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Patterns make it easy to create paper mache sculptures and masks. See the patterns.
Over 450 projects and recipes for paper mache, including Jonni’s famous paper mache clay. Get inspired.
Meet Jonni and other paper mache artists, get support, and show off your own work! Join us!
Paper Mache – Why Should Kids Have All the Fun?
On this site we have patterns, tutorials, videos and step-by-step instructions that help you create your own hand-crafted paper mache sculptures. Your host, Jonni Good, is an animal sculptor and the author of four popular books about sculpting.
Jonni is also the inventor of the famous paper mache clay recipe, and she brought back the idea of using patterns inside your paper mache sculptures. These two things completely change the way paper mache sculptures are made.
Now beautiful paper mache sculptures, wall art and masks can be made by artists of all ages. The materials are inexpensive and the methods are easy, but your sculptures will last a lifetime if you take care of them. Your next paper mache sculpture might even become a treasured family heirloom.
Need help with your next paper mache sculpture? Ask for advice on the Daily Sculptors page.
Jonni’s Paper Mache and Sculpting Books:
Other Highly Recommended Resources for Learning to Sculpt with Paper Mache:
GourmetPaperMache – nobody does paper mache monsters and dragons like Dan Reeder!
Papier Mache – lots of great tutorials using traditional paper pulp and paper strips and paste.
Paper Sculpture: Over 25 Cute and Quirky Paper Mache Projects – fantastic book for fun projects both kids and their parents will enjoy making.
Recent posts:
Paper Mache Lion Mask Pattern
Use this pattern to make a beautiful wall mask for your home, or create a comfortable helmet-style mask to wear. The pattern makes it easy.
Paper Mache “Beast”
We have a guest post today that I know you’ll enjoy. Theodore Carter created a paper mache sculpture that he titled “The Beast,” and he
Twistable Pattern for an Animal Sculpture
Several people have mentioned that they’d like to make to make patterns for sculptures that show animals in twisted or dynamic postures. Our cardboard patterns
New Paper Mache Wolf Mask Pattern
I’ve been busy the last few weeks making a new pattern for a paper mache wolf mask. I started it just before April Fool’s Day.
Reef Fish Made with DIY Air Dry Clay
Rex Winn recently showed us his delightful school of reef fish on the Daily Sculptors Page, and today he shows us how he made them.
Casting Your Fast Faces in Cement
Using Rebound 25 and Thi-Vex to Make a Small Concrete Casting I created a new Fast Face this week. This time it turned into a
Jonni,
I caught your video on the lion head, was very exciting! You made a mold. But you had to start with a lion head, correct? Where did you get it? What is the cost? Or do you have an extra one lion head to sell? Please verify. Thanks, Fernando
Please
Hi Fernando. I did start with a lion head, but I sculpted it myself using wet clay. I did make a video when I was working on the sculpt, but I didn’t give much detail, I’m afraid. You can see it here: https://www.ultimatepapermache.com/concrete-garden-art-making-a-clay-lion-head-model
Jonni, I love your iron finish on your lion and have a question. Can you tell me the source of this iron material, is it a bottled product, powder ??
Nice work and thanks, Tom
Hi Tom. I use the Type B iron coating from Sculpt Nouveau. It’s a liquid acrylic product with metal embedded in it. And I spray the second coat when it’s wet with their Tiffany green patina, which oxidizes on iron to a nice rust color. If you do a search on YouTube for the Brick in the Yard channel, you can see some great videos showing how to use the Sculpt Nouveau products.
And I should also mention that I used their bronze coating with the green patina on my Ballerina Bunny.
Advice/help. I have a scupt made from monster clay (wax clay). I know papee mache shouldnt hurt the clay but im wondering if there may be a good release to use? I want to make a few base pieces to detail but i also still want to keep the sculpt to refine its details and make a latex mask. Any suggestions or ideas for me to “think on” would be ao welcome! .
Hi Misty. Petroleum jelly will work as a release, but I don’t know how the clay will react to it. It softens oil-based clay. You might want to experiment with it. You could also experiment with a silicone spray. Try it on a small bit of your Monster Clay, let it dry, then put on a coat or two of paper mache and let that dry. Remove the paper mache and see if any residue is easy to wash off. Then try squishing and shaping the clay to see if it’s affected by the silicone. You can do the same with the petroleum jelly. Or – you could contact The Monster Makers – they’ll probably have better ideas than I do. 😉
Hi there, I’m working on a project in which I must cover a 3d printed large-scale sculpture with concrete, but concrete does not stick to plastic. If I covered the sculpture first with papier mache, would the concrete stick? Thanks!
Hi Karin. Papier mache doesn’t stick to plastic, either. I’m not a concrete expert by any means, but it sounds like you need to attach something to the plastic that the concrete can grab onto, like stucco lath. It would need to be attached to the plastic form with screws, I assume. But again, this isn’t my area of expertise. You might want to contact your local concrete contractor and ask him for advice. Good luck with it!
Hello, I am interested in finding someone who can repair a “Joseph” from a manger scene that was under our Christmas tree fifty years ago. I’ve put it out every Christmas for 20 years. Poor Joseph was much shorter the last two years. It is the ONLY thing that was broken in a move. Of course, its only value is family oriented. But I read the information about how to repair paper mache and will be honest; I am horrible at all art including even cutting with scissors. If someone is interested, I will be happy to send a picture and, of course, pay for your work. Thank you so much. Denise
Hi Denise. You might want to contact local art galleries, museums or antique stores for a local referral. There might be someone in your town who could take a look at it and either fix it or tell you who could. Another possibility is your local university or community college art department. One of their teachers, or even a student, might be able to help. Good luck!