Australian Art Activity - Melbourne

Mosaic Emu

Suitable for:

Primary levels

Materials:

Cover Paper A3 black, Mosaic Squares Giant, Mosaic Squares Metallic, Jewels, Chenille Stems Giant Fluorescent, Dowell Rod, Wooden Base, Vipond Paint black & PVA

How to Make a Mosaic Emu:

Look at and discuss the shape and colours used in some of Deborah Halpern’s sculptures. The shapes she uses often lack symmetry so discuss this concept and quickly sketch some asymmetrical shapes. Draw a sculpture form made up of some of these shapes to base a mosaic sculpture on.

1. On a sheet of black A3 Cover Paper, glue the Giant Mosaic Squares on to one half of the sheet. Leave a small space between squares to look like the grout between mosaics.

2. Cover the second half of the sheet with the Metallic Mosaic Squares in the same fashion, set aside to dry.

3. Cut two asymmetrical shapes out of the area covered in the Giant Mosaic Squares. Lay the two shapes down on to black Cover Paper and cut the same shape out leaving a 5mm border of black showing around each shape.

4. Glue two Chenille Stems in between the black Cover Paper and the Mosaic covered shape, cut out for the head. Glue the two shapes together with the Chenille stems coming out of the bottom of the shape for the neck of the creature.

5. Cut two eye shapes, a nose and wing shapes from the black Cover Paper covered in Metallic Mosaic Squares. Glue these shapes down on to a sheet of black Cover Paper. Cut the shapes out leaving a 5 mm border of black showing around each shape.

6. Glue these shapes on to the head and body shapes. Add small circles of black Cover Paper and a jewel to add detail to each eye.

7. Paint the Wooden Base with Vipond Paint and set aside to dry.

8. Glue a 30 cm Dowel Rod into the hole of the Wooden Base.

9. Wrap a Giant Chenille Stem around the Dowel Rod covering the bottom half of the rod with colour. Take the Chenille Stem away from the rod and put it aside in its spiral shape. Repeat the wrap with another Chenille Stem, but this time glue the start and finish of the Chenille Stem to the rod.

10. Glue the neck Chenille Stems and the covered Dowell Rod and the extra spiral Chenille Stem in between the second mosaic covered shape with its black Cover Paper backing. Glue the second leg to the Wooden Base.

11. Glue the Metallic Mosaic shapes on to the body to add whimsical details to the sculpture.

12. Cut out feather shapes from the Giant Mosaic covered Cover Paper and glue these on for the crest of the bird.