Dinosaur Wire Sculpture
John Payne creates dinosaur sculptures from salvaged steel. He makes bone shapes and welds them together to make skeletons that are life size and can move!

You can make your own dinosaur skeleton sculpture at home using wire or pipe cleaners. Here's what to do:

You will need:

• picture of a dinosaur skeleton
• wire (flexible sculpture wire, pipe cleaners or "Twisteez")
• scissors or wire cutters
• wood block for stand or string to hang (optional)

1. Find a picture of a dinosaur skeleton you want to make-or make up an imaginary dinosaur.

Think about the way the bones look and fit together.

• What shape are they?
• Where do they join to other bones?
• Do you want parts of your sculpture to move?

2. Practice bending and shaping your wire. Use wire that bends easily and isn't too sharp or springy (pipe cleaners or "Twisteez" wire work great and can be cut with scissors).

3. Bend, shape, wind and wrap your wire to make your dinosaur skeleton. Try making movable joints!

4. Your finished sculpture might stand up by itself. Or you can hang it from a string or staple it to a wood block.

 

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