Position:Home>Visual Arts> Recycled sculpture contest: garfield the cat?

You might be limiting yourself by choosing the subject first!. I an assignment like this, I would recommend going hunting first!. Look for stuff that is interesting!. Collect a nice box of cool stuff and then decide what to make from it!. You might be much more successful!.

If you want to do Garfield and nothing else with warm your heart the same way- go to a thrift store and get an old orange t-shirt!. If you sew, the rest is easy!. If you don't, rubber band off one end, stuff with shredded paper and tuck the arms in and rubber band off the other end!. Put another rubber band on the middle and you have the head on body!. Find other recycled items for the eyes, mouth, arms and legs!.

Suggestions- egg carton for eyes!. Wrapping paper roll for limbs!.

Have fun! Www@QuestionHome@Com

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By recycled items, do you mean like!.!.!. projects that are made from other objects (like paper that's made from other bits of paper) or can you salvage something that someone was going to throw away, because that could be recycled as well!.

If so, find someone with some chicken wire or wire mesh that they don't want anymore (craigslist will have something, no doubt) and recycle it from them so mold a shape that you can put your paper mache on!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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cardboard and paper plates
or
old wood and plasticWww@QuestionHome@Com

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Had I been in Your position, (although I am a Wood Sculptor ) I would consider using Wire Clothing hangers!.

go to any dry cleaning shop in the area, and they may even give You some for free!. or look in Grandmas closet !

Simply Un-wind the loop necks of the hangers, and Bend the wire into the shapes You need to form the cat)

You can use "Duct tape" to fasten the shaped hangers, unwound & straightened of course!.

If You don't feel competent enough to Bend or weld them!. I think the Duct tape is good enough thoough, since You are going to Papier Mache it!.

You may also consider Balsa Wood found in many Hobby shops, they may have seconds or broken pieces available!. ask!.

also, check out lumber yards, they may have lots of scrap wood, thin pieces they'll give You, from cutting of other products!. the also can be cut to size and taped into form!.

also, You could conside using some Styrofoam Blocks, from scrap packing materials etc!. it can be "Hot knifed", whichyou can easily make at home, really cheaply!.

( if You take a piece of "piano type wire" slightly stiff but thin, solid,single strand, and connect both ends, with tape, to a flexible stranded wire, maybe even with alligator clips on both ends, to simplify, to a battery source of 6-8 voilts D!.C!. connecting One side of the flex stranded wire on the positive (+), and the other on the negative( - ) side of the battery or batterypack!.

( You can get a battery pack to hold 4-6 "AA" batteries, which will certainly be enough power to heat the wire, at any radio shack for $2!.00!.)

(don't use a wall transformer or charger unit ! )

If done correctly, the stiff piano type wire will glow red hot, and can be used to "carve" old styrofoam packing material, (solid form) into many different shapes, and it can often be painted quite nicely with acrylics!.

For control of the hot knife, use a piece of pine wood, cut into the shape of a " slingshot "!.

Run the stiff wire between the two points on the "slingshot" at the top, into notches You can cut for the wire to nest into!.

You can use the handle to control the wire, and kkeep from getting burned yourself, while cutting the styro foam with ease!. some practice, but its fun and productive!.

Just be careful, and if needed, have adult supervision !
this is a bit dangerous afterall !

Just think of the possibilities!. I wish You well!.

Keep Dreaming ! Thats where everything starts !

Good luck, I hope this helps some, and You may get some ideas, and look at some of my work here!.

http://www!.poconopatsgardenfurniture!.com

"Live long and Prosper!.!.!."Www@QuestionHome@Com

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