Daily Sculptors Page
Join the conversation and share your paper mache sculptures with our supportive community.
No artwork to share today? That’s OK, too… We’d love to hear from you. Just scroll down to the bottom of this page and use the comment form. 🙂
The latest photos from our readers:
Update on my thylacine (Tasmanian tiger). All finished on the body prep work, except for some facial detailing. Starting the paper mache clay soon!
I can’t wait to see it!
Hello everyone. I haven’t posted for awhile. Here a few new pieces. The first one is a university of Florida and FSU. Statue I just finished.
What an interesting character! This one is my favorite so far. What is it called, and will it be part of the university’s permanent collection?
It was just a take on the university of Florida and FSU rivalry. A couple of university of Florida people have liked it on my Instagram page. Haven’t really contacted them about it.
Allan, this one brought back memories of a visit to Stanford University. They had small statues like this around one area of campus. They were delightful creations to come across. I wonder if they wouldn’t buy it from you. (Just say yes.)
Hey Rex. Thanks. My wife was asking me to contact the university of Florida to see if the would be interested.
Jonni
I’m mostly a woodworker.
But as I learn about paper mache, I probably will do more experiments.
I’ll post them if/when I do.
Barry
Fwaaa. She’s so nearly finished. I just need to get the back in order and apply a black wash. 🙂
I’m so excited! Hope all you lovelies are having a great time! Summer looms over the horizon and the sun becomes tyrannical but, hey, everything’s so pretty outside, one can hardly complain. 🙂
Also, it turns out I had a blog all along. I just forgot it existed until my husband reminded me. Bless him.
Blogs can slip away in the night, if you don’t keep an eye on them. 🙂
Our weather turned warmish in the last few days, and my back is aching from all the garden work I couldn’t do when the snow was two feet high. But I’m not complaining, either!
Oh no! The picture didn’t go through! I’ll fix that.
Wow – it’s wonderful, Sarah. Amazing colors and shapes. How is it displayed – do you have a stand of some kind?
Thank you, ma’am! It’s a wall-hanging. I just need to attach a hanger to the back and she’ll be good to go. Such a fun adventure, I’ll have to make more of these in the future!
I love fish. This one is delightful. You certainly did a lot of work on it. Thanks.
Hey Guys, need ur help. I was very careless and was using the paper mache clay on my second giraffe wearing my favorite sweater. Naturally I got some of the clay on it and didn’t realize it. When I discovered my stupidity, it was too late to wipe it off. Took it to the cleaners but he either didn’t want to touch it or he just couldn’t get the two spots out. I tried a rough emery board and got some of it out. I also tried my acetone but I think if I continued that I would lose the pretty purple color. Has anyone out there ever have this problem and found a solution I sure would like to know what they did to get it out. I am getting so senile
Hi Barbara. All of the products in the pm clay are water-soluble, so it should come out if you let the spot sit in a bowl of cold water overnight. I don’t think acetone will do any good, because the pm clay isn’t made with oil-based products. Give it a try and let us know if it works. And if anyone else has a better idea, please let us know.
Barbara, I get paper mache on everything I wear. Today I noticed a splotch on the floor. I just throw the clothes in the washer. Never had the clay not come out. Paint is another story, and trying to scrub out dried paint usually leaves its mark.
Experiment 1:
1. Ball of newspaper.
2. Covered ball in paper mache clay.
3. When dry, sprayed with enamel spray.
4. Left in a bucket of water.
Result: It went soft after 4 hours.
Experiment 2.
1. Ball of alumium foil.
2. Covered ball in paper mache clay.
3. When dry, coated with Titebond 3 wood glue.
4, Sprayed with enamel spray.
5. Left in a bucket of water.
Result: Went soft after 24 hours.
Experiment 2 isn’t wholly weatherproof but is good for the sort of subtropical area where I live.
Interesting experiment, Barry. Will you be testing any other products in the future?
This is one of a pair of angels I did for the church at Christmas. Though I have made several paper mache pieces over the years I have decided to buy a couple of books and see how I should really be doing this. I love big and messy stuff!
Hi Lisa. Did you try to upload photos? If you did, they didn’t come through. The file size needs to be much smaller. Check the tips at the top of the page to edit your photos, and please try again. We’d love to see them. (And what, pray tell, is a whomping willow?)
That was the bewitched willow tree in the Harry Potter series of books and movies. You should ask your grandson-he will know!
I should have known, too. I read all the books, but as usual I forgot just about all of it. I might need to read them again! 🙂
One of the teachers was doing a Harry Potter themed room and asked me to make the car for her whomping willow.
I forgot one more of the student’s work. I particularly like this one and I hope she continues.
That’s a nice chicken, Eileen. Thanks for sharing your students’ work – and for introducing them to paper mache. 🙂
Yes, that’s great. Love the black dots and her creativity. Perhaps you can get my brother to buy it because he loves chickens so much! I love that you’re doing this.
Hey Ms. Jonnie, I guess this didn’t go through.
But I managed to make all the little animals I had asked you about. Hopefully the photo shows up. Of course the baby elephant and the baby rhino are not to scale, but the rest of them are including the female figure. After I had finished with it, my sculpture teacher said I could’ve made them life size and I about hit him for it, mainly because I really wanted too do that in the first place. Too late now. But the great news is I won first place in the art show for best sculpture. (everyone thought she was made of concrete, so they kept touching her head to find out) Anyway I just wanted to say thank you for the help and the advice you gave me.
Thanks a whole bunch
I can certainly see why it won first prize – you did a great job with the figure and all the animals that accompany her. Well done! Does it have a good permanent home?
No, she doesn’t have a permanent home. In fact I had to recycle the main sculptor into something else. My art history teacher asked everyone to come up with a goddess and me being who I am thought up a dragon goddess, so I turned her into a dragon (Which people think she is a demon due to her color) She’s a dragon. She also has chopped of wings in the back that you can’t see. (You can see them on my facebook page Lorehand Creations if you like) But anyway this is what she looks like now. 🙂
Excuse my messy room, I moved back in with my sister and don’t have the huge amount of space I had before. 🙂
I guess I could mention the armor is made out of foam. I also twisted her hands around so she could hold a baby dragon and she has a crown made out of wire (That’s not in the photo)
Amazing! I hope you’ll repost the photo as a new comment (not a reply) on the Daily Sculptors page, because everyone should get a chance to see her.
An amazing group of sculptures. Certainly prize worthy. Congratulations.
Joyce
Thank you, I still have the animals.
I love all your creations. You did deserve first prize. I have a few pieces of “Asian” art around my house, and I would love to have a figure like this sitting somewhere. Don’t think I could do full size, but I love all the animals surrounding her. Thank you for sharing all your hard work and creativity. Also, it goes without saying, but love the meditative look on her face.
Well I would offer her to you but she’s change a lot. 🙂 not to mention she would cost a lot to send in the mail. 🙂 I still have all the little animals. the monkey is MINE!!! hahaha
But thank you for the lovely comment. sorry my reply is so late. school has me so busy I forget what I’m doing half the time.
Some more projects by my students. The 2 fish are off of Jonni’s book, the one in front is a student’s. the back one is a demo done by me. Then we have a whale and a rabbit pencil holder, sort of a take on Jonni’s goose pencil holder.
Nicely done, Eileen. You’re a great teacher.
Must be fun to see what your study turn out. Thanks for sharing.
Joyce
i have a few projects that my students have just completed. The fish is finished with gold wrapping paper and earring eyes, the 2 birds are finished with tissue paper, and sponge bob is well, sponge bob. They all chose their final project and really got into it. What fun!
What a diverse group you must have, from the looks of their final projects. Have they told you if they intend to keep sculpting after the class is over?
I do believe that a few of them are hooked which is really gratifying. I know they all enjoyed the class but they admitted that it isn’t as easy as it looks. They are also are very vibrant seniors with loads of interests and may not have enough room for more! We will see how many of them reup for the next class in the fall.
For me, I had a great time, learned a lot and got to know a bunch of great people.
I want to thank you for your youtube channel and website. I’m a French teacher–not an artist–but I volunteered to try to make a gargoyle for our Paris-themed prom. I found some ideas for his frame on Pinterest, but it was your funny little man video which gave me the most important hints on using the plaster gauze, make various facial features, etc. I learned so much, and I can’t wait to watch more videos and keep creating!
Lynette, your gargoyle is delightful. He must have been a big hit at the prom – or has it happened yet?
Thanks for the kind words. Fortunately, the prom isn’t until Saturday night! I still have a Sunrise on the Seine backdrop to finish! 😉
Wow – you volunteered for a big job! Good luck with the backdrop – and have fun!
Lynette, I love gargoyles (have three in my bathroom) and this has got to be a hit. His face is wonderful and the expression is very creative. (On a trip to Europe, I discovered how unique, funny, or scary, gargoyles can be, and I love this one.) Thank you so much.
Thanks!
I love this gargoyle.
Thank you!
Here’s a photo of him with some of my students at prom.
That photo is priceless! Thanks for sharing.
Jonni., I was in my poetry mode this afternoon and this little ode came to mind. I thought you could add it to the other verses in “I wish”. Seems that while I lack the energy to do much of anything, my brain keeps on working and I’m very happy about that. I hope you like my effort. And I like your new look, but the text seems a little light or is that my old eyes?
I wish I could sculpt a creation
That would simply blow viewers away
They would “OH” and they’d “AH”
And they’d hardly believe
It’s from Jonni’s paper mache
First I must build an armature
With some crumpled foil and glue
Or maybe paper and masking tape
There no limit to what you can do
But I think I’ll sculpt an angel
As beautiful as can be
So that while we sleep
And dream sweet dreams
She’ll keep watch over you and me.
Joyce, I love your poem! Thank you so much for sending it. And I just found the button to change the text color, although it doesn’t seem to work everywhere. Every time I change themes I break things, but we did need some sprucing up. Can you believe this is the tenth year this site has been online?
Now I’m going to dream about a paper mache angel giving me creative ideas while I sleep.
I do hope you’re feeling a little better now.
Joyce, this is not the first time you have sent a wonderful poem! Thank you, I love it! Do not despair, that angel will watch over you and enable you to get the strength to sculpt again. Be well!
Thanks, Jonni. I am feeling quite a bit better now, but still don’t have the strength to do much except work on my iPad. I have been trying to clean up my work room with the hope that soon I will be able to create, be it watercolour painting, or sculpting I don’t know, but my inner being wants to do something!
Thanks , Eileen for your kind words
Thank you, Eileen. A little delay in replying, but I appreciate your kind words.
Joyce
I see the reply button now! Joyce, love the poem. Creative and entertaining! Thanks.
Thank you, Rex. I am glad you enjoyed it.
Jonni, I don’t see a single “REPLY” button on this page.
Eileen, a friend made me a small dog of Loki after he died. She made it with SuperSculpty added with paper mache clay. She uses gloss medium. It was sticky for over a year. Just a theory. Interesting.
Thanks for letting me know, Rex. I just changed the theme and things always break when I do that. I’ll see if I can get it fixed – wish me luck!
And your experience with the medium is very interesting – I wonder why we haven’t heard more about this? You’d think it would be considered a flaw in the formula, wouldn’t you?
That is interesting Rex. Do you suppose it is the glossy part of the medium or varnish? Does it not get sticky when you use matte or satin? Some of my sculptures get a slight stickiness and sort of stick to a painted shelf but not enough to pull the paint off of either the shelf or the sculpture.
Jonni, as far as it being a flaw of some sort, perhaps it was meant to be used on 2D surfaces, not on sculpture. It shouldn’t matter because you don’t want a picture to be sticky either. Hmmm.
I did a fast Google search, and it looks like this is a common problem but I just never heard about it before. The glossy versions seem to have the most problems. I never use a gloss varnish or finish, so maybe that’s why I haven’t run across this problem before. A sticky painting would get dust on it, and you’d never get it off!
But more importantly – how did you reply to Rex? Are you seeing the reply link? I can’t see it, but I contacted the folks who designed the new theme, and I’m sure it will appear again shortly. For all of us, and not just Eileen. 🙂
Eileen, I have used many types of varnish. The one I am using now never sticks or even gets sticky. With most of the spray varnishes I have used, I learned to let the sculpture dry for at least a week. I have never used glossy medium, so I don’t know about that. I have used both glassy and matte varnish. Couldn’t tell the difference in how sticky they were.
I might add that the heavy duty gesso I used for the wolf’s fur texture doesn’t seem to have the sticky problem, either. And I used the varnish brand Rex recommended last year (Deco Arts Americana matte and soft versions) and there is no stickiness. Maybe the problem is limited to the brand and product your student used?
Next to the date and time, there is a “reply” in grey. Just touch that and then a comment can be made as usual. There is no button though.
Oh my – I think you’re the only one who will ever see it. One more thing to fix…
I have a question to put out to you guys. One of my students said that her mask, finished about 5 weeks ago, felt sticky after a hot day here. She did the normal process of gesso, paint, then 2 layers of varnish. She said it was sticky to the touch, not just that slight stickiness you might get when putting a finished piece on a painted shelf. I had no clue as to what to tell her. I told her to put it in the sun during a sunny day. Does anyone know what would cause this? I wonder if she applied the varnish when the paint wasn’t totally dry? Even so, it should all be dry now. She used Liquitex gloss varnish. I appreciate any thoughts on this.
Boy, this is a new one. I rarely run my air conditioner, even on really hot days, but I’ve never had a sealed and varnished sculpture or mask get sticky. And it’s really humid here in MN on some very hot days. Is it possible that she painted it before the paper mache was dry? If not, I’d be tempted to call the Liquitex people and ask them if they know what might have caused it.
I do think the sculpture was totally dry but am not sure if the gesso or paint was totally dry in between layers. Even so, I don’t think it should get sticky. That was a good suggestion to contact Liquitex, I think I may do that so I can have an answer before the next class. Thanks.
Let us know what you find out!
I contacted the Liquitex people and they said that acrylic paints and varnishes will get sticky when placed in a hot environment. They said especially the gloss mediums will get soft and sticky. Maybe she used that instead of the varnish? They said the water based varnish will get the hardest. All they advised to do is to put it in a cooler place.
I did think of your wolf mask, how you were getting into the mediums for the texture…let’s see how it fares over the summer. I think i will wait to see how yours does before i experiment!
That seems strange – shouldn’t we have heard of this before? I’ve lived in some very warm places and I rarely turn on the air conditioner. None of my sculptures have ever been sticky. I ordered a book that shows us how to use acrylic mediums and it should be here soon. I’ll see if the author mentions this issue.
I enjoy using the paper mache sculpting material. A few things I did differently are
That I did use powdered sheet rock mud that was already mixed to use. It seems to work ok.
Next, I put the softened toilet paper into a bullet blender with a lot of water. After blending well, I pour into a strainer to drain and squeeze out. It’s very fine and ready to add the remaining ingredients with a mixer.
Finally , although sandpaper doesn’t work well , metal files of various sizes do work well. If you’re concerned about breathing the powder wear a mask.
Still working on posting pictures otherwise there’s some on my Facebook page
JoAnne Freas Waltenburg
Thanks, JoAnne. I have some tiny files but I never thought to use them with paper mache. What a great idea!
Thanks, JoAnne. I bought some small files (5 or 6 of them) a few weeks ago, and I was wondering if there is some secret to using them? It seems they “fill” with clay quickly. Any guidelines for an amateur, or is this just a stupid question!? I thought they would help with nose holes, etc.
Whether in plaster, stone, or metal, I always keep an old toothbrush near to clean out the teeth of my files. Haven’t tried it with the paper mache clay recipe yet, but only because I hadn’t thought to take a file to it. Good luck and hope it works!
Front pose.
This is Gina my whimsical giraffe. I have so much love for giraffes now. Their face bone structure is so unique. If my ceilings weren’t so low, I would buy one for a pet. Meanwhile, I was hoping to hang Gina on a small wall as I walk into my den. She was suppose to be looking out seeing who was coming into the room. Like a watchdog. This was a very big challenge for me. Unfortunately, I think I made her too heavy and if I hang her on the wall she may tear it down. I was going to drill a hole on her bottom, insert a pipe half way up then glue the pipe to a flange. The flange would then be screwed into a wooden board. Not sure if they will work either, the screws may pop out. I will probably have to set her onthe floor instead. Unless someone has a better idea, would be much appreciated if u did.
Barbara, I don’t know how to do it, but I have one question – do you have a way to find the studs behind the wall so you can use long screws? And is there a wooden backing on the giraffe’s neck?
I was going to apozy glue the base unto a wooden board like I did on my elephants. The glue company said their glue hold over 1000 pounds. I will go to Home Depot and buy a stud finding tool.
I also apozy the big ring hooks on back of board. It held up the elephant. Remember when my elephant fell off the wall? Well he’s up there now guarding the entrance to my art/cat room
Your Gina is beautiful, Barbara, and the eyes and paint job are especially fabulous.
Joyce
Thank you Joyce. I’m basically a two dimensional artist. The next one I may try to paint more realistically. Hope u doing ok today.
Hi, Jonni. Haven’t commented for a while but managed to do a few today, but there was so many wonderful new sculptures on your site, that I had to quit and just say how impressed I am with all the work, however I must say how nice it was to see Eileen’s Fast Faces.
I am slowly recovering, but haven’t yet attempted any art work except what I do on the iPad. I have more tests coming up as well as a lot of dental work due in part to the anemia and of course my age.
I am so glad you are here so that I may come and visit with you and your friends.
Joyce
Hi Joyce. It’s good to hear from you again. Are you home now? And I agree with you about the new sculptures we’ve been seeing lately on this page. What a creative group of artists!
Hi Jonni, I haven’t been in the hospital since March, but I had to go for an iron infusion last week and my iron is extremely low. Still don’t have the energy to do anything except look.
Yes, Joyce, nice to hear from you. Can you get my dental work while getting yours done! I have a cousin who was just diagnosed with anemia and she is on a pill that puts her to sleep for the whole day. I told her to get out her old iron frying pan — might help with the iron!
I agree with you about Eileen’s fast faces. They are great. Get well quickly, um, as fast as we can at our age!
Rex, I wish you could get the dental work done for me. I am not looking forward to that at all. And I could sleep all day without taking a pill and I think I gave my old iron frying pan away, but thanks for the idea.
Joyce, I know where ur coming from. I’m having quite a few health challenges myself. You said u r not doing any art work. For me, no matter how I feel, I do art work to take my mind off of the pain. The brain can’t think of two things at the same time. All I know is it helps me to do the art work other wise I’m in bed and get depressed. Hope u feel well.
Sorry for not replying sooner. I find I don’t have the energy to work at my first loves, watercolour painting and sculpting, but I still do digital artwork on my iPad and writing simple poems. Even when I was in the hospital my iPad was my companion, but I would still like to feel well enough to do the other things, Thanks for your words,
. Joyce