Page 18 - 2021 Almanac

If you do go to the seaside, look out for small pieces of driftwood. Driftwood is any kind of wood that the tides have brought in. It is usually beautifully soft because the waves throw it around and bash it against the rocks, so it tends not to have splinters or sharp edges. You’ll need to take it home and dry it out before trying to make anything from it.
If you don’t get to the seaside, you can still make sculptures from sticks that you can find in the park or the woods. You’ll need to dry them out, too, before you use them. The strongest glue to use is special wood glue – you’ll need to ask an adult to help you with that. Sometimes PVA glue works just as well, especially if the wood is very dry.
Have a go at making a sculpture by gluing stacks of different-sized wood pieces together. Or what about covering an old photo or mirror frame with smaller pieces? If you are feeling very adventurous, take a look at what other sculptors have made from wood, such as the amazing horses made by artist Heather Jansch at the Eden Project in Cornwall. That would keep you busy on a cold, dark January afternoon!
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