{"id":6405,"date":"2022-04-12T15:13:39","date_gmt":"2022-04-12T15:13:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/?p=6405"},"modified":"2023-10-31T16:48:38","modified_gmt":"2023-10-31T16:48:38","slug":"tiger-pinata-sculpture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/tiger-pinata-sculpture\/","title":{"rendered":"Tiger pi\u00f1ata sculpture!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>I made this lil&#8217; tiger pi\u00f1ata for one of my favorite people in the world, writer and illustrator <a href=\"http:\/\/www.calamityjonsave.us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jon Morris<\/a>; it&#8217;s for his <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/calamityjon\/status\/1512893778658398210\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gordo book project, which you can read about in this thread!<\/a> The tiger sculpture I made isn&#8217;t a real pi\u00f1ata, in that it&#8217;s not (completely) hollow and it&#8217;s not intended to be destroyed. It&#8217;s just a prop that&#8217;s meant to look like a pi\u00f1ata. Here&#8217;s how I made the thing!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/tiger-pinata-16.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/tiger-pinata-16.jpg\" alt=\"Tiger pinata sculpture - reference drawings\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n <div class=\"ad-300x250 ad-float-right\">\r\n<script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- MMS 300x250 -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:inline-block;width:300px;height:250px\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-5009313124668288\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"3616150394\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script>\r\n<\/div>\n<p>Jon sent me these three reference pics of the tiger pi\u00f1ata character. Each of them had some different characteristics, and Jon and I chose a certain combination of details that we wanted to shoot for. Jon mentioned that the pi\u00f1ata didn&#8217;t have to be hollow but that he&#8217;d like to have a recessed area on the back that gives the impression that it&#8217;s hollow. You&#8217;ll see the tiger in the comics also has an arrow through its neck; neat!!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/tiger-pinata-01.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/tiger-pinata-01.jpg\" alt=\"Tiger pinata sculpture - foam board profile shape\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I started out by drawing the profile of the tiger (minus legs) on foam board, and I cut that out.<\/p>\n<p>I drew a bunch of lines across the body shape, and I numbered them and measured them. You can see that small horizontal line in the middle; this is to show where the bottom of the recessed area will be.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/tiger-pinata-02.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/tiger-pinata-02.jpg\" alt=\"Tiger pinata sculpture - measuring and drawing circles\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I then measured and drew and cut out a ton of circles of foam board. I used my tried and true <a href=\"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/tip-drawing-perfect-circles\/\">method for drawing circles<\/a>. I drew a line down the middle of each circle and cut them all in half.<\/p>\n<p>I traced the tiger body shape to make a copy, and cut that out to make the other side of the body.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/tiger-pinata-03.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/tiger-pinata-03.jpg\" alt=\"Tiger pinata sculpture - gluing galf circles in place\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I then hot-glued half of the half-circles onto one of the side of the body, and the other half onto the other side.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/tiger-pinata-04.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/tiger-pinata-04.jpg\" alt=\"Tiger pinata sculpture - recessed area on top\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I made a tube out of poster board and inserted it onto the back; this will be the recessed area.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/tiger-pinata-05.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/tiger-pinata-05.jpg\" alt=\"Tiger pinata sculpture - covering the tiger with masking tape\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I then covered the tiger armature (for lack of a better word) with a couple different materials: First, strips of construction paper (not shown), then two layers of masking tape. All of this helps round out the bony shape of the tiger armature.<\/p>\n<p>That foam board disk on the back is there to act as a guide for when I&#8217;m cutting out the paper mach\u00e9 later, so I&#8217;m cutting in exactly the right place to expose the recessed area I built.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/tiger-pinata-06.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/tiger-pinata-06.jpg\" alt=\"Tiger pinata sculpture - paper mache!\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I covered the pi\u00f1ata with just one layer of paper mach\u00e9 at first, just to solidify the whole thing and make it a lot more stable. <a href=\"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/my-paper-mache-method\/\">You can read about my paper mach\u00e9 process and materials here.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>I then made the legs out of pieces of foam pipe insultation tubes (not shown), covered &#8217;em in masking tape, and taped them onto the body.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/tiger-pinata-07.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/tiger-pinata-07.jpg\" alt=\"Tiger pinata sculpture - paper mache done\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/tiger-pinata-08.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/tiger-pinata-08.jpg\" alt=\"Tiger pinata sculpture - another angle of the finished paper mache\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I then covered the whole tiger with six layers of paper mach\u00e9.<\/p>\n<p>I forgot to take a bunch of pics of the following steps!<\/p>\n<p>I cut out the mouth with an X-acto knife \u2014 this meant not just cutting out the paper mach\u00e9, but cutting way into the foam armature and removing lots of chunks. I built the inner surface of the mouth by spanning thin pieces of masking tape across. I covered the mouth interior with two layers of paper mach\u00e9.<\/p>\n<p>I made the teeth from wooden coffee stirrers, which I cut with wire cutters, and then I hot-glued &#8217;em in place. I actually made them pointy at both ends, so I could stab one end into the gum area and leave the other end sticking out.<\/p>\n<p>I cut the eye shapes out of a LaCroix box and pasted them in place.<\/p>\n<p>The arrow shaft is just a wooden dowel that I put one layer of paper mach\u00e9 on. The arrowhead and the fletching are made from three layers of craft foam, covered in masking tape and then two layers of paper mach\u00e9.<\/p>\n<p>I cut out the recessed area on the back and built a sort of lip around it with masking tape, which I then covered with two layers of paper mach\u00e9.<\/p>\n<p>I made two little loops of steel wire and attached them in the front and back of the recessed area. The loops actually end in two long pieces of wire, which I curved around the edge of the recessed area and taped in place. This is to make the loops nice and strong so the wire won&#8217;t tear out when you hang the thing.<\/p>\n<h2>Next: painting<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/tiger-pinata-09.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/tiger-pinata-09.jpg\" alt=\"Tiger pinata sculpture - painting!\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I spray-painted the tiger with a base coat of light gray spray paint, let that sit for 24 hours, and then gave it a coat of orange spray paint.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/tiger-pinata-10.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/tiger-pinata-10.jpg\" alt=\"Tiger pinata sculpture - painting the stripes\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/tiger-pinata-11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/tiger-pinata-11.jpg\" alt=\"Tiger pinata sculpture - finished!\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Once the orange had set, I painted all the details by hand with acrylic paint and a couple small brushes.<\/p>\n<h2>Last step: whiskers<\/h2>\n<p>I poked four holes in the tiger&#8217;s muzzle with a thick needle, and then I cut four pieces of steel wire and just inserted &#8217;em in the holes.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/tiger-pinata-13.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/tiger-pinata-13.jpg\" alt=\"Tiger pinata sculpture - side view\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/tiger-pinata-14.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/tiger-pinata-14.jpg\" alt=\"Tiger pinata sculpture - back view\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/tiger-pinata-15.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/tiger-pinata-15.jpg\" alt=\"Tiger pinata sculpture - hanging\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This thing was really fun and easy to make! I probably went overboard with all the measuring and circles and stuff; a more normal way to make a sculpture like this would be just wadding up newspaper and paper towels and taping a bunch of blobs together. I get unnecessarily obsessed with symmetry and precision for some reason. It calms my troubled brain!<\/p>\n<p>Anyway, please go follow <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/calamityjon\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jon Morris on Twitter<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/calamity_jon\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Instagram<\/a> to keep up with updates about his Gordo book project! And check out his previous books which I fucking love, <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3JzgAk6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The League of Regrettable Superheroes<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/366equx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Legion of Regrettable Supervillains<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3JzvpmN\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The League of Regrettable Sidekicks<\/a> (paid links).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I made this lil&#8217; tiger pi\u00f1ata for one of my favorite people in the world, writer and illustrator Jon Morris; it&#8217;s for his Gordo book project, which you can read about in this thread! The tiger sculpture I made isn&#8217;t a real pi\u00f1ata, in that it&#8217;s not (completely) hollow and it&#8217;s not intended to be [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6404,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[98,3,398,169,397],"class_list":["post-6405","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-animals","tag-paper-mache","tag-pinata","tag-sculpture","tag-tiger"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6405","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6405"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6405\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6412,"href":"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6405\/revisions\/6412"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6404"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6405"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6405"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/manningkrull.com\/manningmakesstuff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6405"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}