Two-Turtle Tango

You might want to watch dancing shows or movies to see how the tango is done. The moves are really complex! Decide which Crayola Model Magic® colors your dancing turtles will be. We made ours with a solid color for a smooth shell look. Contrasting colors really stand out as decorative elements.

To begin your sculpture, you’ll need armatures on which to shape your two turtle shells. Crush pieces of aluminum foil into the sizes and shapes of your tangoing turtles. Cover both shells—their round tops and flat bottoms—with a thin layer of Model Magic. When it’s fresh from the pack, Model Magic® sticks to itself. If pieces dry while you’re working on this large piece, just use glue to attach them.

If you look at photos of turtles’ shells, you’ll see that they are made up of plates. You might want to build up the shape of the shells with overlapping discs of more modeling compound in a slightly different color.

Use more aluminum foil to shape armatures for the turtles’ necks, heads, tails, and limbs. Plan ahead to make sure that the two dancers will actually fit together! Make the heads, tails, and legs from marbleized Model Magic compound for a more textured, r

Sculpt features on both turtles’ extremities such as socketed eyes, subtle nostrils, sly mouths, and pointing toes. Add whimsical features that you imagine dancing turtles possess, such as high-heeled shoes and rose boutonnieres.

When you are happy with the individual pieces of your statue, begin to fit them together to express the intricacies of the dance and the complexities of their partnership. You might show a down-turned face, a leg dragging, and the leaning together of part

Gently maneuver the pieces to give the emotional content you wish your sculpture to evoke. Join the pieces with glue. Air-dry your sculpture at least 24 hours.

For a shiny, polished look that strengthens your sculpture, coat it with a glaze. Here’s how. Cover your craft area with newspaper. Mix half glue and half water to make the glaze. Apply with paintbrush. Air-dry. It’s time for your turtles to tango!