Basic Instructions

Select Your Base

You can use a variety of objects for a base; rocks, bricks, wood blocks, kerb stones or whatever appeals to your creativity, however, if you plan to put your sculpture outside ensure your base is weatherproof and heavy enough to prevent your sculpture blowing over. You can paint your base with Paverpol to match your sculpture but if you wish it to remain natural cover the base with cling film whilst setting your sculpture and glue your sculpture on once it is dry.

Foil Your Figure

Consider whether you are making a male or female figure. A woman will have more sloping shoulders a more defined waist and of course breasts. A man will have broader shoulders and be more rectangular. Tear off wide strips of tin foil and scrunch round armature adding layers to make a three dimensional figure. Scrunch the tin foil tight to make a firm model. Stick down any loose pieces of foil with masking tape. Bend your armature in to an approximation of its final position and check for any gaps.

Wrap your figure

You are now advised to remove all rings watches and bracelets. Mix your colour with a drop of water, add to the pot of paverpol and mix well. The Paverpol will initially appear lighter than the intended colour but will darken as it dries.

Take your t-shirt and cut 8 squares about the size of a sheet of kitchen towel. Cut four of the pieces into 4 strips along the grain of the fabric ensuring that one of the strips is wide enough to cover the head of your model. Starting with the head piece dip the strip of the of fabric in the Paverpol. Work the Paverpol into the fabric so that it is completely covered on both sides but not dripping, the drier the cloth the easier it is to work with.

Drape the strip over the head of your model and pull tight across the front tucking in the edges. Try to ensure that the face is a single un-seamed piece, tucks and pleats can be made on the top and back of the head as it will later be covered by hair. Dip your next strip, and starting by hooking over a foot, wind it up the leg in a 'mummy' style ensuring there are no gaps and the tin foil is thoroughly covered. Continue to 'bandage' your model with the remaining strips until it is completely covered.

Set and Dress Your Sculpture

Sit your sculpture on its intended base and pose in position. If you intend to paint your base or cover the top with clothing you can fix the sculpture to the base with two more strips of Paverpolled fabric. Leave to dry for an hour or so (this time can be reduced by the use of a hairdryer).

With the remaining pieces of fabric style your clothing. This should be done dry at first. By taking a corner of a square piece and attaching to the waist a wonderfully full, draped skirt can be created. Strips can be cut to length to create trousers and sleeves and the use of stockinette gives the effect of a jumper. Once you are satisfied with the effect of the clothing dip each piece in the Paverpol and dress your sculpture.

Finally take some Pavercotton to create the hair. Scrunch the Pavercotton up and dip in the Paverpol. Work the Paverpol through ensuring that all the strands are fully covered place on your sculptures head and arrange using a cocktail stick.

Again leave your sculpture to dry (or dry with a hairdryer).

Paint and Varnish

Mix a little gold and brown acrylic paint, dip in a large paintbrush and then dab off the excess on a piece of kitchen towel. The brush should be almost dry. Whisk the brush across your sculpture so that it picks up the ridges in the piece to create a bronzed effect. Leave your sculpture to completely dry (about 5 days) and if you wish to place your sculpture outside paint with two thincoats of varnish to protect the paint.

Now you have created your first sculpture why not experiment with a wider range of colours and textures any natural fabrics can be used and using transparent Paverpol means you can use patterned fabrics too.

Creating a Fairy

Creating your fairy figure is similar to any other Paverpol figure and you should read the basic instructions first. However, because you are working on a smaller scale a modified wrapping technique is used.

Foil your figure as normal and bend into an approximation of its final pose. It is generally easier to make a sitting, lying or kneeling figure, alternatively you can design your figure to be hung from a branch.

Rather than cutting long strips of fabric to wind round your figure cut pieces as long as each limb and wide enough to just go around them. Work Paverpol into the fabric as usual and wrap each limb in a single flat piece, smoothing down the edges. This can be fiddly and it can help to catch the fabric in several places ahead of where you are working to keep it in position. Cover the head as usual then using as few pieces as possible, whilst still keeping a smooth appearance, cover the body. If you choose to dress your figure, using stockinette will create a lovely ethereal effect.

For the wings cut a square of fabric for each of the four wing sections, the squares should reach from the centre of the wing to the outside tip of the section. Lay the Paverpolled fabric diagonally across the front of the wing section and starting at the centre fold the excess fabric to the back. Finally fold over the tip section and smooth down. Stick the wings to the figure using more Paverpol.

If you wish to hang your fairy create a hanging loop by twisting a small strip of Paverpolled fabric so that it resembles a cord, double it over to create the loop and stick the ends to the front of the wings so that it is caught between the wings and figure when sticking the wings on.

Once dry paint your fairy and, if it is not being hung, use Paverpol to stick it to a tile. If you plan to site your fairy outside do not forget to varnish it and ensure the tile you use is suitable for outdoor use.

General

Whilst these projects have been created in black and painted you can use whatever colour you choose. If figures are left unpainted they do not require varnish. Remember the materials used should be at least 65% natural fibres.

Why not try using transparent Paverpol and an old silk scarf to dress a figure, or create create a group of fairies in a range of colours using Pavercolors.