Art Activity: Reductive Soap Sculpture

Creative Carvings

Create a reductive soap sculpture inspired by the work of four distinguished artists.

“The important thing is somehow to begin." Henry Moore

Reductive sculpture is one of the oldest forms of object–making known to us. Our early, nomadic ancestors created small, portable objects by hitting a hard stone against a softer stone until a figure emerged. Many people from all around the globe have traditionally used carving to make things from jewelry to monuments. 
Reductive sculpture involves scraping, cutting or chipping away a shape from a mass of stone, wood, or other hard material. Some artists say either it is a type of process where the artist “sees” what is in the piece of raw material before they start or they are slowly carving away what is not needed in order to reveal what is inside. What do you think?
A local example of reductive sculpture are carvings made by Inuit artists. Inspired by traditional stories and contemporary life, the Inuit carve figures and animals from bone, ivory, driftwood and soap stone. To find out more about the history of Inuit sculpture, click here.

Explore examples of reductive sculpture by artists John Pangnark, Quaquq Ashoona, Henry Moore and Dame Barbara Hepworth.

Gather the following materials: bar soap, a pencil, tools such as a spoon, vegetable peeler, paperclips and/or a butter knife (ask permission first), and a small bowl of warm water.
Use your pencil to sketch an outline of your creature on both sides of the soap
NOTE: If there is a brand name on the soap, you can gently scrape it off with a tool and use your finger and warm water to polish it off.
Once you are happy with your sketch, it is time to carve. Use a spoon or butter knife to scrape off large chunks of soap that you won’t need. Ask an adult for help if you run into trouble.
Switch to a vegetable peeler to scrape, carve and shape your edges working in the big details first and then working on the small ones.
For the finest details, use a paperclip to add texture, fine lines, etc. to your masterpiece.

Be inspired to recycle your soap here.

Resources