Page 14 - Creating Whimsical Characters Using Simple Wood and Paper Forms, Wire, Paperclay, and Encaustic Medium

Simple Armatures

Let’s start with some simple armatures. Drums are the perfect
place to start for people at all levels. They are easy to build and

sculpt. And the painting on the drum can be a very simple design
or a complex one.

To build a drum:

• Cut a piece of cardboard tube.

• To make the drumhead, set the tube on a piece of wire mesh and
use a permanent marker to trace a circle slightly larger than the

tube. Be sure to put cardboard (with wax paper on top)

underneath the wire when you’re tracing your pattern. This will
help to avoid black marks on the table.

• Use tin or multi-purpose snips to cut out the circle of wire mesh.

• Wrap the circle around the opening on the tube and bend down
the edges. Glue the bent edges to the tube, and let it dry for 24

hours.

To build bongos:

• Make two drums, one slightly larger than the other.

• Cut a small piece of balsa wood and use a round file to groove
the wood to match the curve of the drums.

• Glue the wood piece between the two drums and let them dry for

24 hours.

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