Pop art is best defined as an art movement that flourished in the 1950s and 1960s. While this style originated in England, it reached its zenith of popularity in the United States during the 1960s. Famous pop artists include Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Jasper Johns, Robert Indiana and Robert Rauschenberg. This genre of art is suitable for re-creation in clay.
Subject Matter
To create a successful piece of pop art in clay, it is important to first grasp the subject matter that pop art emphasized. Pop art was mainly influenced by images from television, movies, advertising and comic books. Many artists tried to connect with their audience through shared experiences, urbanism and consumerism.
Pop art was also concerned with movement, and images that appeared either larger than life or unnaturally scaled. The addition of moving parts to a clay sculpture is recommended, and because there were no size restraints for a pop art piece, a clay sculpture re-creation can be extremely large or exaggerated in proportion.
Simple Clay Projects
Select any subject that is found in either comic books, movies, television or advertising. Beginners should select simple things, like doughnuts, pie, words or motion lines. Motion lines are the lines found in a comic book around action words. Often times they appear in the shape of irregular star patterns.
Shape the clay into the desired pattern. It is O.K. to exaggerate the object. For example, create a doughnut that is the size of a dinner plate, or a piece of pie the size of a cake. Exaggerated proportions help give the piece a larger-than-life feeling, and add a touch of whimsy to the artwork.
Tips for Painting
Paint the clay sculptures with bold colors. It is not necessary to paint the subject matter with the colors found in nature. Andy Warhol was well known for his use of color. For example, several of his Marilyn Monroe works used purples, yellows, greens, and oranges instead of flesh tones.
Remember when selecting the color that color should set the mood for the piece. Black makes the audience feel tense, while gray makes the audience feel strained. Green is an active color which calms the audience. Yellow represents imagination and deep thought. Orange appears daring. Red is energized, and purple gives an artwork a feeling of sensuality.
