Relief Painting

[2 classes, 80 min each]

Lesson Summary

In this lesson, students will explore color clay relief — essentially painting with clay. This semi-three-dimensional technique builds an illustration up in physical layers, giving it real depth and dimension that a flat drawing can't achieve. Students will start by planning their idea carefully on paper as a full-color template, then translate that plan into a layered clay sculpture, building from the background forward to the foreground.

Lesson Objectives

Master the creation of relief sculptures using color modeling clay.
Develop proficiency in planning a color clay relief illustration before sculpting it.
Understand depth of field, distinguishing between foreground, middle ground, and background elements in a composition.

This lesson builds on: Depth of Field and Layered Composition

What Is Relief Sculpture?

A relief sculpture combines features of two-dimensional and three-dimensional artwork, giving the impression that a subject has been raised above a flat surface. Reliefs have historically been made from materials like ivory, wood, stone, and metal, and are often found as decorative art in ceramics, architecture, coins, and jewelry.

Discussion Brainstorm

What is a relief sculpture, and how does it differ from other forms of sculpture?
Have you ever seen a relief sculpture before? What are some common materials used in making it?
Name three items or places you've seen relief artwork incorporated into.
If you were to create a relief sculpture, what subject matter or theme would you choose, and why?
Thinking about your chosen subject — what would sit in your foreground, what would sit in your middle ground, and what would sit farthest back in your background?

You'll Need

Color modeling clay
Sketchbook
Pencil and eraser
Black permanent markers
Color markers
A5 (half A4) sized acetate sheet

What to Do

Your color clay relief illustration should include a foreground, middle ground, and background, with additional planes possible depending on your subject. Work in the same order the layers will physically sit: background first, then middle ground, then foreground last.

Thumbnail Ideation. Brainstorm ideas in your sketchbook — nature, wildlife, outer space, dinosaurs, marine life, or anything else your imagination conjures. Make sure your idea includes at least three distinct planes: foreground, middle ground, and background.
Create a Color Plan. Choose your favorite thumbnail and draw it at A5 (half A4) sized dimensions in your project sketchbook, coloring it fully with markers. This finished color plan will act as your template and color reference for the entire clay relief.
Gather Your Materials. Set out your A5 acetate sheet and colored modeling clay. Remove the clay from its packaging and knead it to warm it up and get familiar with its texture.
Background Plane. Referencing your color plan, cover the acetate sheet with clay to build your background — the sky, distant landscape, or any far-away elements. Include all the detail this plane needs now, since it becomes difficult to adjust once the clay sets.
Middle Ground Plane. Once the background is finished, sculpt your middle ground directly on top of it, continuing to reference your color plan for placement and detail.
Foreground Plane. Sculpt your foreground last, on top of the previous two layers. This plane sits closest to the viewer, so give it your boldest colors, largest forms, and finest detail.
Final Details. Step back and compare your relief to your original color plan. Add any final touches — texture, small raised details, or thin clay elements like strings or wires — that bring the piece fully to life.

Terminology

Relief Sculpture — Artwork that combines features of two-dimensional and three-dimensional work, giving the impression that a subject is raised above a flat surface.

Foreground — The part of a scene or picture nearest to the viewer.

Middle Ground — The middle distance of a scene or picture, between the foreground and background.

Background — The part of a scene or picture that appears farthest from the viewer, forming the setting behind the main subject.

Depth of Field — The sense of distance and layering between the foreground, middle ground, and background of a composition.