Project #25 - Foil Figures

Materials- Aluminum foil, newspaper, flour, water, scissors, marker, OPT. box or other container (for base).

Making-
1.  Start with a piece of foil, 12" -18" long.
2.  Use a sharpie marker to draw a line from the bottom in the center and up 1/3 of the way, two lines that divide the width into 1/3's from the top and down 1/3 of the height, and then a line drawn fom each side 1/2 way down and 1/3 of the way in.  
3.  Cut along each of those 5 lines.
4.  Gently crush each section to form legs, arms and a head.  Crush the sections down further.
5. Tear newsprint into small narrow strips.
6.  Mix a bowl of flour paste, 1 part hot water to 1 part flour.
7.  Starting in the center of the torso, apply paste to the foil form, then wrap with paper, then add more paste.
8.  Continue to work one section at a time until the figure is covered.
9.  Using the same paper mache technique to cover a box that will be a pedestal for the statue.
10.  OPT. - you can speed the drying of the paper mache by putting it into the oven at 250 degrees for about 20 minutes or until dry.
11.  Once dry, glue the pedestal and figure together.

Inspiration - Albert Giacometti was a Swiss painter and sculptor. He is best known for his thin elongated figurative sculptures. These figures have a dreamlike quality, evoking feelings of quiet and solitude.  Giacometti's models for his artwork were members of his family.  Before Giacometti made these large thin sculptures, he many many miniature sculptures that were only a couple of inches tall. He came from an artistic family. His father was a painter, one of his brothers was an architect, and the other was a designer.  Giacometti lived in France during World War II, and many believe that his sculptures express the fear and isolation that many people felt during the war.

Albert Giacomettie, Falling Man, 1950

Albert Giacometti, Walking Man, 1960