What is a good way to make a small totem pole?

Question

For my World Religions class, we are researching Earth religions, and our first assignment is to make a totem pole using three animals that symbolize who we are. It can't be too big, and I was thinking of using a paper towel roll and some paper mache to put the faces on because it has to be realistic. However, everyone is doing it that way and I want mine to be a little different. Any ideas on what tools to use or how to go about making mine special?

Answer 1

It depends on what you have available for materials, or if you are able to go shopping for materials. You could build it from polymer clay (Fimo, Sculpey) or modeling clay. Or get a log and carve it with a jackknife. Or melt soap, pour it into a pillar candle mold, and then carve the soap after it hardens.

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Answer 2

You might want to use a thick-diameter wood dowel (stained brown, possibly with some "grain lines" lightly drawn verticallly on the "log" with darker brown or black paint) instead of the paper towel roll, then attach the faces to it with glue.

The faces could be made from papier mash, or from a store-bought air dry clay of some kind.
Or you could use polymer clay, then bake it.
Either one could be attached with glue, though if the wood were only stained instead of being painted all over, you might want to use a glue like E6000/Goop, a 2-part epoxy, or rough up the surface first then use a yellow wood glue or a regular permanent white glue. Hot glue might even work for awhile.

If you wanted the "log" to look more carved all along its length, you could instead cover the dowel with a layer of air-dry clay or polymer clay,** then carve into that in a few places between the faces. Then paint it to look like a wood log.


** if you do use polymer clay around the dowel, it would be best to paint the dowel first with a layer of acrylic paint or even a layer of white glue... let dry, then add the clay and bake (there's always a bit of moisture left in bare wood that can swell during heating and make bubbles under the clay, and that can seal it in)

***if you use polymer clay around the dowel, there are ways to make it look like real wood (without "painting" it too) ... doing that could make it look fairly special (as well as more reaslistic).

If you're interested in those techniques (there are several ways to go about it), look on this page at my website:
http://glassattic.com/polymer/faux-turquoise_wood.htm
.... click on the WOOD category

(if you have any questions about using polymer clay for anything, post them in a new question using the word polymer, and I'll usually see them about this time of day)



P.S. There are also lessons on how to make various kinds of animals and animal faces on these pages at my site if you want to check them out:

http://glassattic.com/polymer/kids_beginners.htm
(... click on ANIMALS, under "Sculpting"...)

http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/sculpture.htm
(... click on WHIMSICAL under "Websites"...then scroll down a few screenfuls to the animals ones)

and maybe on this page too:
http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/sculpting_body_and_tools.htm
(... look under the BODY PARTS section...)

and maybe:
http://glassattic.com/polymer/heads_masks.htm



HTH,

Diane B.

Answer 3

well if you cant think of another way, just make sure yours is the best. like youse yarn and string for hair and stuff. but just have fun. lol screw the other kids

Answer 4

i think the tolet paper idea is great!
forget what the others looks like make yours the way you like it
(add gliter)