When you think of the Fourth of July or Independence Day, there are many
patriotic symbols which come to mind. One of them is Uncle Sam, the
long-legged fellow dressed in red, white, and blue. You may have seen this
American icon at parades or other gatherings which are held to celebrate
the birth of our nation.
Ever since his creation in the early 1800s, Uncle Sam has been a favorite
subject of folk artists. These self-taught artists and craftsmen have used
a variety of materials to depict the character, and Uncle Sam has appeared
in paintings, drawings, cartoons, and as a three-dimensional figure. You
can create your own folk art-style Uncle Sam with some found materials and
basic art supplies.
You Will Need:
A fallen branch or twig
Block of wood
Scraps of felt
Fabric glue
Acrylic Paints
Acrylic modeling paste
Paint pans and brushes
Electric drill
Hot glue gun
Utility knife
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How to:
The first step in making a folk art-style figure is finding just the right
piece of wood. If you look at a pile of fallen branches or twigs, you'll
notice that many resemble animals or people. After you've found a branch
or twig that looks like a human figure, have an adult cut away any
unnecessary wood from it. Now you're ready to paint the figure. There are
many versions of what Uncle Sam looks like, but his clothes are always red,
white, and blue to represent the colors in the American flag. Besides
being very tall, he's usually dressed in red and white striped trousers or
pants, and he wears a white shirt and a blue jacket.
Most representations of Uncle Sam show him with white hair and a goatee,
and you can paint them or make them with modeling paste. When the hair and
paint are dry, have an adult drill two holes in the wooden base, and use a
glue gun to attach the legs to it. Using modeling paste again, form the
shoes around the ankles on the base. When the material is dry, paint the
shoes, and carefully paint the base red, white, or blue. To make the base
more interesting, decorate it with lots of small American flags or paint
and glue cardboard or wooden stars all around the outside.
Uncle Sam's top hat is made by rolling a rectangle of lightweight cardboard
and felt into a cylinder and then gluing it with fabric glue. Make the
brim by cutting a circle in proportion to the rest of the hat, and glue it
to the base of the cylinder. Finish by gluing a small circle on top of the
form, and add a hat band in a contrasting color. Many folk artists like to
include lots of stars, and these are often placed on the hat. When you're
finished, proudly display your Uncle Sam figure, and have a star-spangled
Fourth of July!
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When you think of the Fourth of July or Independence Day, there are many
patriotic symbols which come to mind. One of them is Uncle Sam, the
long-legged fellow dressed in red, white, and blue. You may have seen this
American icon at parades or other gatherings which are held to celebrate
the birth of our nation.
