Introduction
Sculptures are two or three-dimensional works of art used in the representation of abstract forms. These include the artist’s ideas, and aspects of the environment. Sculptures can be made from varied materials such as; wood, metal, marble, clay, granite and paper. Sculpting involves the use of four basic techniques; assemblage, carving, modeling, and casting (Rice, 2). In the analysis of the sculpture, focus is on carving; a subtractive method where material is removed from a large mass to reveal a new form.
Analytical description of the sculpture
The visual analysis of artistic works enables the viewer to recognize, understand and appreciate the choice of skills used by the artist in creating the artwork. This involves a focus on the formal elements of the work. This refers to visual characteristics such as; line, color, texture, volume, composition, size, space, and light.
In reference to volume, the sculpture is an irregular three-dimensional form evident through its life-like nature. The proportional organization of parts of the cheetah depicts its similarity to the real animal (Rice, 3). Its contour has a closed silhouette. Undefined lines occur throughout the sculpture creating the illusion of curvature and life-like characteristics. The lines occur to create shapes; these are filled with color to enhance width and depth. They contribute to the surface description of its appearance.
Width and length combined create a curved plane all through the sculpture; aspects of continuity occur (Rice, 4). A look at the sculpture depicts a smooth texture on the body whereas, the use of dots on the face and paws depict a fuzzier feel. The plane works together with the artist’s intended light effect. Location of the sculpture outside the building signifies the need for light to accomplish the artist’s intentions. Parts of the sculpture cast shadows contributing to the diverse use of color.
The incorporation of color shows through the use of; blue, black, yellow, white, brown, red, orange among others. This makes the sculpture stands out especially with the effect of sun rays reflecting off its surface. Color makes parts of the body distinctive from one another. For instance, the eyes are a shade of yellow, and the claws are black. Artistic aspects such as the ‘shaking hands’ on the left shoulder are visible through the differentiated colors (Rice, 5).
Composition refers to a way of combining the basic elements of art. The elements in the sculpture work together to create contrast, emphasis, and harmony. Though emphasis occurs on the use of color, aspects of texture and line harmoniously combine with it. Judging from the pose on the animal, the sculpture does not depict any form of movement (Race, 6). One paw on top of the other and the chin resting on the paws portray the stillness effectively achieved by the artist. The positive space, occupied by the sculpture, interacts with the negative space to create a visual interest.
Personal interpretation of the sculpture
The sculpture analyzed is one of a cheetah. The cheetah has the front left paw resting on top of the right one. Its chin rests gently on the left paw as it looks far beyond. The most outstanding characteristic of the sculpture is the burst of colors. Its body has several colors spread throughout in various shapes and shades. A closer look at the sculpture’s body reveals recognizable images such as the two hands holding each other.
In my opinion, the sculpture achieves the artist’s purpose through the harmonious combination of its elements. This is further enhanced by its scale; the larger-than-life or heroic size (Rice, 8). Every aspect of the sculpture portrays a message.
Works Cited
Rice, Frances. Guide to Sculpture. (2010): Pages 1- 29. Web. Available from < http://www.artstime.org/infos/documents/Ricepart2.pdf > [Accessed April 30th 2013]
