Paper Tube Animals (Part 19)

Practice paper construction in this art lesson: paper tube animals (part 19).

🎨 Studio Brief #19

Turn a toilet paper or paper towel tube into a standing animal.

🎯 Your mission

If it cracks, that's part of the story.

⚡ The twist

If it cracks, work the crack into the design.

What you'll learn · 1 of 2

Turn a toilet paper or paper towel tube into a standing animal.

What you'll learn · 2 of 2

Paint it, add paper ears and tails, and create a whole menagerie.

Get ready

Techniques you'll practise

paper construction3D craftingcharacter design

Washable markersCrayonsConstruction paperGlue stick

Step 1 of 3

Paint a paper tube the base color of your animal.

Step 2 of 3

Cut ears, wings, or horns from paper and glue them to the top.

Step 3 of 3

Draw a face with markers.

Did you know?

🤯 Mind = Blown

🤯 Clay shrinks about 10% when it dries. Plan for it.

🌟 Artist Spotlight

🎨 Ruth Asawa wove sculptures out of wire she learned to bend in a kids' camp.

You did it!

🎯

We'll pick an art project that matches exactly where your skills are right now.

✨ More to explore

🌍 Where you see this: Pots, cups, sinks, statues — anything you can hold started as squishy stuff.

🏆 Try this week: Make a tiny clay creature. Give it a name and a story.

👨‍👩‍👧 At dinner: “Tell me about the part of your sculpture you're proudest of.”

Send it to a parent looking for a 15-minute screen-free creative win.