Make Beautiful Sculptures and Masks with Paper Mache and Paper Mache Clay

133 thoughts on “Paper Mache – for Beautiful Sculptures and Masks”

1. I am in awe of your art!!! I am going to try to attempt the baby elephant for our VBS thIs year but I really love the face of you wall elephant is there a way to put the to of them together that would look right? I don’t think I would have time to do it twice if it didn’t work out. Thanks

   • Hi Christy. That’s an interesting idea, and one that nobody has ever asked me before. It should be possible, but the sizes are different. The wall sculpture pattern is about 8 1/2″ high at the neck, and the standing elephant is about 12 1/2″ at the neck. If the wall sculpture pattern is printed larger, or the standing elephant pattern is drawn smaller, I think it would work. If you opted to print the wall elephant larger you’d probably need to get your local print shop to do it for you. Most home printers won’t work with larger paper. And I’m math challenged, so I’m afraid you’d need to work out the percentages yourself.

     However, if I did it, I think I’d start with the wall sculpture as it is, tape it all together, and then lay it on a very large piece of cardboard and trace around the outside edge. Then you’d have a good idea how much smaller to draw the standing elephant pattern. If you do this, I really hope you’ll let us see how it turns out!

2. I would like to make “boulders” with funny faces on. them. I may start with an 18 inch sphere and add materials to make it a little bigger and to have enough depth to sculpt the face. These will go in the garden. What materials should I use, and in what order
   , so they are weather-proof?

   • Hi Susan. I don’t know of any product containing paper that is waterproof, except paper-crete, a concrete mix. Some people have used Flex Seal for their outdoor paper mache sculptures, but they haven’t had them outside long enough to know how long they really last. If a bird pecks even a pinhole through the plastic film water will get in and destroy your beautiful sculpture. For small sculptures to go outside I use epoxy clay, (my favorite is Apoxie Sculpt).

     For larger pieces, you might want to use Pal Tiya. Eileen wrote a very nice tutorial showing us how to use it.

3. Hi Jonni

   I just found you on YouTube for the first time. WOW your amazing! Since I haven’t seen all your material yet, I was wondering have you ever done a flamingo? If not, wouldn’t that be gorgeous!? I collect them and have always wanted to make one but had no idea where to even start. Never thought to check on YT. We did masks with the strips in fifth grade, sure wish I still had it. I also collect giraffe’s and love lions so when I saw your’s that was it for me….love! You have such a gift.

   Thank you, Karen

   • Hi Karen. I haven’t made any flamingos, but you should take a look at Kelly Richard’s guest post about her blue heron. It’s stunning! Her methods could be used for a flamingo, with a few changes to the shapes of the head and neck. Go ahead and give it a try – I know you’ll have a lot of fun with it. 🙂

4. Is it possible to use school glue instead of glue-all? I have a huge supply of white school glue I am hoping to use up.

   • Do you mean in the paper mache clay recipe? If that’s what you want to do, you’ll need to test it first. Mix a small amount of the drywall joint compound with an equal amount of the school glue, and see if it gets thick or rubbery. If that happens, it won’t work. If not, it should be fine.

5. Hi Jonni

   I’ve made my first batch of paper mache clay and whilst it’s a little too early to call it a fail, when it drys I think the result will be underwhelming.

   I mixed it up with beaters and it was very stiff and dry. To bring it together I had to add about a cup of water. Once it was all mixed and smooth I added some flour. Probably half a cup!

   You can see from the first pictures it wouldn’t paint on, and it sort of didn’t stick together. I worked it across the surface with my hands and eventually got full coverage nearly to the edges. So then I sprinkled quite a bit of flour across the top and used a small pastry roller to even out the surface. It’ll be a miracle if it works!!

   What do you think I could or should have done to fix the mix please?

   I’m also wondering if clay works on large surfaces or whether I should have stuck to traditional newspaper strips? I’m thinking I may need to apply several layers of newspapers over the clay (once dry) to make sure it sticks together?

   Again, thank you so much for your help.

   Warmest regards – Belle

   

   • Hi Belle. Did you use pre-mixed drywall joint compound (the kind that come in a plastic tub) and was it a brand other than DAP? (DAP joint compound tends to make the pm clay lumpy or stiff). Did you measure the amount of paper that went into the recipe? The next time you make a batch, try using the gram measurements on this page.

     The paper mache clay isn’t supposed to be painted on. You always need to use a knife to spread it onto your armature.

     The paper mache will work on large projects. To keep the weight at a minimum you’ll want to use a very thin layer of the paper mache clay. You can see the dragon I covered with paper mache clay here.

     • Thank you for getting back to me so quickly- you must be one very busy lady!

       I’m in Australia and I didn’t see the Dap brand in Bunnings. I used Sellys Spakfilla. There was another brand there so I’ll buy a small pot of that tomorrow and see how I go.

       I’ve only got an older (cheap!) style of scales, not digital, so I didn’t use the gram method. Perhaps this is the perfect excuse to upgrade my kitchen scales!

       Thanks for your advice – Belle

       

       • I don’t think they sell DAP brand in Australia. I’m not familiar with any of your drywall joint compound brands – I hope your next batch comes out better. 🙂

6. Im totally inspired to have a go ! You are an amazing artist thank you for sharing your knowledge.

   • Thanks! Happy sculpting. 🙂

7. Nicholas, are you taking a plaster mold of your face?

   That elephant turned out so great, and using texture paint was brilliant!

8. Hi paper mache community! I’ve really loved this site and have learned a lot, ending up making table decor and other props for three years’ worth of library benefits… everything from Hedwig, Moby Dick, and the leviathan Jules Verne to most of the characters from Alice in Wonderland and reefs and giant seahorses for an under the sea theme. Thanks so much!

   • You’re welcome, Betsy! Thanks for much for letting us know you enjoy the site.

   • Do you have any pictures, Alice in Wonderland sounds so interesting.

     I have been surfing around today and found this site. I’m not sure how I will do, I haven’t sculpted in a very long time. I have a two year art degree but found myself helping designers in fashion design which meant mostly
     receiving customers, watching the front room and sometimes sewing.
     It seems a little less expensive than using “paper clay” or sculpty.
     Oh, I did sculpt one doll, let me see if I have her on this computer, Leanne

     

     • Hi Leanne. Your doll is beautiful. I can’t remember doing anything with Alice in Wonderland, but one of our regular readers on the Daily Sculptors page might have some they could share with us. Leave a comment there, and see what they come up with.

     • That doll is heirloom quality. Just beautiful!

9. Hi Jonni ..

   My name is Nicholas.

   A few years ago I followed your advice and plaster of paris mix to do an Alex De Large mark for a fancy dress party. Lots of comments and everyone loved it.
   I am now going a mock up of my own face and am applying the first Gesso coat with no added colour.

   My question to you is can I use water colour paint to add into the gesso mix ?

   Blessing

   • Hi Nicholas. Yes, you can add paint or pigment. The color won’t be very bright because the gesso mix is so white, but it does work. Give it a try and see if it works the way you want it to.

     • Hi Jonni,

       I’m looking to make a sculpture with paper mache and then paint with encaustic over it. Do you know if the flour and water recipe will work with encaustic? Is the flour and water recipe considered porous? (That’s the main requirement of encaustic) Thanks!

       • Hi Roni. The flour and water recipe will absorb water, so that must mean it’s porous. You’d want to do a small test, though, to make sure it works the way you want it to.

10. Here’s a pic of it last night.

11. Hi Jonni, just an update on my very large to be paper mache elephant for my wifes birthday. Large in the way, height is 156cm, 61inches, length is 212cm, 83inches. I’ve ventured off from your plans slightly but I am now up to the paper mache stage, though I’m still thinking to do a layer of masking tape to strengthen it more. Fingers crossed it works.

    • Wade, we would love to see that elephant – but I think you tried to upload a photo, and it didn’t work. If you did, it was probably too big. File sizes need to be less than 250 kb to work in the comments. I hope you’ll edit the image and try again. If you don’t have image editing software, you can use this free online tool.

    • Hi mate Jonni, hopefully my picture will upload. I’m very happy with the finished product as is my wife. I used pva glue and water, ratio of approximately 2 parts glue to 1 part water. 2 layers of newspaper, 1 layer of paper towel, them painted with a textured exterior paint.

      

      • Hi Wade. Your elephant really turned out nice. I like the textured paint idea – and the tusks. Do you intend to leave it outside?

12. Hi I brought the lion head pattern but when I went to print it today I couldn’t as I had left it too late, can you please resend it to me

    • Hi Judith. I reset the link so you can download the pattern. Be sure to actually save it to your computer or device, so you can always access it whenever you need to. If you don’t still have the original receipt with the download link, let me know and I’ll resend it.

      Have fun sculpting!

13. I just wanted your ideas please. I just made a small bendable wire amateur. Now, before I apply paper clay over the wire, must I first place glue over the wire before applying this paper clay?
    Thank you

    • Hi Quintina. I always create some form of armature over the wire, so only a very thin layer of paper mache clay is needed. Is that what you intend to do?

      • I mean that I form the shapes of the sculpture with crumpled paper and masking tape, or crumpled foil and hot glue. This can be placed around the wire so the shapes can be bent into the proper position before the paper mache is added.

14. how to make paper mache smooth clay??

    • This video will help: How to make paper mache clay smooth without sanding.

15. Olá!, eu amo sua escrita entã? tanto ! compartilhar nós ?star ?m
    contato mais ?obre s?u artigo na AOL? Eu precisa especialista neste
    casa ?ara desvendar meu problema. Talvez é
    você! Dando um? olhada frente perscrutar você.

    • Unfortunately, Google translate mangled Paulo’s comment, so I can’t give a reasonable answer. I hope someone who speaks Portuguese will help out??

16. Hi Jonni,
    Wonder if you could help me decide on how to get a smooth effect on my Highland cow horns!
    Thanks
    Pauline

    • Hi Pauline. Have you seen this video? It works for both paper mache clay and paper strips and paste. I do hope you’ll let us see how your cow turns out!

17. Hi Jonni. You are amazing!! Just watched the vid on re-make of Mr. Kangaroo….when you asked about helping Dino to stand…what would happen if you glued washers to the tail and also feet for internal weight? It wouldn’t show. I love your sculptures and teaching.

    • Yes, I think some weights will help. I might end up using some epoxy glue to attach him to a stand, but even then I need him to balance the right way. It’s going to work – but you might see me fiddling with it in my next video. 🙂

18. Dear Jonny,
    I LOVE your sculptures! You make it look so easy! I thought to myself… “Okay, I can do this!”… and my clay came out lumpy and my sculpture looks like it’s part dog ( which it’s supposed to be) and part bearded dragon! Hahahahaha!
    How I wish I had your talent!

    • Hi Nina. The paper mache clay isn’t supposed to come out lumpy, so is it possible that you used more paper than the recipe calls for? Or perhaps you pressed out so much water that the paper couldn’t come apart when it was mixed? But even with the lumpiness, it sounds like your first sculpture is interesting anyway. Do you have a photo you could share so we can see it?