art with ross
  • Home
  • Sculpture
  • Advanced Sculpture
  • Art Terminology
    • Art Term - Line
    • Art Term - Shape
    • Art Term - Form
    • Art Term - Color
    • Art Term - Value
    • Art Term - Texture
    • Art Term - Space
    • Art Term - Balance
    • Art Term - Contrast
    • Art Term - Dominance
    • Art Term - Pattern
    • Art Term - Movement
    • Art Term - Rhythm
    • Art Term - Variety
    • Art Term - Unity
    • Art Term - Style
    • Art Term - Perspective
    • Art Term - Vantage Point
    • Art Term - Graphic Design
    • Art Term - Hand Lettering
    • Art Term - Drawing Styles
    • Art Term - Shading
    • Art Term - Ceramics
    • Art Term - Painting
  • GHS
    • Field Trips
    • Intro
    • Motion
    • Printmaking
    • AP
    • Gallery
    • Other Art Classes
    • Distance Learning
    • AP 2019
    • Enrichment

Automata Kinetic Sculpture

Picture
Students will create a working kinetic sculpture powered by a hand crank.

This unit has four parts: design (research), prototype (cardboard version), sculpting (metal version), and documenting.

Overview Unit Goal


Inspiration Videos

Automata Examples
Wire Examples
Wooden Automata Examples
Metal Examples
Keith Newstead Automata
Bird Examples - Lucy Jean Green Playlist

Technical Skills Videos

Crankshaft
Fancier Crankshaft
Linkage
Cams (2:00 to 7:40)

Order of Work

Research & Design
  • Watch the videos to get inspired
  • Design an automaton with a hand crank mechanism
Prototype
  • Create a cardboard model of your automaton to make sure it will work
  • Make a video of your sculpture moving while the crank is turned
Sculpture
  • Sculpt your automaton (max size: 8 inches, minimum size: 1 inch)
  • Test it out
  • Add details and flourishes to make it look even more interesting

Documenting
  • Make a video of your automaton moving - be sure the background isn't distracting.
  • Complete the reflection
  • Send an email to an important adult
  • Make a peer share video so your classmates can see what you've made

Automata Kinetic Sculpture Design Inspiration

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

Prototype

Picture
  • Use cardboard, paper, and wire to make a prototype of your sculpture
  • Keep your prototype under 8 inches
  • Try altering your crankshaft to see how it will change the motion
  • Make a video of your prototype moving while turning the hand crank - be sure to have a solid color background, so that we can really focus on your sculpture in the video

Determining Your Mechanisms

  • Determine the movements needed and plan out your mechanisms
  • Crankshafts made from wire can push or pull objects up or down.
  • Cams can push objects up or let them fall down and/or spin them around
  • Levers and linkages can add asymmetric movements
Picture
This automaton uses a wire crankshaft
Picture
This automaton uses an eccentric cam
Picture
This automaton uses levers and linkages

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.