Humor In Art

Sculpting has become somewhat of a lost art in modern times, but in ancient times it was one of the most prestigious professions in society.  The ancient Romans who created sculptures of massive deities, mythical creatures, and heroic humans were the true masters of the craft.  It’s amazing that since those times, the art of sculpture hasn’t changed a whole lot.  Some of the most renowned sculptures in the whole world still reside in Rome, Italy, and the artisans who crafted them are regarded as some of the world’s most important artists. 

Sculpture is the art of man creating objects, animals, people, and places in his own interpretation.  Though most people think sculpture is the art of man replicating what he sees, in truth sculptures are not mirrors of real objects, but objects visible from the light cast by the artist; thus every sculpture is unique.

Who doesn’t remember a time during childhood making sculptures out of Play-Doh?  It’s a time honored tradition that is sure to bring out the creativity in young minds, and foster future interest in art.  In addition, sculpting can help to relieve stress in adults.  If you or your children are interested in creating handmade sculptures, it doesn’t take a lot of time or supplies.  Though Play-Doh is a viable option for younger children, if you’re interested in keeping your sculptures preserved you will need to use clay. 

Once you have created your work of art with clay, with a lot of varieties it can be fired in a standard oven.  You do want to make sure you don’t have a lot of small pieces liable to fall off, and ensure that you pull the clay out before it starts to crack.

While sculpture has always been made of various materials, including rare and expensive materials, sculptors have always sought to produce works of art that are permanent. Sculptures can be created by carving; others are assembled, built up and fired, welded, molded, or cast.

In the Pacific Northwest, wood was sculpted for totem poles, masks, utensils, War canoes and a variety of other uses, with distinct variations between different cultures and regions.  Totem poles are monumental sculptures carved from large Western Red Cedar trees.