Paper tree

The activity I propose uses very simple and easily available materials. It requires a little patience, especially at the beginning, to understand how the technique works, but it will allow you to obtain interesting and highly effective creations.

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The shape of the tree

Before we begin, let's pay attention to the shape of the trees.

First we can look out the window and observe the trees that are around us . Also, we can do an internet search to find out how each tree has a different way of developing: some grow very tall, others have horizontally spreading branches, etc. However, there are some common principles we need to keep in mind:

the tree is a creature that grows progressively starting from the trunk , which is the largest part.
The first branches are grafted onto the trunk, which always have a smaller diameter than that of the trunk (at least two or three times smaller);
these branches continue to grow from year to year in thickness, but also in length, so that the branch is wider at the base, at the point of junction with the trunk, and is increasingly thinner in the upper parts .
From the main branches, secondary branches are born and from the secondary ones smaller branches are born on which the leaves (different depending on the species) sprout.

To help us we can use a diagram:

Questo è lo schema dell'albero di Munari. Si costruisce facilmente partendo da una striscia di carta colorata della larghezza di quello che sarà il tronco. La striscia va tagliata in tre sezioni: una un po' più lunga per il tronco, una per i rami più grossi e una per i rami più piccoli. Dopo aver tagliato (e incollato) la parte del tronco, ho diviso una delle due strisce rimanenti in tre parti (in senso longitudinale) e le ho incollate a raggera. A questo punto, ho diviso in tre parti anche l'ultimo pezzetto di striscia e, successivamente ho tagliato ancora ciascuna striscia in tre parti, per ottenere i rami più sottili

Materials and tools

MATERIALS

an F4 card (album sheet) to use as a base
colored paper sheets (A4)
straw paper or newspaper
streamers left over from the carnival

INSTRUMENTS

scissors
wooden skewer
glue stick
vinyl glue

As you can see in the image, we first chose a colored sheet and glued it on the F4 cardboard, leaving an equal border on all sides (you can use a squared sheet to make this operation easier). It will be the basis on which we will make our tree.

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PRELIMINARY OPERATION

Basic elements

There are two basic elements to create the shape of the tree and its foliage: straws and rolls . Variations can also be used, but let's go in order.

STRAWS

To make our tree trunk, we need 3 to 5 paper straws. To make them we can use the pages of a newspaper, an advertising flyer or straw paper (which has a color suitable for making trunk and branches) ._ cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_

1. if you use newspaper, which is thinner, cut strips 7-8 cm wide and about 20 cm long. If you use straw paper, which is thicker, the width of the strips should be about 2 - 3 cm. Fold the starting sheet several times, back and forth, in order to weaken it along the fold and then tear slowly, or use a ruler for this operation.

2. Place the paper strip on the table and position the skewer to form a very sharp angle and start wrapping the paper around the toothpick. The paper will spiral, but you have to be careful that the paper strip always winds without leaving any gaps. From time to time, fix the paper with a little bit of glue stick or vinyl glue. When you have finished rolling the strip, fix the last corner with a drop of glue, then take out the skewer.

With this technique you can also make the branches, inserting the straws one inside the other.

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ROLLS

To make the rolls you will need thinner strips (no more than 0.5 cm wide) or streamers. You can cut them with scissors or have an adult help you cut them with a cutter.

1. wrap the paper strip on itself using the skewer .

With this process you can create rolls of different sizes and with multiple colors. If you need a really circular shape, fix the last edge of the roll with a little glue.

If, on the other hand, you want to create elongated or curved shapes, shape the roll before fixing it with glue.

Before starting to compose your tree, it is good that you prepare a good number of ready-made elements

Let's start building the tree

By now, you should have figured out how to make the basics .

But remember that in art experimentation is the most important thing : while you work, you may come up with ideas on how to fold and roll the strips of paper in ways that your imagination suggests. Experiment, make some elements, observe the shape and keep them aside. You will surely find a way to use them in this or another job.

Questo è il primo modello sperimentale che ho realizzato mentre preparavo quest'attività. Il tronco e i rami sono realizzati con delle cannucce di carta di giornale. Per la chioma ho sperimentato diverse possibili soluzioni. Una, molto semplice, prevede l'utilizzo di stelle filanti (o, come nel mio caso, di striscioline di carta arricciate e incollate in più punti con colla vinilica). Una soluzione di questo tipo può essere utile per rendere una chioma gonfia. Per arricchire il lavoro, ho usato diversi verdi e ho cercato di intrecciare le striscioline in modo da rendere il lavoro meno monotono. Negli spazi della chioma ho inserito dei rotolini colorati. A sinistra, come vedi, ci sono diverse forme allungate (volevo trovare soluzioni per suggerire la forma delle foglie). Alcune forme sono realizzate con un profilo vuoto: ho così capito che forme come queste possono essere riempite con elementi che le rendano più consistenti e interessanti. Come forse avrai notato nell'immagine, ho inserito anche delle striscioline sottili di rame: le ho attorcigliate attorno ai rami di partenza. Può essere un'idea per creare i rami secondari o più sottili. Poi però ho deciso di escludere questo materiale per esplorare meglio le potenzialità della carta.

Now I will show you other examples of how the basic structure of the tree can be made starting, this time, from thin strips of paper straw that are folded and shaped to create the essential profiles of the trunk and branches: if used well, this technique allows us to obtain interesting results that highlight the characteristics of the bark of trees, characterized by splits, twists and knots.

The only rule is to place these elements with the thin side on the sheet, in order to give three-dimensionality to our tree.

Examples of structures made in the classroom

_cc781905-5cde-3194-bb58d-136bad5c it is not in a hurry to stick the elements on the sheet very important .

Prepare what you need to make the trunk and branches and lay the elements on the paper to find the best shape and position .

Do several tests by moving the elements and paste them only when you are sure that everything is working fine.

It is important that there is balance in your work: since the tree is the most important element, place it in the center , being careful to make sure that there is enough space on all sides so as to be able to create the base of the ground on which the tree is planted and to have enough space for the canopy to fit comfortably.

Make sure you can leave some empty space above the tree canopy