Craft and sculpture work with materials in three dimensions, unlike flat 2D artworks. Common techniques include modelling (shaping a soft material like clay by hand), carving (removing material from a block, like wood or soap), and construction (joining separate pieces together, like cardboard or paper, using glue or tape). Different materials suit different techniques — clay is great for modelling, while wood suits carving.
Example
A clay pot is made by modelling — pinching and shaping soft clay with your hands. A cardboard robot is made by construction — cutting boxes and tubes into pieces and joining them with tape or glue.
Key terms
Modelling:
Shaping a soft material like clay by hand.
Carving:
Removing material from a solid block to create a form.
Construction:
Joining separate pieces together to build a form.
Questions
1. Shaping soft clay by hand is called:
Modelling
Carving
Painting
Printing
2. Removing material from a block of wood is called:
Modelling
Carving
Construction
Drawing
3. Joining cardboard pieces with tape or glue is called:
Carving
Construction
Painting
Melting
4. Clay is best suited to which technique?
Modelling
Carving only
Construction only
None of these
5. Sculpture and craft work mainly in:
Three dimensions
Only two dimensions
No dimensions
Only sound
6. Soap can be used as a material for:
Carving
Only drawing
Only painting
Only photography
7. A cardboard robot is most likely made using:
Construction
Carving from a solid block
Modelling clay only
Painting only
8. Why is clay well-suited to modelling rather than carving?
It is soft and can be shaped by hand
It is extremely hard and brittle
It cannot hold any shape at all
It is a liquid
9. Carving typically involves:
Removing material to reveal a form
Adding soft material together
Only using glue
Only using paint
10. Which material would be most difficult to carve compared to the others?
Soft clay (better for modelling)
Wood
Soap
Stone
11. A paper mache sculpture (paper strips and glue over a frame) is an example of which technique?
Construction
Carving
Only modelling
Only painting
12. Why might an artist choose construction over carving for a large sculpture?
It can be lighter, faster, and use accessible materials like cardboard
Construction always requires a solid block of wood
Construction is impossible for large sculptures
Carving is always faster than construction
13. Which of these best describes the modelling technique?
Adding and shaping soft material to build a form
Cutting away from a hard block
Only joining flat pieces with glue
Painting a flat surface
14. A wooden totem pole would most likely be created using:
Carving
Modelling with clay
Construction with paper
Only painting
15. Why do sculptors sometimes combine techniques (e.g. constructing a frame, then modelling clay over it)?
Combining techniques can achieve effects neither method could alone
Combining techniques is always impossible
Only one technique can ever be used per artwork
It has no practical benefit
16. Which best explains why carving is considered a "subtractive" process?
Material is removed (taken away) to reveal the final form
Material is added piece by piece
It only applies to painting
Nothing is removed at any point
17. Why is modelling often considered more forgiving for beginners than carving?
Mistakes can usually be reshaped, while removed material in carving cannot be put back
Modelling allows no changes once started
Carving mistakes can always be undone easily
There is no difference in difficulty between the two
18. A sculptor choosing between clay, wood or recycled cardboard for a project would most likely base their choice on:
The technique they want to use and the effect/durability they need
Random chance with no reasoning
Whichever material is most expensive
Colour alone, ignoring the technique
19. Why might construction techniques be popular in school art classes?
Materials like cardboard and paper are affordable, safe and accessible
Construction requires expensive power tools only
It is the only technique that exists
It cannot be taught to beginners
20. Which statement best reflects how technique and material choice are connected in craft and sculpture?
The right technique depends on the properties of the material being used
Any technique works identically well on any material
Material choice has no bearing on technique
Only one material has ever been used in sculpture history
21. A sculptor smoothing and blending clay surfaces with their fingers or a tool is refining their work through:
Careful modelling technique
Carving away a solid block
Construction with glue
Painting only
Answer key (parent copy)
1. Modelling
2. Carving
3. Construction
4. Modelling
5. Three dimensions
6. Carving
7. Construction
8. It is soft and can be shaped by hand
9. Removing material to reveal a form
10. Soft clay (better for modelling)
11. Construction
12. It can be lighter, faster, and use accessible materials like cardboard
13. Adding and shaping soft material to build a form
14. Carving
15. Combining techniques can achieve effects neither method could alone
16. Material is removed (taken away) to reveal the final form
17. Mistakes can usually be reshaped, while removed material in carving cannot be put back
18. The technique they want to use and the effect/durability they need
19. Materials like cardboard and paper are affordable, safe and accessible
20. The right technique depends on the properties of the material being used