Sumerian Standing Figure

How do you work with a material as flimsy and light as tissue paper?

Grade 6 Art were presented with this exact challenge when they set about rendering a Sumerian Standing Figure using only tissue paper and masking tape.

This exercise is an excellent way to learn about sculpting using the delicate manipulation of material. What’s key to this exercise is using the gentle touch of your fingers and thumbs to carefully shape and form the figure.

Patience and gentleness are keywords I have continually used to tutor the students as they work with the material in their hands.

I was delighted to see the results as they came to fruition through the course of this lesson.

The figure was completed through the addition of card, which was then used to draw, in the most simple and sensitive way, the carved facial features and beard of the standing figure.

Have a look below at two examples of the Grade 6 work from this lesson.