How to Make a Diorama

By eHow Education Editor

Make a Diorama Make a Diorama

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A diorama is a mini-world--an entire landscape in a box, carry case, or window. You can create your own little world of model figures that can appear as a freeze frame of a historic event or anything else you want to create. Here's how to build your own diorama.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

  • Cardboard Boxes Or Other Container
  • Dollhouse Dolls
  • Miniature Animals
  • Miniature Trees
  • Shoeboxes
  • Hobby Paintbrushes
  • Miniatures Animals, Foodstuffs, Vegetation and/or Building Elements
  • Toy Dinosaurs
  • Modeling Clays
  • Poster Paints
  • Glues Or Putty
  • Acrylic Paints S Or Paper For Backdrop

Step1
Decide on a scale. This is key, because a diorama becomes believable to the extent that it looks "real." If you've got a focus (a Barbie doll, a particular plastic dinosaur), use that scale. If not, try 1 foot to 1 inch--that's standard for classic miniatures and doll houses.
Step2
Collect your materials--human and/or animal figures, palm trees or sugar cubes to build an igloo, or doll house furniture and miniature foods for an interior scene.
Step3
Decide on a background--you can paint or draw your own or use wallpaper or wrapping paper or anything else you can find. Remember, though, that the background images should be consistent with the scale you've chosen.
Step4
Choose a container. Many children's school projects use cardboard boxes or shoe boxes, but you can use just about anything. It should be light but fairly sturdy, especially if you will need to move the diorama around.
Step5
Build your diorama working from the back to the front. Start with the background by creating a horizon and sky/ceiling and ground/floor. Then place large objects such as trees. The smallest objects should be placed the closest to the front. Use glue or putty to secure the objects.

Tips & Warnings

  • If cutouts are too thin to stand by themselves, back them with cardboard.

Comments

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on 2/17/2008 do you make hole in the box to create a skylite

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 6/30/2006 When I glue my paper, it has wrinkles. It has to be perfect. To not get wrinkles; mix a little water with the glue, and brush over the paper. You can even brush on top of the paper to make it clear and shiny.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 6/11/2007 If your painting skills are not up to par, you can cover the interior back and side walls with an appropriate printed landscape. You will find landscapes in magazines, or you can use a photograph, or printout free images found online.

To protect the printout spray a couple of coats of artist's fixative before installation. If you get some glue on the paper you can usually wipe it off with an almost dry soft cloth, or wet wipe.

Once the background is in place, repeat some of the elements on the print (such as rocks, vegetation, etc.) in 3-D.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 12/23/2005 Avoid using sugar cubes they can easily dissolve. Instead use tiny foam blocks. A good place for diorama materials, like foam pieces or fake fruit, can be your dollar store. You can also cut a hole in the top of the box and get flash lighting to shine on a certain area of the diorama.

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eHow Article:  How to Make a Diorama

eHow Education Editor

eHow Education Editor

Category: Education

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