Andy Goldsworthy

When you have created your artist influence and research page, you begin with collating some ideas for your own interpretation.

I have 3 steps for you to follow to reach your final idea…

What can you tell me about Goldsworthy so far?

Step 1 is to draw/paint/sketch from your favourite works.

This gives us an understanding of how Goldsworthy’s art works: how he uses colour and the shapes he creates.

So select an Andy Goldsworthy sculpture and sketch, draw, paint using any medium you like.

What are you learning?What can you say about the art you are copying?Does it represent anything?

Step 1: Draw

To explore an artist you may replicate shapes, designs and forms using other methods…like this student uses thread!

You are exploring at this stage to gain an insight into the ways Goldsworthy thinks and explores ideas.

This could be over several pages.

Step 2: Collect and Mind Map

Create a mind map of ideas

Around the title ‘Andy Goldsworthy’, branch off with words like:

• Locations

• Materials

• Shapes

• Patterns

• Photography Considerations

Then, fill in as many ideas as you can.You can collect leaves, feathers and twigs to decorate and add to your mind map.

LocationMaterials

Shapes

Patterns

Photography

LocationMaterials

Shapes

Patterns

Photography

All the things Goldsworthy uses

Where are all the places you could go for this?

Lighting Effects?Time of day?Reflections?Composition –Rule of thirds?

Black and white?Colour?Close up?Far away?Blur effects?Photoshop?Digital enhancing?

Step 3: Planning Ideas

Ensure by now your imagination is full of the possibilities!

Not only are you learning about Goldsworthy, you are seeing how to get your ideas flowing and to produce unique, personal art.

Then you can plan and create an amazing sculpture ☺

Hopefully you have seen enough Andy Goldsworthy work to get

you inspired.

If you can’t think of ideas, then the reality is you have not

created enough research to gain those ideas. So go back through

images and search.

Andy Goldsworthy begins with sketches.

We will begin with sketches of ideas to get us going.They can be very rough.

They can be abstract.They can be detailed.

A starting point would be to draw 6 – 9 rough squares onto a sketchbook page.

Using a range of black and white media, sketch initial ideas into each of the squares.

These can show ideas for materials, ideas for patterns, ideas for photography compositions.

Look at your mind map to see how to combine ideas to create something new.

Seeing how others do sketchbook pages is a nice way to gain ideas too.

Your sketches want to show a combination of skill, creativity and variety.

Some will work, others won’t. This is not the final art remember, just ideas. So explore and try things.

Sculptors like Henry Moore also use rough sketches

Use your charcoal on brown paper skills for ideas.

Maybe white media on black paper too?

Create textures to draw on top of to explore ideas too.

Ink drawings and sketches are a nice way to explore this subject.

Notes will give hints as to your thought processes, ideas for materials used and maybe location ideas.

Here is a student response to a Andy Goldsworthy Project.

What you have to keep in mind also throughout your development of

ideas is how you will photograph your work.

Andy Goldsworthy is a photographer, as well as a sculptor.

You need to arrange and plan this element too.

Here are some other student responses…

Students have considered layout, angles and location for their photographs too.Use your notes to explain your ideas. Choose 3 ideas and refine them.

By the end of the week, you want your sketchbook to have a clear final idea mapped out.Plenty of notes (these can be typed) to explain what will be done.

Then the material collecting and the plan of completing your sculpture is needed ☺