Sculpting and 3D Art

What Is 3D Art?#

When you draw or paint on paper, your picture is flat. You can see it from the front, but it has no back or sides. That kind of art is called 2D — it has height and width but no depth.

But some art is three-dimensional — or 3D! That means it has height, width, AND depth. You can walk around it and see it from all sides.

What Is a Sculpture?#

A sculpture is a 3D artwork. Unlike a painting on a wall, a sculpture stands up or sits on a table, and you can look at it from many different angles.

Think about a statue in a park. You can walk around it and see the front, back, and sides. That is sculpture!

3D Art vs. 2D Art#

Famous Sculptures#

People have been making sculptures for thousands of years!

• Ancient Egypt had huge stone statues called the Sphinx and the pyramids
• Ancient Greece made beautiful marble statues of people and gods
• Native American tribes carved totem poles from wood
• Today, artists make sculptures from metal, plastic, glass, and even ice!

You Are Already a 3D Artist!#

Have you ever built a tower with blocks? That is 3D art! Have you ever made a sand castle at the beach? That is 3D art! Have you ever made a snowman? That is 3D art!

You already know how to think in three dimensions. Now we are going to channel that creativity into more intentional sculpture-making.

Why Make 3D Art?#

Sculptures and 3D art are exciting because:

• You can touch them (in some cases)
• They look different from every angle
• They take up real space in the world
• They can be any size — from tiny to enormous!