ILLU5020 - Found Material Sculpture

Cats & Dogs

​Research & Inspiration

Troy Picou - Water Pony

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An example of a more refined sculpture made from found parts shaped to purpose.

Cardboard Sculpture Animals

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A few companies make DIY cardboard sculpture/ puzzle pieces in the shape of animals. Just flat pieces of cardboard slotted together to make a three dimensional shape.

Found Material Cats & Dogs

Egg Carton Cat

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This cat is made from a single egg carton cut to shape with some coloured card for eyes. Due to the scale of things, the head is exaggerated, almost like a tribal mask in its proportions.

Kitchen Roll Dog

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This is a very simplistic and minimalist approach, even more so than the other sculptures. I believe it's the shape of the ears that sells this as a dog.

This one is a kitchen roll tube, some egg carton for the ears, and a quartered wine cork skewered with toothpicks for the feet and legs.

Drinks Can Cat

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I'm sure with a swirling tail this piece could be a very convincing pig. The opening of a can makes a perfect mouth.

This cat is a paper covered drinks can with a few pieces of roughly carved foamboard for feet. I added some lines to the paper to make it look slightly more like fur, and less like pig skin.

Masks

Research & Inspiration

Pacific Island Masks

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Native American Masks

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Very simple holes and lines can give the impression of a face. Once a face has been established on a mask, greater abstraction can occur, in the form of exaggerated human features, or even the integration of animal characteristics.

Found Material Masks

Dussack Beetle Mask

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​Fulfilling the definition of mask in the broadest sense, I present myself strapping two quite heavy leather covered swords to my head. With a limited time-frame (1 hour) for this particular mask I ran with the idea that two curved swords tied together look like a beetle's horns. They're quite intimidating, but incredibly awkward to wear.

This mask is incredibly basic and rough. As much cordage as I could find wrapped around to keep it together, and excess used as the strap to attach it to my head, balancing everything on my nose. Wearer comfort was clearly not a consideration in the creation of this mask.

Food Face Mask

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This mask is inspired by high society hand-held masks that are often in abstract shapes, and do not obscure the entire face. However, I contrast this by constructing the mask out of nostalgic snack foods from my childhood, which I believe aren't quite as high-brow as opera masks.

​The body of this piece was a piece of card cut into an abstract head shape, then a cardboard nose & eyebrows were added with similarly abstract forms to them. For the blue shadows on this mask I used the salt packets present in Salt & Shake crisps. The hair is made from cuttings of the backing paper in Fruit Winders. And, finally, the eyes are made from the plastic collars on Lemonade bottle lids.

Passport Photo Vibes

Wine Glasses Have Nothing On A Mysterious Glass Jar

Cardboard Helmet Mask

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The inspiration for this mask should be quite obvious, a medieval helmet. I applied a light ink wash​ for some additional detail, since it would be just bare cardboard without it.

Instead of modelling the mask myself, I used an arming sword as a substitute. The curved guard hints at shoulders.

Since there was no face behind the mask, I was able to experiment with different lighting in my images, using the shadow as part of the piece.

More Masking Tape Attachment

Full, Awkward, Size

The construction of this piece is very simple, just cut cardboard with a light ink wash on one side, taped to the handle of a sword.