Sculptures

Sculpture is one of the oldest art forms. Sculpture is the branch of the visual arts that operates in three dimensions. A three-dimensional object is solid rather than flat, because it can be measured in three different directions, the height, length, and depth.Since the surface is not  flat like a painting it can be viewed from front,back and side. This allows for a 360 degree thought process when interpreting it.

It is a type of visual art, produced by carving and modeling materials such as stone, metal, wood and clay.
Sculptures often show historical figures as well as figures from myths and stories, but they can also be abstract shapes and forms that don’t represent a particular object, but instead may represent the artist’s mood or feelings. Sculpture in stone survives far better than other works of art because the materials used are usually hard therefore most sculptures that stood the test of time are made of stone. Most ancient sculpture was brightly painted, and this has been lost due to time and the elements.


Stone carving

The earliest forms of images were carved onto rock surfaces.This technique is the process where natural stones are shaped with controlled movement. The surface is removed with processes such as pecking,carving and abrading. Architects sometimes like to include stone carvings in the structure of the building.This gives the building a very unique and artistic look. This form is called hard stone carving and makes use of stones such as jade, rock crystal or carnelian.This is a form of public art.

Bronze sculpture
The metal content of bronze in fine art sculptures is generally an alloy of around 90% copper and about 10% tin. Small percentages of zinc and lead may also be added to improve strength or handling in the casting process. The most important element is the combination of skills related to creating a final work.

Patina is the surface coloring applied to the finished bronze, generally an acid treatment applied with heat. This duplicates the natural oxidation which occurs over many years of exposure to air. Bronze is a popular and valuable choice for cast metal sculptures due to its property that its alloys expand slightly just before they set in a mold, thus filling the finest details. Bronze sculptures also have great ductility and strength which makes them an ideal choice for making sculptures that are to be placed outdoors.

Wood carving
This technique involves a wood piece being carved and cut into a desired shape to make a sculpture. The tools used to make the cuts in wood sculpturing are usually handheld and can also be powered. Such sculptures are typically used for decorative purposes indoors. Some wooden furniture may also have such carvings formed out on them, to give them an authentic and artistic look.
Carving is the act of using tools to shape something from a material by scraping away portions of that material. The technique can be applied to any material that is solid enough to hold a form even when pieces have been removed from it, and yet soft enough for portions to be scraped away with available tools. Carving, as a means for making sculpture, is distinct because the skill requires much more work including a steady hand.

Today sculpture is still the leading method of expressing and commemorating both historical figures and events.Most new buildings today have some kind of sculpture in front of it.The best examples of long-established form of public art can be found in many of the best art museums.
One of the most famous sculptures in the world…...
......Statue of Liberty…......
Most Americans have visited it or heard of it.