Tiny Treats

If you go for a walk in Ottawa, Canada, you might pass something strange—a tiny lollipop sculpture stuck to the side of a pole!

Since 2016, a Canadian artist who goes by SAM (short for Street Art Miniature) has been sticking tiny treats, from cheeseburgers to pizza slices, around the cities she visits. “It’s my way of adding an unexpected surprise to the streets,” she says.

You might see something strange if you travel to Ottawa, Canada. A tiny lollipop sculpture is glued to a pole somewhere in the city!

The lollipop was made by a Canadian artist who goes by SAM. SAM is short for Street Art Miniature. She has been placing tiny treats around the cities she visits since 2016. Sometimes she sticks cheeseburgers to walls. Other times she glues pizza slices to street signs. “It’s my way of adding an unexpected surprise to the streets,” she says.

SAM began making miniature food after she received a polymer clay set as a gift. Polymer clay is a type of soft, colored clay. It hardens when baked.

SAM’s technique involves blending, painting, and sculpting with art tools. To mimic the texture of a slice of bread or a fried egg, she uses toothbrush bristles or foil to create tiny bumps and lines. “I’ve learned over the years that patience is important,” SAM says. “You can’t rush and expect your miniature to look realistic.”

Someone gave SAM a polymer clay set as a gift a few years ago. Polymer clay is a type of colored clay. It’s soft. But it becomes hard when you bake it. SAM used the clay to begin making miniature food.

SAM makes her miniatures by blending colors of clay and paint. She sculpts the clay into the shape of food using art tools. She uses toothbrush bristles or foil to create tiny bumps and lines in the clay. These lines and bumps mimic the texture of the food. “I’ve learned over the years that patience is important,” SAM says. “You can’t rush and expect your miniature to look realistic.”

Use the fractional measurements in the table below to answer questions 1-4. You can draw number lines on a separate sheet of paper to help you solve.

Use the fractional measurements in the table below to answer questions 1-4. You can draw number lines on a separate sheet of paper to help you solve.

ITEM                                LENGTH

Toast                                ³/₄ in.

Bean                                ¹/₁₆ in.

Ham slice                        ¹/₄ in.

Mushroom                     ¹/₈ in.

Egg                                  ³/₈ in.

Sausage                          ⁶/₈ in.

Tomato                           ¹/₄ in.

ITEM                                LENGTH

Toast                                3/4 in.

Bean                                1/16 in.

Ham slice                        1/4 in.

Mushroom                     1/8 in.

Egg                                  3/8 in.

Sausage                          6/8 in.

Tomato                           1/4 in.