sponges
Various carving tools, nuts and bolts, forks, old
toothbrushes and anything else you can get your
hands on that will create texture in the clay
Gargoyle Goals:
• Create a gargoyle= INSIDE must be
EMPTY/Hollow!
• Use 1 piece of clay for the body.
• Get a 2nd piece of clay for the head,
wings/arms/fangs/horns etc
• Make sure you SMOOTH the
attached pieces together. (Ex: if add
horns – smooth onto the body)