Papier-mâché Sea Creatures

Did you know that the Earth’s oceans produce about 70% of the oxygen we breathe? Or that the five different named oceans – the Artic, Atlantic, Indian, Pacific, and Southern Oceans are actually part of the same body of water? The smallest plankton and Great Barrier Reef (the world’s largest living structure) and everything in between, from sharks to sea turtles to Chinook salmon, and even puffins are considered part of the Ocean Ecosystem. To learn more, check out this link: https://sciencing.com/ocean-ecosystem-kids-12071312.html

For this activity, start by selecting an animal that is a part of the Ocean Ecosystem, which includes anything that lives in the oceans, bays, shorelines, seas, or salt marshes. You will create a papier mâché sculpture of it!

Supplies included: Supplies from home: • mâché paste powder • 16-20 oz. container with lid • white copy paper • whisk • card stock • wide-mouthed bowl • Mod podge • newspaper (or other recycled paper) • sponge brush • masking tape (or other tape) • tissue paper • water • scissors

Instructions

1) Make the paste: powder, container with lid, whisk, water Put 2 cups water into storage container with lid. Slowly sprinkle in papier mâché powder while stirring with whisk (this will prevent lumps). Stir vigorously (or shake if your container will stay closed) until all powder is dissolved and it forms a thick, clear liquid. Set aside while you

build your creature. (hint: this paste is pretty much the ONLY art tool that cleans up easier with COLD water)

2) Build your creature: newspaper, masking tape, cardstock, scissors When building your creature, you want to think about its basic geometric and organic shapes. Is it a cylinder (like the octopus), or a sphere (like the puffer fish), or a combination (like the sandpiper)? Using household items like toilet paper/paper towel rolls, along with newspaper, masking tape, and cardstock… cut out, crumple, and tape the basic shape of your creature together. (See my videos on how to

make a flange, how I made the sandpiper shape, and how to apply papier mâché paste.)

3) Papier mâché your creature: newspaper, prepared paste, bowl Rip newspaper into small strips. It can be painstaking, but if the pieces of newspaper are small, you’ll avoid lumps/bumps on the surface of your animal. Pour a ½ inch of paste into the bowl. Submerge a piece of newspaper in the paste. Lift newspaper, and holding it over the bowl, squeeze out excess liquid between your fingers and thumb. Place wet piece of newspaper on your animal form. Repeat this process, overlapping pieces and leaving NO GAPS until you have 2 layers of newspaper coating your entire animal. Follow this same process for one

layer of white paper. This will give you a blank palette for adding your color. Let dry completely.

4) Color your creature: Mod podge, sponge brush, tissue paper Begin by tearing the tissue paper into pieces. Using the sponge brush, coat a small area with Mod podge. Attach tissue paper pieces, one at a time, overlapping each other. Again, using the sponge brush, paint the Mod podge over the tissue paper you just applied (this will keep the tissue paper in place and will give a glossy shine). Continue this process until entire animal is covered in color. (hint: overlapping the tissue paper will provide interesting variations in value & hue)

WATERCOLOUR BACKDROP

9x12 watercolor paper Watercolor Prang Paint Tray Paintbrush Saran Wrap (from home)

Instructions: Step #1: Dab or splash the watercolor paint liberally onto the paper. You can mix colors, or splash individual colors so that they run into each other on the paper. Step #2: Scrunch as much plastic wrap as you wish to use. Lay the wrap over the painting. You can press down gently. Step #3: LET DRY OVERNIGHT. Step #4: Gently peel the plastic wrap off. Add your Papier-mâché Sea Creature to the picture, or anything else you would like to add. Or just leave it as an abstract painting. Enjoy!