Paper Maché Dinosaur Sculpture
John Payne combines science and art to create life-size, moving dinosaur sculptures called kinetosaurs. Read about the methods this artist uses to create his kinetosaurs. Then create your own dinosaur sculpture with paper maché. See the online demonstration of this project for hints.

You will need:

• research materials about dinosaurs & paper for notes
• sketch paper
• pencil & eraser
• colored pencils or crayons
• lots of newspaper
• masking tape
• paper towels or soft paper
• cardboard (that can be cut with scissors)
• scissors
• paper maché paste (Ross Art Paste works great) & large container with lid for paste
• tempera paints & brushes & mixing containers
• clear, water-based, non-toxic "varnish" (Mod Podge Gloss Lustre, Rightstep Water-Based Varnish or watered down white glue) optional
• any other objects you wish to add (for eyes, teeth, patterns etc.) optional
• materials for display (board to mount, string to hang etc.) optional
  (You can find these craft supplies at most crafts or art supply stores, such as Dick Blick.)

1. Select and research a dinosaur. Find out as much as you can about your chosen dinosaur. Learn as much as you can about its anatomy to build your sculpture.

2. Make sketches of your dinosaur sculpture. Plan its pose. What is it doing? Draw an outline.

What are the basic shapes of your dinosaur? Highlight the forms that you will make from newspaper.

3. Make body parts with newspaper, cardboard and masking tape. Crush, squeeze and twist newpaper into very tight forms. Cut flat shapes from cardboard. Tape firmly as you go! Make sure your pieces are smooth and very firm. Rub the tape so no edges come loose.

4. Tape the body parts together. Use lots of tape and rub it hard to be sure it won't come off. Tape all the way around each body part&emdash;layer the tape in different directions. You may have to tear the tape into small pieces to get in the tiny seams. Test the body parts to make sure they don't come off easily.

5. Time to paper maché! Find a place to work. Cover your work space with newspaper. Prepare your paper maché paste. Have a towel handy to wipe your hands. Tear lots of small strips of newspaper--no bigger than your finger. For very small, detailed parts you will need even smaller strips.

Dip each newspaper strip in your paste. Then pull strip through two fingers to remove excess paste. You want them wet but not drippy and slimy.

Cover the body with newspaper strips. Rub them well so no edges pop up. Rub out all air bubbles too!

Allow to dry. Do another layer of newspaper strips and dry. Do one more final coat with paper towels (brown "school" paper towels work great!) or smooth, soft paper.

You are ready to paint when your dinosaur is sturdy and smooth. Let it dry very thoroughly!

6. Paint with tempera paint. First, you may want to try out different colors and patterns by coloring your sketch with crayons or colored pencils.

Paint the main colors first, recoat if needed, then paint the details and patterns.

You may also want to coat with a clear, water-based, non-toxic "varnish" (Mod Podge Gloss Lustre, Rightstep Water-Based Varnish or watered down white glue).

7. Display your sculpture. Plan how will it be displayed (free-standing, on a stand, hanging?) You may want to include a short paragraph about your dinosaur.