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Calder's Contours

Calder's Contours

Learn about the art of Alexander Calder and create an original portrait in the style of his wire sculptures.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

Steps

  • Step 1

    Alexander Calder was an American sculptor known for his mobiles. He also greatly popularized the use of wire as a sculpture medium. Discuss his life and display some images of Calder's wire sculpture, such as "Medusa" (c. 1930) and "Elephant" (c. 1927). Note how it is created out of one piece of wire. Talk about the "continuous line contour" technique of drawing, where an image is drawn using a single, unbroken line. The goal is to capture the essence of the subject's form with minimal interruption to the line.

  • Step 2

    Have students divide into pairs and take turns using the continuous line contour technique to sketch each other. Encourage them to focus on the flow and rhythm of the subject's lines and to keep their marker on the paper.

  • Step 3

    Have a discussion about this artistic technique. How did this project help them focus on their eye-hand coordination? How did it influence their sense of spatial awareness?

Standards

ARTS: Speculate about processes an artist uses to create a work of art.

ARTS: Explore and invent art-making techniques and approaches.

Adaptations

Challenge students to create a mobile in the style of Alexander Calder. Direct them to images of his "Peacock" or "Four Directions" mobiles. They can cut out shapes from heavy paper, paint them, and then arrange and attach them to bent wire.

One of Calder's jobs was sketching for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. He became fascinated with circus action and eventually created "Cirque Calder" (Calder's Circus). Challenge students to create circus scenes out of pipe cleaners, such as a tightrope walker, a trapeze artist, etc. Note that many modern circuses don't feature animals due to animal welfare concerns.