How to Make a Strong Wire Armature for an Art Doll

Think of the wire armature as the skeleton of the sculpture and design it accordingly.

An armature is a structure over which clay, plaster or papier mache is molded to create a three-dimensional sculpture. The heavier the sculpture medium, the stronger the armature must be to sustain the weight of the final project. For large projects, the armature may be a made of wood with chicken wire stapled to it for shape. Armatures for small projects are typically made of wire twisted together; the more strands of wire, the stronger the armature.

Things You'll Need

• 20-gauge wire, available at hardware stores
• 2-part epoxy putty
• Heavy-duty glue
• Wooden base
• Drill

Instructions

1. Draw the design for your final project. From the drawing, determine what your wire armature needs to look like. Draw a sketch of the armature.

2. Cut four equal lengths of wire two times longer than the finished height of your doll.

3. Twist tightly together the four lengths of wire, starting at one end, until you have enough twisted wire to form a circle for the head and the spine.

4. Bend the top of the twisted end of the wire into a circular shape for the head. Bend the spine into the appropriate position for your finished piece.

5. Twist together two strands of wire for each leg, starting where the four twisted strands leave off. Add a half inch to the bottom of the legs for embedding into the wood.

6. Cut the wire. If you have enough wire to form the span of the arms from the wrist of one to the wrist of the other, twist the four strands together. Otherwise, cut four more strands of wire and twist together to form the arms. If your sculpture is large and you will be sculpting individual fingers, use five strands of wire and bend the ends into position for the fingers.

7. Attach the arms to the spine using the epoxy putty. Mix the putty according to directions and mold like clay around the arms and spine to create a strong bond. Allow the epoxy to set.

8. Drill two holes in the wooden base using a drill bit that is the same size as the wire legs. Hold the drill perpendicular to the wood and drill in about one-quarter inch.

9. Apply strong glue to the insides of the holes. Press the legs of the armature into the holes and bend them into the position you want. Allow the glue to dry thoroughly before adding your sculpture medium to the armature.

Tips & Warnings

• If your armature needn't be extremely strong, you can use three or even two strands of wire rather than four.

• Epoxy and some strong glues are caustic. Read the directions on the packages and use caution when mixing or applying these substances.

References

• Paint-Sculpt.com: Sculpture Tutorial