Squid Deadly Art

This is Deadly Art!

I'm lucky enough to travel the world tracking deadly animals.

But in this show, my team of artists take my killer moments...

..and turn it into art.

'And we'll reveal another unique creation.

'Along the way, you'll get to pick up some tips,

'tricks and techniques, so you can make some art yourself.'

'This is no ordinary art show. This is Deadly Art!'

'Coming up on Deadly Art...

'I travel to Mexico and come face to face with a giant of the deep.'

Amazing! Absolutely amazing!

'My artists recreate another killer moment.'

With the red against the black,

it really makes this huge monster stand out.

'And you can make some deadly art at home too.'

Today's creature from the deep is one of the most fearsome

and deadly killers in the ocean.

Nicknamed "the Red Devil,"

these killer molluscs are like something out of a sci-fi movie.

Meet the Humboldt squid.

These creatures can be two metres long,

which is longer than I am tall.

But it's not just their size that makes them deadly.

They have suckers ringed with razor-sharp teeth,

and a beak that can bite clean through bone.

They're totally fearless and have been known to attack sharks

and even to threaten divers.

What will our artists make of this monster? Let's meet them.

I'm Jo, I'm a painter...

..sculptor...

..and a general mess maker!

I'm Nicola.

I'm an ice-sculptor, a sand sculptor,

and a power tool queen.

Jo and Nicola are representing the Deadly Art team,

who are always up for a challenge.

And this is the unusual killer moment I've chosen

to inspire our artists.

'When I got a little bit too close to this squid for its liking,

'it squirted a cloud of defensive ink right at me!'

Well, this squid is like a sea monster from a sci-fi movie.

We're going to do a painting, but it's going to be enormous.

Yes, really bright, really bold and, as with all sci-fi movies,

let's use special effects on that killer moment.

'Great! Time for some more Deadly Art.'

'I haven't got a clue what all that equipment's for.

'Can't wait to see this one take shape.

'On Deadly 60, the crew and I travelled to the Sea of Cortez

'in Mexico, to meet these incredible but seriously scary squid.'

During the day, these squid are about 200 metres plus underwater.

But it's dusk, the sun's going down,

and they'll be coming closer to the surface to feed.

They're going to see if they can pull something in.

And when they do, we'll see our first squid.

'I have so much respect for these fishermen, dragging up squid

'with just a line, a lure and a whole lot of sweat.'

We've got something big coming in.

I'm just so excited!

How much line has he put in here?!

I see it! I see something! I can see a light shape coming up towards us.

Here it comes. Oh, look at that! Yes!

Yes! Wow! Look at the colours pulsing down the body.

I can't believe it!

There's the beak, he's pointing out to us there. That's the danger end.

I can't believe he's letting fingers get that close to it!

Look at that, it's like a giant parrot's beak.

It can cut straight through flesh and even bone.

It would easily take off one of my fingers.

Right, look down the length of all these tentacles.

Each one has sucker-cups running all the way down the length of it,

and every one of those sucker-cups is wringed with razor-sharp teeth.

Look at that. They're like the teeth of a piranha.

They'll slice through flesh,

and they use those to catch a hold of slippery sardines

and small fish that they're going to be eating, and draw them in.

I don't believe it.

Our next step has to be get in the water

and get close to them in their own environment.

'We returned the squid to the sea,

'and you'll see just how frightening they can be later on.

'How are Jo and Nicola getting on with the Deadly Art version?'

I started by sketching in the squid.

I want him to look dramatic and full of movement.

His tentacles are going to come out from the beak and go everywhere.

Look at this gorgeous red I've mixed.

This is going to be the base coat. Let's start getting those arms in.

'Our squid will look striking with that vivid palette.'

I'm creating a gloomy atmosphere using this dark,

murky paint I've mixed up.

And that's going to create a real monster-of-the-deep feel.

This squid is really taking shape, and with the red against the black,

it really makes this huge monster stand out.

'This canvas is going to look great.

'I'm really excited about seeing the finished result later.

'Jo's going to take a break. She's got a Deadly Doodle for you.'

I'm going to show you how to draw this Deadly Doodle

of a Humboldt squid.

We're going to start off with our pencil,

make a triangle in the top corner of the page,

and then two bowed lines coming down into the middle.

And two ovals for its eyes. Now for its arms.

'A squid has eight arms.

'The diamonds represent the clubs on the two longer feeding tentacles.

Now I'm, with my black pen, just going over all of my lines.

These arms that are curling round like that, they're a bit tricky.

So you go up like this and around. Stop.

Come to here, and you're just fattening them up.

Then the diamonds...

And then, I'm going to bring round the tentacles to the body.

We need two more, a bit further in the background.

Let's put those deadly eyes in, make him look really fierce.

And all we're doing for the suckers is tiny little squiggly circles,

all the way along the underside of his arms,

and then onto the diamonds.

Bit of definition.

And there you have it! The deadly Humboldt squid.

Is that deadly enough for you?

'Well done, Jo.

'We visited Crawley on a Deadly Day Out. Here's how your squid looked

'when some of you drew them in the Deadly Art tent.'

So I'm going to go directly over this line...

like that. The tentacles or the arms...

ALL: Is that deadly enough for ya?!

This is my squid doodle!

I enjoyed doing my squid doodle cos it was really fun for me.

This is my squid doodle!

I really enjoyed it. Jo's a really good artist

and she really helped me with it.

-I'm Ellie.

-And I'm Elizabeth.

BOTH: And we've just drawn a squid doodle.

I'm Megan and this is my squid doodle.

'Those squid look sensational. Keep practising your doodles.

'Let's get back to the Deadly Art studio, and our vibrant canvas!'

So, the base coat of our giant squid is complete.

And I've used some different shades of red here,

to give some shadows and some shading to the arms and tentacles,

to really show off that three-dimensional effect.

And now, using this peachy, skin colour, I'm adding on the suckers.

'The colours are so striking. I love the tentacles!'

I'm using these amazing ultraviolet paints,

which is our science-fiction special effect.

Look at this. When you shine the ultraviolet light on it, it glows.

-Who-o-o-a, that's amazing.

-Looking good.

'What a great idea!

'In Mexico, we weren't sure how giant a squid we were going to find.

'So, to protect ourselves from their sharp teeth and beak,

'we needed chain mail suits, like underwater Medieval knights.

'But we found a giant!'

Look at it now, covering the camera!

Oh, look at the colour change there!

Bright red, look at the pulsing there!

'Even though this squid seems calm,

'you can never be too careful with a fierce predator like this.

'Good job safety diver Scott was on hand.'

It's actually...AGH! Dear me, this...A-AGH!

The strength of the beak!

It just actually bit me through the chain mail suit!

It really pinched my arm!

You can see how easy it would be for a creature like this

to power itself away using that siphon.

But also, to create that smokescreen that's going to make it

almost impossible for another predator that uses sight to hunt by

to find the Humboldt squid.

That really is one of the weirdest,

most beautiful creatures I've ever seen.

OK, Scott. I'm just going to release it, now.

Amazing! Absolutely amazing!

'So beautiful as it swims off. Now, ever wished you had squid tentacles?

'Nicola has a dazzling DIY for you.'

Check this out. Giant squid arm.

I'm going to show you how to make one of these.

Take a piece of foam tubing, and some wire.

Fold the end over and post it in like that.

And then spiral the wire...

Get an adult to help you for this bit.

This will enable you to bend

and pose your squid arm any which way you like.

Next, take a big triangle of foam...

'You can get foam from any craft shop.'

We're going to fix this tubing all the way down, leaving a section

at the top and a piece sticking out at the bottom for a handle.

'You can use craft glue, but it just takes a little longer to dry.'

When that's firmly in position,

wrap this edge around to meet this one,

and fix it using some tape.

When that's secure, finally pull this flap down.

Now we're ready to make our sucker section.

For that, use a big piece of foam and draw on a big triangle.

And cut it out.

'Be careful when you use scissors.'

Next, mark on where you want your suckers to be.

And then using these suction cups,

which you can get from any DIY store...

'Make sure an adult does this section.'

..we'll attach those by cutting out a small diamond

on each of these marks. Pop one of these into each hole,

flip it over,

and with a little bit of glue fix them into position.

When you've done that all the way down,

it should look like this.

Take your squid arm and glue this over the tape.

Finished!

And now, if you make two of them, you can have your own pair of squid arms!

'Great fun! I'll persuade the Deadly 60 team to make some!

'Back to the Big Art. It's all coming together nicely.'

OK, the squid is almost complete, except for one secret ingredient.

In this airbrush is invisible, ultraviolet paint,

and when we switch the ultraviolet light on, all will be revealed.

-'What a superb special effect!'

-OK, Nic!

Yes, let's check it out.

That UV paint really brings that killer moment to life.

Those vibrant colours on that huge body make it stand out

against the dark depths.

I'm so happy, those suckers look really dramatic. Totally deadly.

'It's nearly time for the Big Reveal.

'I asked the team to recreate this killer moment, and turn it into art.

'Let's take a look at the finished result.

'That is one of the most breathtaking pieces

'we have ever had on Deadly Art.

'The colours are so vibrant against that black background.

'It's just like the pulsating red devil of the deep

'against the darkness of the deep sea.

'Oh, what a transformation!

'When the UV lights are switched on, it really comes to life.

'That ghostly glow is just transfixing,

'tendrils of ink just billowing out through the water.

'Brilliant! Well done, Team. Art doesn't get any deadlier than this.'

What an incredible creation! Make sure you try the Doodle and the DIY,

and we'll see you next time for more Deadly Art!

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

Email [email protected]