Paper Plate Robin

So here’s a little post just in time for Christmas, but an idea that is just as useful all year round. This 'Paper Plate Robin' is my own original design and is created using every piece of just one paper plate, what I call 'pure making'. I've been devising art ideas like this for over 35 years now, and many are shared in my bestselling book 'Art Shaped', as well as here on the website.

All you need for this project is a pencil, a pair of scissors, some tape (preferably masking tape, as it can be painted) and one paper plate. You can then add colour in whichever way you choose, I've used regular children's paints and a bit of metallic gold paint, but you could use acrylics if you prefer. You don't have to get the drawing part of this perfect, it will still work even if the design isn't drawn exactly as I have but, if you need it, I’ve included a screenshot of the plan below.

Please remember, this is a unique original design, you can try it yourself, use it as inspiration, and you can share it with others, but it remains my intellectual property, so you can't rehash, or re-record it as your own, or publish it in any format without permission. Thanks

The basic design.

‘Pure making’ is the phrase I came up with to describe using every piece of the original materials, it’s basically the best way I’ve found to make something that is truly recyclable. In this instance the main body and head of the bird take up most of the circular plate shape, with the smaller sections creating the wings, two pieces for the tail, and the two legs, that’s it. They don’t have to be perfect, and obviously the position of them doesn’t have to be exact either.

This was a slightly earlier version, it still works even though the pieces aren’t exactly the same, or in the same position.

The finished Robin.

I’ve made many ‘bird’ designs like this over the years, covering all sorts of different species, some are already online, and on this website, in fact there’s an older version of this Robin on here somewhere! The designs and methods may alter slightly, but the basic concept works, and it’s one that I am constantly evolving and adapting. Have fun.