Scale+Models

Resources for model making.

It is important to remember that models are sculptures in their own right. While the primary function is one of information, they have their own sense of elegance and propriety. A good model doesn't try and convey every detail, rather it should focus on certain aspects of the final work. If more information is needed, other models of differing materials or scale may be used.

scale models
Scale models are not just reductions of the full scale situations. A scale model, or maquette which is a term which has now reached the English language, is a world apart.

On one hand a maquette is a representation of proposed public sculptures, site specific sculpture, land art, architectural forms or public art in general - on the other hand maquettes are an art apart. You can regularly see representations of urban settings, buildings or architectural forms made by people who do not understand that a scale model is much more than an actual thing reduced in size. You can't reduce color. You can't reduce the relation one object has to another. The actual, full size effects of perspective are impossible to reproduce on a small scale, without the aid of special lenses or instruments. A maquette of something is like telling a story about it or representing it as an interpretation of reality.

A maquette should have its personal style, with specific characteristics, in order to be able to evoke the same effect as when one were on an actual location. A maquette of a proposed situation has to trigger the imagination of the viewer. And only in the imagination can one approach the sense of seeing something in reality. But also, when evaluating the way a maquette is created, it can say something about the artist who made it. His/her choices of material, portrayal of the proposed location, choices of orientation, use of color and the amount of detail - and/or avoidance of it - will tell about the artist's use of material, knowledge and execution of full scale sculpture or environmental installations - and that is what it is all about in the long run. from- []

=goals= • ❑ adjust composition • ❑ fit to environment • ❑ scale to human proportions • ❑ modularity, can make adjustments at model stage =scale= • ❑ level of detail • ❑ textures do not scale well • ❑ color does not scale well =material= ▼ ❑ paper • ❑ cheap • ❑ versatile ▼ ❑ wood • ❑ expensive • ❑ looks professional • ❑ glues well • ❑ texture and carving ▼ ❑ cardboard • ❑ redly available • ❑ neutral color • ❑ thickness • ❑ not delicate • ❑ strong ▼ ❑ chipboard • ❑ flexible • ❑ neutral color • ❑ not structural ▼ ❑ synthetics • ❑ expensive • ❑ clean cut • ❑ strong • ❑ variety of finishes • ❑ solof color ▼ ❑ foamcore • ❑ cheap • ❑ thick • ❑ hard to cut



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