Sculpture Materials List

In lieu of a textbook for this course, we have provided a list of materials for you to obtain in order to complete your hands-on assignments. Some of these materials you may already own or may be able to obtain from your school. Others you may need to purchase or order. Some harder-to-find materials are linked to supply stores in this handout to help you as you acquire supplies.

Please note: Links are included for your convenience only. Feel free to order or purchase supplies anywhere you wish. 

It is strongly recommended that you explore discussion boards and look through the materials lists early on in the class to ensure you have everything you need for each of the weekly assignments! 

Required Materials

The following materials are required for this course. Many of these items will be used multiple times throughout the course as well.

  • Cardboard or Chipboard
  • Exacto knife or scissors
  • Cutting mat or cutting surface
  • Thin wire for details (recommended 22 gauge or higher)
  • Thick wire for structure (recommended 16 – 22 gauge)
  • Thin paper (newspaper, butcher block paper, kraft paper, etc.)
  • Thick paper (tagboard, poster board, etc.)
  • Thin colored paper or colored kraft paper
  • White glue or Modge Podge (several cups)
  • Paintbrush
  • Masking tape
  • Scissors
  • Metal ruler
  • Pencil
  • Pipe cleaners
  • Hot glue gun and glue sticks
  • Plastic containers (to mix plaster in)
  • Storage trays
  • Finishing materials (spray paint, acrylics, watercolors, gesso, etc.)
  • Gloves (for handling wire )
  • Rubber gloves
  • Needle nose pliers
  • Wire cutter
  • Safety Glasses
  • Natural items (shells, leaves, seeds, etc.) for ephemeral work
  • Additional materials for additive, subtractive, and advanced methods should be purchased depending on your focus for each assignment. Please review the discussion boards carefully. Specific recommendations can be found under ‘Choice of Materials’ below.

Choice of Materials

Many assignments in this course include a level of choice. You will need to create an additive sculpture during week two, for example, but you can choose to create a planar sculpture, wire sculpture, or paper mache piece. Please review each assignment listed below and order the supplies necessary to complete your work. Keep Discussion Board 8: Teacher Showcase, in mind as you order supplies. Quantity will depend on the scale of your work.  

Additive Sculpture (Week 2)

  • Canary Corrugated Cardboard Cutter
  • Plastic or non-porous molds (face, bowls, etc.)
  • Wooden blocks or styrofoam for sculpture base
  • Staple gun (if using a wooden base)
  • Nylons
  • Yarn

Subtractive Sculpture (Week 3)

  • Carving Foam (floral foam is a less expensive option)
  • Carving Tools
  • Alginate Mold Gel
  • Pottery Plaster or Alginate Impression Material
  • Wire whisk or mixing extension for a drill
  • Bucket
  • Mask

Advanced Methods (Week 4)