MEXICAN BLACK KING SNAKE

In this tutorial, we'll create a striking piece of wall art featuring a Mexican Black Kingsnake. This project uses various household materials, transforming everyday items like aluminum foil, crepe paper, and a black trash bag into a textured, three-dimensional sculpture on canvas.

Be prepared to embrace the darkness for this project, as we'll be using a lot of black to capture the sleek look of this beautiful snake. So gather your materials, and let's get started on this exciting and creative endeavor!

To make this sculpture, you will need the following materials.

Materials:

1. A canvas (I used one that was 80 x 60 cm)
2. Black paint or black spray paint
3. Gold paint
4. Aluminum foil (two 7.5-meter rolls recommended)
5. Newspaper
6. Crepe paper
7. White glue
8. Hot silicone sticks
9. Black trash bag

Tools:

1. Hot glue gun
2. Pencil
3. Scissors
4. Paintbrushes
5. Craft knife

Before you begin, it's helpful to have a clear idea of your snake's final pose. You don't need to be a professional artist; a simple sketch will do. Find a reference image of a Mexican Black Kingsnake that you like, or simply draw the curves and coils you envision for your sculpture. Add some guide lines to help with the placement and flow of the snake's body.

Once you are happy with your reference, draw it in pencil on a sheet of paper the same size as your canvas. This will serve as your blueprint for the next steps.

For the background of our piece, we will use a black garbage bag to create a unique, fabric-like texture. With your scissors, carefully cut open the bag along the side and bottom seams, unfolding it into a large, flat sheet.

Next, take your 80 x 60 cm canvas and white glue. Working in sections, apply a generous amount of glue to the canvas and begin to adhere the black bag. As you press the bag onto the canvas, create small folds and crinkles to give the impression of overlapping, textured fabric. Continue this process until the entire canvas is covered.

Using the sketch you made earlier as a guide, we will now begin to give our snake its three-dimensional form. Take your aluminum foil and start to cut or tear off long sheets. Crumple and roll the foil to create the snake's body, aiming for a consistent diameter of about 4 cm.

I used two 7.5-meter rolls of aluminum foil to achieve the desired thickness and length. It's easiest to work in sections and then join them together by wrapping another piece of foil around the connection points. This will ensure a sturdy and continuous structure.

To create a smoother surface for painting, we will now cover the aluminum foil structure with crepe paper. In a small bowl, mix some white glue with a little bit of water to create a paste. Tear the crepe paper into strips, dip them into the glue mixture, and apply them to the foil structure, overlapping the strips to cover the entire surface.

Once the crepe paper is completely dry, it's time to paint. Apply a single, even coat of black paint to the entire snake. There's no need for multiple layers at this stage, as we will be adding scales later on.

To create the scales, take a sheet of newspaper and, in a well-ventilated area, spray paint it black. Once the paint is dry, use a pencil to draw diamond-shaped scales, each measuring approximately 2 cm x 3 cm. To save time, you can fold the newspaper into strips and cut out multiple scales at once.

For a touch of visual interest, you can also create a small number of scales painted with gold paint. Once you have a good amount of both black and gold scales, begin gluing them one by one onto the snake's body, overlapping them slightly to create a realistic, textured appearance.

The moment has come to unite our serpent with its textured domain. Carefully position your finished snake on the canvas, following the curves of your original sketch.

Using a hot glue gun, apply a generous amount of hot silicone to the underside of the snake. Firmly press the snake onto the black bag background, holding it in place until the glue has set.

And there you have it – your very own Mexican Black Kingsnake wall art is complete!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and that it inspires you to see the artistic potential in everyday materials. Happy creating