Document
Introduction
When artists make a work of art they can change the size, color, or texture to give it special meaning. Changing the size, or scale, of something could make it more or less important than the objects around it.
Marc Quinn used a computer to make this conch shell larger than life! He scanned a real shell into the computer, then a 3D printer created large molds that were filled with melted bronze. Before computers, artists used simple tools like grids and rulers to make a picture larger or smaller.
Questions
Why do you think artists make something smaller or larger?
If you change the size of an object how does the meaning change?
If you could grow anything to be twice as big what would you choose?
If you could shrink something to fit into your pocket what would you choose?
Activity
Pick out a drawing you’ve made in the past. Pick one that is simple with big shapes and no colors or shading. Or make a new one! Trim the sheet into a square. Make a grid by folding the drawing in half four times. When you unfold it you should have 16 squares.
Fold the large sheet of paper in half four times to make a blank grid.
To enlarge your original drawing, look at the first section of the drawing and draw the same lines into the first section of the blank sheet. Try to make the two sections as similar as possible. Move on to the next section until you’ve filled the entire grid. Add color to finish the drawing!
Download the activity guide to see an example.
Vocabulary
Scale: The size of an object compared to another object
Enlarge: To make an object bigger
Grid: Straight lines that cross each other to make a sheet full of same-sized squares
Mold: An empty form that can be filled with melted metal to create a sculpture