Recently I made a miniature version of a tawny owl inspired by Old Mr. Brown, Beatrix Potter’s cantankerous owl. I was inspired to make the owl after receiving a request from a Wonder Weaver, who liked my miniature barn owl and wanted to learn how I made the animal.
Spun cotton animal sculptures can be challenging to make. In this post, I share severals tips below to help you get started If you’re interested in making them.
Get to know your animal
Before making animals from wool or cotton, I spend time getting to know them, studying their features and behaviours. Where possible, I observe and sketch them in nature or at other location, such as a wildlife sanctuary. However, species, such as the tawny owl, are not native to Australia. So, for my miniature sculpture, I relied on materials, including wildlife photographs made available on Unsplash. When using photographs, it’s important to study the animal from all angles – the front, back and sides. This will help you build a more realistic 3D sculpture.
The second source I consulted was Beatrix Potter’s illustrations of Old Mr. Brown in The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin. Notably, Beatrix studied animals closely throughout her life and her illustrations encapsulate her deep knowledge of them. Studying her illustrations of Old Mr Brown is very helpful, as she represents the owl from different perspectives. She also expresses his cantankerous personality by focusing on his facial expressions, including his narrow eyes, and by creating dynamic compositions.
Use your imagination
My second tip is to use your imagination while sculpting. While I sculpt, I hold an image of the animal in my mind. I imagine it’s body shape, colours and even personality. This might sound a bit ‘woo-woo’ but I’ve found that it really helps me.
Make an owl
Make an owl with me. Watch my video below to learn step-by-step how to make a miniature tawny owl from cotton balls, pipe cleaners and other common craft materials.
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And if you’d like to make a miniature dining room chair like the one I made for my tawny owl’s dining room, check out my latest creative bundle on Substack. It includes an activity video and also a template.
