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:
I also did your echidna. Jus finished today
He really turned out great, Keith! Did he poke you with his spines, the way mine did? I almost forgot about the one I made – I gave mine to my daughter. If anyone else is interested in making one, you can find it here. Thanks, Keith, for reminding me! And for sharing the one you made – nicely done.
Yes he did.
Sorry I accidentally spelled some of the words wrong in my last comment, the keyboard i have is hard to use.
Heh – I spell words wrong all the time, and my keyboard works just fine. 🙂
I just finished this project a few days ago. It is an old dove decoy one of our dogs chewed up, so I cut off some of the chewed parts, and the part used to stick in the ground. I added a paper and click the head, more paper to the tail, covered it with some paper strips and clay, and painted it. Then it was superglue and screwed to the log
It looks great, Keith. Thanks for sharing.
This is my latest project. I am looking for idea on how to paint it?
Any suggestions?
Hi Kim. Did you try to upload a photo for us to see? If you did, it was too big and the file will need to be edited to make it small. I do hope you’ll try again.
Just finished my most recent project. It’s called, “Wash Day.” Created armatures using wire and then the background water trough is made from cardboard. Covered in paper mache and then used your wonderful paper clay recipe. I love that I can manipulate the pieces and get some great detail. The piece will take about a week to completely dry. I do it in layers and then dry each layer but because the layers tend to get damp when adding more clay, I like to make sure it’s good and dry before I add gesso and paint. The “laundry” is made from tissue paper gently painted with very watered down glue. I haven’t decided yet if I will add colors or just paint it with neutrals.
It’s beautiful, Sue. What a wonderful project! How big is it?
Thank you Jonni! The piece wall and trough is 6-1/2 inches high. 18-1/2 inches long, and 5-1/2 inches deep (front to back). The ladies are 7 inches tall.
Fabulous! Either painting or neutrals would work beautifully! Maybe a bronze finish? I love the detail. If you can, would you be willing to share a picture from the other side? Very impressive work!
Thank you Eileen, and thank you for the finishing suggestions! I have actually decided that I’m going to paint it in very pale neutrals. Once it’s painted, I’ll show the back side. I do a lot of my work without face details, especially when the pieces are small, but you can see more of the detail in the aprons and tops of the dresses. I need a bit more practice making detailed faces.
Hi Jonni,
This is my first attempt at using paper clay. IT is kind of scary. ;D
Thanks for your advise and wise teachings!
Oops. Here is the pic.
Whatever you do, do NOT display this mask in a bedroom! It is scary but super well done. Love the knarly teeth!
I like your description – “kind” of scary! It’s a great mask, Antonio. Nicely done.
These are some more of my projects, the 2 smaller ones armature are made of foam and the 2 larger ones are decoys i fixed with paper mach e clay.
Hi everyone. Just in case you missed my latest newsletter, I want to make sure you take a look at my latest post. Even if you don’t need to make any paper mache smooth this week, you’ll still want to scroll down that page and see the announcement about our friend Rex Winn’s new book. (It isn’t about paper mache, but you’ll still want to see it) and give him a big thumb’s up for a job well done. 🙂
Hi Jonni!
I must tell you that you skills are just amazing! Thank you for sharing so much and for your correspondence to all the questions comments and sharing that other artist do! This format is invaluable!
So my question is about the air dry clay recipe. How is this stored and for how long?
I can’t wait to show you my projects! I just need to finish them up. Have 3 in the works!!
Hi Lyn – it sounds like you’ve been busy! The air dry clay will dry out really fast if you don’t keep it in an air-tight container. It also contains organic materials, so you’ll want to keep it in the ‘fridge if you don’t use up your entire batch in one sitting. If you take a longer break, you can even keep it in the freezer, and it will keep there almost indefinitely.
I can’t wait to see your new sculptures!
Yes I did here it is.
Awww! They’re adorable! What a great family project – I know they’ll be treasured for years.
Very sweet! Your family should be proud!
Some sculptures me and my family made out of mache. It’s our first try.
Hi Keith. Did you try to upload a photo? If you did, the file size was too big. You can make your image smaller with this free tool – and I hope you try again. We would love to see your work.
Hi Jonni
I did the Lion head wall plaque I added whiskers to him & this is what I did.
I found a small wiskbroom with light gray bristles, I wanted white or clear but couldn’t find any, then I simply pushed a small hole into the nose and glued in the bristles.
Had great fun with this.
Thanks!
I love those whiskers, Linda. Great idea!
Thanks Jonni, I had lots of fun making him.
Great whiskers! Flawless as far as I can tell. They look like they belong. I love the sculpture and painting is awesome. Love that nose. Thanks for the tip.
Thank you Rex, I appreciate the comments
Hola !!! Mi último trabajo en Papel machè.
Estructura realizada con papel periodico
Nice work, Monica. Are they portraits of people you know?
Gracias !!! Siempre me inspiro en gente que conozco pero no es un retrato .
But you gave them personalities of their own, even though you didn’t ‘borrow’ the features from a real person. That isn’t easy to do!
Fantastico! Love the sculptures and the way you have embedded the necklace in the sweater so no one steals it! Gracias.
Gracias !!! Por tu comentario.
This is my lion mask I just finished last night.
I love it, David. You gave him a real personality, and the yarn mane looks great. Thanks for showing him to us.
Great lion. It looks like everyone is having such fun with these and they are pleasing to look at.
Can I add it to my list? Thanks for showing us. Now that I think about it, if I could make one, I have a perfect spot above the head of my bed for it! (It’s very difficult to find a little wall space in my house.)
I agree, very lovely. I especially like the detail on the flowers and bonsai. Very realistic. Nice work.
Last two, waiting to be finished
Lily of the Valley and Echinacea
Susanne, how did you get the petals and leaves so thin???
I made the Lily petals using mulberry paper and Elmer’s Art Paste. The regular Elmer’s had too much tack and kept sticking the fine paper to my fingers, but the paste has a real slickness that made working with the paper easier. Also, I shaped a small cap of aluminum foil which I glued onto the eraser end of a pencil…it allowed me to layer and shape the delicate flower heads without having to grasp them. Before they were completely dry I popped them off of the aluminum and let them finish drying.
Excellent ideas, Susanne, and obviously very effective! Would you ever be interested in creating a guest post for the blog with step-by-step instructions for making flowers like this? I know many people would love to see it, if you just happen to take some photos as you’re making your next ones. If that sounds like fun, just let me know.
A guest post would be fun! Right now I’m in the process of relocating, though, so it will likely be a few months before I get settled in and back to sculpting.
Ah, yes – the joys of moving house. I totally understand – but do keep us in mind. We’ll look forward to seeing your guest post, whenever you have time to write it.
Susanne, I can’t wait for your tutorial. These are the most favorite petals I have ever seen. Really great job. Thanks.
Susan, these are fantastic! I’ve tried making flowers before, and it’s no easy thing to get the leaves thin enough. Thanks for sharing!
zebra
sea dragon
Nuts! When are you going to get the body finished? (LOL) Really, with all those teeth, tongue, everything, you could do a body in half that time. I love it.
Thanks, Jonni! It always means a lot to me to hear that you like my sculptures.
I’ve just been referring to him as ‘Mystery Critter’…I spent a long time on this little guy and was so relieved to be done with him that I didn’t think of naming him anything special. =)
I have a few more to share: a bonsai, a dragon, a zebra, and a Lily of the Valley and Echinacea.
They’re all lovely, Susanne. You’ve really been busy!