Ah, my old friend cardboard is back with a new but familiar look!
Today I want to share these amazing cardboard bird sculptures that my art campers made. I got the idea for these from the IG account @marymakingart, and we were also inspired by the artist Clare Youngs, who is an incredibly talented cardboard animal artist whose work has been published in children’s books.
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Supplies needed for Cardboard Bird Sculptures:
~ Cardboard
~ Collage material: feathers, sequins, pom-poms
~ Clothespins (or wooden sticks)
~ Washi tape (optional)
~ Wooden blocks (2.25 inch)
~ Drill
I didn’t take any “before” photos of the set-up. Sometimes in art camp the day just goes so fast I barely have time to think! But I will walk you through how I prepped and set it all up for success.
How to make Cardboard Bird Sculptures:
1. First, cut shapes from cardboard. I cut four shapes: a body shape, a wing shape, a tail shape, and a beak shape.
2. Layout the table before the kids get there. Mix paint colors. Put the four cardboard pieces at each place.
3. Before the kids begin painting, show them some photos of Clare Youngs‘ work, and talk about how each of the four pieces will complement each other. Also, show them the @marymakingart birds and point out the details like the dots and mark-making techniques.
5. Once they have painted their main colors (and they’ve dried slightly), they can go back with white or a light color and makes some marks. I did not put out squeeze bottles, but at least one student went into the supply closet and found a squeeze bottle of paint. Great idea!
6. Once all the pieces have dried, glue them together with a hot glue gun.
7. The next day, set out the birds along with some collage material, glue, wooden blocks, and liquid watercolor.
Follow this tutorial for wooden block & clothespin holders.
8. Kids paint the wooden blocks and decorate their birds some more, if they choose to do so.
9. Put it all together and you have these gorgeous cardboard bird sculptures!
You can put washi tape on the clothespins, or you can use the liquid watercolor to paint them.
Aren’t they SO fantastic?
xo, Bar
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HI,
Good Morning! How do you cut the cardboard so perfect? I am Recreation Therapist by trade and work in Senior Living. With the whole COVID crisis, I have been providing kits for them to do.
Thank you,
Eleanor
hi Eleanor, cutting cardboard is indeed difficult sometimes. These birds aren’t perfect at all, and I cut them in pieces to make it easier. I use a good, solid pair of scissors. I find the orange Fiskars do a good job. I hope this helps! xx Bar
What about using an exacto knife with a piece of cardboard under it while cutting…
Yes, that works too!
The animals at=re amazing…I will probably be using this idea with younger children soon, really love cardboard as a medium and something precut works great!!! thank you.
Do you have templates for the four cardboard shapes?
hi Hannah, I’m afraid I don’t. Just freehand drew body shapes, tail, wing, and beak shapes. You can do this! ~ Bar