Galina Mutina
I like create snow figures, paint the winter area of the kindergarten with bright colors. In January 2014 she was a prize-winner in a regional competition snow figures"Winter Fantasy". In November 2014 organized Master Class with families and educators creating snow figures.
Creating Shapes was produced in several stages.
First, the children and I prepared snow by pouring it into paper boxes. After a few days, the snow was compressed, it took the shape of a box, and it could easily be shaken out.
After that, we laid out the shape of the future building and ground off the excess.
Next we kneaded « snow dough» . Loose snow was poured into an incomplete bucket of water. Sculptures were sculpted with this wet snow. They put warm gloves on their hands and rubber ones on top. Don't worry, your hands don't get cold at all.
And the final stage is coloring. You can use gouache paints. You can also use fabric appliqués. There is no priority. That gouache painting melts over time and the paint runs off (even despite the frost, and here it is down to -50 degrees). So the place under the application begins to thaw over time, and the application itself begins to dry out and come off. Fabric applications must be frozen to figure pre-moistened with water.
I wish you creative success.
When winter finally comes into its own, falls asleep and covers every corner with snow, erects dunes and mountains in one night, the most fun time for children comes. Snow is an endless source of games and entertainment.
Kindergarten teachers take the coming of winter especially seriously. The snowy period makes it possible to organize excellent games with children on the street, to set up an entire fairyland in the area near the kindergarten, to create an entire entertainment complex only through the efforts of children and teachers. Children approach this task with great enthusiasm. They build amazing things with their own hands, which then become a place to play throughout the winter.
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- frameless - consist only of snow;
- frame - a wooden frame is installed at the base of the figure.
Preparing for work is simple. Before you go outside and start constructing the figure, you need to do some preparatory work indoors.
- Come up with and draw a future creation on a piece of paper, drawing out all the details as much as possible: nose, eyes, beard, braid, clothes. If these are animals or animated characters, then tails, wings, beaks, etc. During a drawing lesson, you can ask the class to draw with their own hands pictures of characters that they would like to make out of snow, and offer them a specific topic to work on. Or play such a game with a garden group.
- You need to draw not only the shape of, for example, a tail, but also how this tail will be located in space.
- Then you need to make small models of figures from plasticine. Such work will also captivate the entire class, and not just the first one, and the children will be happy to do it with their own hands.
- If you plan to create an entire composition from snow, then you need to recreate with the help of models how these figures will be located in relation to each other.
- When planning not only decorative elements, but also functional ones, such as a slide, a labyrinth or a magic house that children can climb, it is necessary to accurately calculate the dimensions of the future structure so that it is comfortable and safe.
- To create wireframe figures, you need to draw their diagrams.
Frameless figures
Such figures consist entirely of snow. This method is used to create low snow figures, no more than human height, having a solid shape without individual elements (raised arms, spread wings, etc.).
If you plan to make many figures, the snow for them needs to be collected in advance, for several weeks, for which the snow is raked with a shovel and placed in formwork or other suitable-sized container. The whole class can collect such snow with their own hands, preparing for the upcoming fun. Snow that accumulates over time becomes durable and easier to work with. To check whether snow is suitable as a material for creating figures, you need to press on it from above with a sharp object; if the object easily penetrates the thickness of the snow, then the snow is not ready. When making any figures from snow, you must remember that only clean snow is suitable for them, without dirt and debris, otherwise the figure will be ugly and it will be difficult to sculpt details on it.
Creating single figures allows you to collect snow immediately before work. To do this, as for making a snowman, snow is rolled into huge snowballs, which are then placed on top of each other. This game will also captivate the entire class or kindergarten group. If necessary, fill the narrowing areas with snow. You can collect snow in this way only if it is sufficiently sticky. If the snow is crumbly, you can make it sticky by pouring water on it and then quickly raking it into a pile with a shovel and compacting it well, in which case the snow will quickly set in the cold and the workpiece will be dense. You can also shovel sticky snow into the formwork.
When a block sufficient for work is ready, they begin to decorate it. To do this you will need a small tool. Suitable construction tools: spatula, scraper, grater. If they are not available, improvised means are quite suitable; you can first take a knife from home and a wooden spatula from the kitchen. If the snow is not very hard, you can also work with a children's sandbox set, but you need to be careful with it; if the snow is hard, the fragile plastic can easily break, which will cause great distress to the child.
At this stage of the work, you will need a model of the figure made at home and a drawn portrait. You need to sculpt parts from it, like from a model. First, a general outline is created, then the details are drawn.
The photo shows a figurine that still needs to be decorated
There is no need to be upset if something goes wrong; snow is the material that makes it easy to restore and redo the resulting defect.
Wireframe figures
Creating a frame from plywood and wooden sticks helps to capture the figures in different poses and make them seem alive, allowing you to use them to embody the complex theme of any fairy tale. An example is visible in the photo.
Such work begins with the creation and installation of a frame. The frame serves as the skeleton of the figure, that is, a support for the snow. Therefore, all distant parts must be reflected in it, since, for example, the long neck of a swan will not withstand the load and will quickly break without a skeleton. To do this, you need to connect wooden sticks and pieces of plywood with wire or bunches. It is important to make the frame strong and stable.
It is also necessary to make a frame for parts that can be used in children’s games for climbing, so that the snow partitions do not collapse during play and do not injure the child.
After installing the frame, it is filled with snow inside and sculpted on the outside. For greater strength of frame figures, it is recommended to coat them on top with the so-called “snow dough”, when the snow is half diluted with water and the entire figure is coated with such dough; after hardening, the figure will acquire icy strength. Do not forget about the need for rubber gloves for this part of the work. After all the parts of the skeleton are hidden with your own hands under the thickness of the snow, and the blank has reached the required size, you should start making the details, as shown in the photo.
At this stage, the process is similar to working with a frameless figure, the only difference will be the higher complexity of the parts being performed.
Ice figures
Ice figures are a separate creation. Transparent figures, shimmering in the sun or in the rays of artificial lighting, look like an imitation of expensive stones or valuable glass (see photo).
Creating them is quite difficult, since ice is a very hard material and not easy to work with. In addition, it is impossible to restore an incorrectly broken area, so the work requires training and skill.
To create such figures, you need natural ice, taken from a reservoir or glacier. If you try to freeze tap water yourself, it is unlikely to turn out transparent, and the figure will not have the appropriate appearance. Although this option is also suitable for training.
The video demonstrates how to make ice sculptures:
Decoration of figures
Just a white figure made of snow is boring, especially for children. The entire first class will be happy to join in the game of designing the resulting work. They will help make the winter picture brighter. Use a brush to apply small details: eyes, nose, mouth. Larger areas are best spray painted. For coloring, you must use paints that are safe for children, such as watercolors. Gouache can also be used, but after the figure melts, it will be more painted and can stain the whole class in the spring.
Colored ice figures that need to be prepared in advance by freezing tinted water in molds are suitable for decoration. Children can also do this with their own hands. See photos for examples of figures.
A good way to decorate is fabric; you can use colored scraps or whole canvases. In order for the fabric to fit well on the figure, you need to use it wet, then, when frozen in the cold, it will keep its shape. Small pieces are glued to the figure using snow dough. You can ask the class to bring such scraps from home. Unnecessary knitting threads will also come in handy; they will allow the sculptures to create original hairstyles.
Natural materials are also suitable for decoration: cones, rowan berries and hawthorn. The class can also collect such decorations in advance.
Winter walks are very beneficial for children and adults. They strengthen the immune system and maintain vitality. It often happens that parents and their children create the atmosphere of a fairy tale with their own hands. They make figures out of snow in the kindergarten area. Such walks can be turned into fun, and in our article we will tell you how to make snow sculptures. After all, joint creativity with children lifts the mood and makes an adult mentally return to childhood.
The process itself is very exciting, because when you use your imagination, snow crafts can turn into unexpected masterpieces. The child develops a sense of color, imagination and receives positive emotions. And the photographs taken during the walk will remind you of this wonderful time spent.
Choosing figures for sculpting from snow in kindergarten
Snake
It is a symbol of wisdom, vitality, fertility and home. The snake's eyebrows drawn together on the bridge of the nose and a menacing gaze confirm the seriousness of the intentions of this snowy figure.
Mouse with cheese
In the East, the presence of a mouse signifies wealth and its further accumulation. The fairy-tale character makes you smile and delights you in a childlike way with his defenselessness. A piece of cheese looks like the real thing. And the fur fluffed up in the cold. I just want to come up and stroke it with my palm.
Smeshariki
The figures of Nyusha, Pin and Krosh look funny against a snowy background. Friends go for a winter walk. Joyful smiles make everyone passing by smile.
Ice house
When you look at such a house, you mentally imagine that gnomes live there. The multi-colored decorations of the house give it a fabulous and fun feel. The pipe especially stands out. It's like there's smoke coming out of it now. Children will definitely want to climb inside and play.
Or this fairy-tale house:
Minions
Cartoon characters cheerfully wave to everyone who wants to look at them. Cheerful and friendly, they are always ready to help their friends. Their bright yellow color makes them stand out against the background of white snow.
Snail
The image of a snail has several meanings related to the characteristics of its behavior. One of the characteristics is slowness. But it is precisely this quality that characterizes her perseverance, which allows her to complete the work she has started, even if it is moving slowly.
Turtle
The turtle is an ancient animal, a mystical symbol and talisman. Represents wisdom and longevity.
Santa Claus, Snow Maiden and snake near the Christmas tree
Of course, we could not ignore such well-known figures as Father Frost and the Snow Maiden. It’s as if they came out of the forest and invite everyone to the Christmas tree. The kind snake, curled up into a ball, looks attentively at the guests. The composition is made in a classical style.
Hedgehog
The snowy figurine of a hedgehog attracts attention with many needles that stick out in different directions.
Octopus
A bright representative of the seabed. It looks very majestic due to its impressive size, and the bright color attracts the attention of children.
Starfish
And here is another inhabitant of the deep sea. Fun and colorful!
Instructions for sculpting snow figures with your own hands
Materials:
- wet snow;
- bucket or bottle of water;
- paints (gouache, acrylic, watercolor or aerosol).
Tools:
- large and small shovel;
- foam sponge;
- brushes of different sizes;
- latex gloves;
- plywood, chisels.
There are two methods for making snow sculptures: without a frame and with a frame.
First method. The figure is sculpted without an additional frame. The base is made of compressed snow, and only then sanded and decorated. Examples of such crafts are a snow woman, a snowman or a penguin.
Second method. The frame is made from boards or blocks. Fastened with nails. Then a slurry of snow and water is coated on this base until it has the desired volume. After this, the craft is finalized and decorated.
Now let’s look at an example of making a frameless snow craft with your own hands.
1. Using a shovel, collect a sufficient amount of wet, clean snow into a pile. It depends on the size of the future figure. The more snow, the larger your sculpture will be.
2. Gradually compact the snow with a shovel. And we cut off everything unnecessary.
3. We put waterproof gloves on our hands and begin stroking the snow with patting and stroking movements. You can moisten it from a bottle with colored or clear water (optional). We give the future figure the desired shape.
4. After it has frozen, we modify it using a chisel or scraper.
If, after freezing the figure, you want to add some additional element (for example, the nose of a snowman), then you need to freeze it. Dip the element into a slurry of snow and water, and lubricate the place for attaching the element with this solution. You need to hold it for a while until it freezes to the figure. You can use a blowtorch to melt snow.
5. Add various decorations. These could be toys, colored corks, ice beads or the bottom of plastic bottles. You can take whatever you want from natural materials. Carrots, twigs, Christmas tree needles, bark, pebbles, sand, leaves, cones and berries will be used. You can put berries, Christmas tree needles and leaves in a mold, pour water into it and wait until everything freezes. Then carefully remove everything from the mold. Makes a great decoration!
This is what your future masterpiece may look like when finished.
How to paint a figure made of snow
If we want to paint a snow sculpture with paints, then we need to know some subtleties. For example, it is best to take gouache or food coloring. The paint must be diluted with water - the more, the better. When diluted, it can be poured into plastic spray bottles. Or you can paint the snow sculpture traditionally - with a brush.
Or decorate like this. Fun and unexpected!
Or maybe so... Fabulous and magical.
Create, dream and turn all your ideas into such unique snow crafts. They will bring you and your children joy, laughter, fun and a lot of positivity!
Finally, look at the photos of snow crafts:
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Winter is a time when each of us waits for some miracle. The winter period is considered an amazing time of year, because not only children, but also most adults look forward to it. And really, what could be better than winter, its beauty, bright holidays and entertainment. Among such entertainments, a special place is occupied by sculpting a snowman, a snow woman and much more.
In the photo there is a figurine for the New Year
We all know very well how children, regardless of age, love and can imagine. Remember at least one of your childhood memories in which there is no snow woman or any other character made with your own hands. Everyone has made a snowman at least once in their life. This is especially a favorite activity in kindergartens. And this is not surprising. Do you think sculpting snow figures was invented just for fun? You are wrong!
Sculpting snow figures was invented in order to:
- arouse the child’s interest and ability to express himself;
- develop the ability to distinguish the sizes of the necessary lumps of snow (head – large, legs – small);
- roll up lumps of the required size, while training motor skills;
- teach the child to be neat and precise;
- develop imagination.
Here's a short list of the benefits of snow sculpting. But what should those children do who do not go to kindergarten? There is no simpler solution than to allocate a little of your time to your child and help him discover beauty. Fresh air and an interesting activity will have a beneficial effect on your child. And to make it interesting for the child, offer to make some other animal in addition to the snow woman.
The photo shows an unusual figure
Here, for example, is a monkey. A cheerful and cheerful monkey, what could be more wonderful! Plus, next year, 2016, is the year of the monkey. Therefore, this option will be very relevant next year. To simplify the task, you can take a picture and sculpt from it. Believe me, not only sculptors can create miracles. With great desire and patience, you can also create a wonderful figurine of a monkey made of snow.
As you know, you can sculpt anything and anyone out of snow, from insects to buildings. But it is also worth taking into account the air temperature. After all, snow can only be made at a certain temperature. So, if there is severe frost outside, the snow will crumble and nothing will come of it, unless you resort to tricks (wetting the snow in water). And during the thaw, any figure will quickly melt away, without having time to please you.
It would be a great idea to involve the kids in the process. Imagine with them and come up with a character to model. Look for pictures of your favorite animal, a character from a fairy tale, and so on. This will make your task easier. Get ready for work and involve your assistants in your plan.
To implement your plan, you will need to find a place where there will be the most snow. It would be good if this place had not yet been trampled. In order for you to succeed, try to sculpt gradually, making separate figures (if possible), and then carefully connect them. This tactic is good for amateurs and beginner sculptors. Or sculpt little by little, honing and adjusting each lump. Then leave the figure to stand and freeze a little. After it freezes a little, you can continue working. Using auxiliary materials you can cut out arms, legs, head, hair, eyes and so on. All this also requires imagination.
The pictures demonstrate the process of making a castle with your own hands
If you think that this is very difficult, then you are mistaken. All this is much simpler than it seems. The main thing is to start, and then things will go like clockwork. And if you also have assistants, then it will be doubly easier and more fun for you. To make the task easier, a few simple tips may come in handy.
- To begin with, you still need to decide on the figure that you will sculpt from the snow.
- Also, do not forget that not all snow is suitable for sculpting. Dry snow will not stick, but wet snow will be an excellent option.
- Before you start sculpting, it is best to sketch the figure on a piece of paper, take a picture, or make a figure from plasticine.
Snow figures like a snowman are a classic
- Sculpt the base of the figure, let it freeze a little and begin adjusting and cutting out the necessary contours (eyes, mouth, legs, etc.).
- At the end you can decorate the figure. It all depends on what you blinded.
What kind of figures can you make from snow yourself?
Classic snowman
Not a single winter is complete without this character. The snowman is considered an integral element of national folklore in many countries. It's not difficult to make. You just need to wait for the thaw and you can start.
The video demonstrates how to sculpt a snowman:
The most ordinary snowman is made from three snow globes of different sizes. These balls are placed on top of each other from largest to smallest. It turns out that the top ball is the head, which is decorated with a bucket (hat), a nose made of carrots and eyes made of coal. The middle ball serves as the body to which the snow arms are attached. Hands can also be made from branches. Well, the bottom ball is the final one, and snow shoes are attached to it from below. But this is a classic option. Even children in kindergarten can make such a snowman. And you, if you want, can dream up and add something of your own.
Regular snow cat
You can make other characters out of snow. The cat is also a simple product made from snow. His character was very popular in 2011, if you remember, but there is still more to come.
We are building a fortress for the New Year
So, the easiest way to make a cat is to sculpt a small body out of snow, roll it into a ball, place it on top of the body, and attach two snow ears on top. Then make eyes from coals, a mouth from two small branches and attach the legs to the body and below.
Snow fortress and castle for New Year's celebrations
The construction of various snow fortresses is considered one of the ancient Russian winter pastimes. Indeed, what would winter be without snowballs? Nowadays, this game is also played during the warm season. It's just called paintball.
Making a snow fort is very simple. The main thing is to gather more players. The fortress itself is made from piles of snow, molded snow (in the form of bricks) and rolled snow into balls, placed close to each other. On the first day, all players must build a fortress and establish the rules of the game, and on the second day, having divided into teams, they can begin to play. All winter games are fun if you have a friendly and cheerful team.
And finally, I would like to say that if you try very hard, then any snow figure you make will bring joy not only to your children, but also to you, and even to everyone around you. It would be nice to make such a figure for the New Year or for the New Year holidays. So, the celebration will become even more elegant and fun. We wish you good luck!