Sara's Scarecrow

My name is Sara and I’m from County Leitrim.

Art and design are important to me because it allows me to express myself. I love trying out new ideas, inspired by my beautiful surroundings.

Recently, I have been working on a new idea: scary scarecrows! My scarecrows not only frighten the birds but also my neighbours. Regardless, it’s been a fun project so far and I thought I’d tell you how I got started with my design for my first scarecrow... meet Chris!

For Chris’ construction, I like to use natural materials from the land to create an organic look to my scarecrow. I usually start off by making Chris’ head and the rough frame of the creature.

I try to use recycled materials when I can. There was lots of old straw and hay leftover from last year, so I used to these to create the scarecrow’s hair and fur. Afterwards, I used spray adhesive and spray paint to give him some colour. The finished product is pretty terrifying – take a look.

When Art Club! came to visit, I decided to make Chris his own pet! I was inspired by Irish folklore and wolves for the design. I wanted the pet to be extra scary, so his face is a skull. I made it out of paper mâché and tin foil and then painted it with acrylic paint. I added some glue and sealant to protect him from the elements. One day, I’d love to use a 3D Printer to make more skulls!

I filled bin bags with old hay to wrap around the pet’s frame to bulk it up. I was then able to use spray adhesive to attach a mix of loose hay and straw to the outside of the bin bags to look like fur. Finally, I spray painted it black to make it extra scary.

To put my scary scarecrows to the test, I left them outside for a few days around Halloween. My spooky creations were a great success. They scared friends and family, and they were still sturdy after several rain showers.

The land not only inspires my artwork but also my scientific research. I am in the middle of designing a wind turbine that can be purchased for domestic use, and I’ve won prizes for my research!

I love being creative and crafting, while acknowledging the land around me. It’s so inspiring.