How to Make a Wire Frame for a Paper Mache Person
Paper mache is the art of building sculptures from strips of paper and special glue. These sculptures need to be supported with wire armatures so the paper will stay in the desired shape and not dissolve into a pile of shapeless goo. Most armatures are made from wire because it is flexible, but sturdy. If you are making a human shape from paper mache, wire is the best tool for making your armature.
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Things You'll Need
- Galvanized single-strand 1/6-inch wire
- Wire cutters
- Needle-nose pliers
- 12-inch piece of cut wire
Instructions
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1
Hold one end of the wire with your hand and hold the pliers with the other hand.
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2
Grip the wire with the pliers. Pull the pliers downward and bend the wire into a U-shape.
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3
Hold the two sides of the wire 1 inch down from the U-bend with the pliers. Use your other hand to twist the U-bend twice to create a loop of wire. This will be the head. The twist is the neck. There will be two lengths of wire streaming from the head.
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4
Hold the two lengths of wire 1 1/2 inches from the neck with the pliers. With the other hand, twist the wire to create another, bigger loop. This will be the body.
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5
Grab the ends of the wire with the pliers and bend them upward into a 90-degree angle. This will be the feet.
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Cut another piece of wire that is 6 inches long.
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Wrap the middle of the wire around the neck twice. The ends of the wire are the arms. Your armature is ready for paper mache.
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Tips & Warnings
To make your armature stand on its own, glue the feet to a block of wood.
Do not use thicker or thinner wire for this project. Thicker wire will be too hard to bend and thinner wire won't be able to support the paper mache.
References
- "Crafts and Hobbies"; Reader's Digest; 1979
