For this project, I attempted to create a toucan using newspaper, tape, and paint chips for the feathers. Obviously, I did not end up finishing this project due to time, though I tried hard to, spending about 12 hours to reach this state. I think that if I was to finish this project it would take around 25 hours in total and I didn't exactly have that time last week. Though, despite this, I like the way it came out and I think it would look really good finished. I decided to make a toucan because of the wide arrange of colors the bird has to offer in its feathers, and because I could make it to scale and have it not be too large. Also I like birds, and though we do not have toucans in Maine as far as I know, that was a factor in creating it.

To create this project, I used a combination of newspaper and tape to create a very solid body and form to build on. Then I cut and glued paint samples to resemble feathers with super glue. I also used some cardboard for the tail in the back to hold the structure better.

To create this piece I had to use techniques I have never used before. I have never tried anything like paper mache before so this was interesting to try. I used techniques that I learned in class as well to help. I think that the form of the bird is pretty spot-on and I think I did a pretty good job in that aspect For the feathers, the ones I d have I think they look good, but I didn't finish it so that's not good. To start this project, I began by sketching out my sculpture to scale on some large paper. I had already drawn this toucan for fun in my sketchbook so it was pretty easy and I used that for reference. Next, I annotated the drawing with what colors I would use where. For the final piece I was to attach the bird to a real log, but I didn't end up getting to that point. To start the sculpture I started balling up lots of newspaper and tightly taping it. At the end of the first day, I had completed the toucans head and main part of the body so I was doing pretty good. I continued forming the bird and it slowly began to come together. I finished the whole of the body and head which took a long while to get proportional. I had to match the angles and in the first bit I didn't do that so well, but once I got it it looked good, and it took a lot of tape. At this point I had already gone through my first tape role and needed to grab some more so i went to the hardware store and picked some up. While I was there I saw a large portfolio of paint samples and helped myself to a few dozen according to the proper colors. I continued the bird later and needed to use a saw at one place or another just because of how dense the newspaper was. I got the form of its rump done and added the legs as well. Though, I didn't immediately add the talons and still have not added them. I wanted to do this when I got to the point of log attachment, so they were never added. Then I took a Caprisun box and cut and folded some of the cardboard to make the tail. This went well and the tail ended up pretty sturdy but not chonky, as I hoped. At this point I was done with the body and could start adding the feathers. I waited to get to class to get glue so the next day I started to glue with hot glue. I learned pretty quickly that hot glue was not what i wanted to use but I didn't think I had any other options. But then Mrs.Medsker asked if anybody wanted super glue and I said yes. the super glue worked much better and was way less messy. Overall, it looked a lot better. I cut some very messy hot glue areas off and repatched them with super glue as well. Though, one downside of the super glue was that it was a bit slower than the hot glue and when it gets on your fingers it is pretty annoying. I got a lot on my fingers. I added the black feathers at the top of Terrys head first, and started small closer to the beak then got larger. Obviously, bigger feathers were much easier to add. Once I was done with the black moved onto the back, which was a tanish-brownish color. I only had two samples for this so when I ran out I moved to a slightly darker and more red-ish color. I actually didn't plan on moving to this color, instead, I wanted to use a darker tan but grabbed the wrong one, but it turned out okay. when I ran out of than color, I moved to an even darker brown and that was the last thing I did since I ran out of glue. If I was to continue this project, I would probably finish this, though it would take a long time. I think as a finished project, this would look very cool and even though it's not finished, I am still proud of it.