How to Build Additive Sculptures With Foam Core and Packing Tape

I started to build sculptures about four years ago for atrium at my school. I was coming up with my own creations and strategies until I found alexthemoviegeek on Instructables.com. I have since been advancing the techniques learned on this site and have developed my own version that is constantly improving over time. I use foam core, hot glue, packing tape for skin, paper mache and paint to finish these mammoth sculptures.

Concept: I Develop a Thematic Unit for My School Year and Prepare My Own Blueprints

First, I come up with a concept and thematic unit for the school year. I have done dinosaurs, then Baldi Park 1.0, I Love the 1980's/90's, Harry Potter, Baldi Park 2.0 etc.

Create the Middle Plane and Build Out 90° Planes to Create a Form

Draw your middle plane and then start to build your form out. Try to keep the planes at a 90° angle and place triangles to reinforce the planes for structural integrity. Make sure to construct frames out first if necessary! I will be building another T-Rex this year, however bigger and stronger and am still planning it out currently. Basically, you start out with the middle piece, which is simply a 2-D plane drawing. Use a snap-off utility blade or X-acto blade to cut out your initial part and then begin to create a form. Form, by would be anything that has a third dimension to it. Sculptures are form, not shapes. Shapes are what are used to create form.

Skin: After the Form Is Created, Begin to Create a "skin" With Packing Tape of Masking Tape (for Finer Precision)

BRIDGE the GAPSs with packing tape for strength! For finer areas, use masking tape for better control. Once you bridge the gaps you can start to paper mache. The masking taped areas can simply be added with glue via a paint brush. Wood glue is stronger and better! Some of the "skin" will require newspaper to push out the tape to make it seem more organic. Bridging the gap sometimes means a straight across bridge and sometimes it means you should have the tape fall a little bit in between for your desired affect— others actually require you to create additional forms or ball up newspaper to bump out your tape for other effects.

Paper Mache or Masking Tape Skin With Glue

Cut strips of newspaper . Add glue to the front and back of the strip and apply to the packing tape form. Everyone has their own technique for mache— I simply just use glue that is paint brushed on. More layers will add strength to the surface area.