Ocean Whispers: BRAIN CORAL art project

Sunday, January 17, 2016

Coral comes in so many interesting shapes and variations. Brain coral is one of them. It grows into a round ball shape with a maze-like pattern.

In the illustration above we are using a balloon, paper mache and jute twine to create the dome shape of a brain coral.

What you need:

Look up an image of a brain coral (see a photo at Arkive, here)

What to do:

Make up a batch of paper mache glue -- 1 cup flour and 1 cup water, and a few tablespoons of salt mixed until smooth
Blow up your balloon to the size required and tie off the end
Cut a slit in the flat cardboard and slide the balloon to the middle of the cardboard so that the paper mache doesn't make a mess on the table and it will help to hold the balloon steady
Cover your balloon with 2-3 layers of newspaper or tissue paper that have soaked briefly in the paper mache glue
Allow to dry completely
Repeat the previous 2 steps, adding another 2-3 layers
Using your twine make a base for the brain bommie to sit on by wrapping it round and round the bottom of the shape (see illustration)
Observing the pattern of the brain coral you looked up earlier, you can begin to tack the twine to the dome shape. This may prove a little difficult so you may choose to use sewing pins to pin your twine to the dried paper mache [some students may need assistance]
When you are satisfied your squiggles are where you want them you can either paint liberally with craft glue or tack down with a glue gun (heavier twine will require stronger glue)
Allow to dry and remove from the cardboard station

Although brain coral are usually muted colours you may choose to paint your brain coral

Arrange your brain coral bommie into a Coral Reef project here

www.ausmepa.org.au

Ocean Whispers