Students created whimsical “alebrije” sculptures in the style of Oaxacan art carvings. After brainstorming ideas for their sculpture and doing some preliminary drawings, they created an armature from wire and aluminum foil.
After they were satisfied with the size and basic shape of their animal (the wire and foil serve as the “skeleton” and “muscle” structure), they covered the foil with a thin layer of Sculpey clay. The 1/4″ layer of Sculpey was essentially the “skin” of the sculpture.
Using Sculpey over foil reduces the amount of clay needed (which keeps the cost per piece down), reduces the weight of the sculpture, and gives students the opportunity to work with several different materials in one project. It also engages them in a variety of creative problem-solving activities!
The finished pieces were baked in a regular oven at 275 degrees for about 20 minutes. After baking, students used sandpaper to very lightly smooth the surface. (Avoid aggressive sanding, due to the thin “skin”!)
They used acrylic paint and Sharpies to add color and patterns to their sculptures, and then they applied a coat of Mod Podge to create a glossy finish.
