Sculptural and artistic techniques

Translates as ‘counter point’. It is the shifting of balance to affect the stance of the figure, usually placing one foot forward with the knee bent

• LIne

• Balance

• Contrapposto

• Contrast

Used to account for the distortion in perception when looking up at a 3D relief sculpture.

• Foreshadowing

• Foreshortening

• Form

• Emphasis

The placement of figures in a specific space, or with the actual way an individual figure is balanced .

• Balance

• Ballast

• Breakdancing

• Placement

A difference between the textures or surface in a specific figure (cloth to skin)

A difference between figures (male / female)

Or other contrasting factors; standing to sitting, clean cut to scruffy, mythical to human etc.

• Difference

• Contrast

• Comparison

• Texture

Highlighting a particular aspect a group of figures or a feature on a single figure

• Entasis

• Feature

• Contrapposto

• Emphasis

An understanding of the physical proportions of the human body.

• Physicality

• Proposal

• Proportion

• Placement

A repeated motif. More easily identified in relation to the placement of sculptural details; the triglyph and metope pattern above the architrave of the temple.

• Pattern

• Proportion

• Pecan Pie

• Emphasis

The overall balance of a group of statues, or to the physical symmetry within an individual figure.

• Shape

• Space

• Sauce

• Symmetry

A sense within a static figure or set of figures that they are in fact ‘paused’ in the act of moving; think of the contrast between Egyptian statues.

• Movement

• Motion

• Static

• Motown

The feel of a figure; often linked to contrast e.g. skin to cloth

• Smooth

• Texture

• Rough

• Spiky