How to Make an Aztec Carving From Soap

The Aztecs, an ancient civilization in Mexico, carved beautifully detailed, naturalistic sculpted forms. These sculptures emphasized the significance of the natural world in everyday life and in their spiritual beliefs. You can create your own Aztec sculpture using a bar of soap.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Bar of soap
• Pencils
• Craft sticks
• Paintbrush
• Water

1. Research and download popular photos of Aztec sculpture to use as a guide for your piece. Iconic Aztec images include jaguars, birds, calendars, snakes and deities. Practice drawing your design on a piece of paper.

2. Select a bar of soap (any brand or variety) large enough for the sculpture you want to create.

3. Sketch a simple version of your design into the soap using a sharp pencil.

4. Cut the end off a wooden craft stick and use it to carve your design. Use sharp pencils to carve the finer details of your sculpture, carving soap away from the lines you sketched. Dust off soap shavings as you carve.

5. Add decorative touches to your sculpture. Dip a paintbrush in water, then dab it on your sculpture to create a sticky spot to adhere beads or sequins.

Tips & Warnings

• Wipe excess soap from your craft stick as you carve to help you maintain a clean, uniform carving edge. If you allow the soap to build up on the stick, you won't be able to make a nice, clear design.

Resources

• Aztec jaguar sculpture.
• Aztec calendar sculpture.