Home >> Science & Nature >> Animals & Science

How to Use Animal Skeletons As Art

Animal skeletons can be stunning and dramatic pieces of art. Cultures such as Mexico and Japan have used skeletons both as sculpture and as subject matter in paintings for centuries. Parts of skeletons --- such as the skull --- are also used for artistic purposes. For example, the cow skull has long symbolized the fragility of life in the desert areas of the southwest United States. All you need to make a skeleton art display is a creative imagination and a few materials for a backdrop. You can purchase a cleaned and articulated animal skeleton from a variety of online retailers or a local taxidermist, or collect it yourself if your local laws allow and have it professionally cleaned.

Instructions

- 1
  Choose the artistic statement you would like to make ahead of starting the project, if possible. The creation of art can be planned in advance, discovered as the artist works or a combination of both these methods. Depending on your working method, you can use items around your home as well as purchasing art supplies you may need.
  
  You can make powerful, dramatic statements about life and death, politics, modernity or nature with skeleton art. For example, a misshapen animal skeleton placed in a display containing elements suggesting pollution can represent the toxic effects of chemicals on wildlife.
- 2
  Sketch out your design idea for the piece of art before you make any purchases. This will enable you to revise your display and list the materials you will need before you begin.
- 3
  Purchase your materials according to the size and materials required for your display. For example, if you wanted to create a small display of a baby bird skeleton struggling to get out of her nest, you would need aluminum wire to position the skeleton, twigs, and rubber cement. Larger projects --- such as a traditional Mexican Day of the Dead display with a skeleton ox drawing a cart made of bones --- may require tools and materials from your local hardware store.
- 4
  Construct the background or foundation portions of your display. When you are completely satisfied with the display, move all its elements into their final positions.
- 5
  Add the animal skeleton or bones and carefully position them. Because some animal bones are very fragile, add the skeletons when the display is finished and in its final place. Handle and move the bones as little as possible to prevent damage to them.
- 6
  Wire together the bones according to your design idea into the positions you want, then wire them into the display. Animal skeletons and separate bones can be used singly or in multiples.

Animals & Science