Hi Jonni, The talc has worked ! the finished clay is a lot easier to work with needle files for cleaning up around the hooves and putting in small details, it sands a lot easier. I should have wrote down what I actually used in the mixture but I think it was 1 part glue, 1 part water, a large tea spoon of wallpaper paste powder, and 2 parts talcum powder I then added pulped paper until the mix was workable to my liking. The Gemsbok is only my 4th piece (I have done a butterfly fish but have not finshed it yet) but the Gemsbok is coming along nicely-I must admit I do like the rough feel of paper mache and the finish it produces when finished with a faux bronze effect so I will have to make sure that I dont get carried away with sanding! I am still experimenting with the various mixes but its great fun trying stuff out!
Hi Jonni, I think its is as strong-it feels pretty tough to me! in fact I am surprised how much abuse it can take as this piece(the Gemsbok) fell off the table twice whilst I was working on it and remained intact! The piece is now almost finished apart from a base-I also need to put my Bull Elephant on base to finish it. I can’t decide if I should leave it natural colours or just paint over it and do a faux bronze or copper finish….I will have to sleep on it! Anyway I must sleep now zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz I think I might be addicted!
Hi Everyone , thanks so much for the kind comments it is really encouraging. The Gemsbok is about 15″ long (35cm) and about 7″ (17.5cm) at the point of the shoulder. I am quite pleased with him but he has got two legs slightly fatter than the others but I am telling people that he has an infection where a chasing Lion scratched him on both legs! I’m a bit disappointed with the horns-I think maybe I need to highlight them with a drybrush to show areas of wear and tear. I am now trying to decide which animal to do next maybe a Warthog or a beautiful male Kudu with those lovely twisting horns.
Hi, I just posted a two minute video of the Gemsbok in progress on You tube for anyone who’s interested at http://youtu.be/QPjxieJHDWI Enjoy!
Wonderful. Thank you!
Hi Guys, My latest offering a Butterfly Fish mad from a pitza tray! Video view at http://youtu.be/VYXX-uBT_Qs Enjoy and thanks for all the great comments!
Thanks, Bwana!
He’s beautiful just as he is! He looks so natural! Very nice work!
Hi everyone, I’m volunteering for a community theatre in Naugatuck, CT. We are putting on a comedy called, “Murdered to Death”. We are looking for an elephant (trunk raised) that can be thrown into a “fireplace”. It is supposed to be made of wood, but my thought was to make one out of paper mache and faux finish it to look like wood.
Is there anyone out there willing to take on the challenge? And, since we don’t have many funds as a non-profit, this would be either a donation or minimal charge. The elephant would need to be about 18′ high and proportional and it would be needed by the end of August. Email me if you are able to help us. Thank you!
Hi Jessica-thanks for your comments-it wasnt fibre glass strands or matting I was going to add to the paper mache clay-I dont think that would work-or maybe the stranded fibreglass would give added strength.? Anyway it was talcumum powder that I was adding -when used with polyester resin it gives a softer easier to work finish for filing sawing and drilling etc. I thought I would add some to the PM clay mix and see if it does the same- I now have a rough layer on the Gemsbok and I’m waiting for it to dry but I want to work on the nose and nouth with a file and clean up the legs a bit and round the hooves so I will post the results here in a couple of days.
Hi, Firstly thanks to Jonni for a great site! I thought I would upload a work in progress photo of my third paper mache sculpture a Gemsbok (pronounced “hemsbok”) I have done about 4 hours on this sculpture over the last couple of nights-its very addictive working with this medium and a great way to relax! I will be having a go at making a some paper mache clay including talc which should make the finished hardened clay easier to sand and work-I used to add it to fibreglass resin as a filler and the more you add the easier it is to work so I will give it a go and let everybody know how it mixes with the paper mache. I would love to hear any comments good or bad! [img]http://ultimatepapermache.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/BwanaFosterGemsbok.jpg[/img]
How did the talc work with the clay? Having a surface that is easier to sand would be great. (I love the Gemsbok – it’s fun seeing him as he progresses.)
Hi – I wanted to share a couple pictures of a brown bear my daughter and I made this past school year. Her class was doing a project on National Parks and each child had to pick an animal to make a sculpture of and she picked a brown bear. This was my first attempt at paper mache but I think he turned out pretty good. I made the form out of chicken wire first, then covered him with foil…then the paper mache. His head was molded from newspapers inside a plastic bag, then adding cardboard ears and a plastic cup nose, then taping it all together in the shape of a bear head. After I painted him, I didn’t care for how shiny he was, but it was too late. Unfortunately, the bear is no more. I put him in the garage because of his size, and some critter got to him one night and chewed up his legs. He was fun to make so I might try my hand at something else…perhaps something a bit smaller. 🙂 Enjoy and Thanks! Mary [img]http://ultimatepapermache.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/brownbear.jpg[/img]
It looks good! I’ve not had much luck with aluminum foil when it comes to paper mache. I don’t find it adheres. I’ve also not had much luck with masking tape. I’m not sure, though, if it isn’t because of Florida’s humidity.
Hi Jonni , thanks for your comments on my Rhino sculpture-after visiting your site I am now hooked on paper mache! I am rapidly becoming a hoarder of paper and cardboard and I think it might be getting out of hand already…..! anyway I have just finished my second paper mache sculpture of a Bull African Elephant. I finished him in black with bronze highlights but I am toying with the idea of putting some green patina on him-(although I think I might have over done it on the White(or should I say green?) rhino! Anyway I am getting hooked-I have just started on a butterfly fish using a foam pitza tray as a basis and have managed to get the first layer on-I will post some pics as soon as I get it finshed! Thanks again for a great site! Bwana Foster. You can see the making of bull Elephant on you tube by pasting the link below into your browser. http://youtu.be/igW1b3IdfRM
Thanks for the suggestion! I’ll take a look at it.
My stepfather wanted to build his own furniture too. He thought he needed thousands of dollars worth of equipment to do it. I understand now why he thought so. These beginning carpentry books often promote all these tools. I’m certain they are useful–but when you are a beginner, it is unlikely you have them…and you probably want to make sure you have talent before spending all that money! I recently put up a mailbox, and the how-to video I watched did the same thing. I did just fine with a shovel and a Phillips head screwdriver.
Just wanted to say that I’ve been enjoying reading these posts. I know I haven’t contributed much. I spend so much time on the internet with my jobs, I tend to limit it elsewhere.
And Jonni–thanks for this paper mache clay recipe! It’s awesome!
estou encantada com tudo e todos; assim que terminar o festival de inverno vou começar a trabalhar em alguma coisa e enviar fotos quero fazer uma marionete de papel marche mas estou com uma duvida; se eu usar papel marche com gesso poderei ter um material resistente para não quebrar? fiz com gesso mas ficou frágil e as crianças terminarão por estragalos com abraços e carinhos apertados terei que corta boca e olhos mais uma duvida, por que e para que serve o óleo de linhaça?
Espero que eu não me importo aproximadamente traduzido sua mensagem espero im direito de Português para Inglês.
“HI Iracilda Macedo Bezerra
I hope you dont mind I roughly translated your message from I hope im right from Portuguese to English.”
iracilda macedo bezerra,
estou encantada com tudo e todos; assim que terminar o festival de inverno vou começar a trabalhar em alguma coisa e enviar fotos quero fazer uma marionete de papel marche mas estou com uma duvida; se eu usar papel marche com gesso poderei ter um material resistente para não quebrar? fiz com gesso mas ficou frágil e as crianças terminarão por estragalos com abraços e carinhos apertados terei que corta boca e olhos mais uma duvida, por que e para que serve o óleo de linhaça?
“I am delighted with everything and everyone, so take off the winter festival will start working on something and want to send pictures to make a paper puppet march but I have a doubt if I use paper marche with plaster can I have a resilient material to not break? made with plaster but was fragile and will eventually estragalos children with hugs and affection I have to cut tight mouth and eyes one more doubt, why and how is flaxseed oil?”
Paper mache is not indestructible, but it won’t break the way plaster does. It does flex a little, but you can break it if you really try. I’m not quite sure what you’re asking about flaxseed oil, but if you want to know if you must include it in the paper mache clay recipe, the answer is no. The recipe will still work without it.
This is my first time posting, and first of all, I’d like to say “THANK YOU SO MUCH” to Jonni for providing such a valuable resource to those of us who have just discovered Paper Mache Clay… for the recipes and for this resource to share our experiments and seek advice from other sculptors. Oddly enough, I don’t consider myself a sculptor at all. I’m a PAINTER who also creates jewelry (from the images in my paintings). I recently had an idea that I wanted to create a mannequin bust to display my jewelry, mostly for shooting photos for my website so that people could view what the jewelry looks like on a model (without having to hire someone every time I need to take photos). I decided to try paper mache, and was so glad I discovered Jonni’s site because I discovered I can have more sculptural results with the paper clay.. and don’t have to spend a fortune on buying the commercial “paperclay” for something this size! I started with a styrofoam head, then added an armature made out of paper and tinfoil for her bust. I’m including process photos so you can see how I went about this. I’ve been working on her for about a week, and I think I made a mistake in not making sure she was drying fast enough (I covered her head with a bag for overnight to make it easier to model details the following day). I believe she is developing a little bit of mold in the jaw area (and maybe a little in the chest). So my question is if it is possible to get rid of mold after it has already started to develop??? For instance, can I inject some bleach with a needle to stop the mold? Or should I be removing the inner paper structure by now, so that it will be easier for her to dry from the inside? If I do this, should I pour acetone to remove the styrofoam too? There are areas where the clay is actually quite thin, so I’m not sure she’d have enough support if entirely hollow. I hope someone can help so that I don’t have to throw away this form which I’ve devoted quite a lot of energy to. This is my first sculpture of this size, and I’m growing quite fond of her. 😉 [img]http://ultimatepapermache.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/9stepsProgress.jpg[/img]
She looks very nice, Robin. I can see why you would enjoy her company. For the mold, I would just spray a bit of bleach on the affected area and then dry the paper mache as fast as possible. I know it won’t fit into an oven, but maybe you could put her in front of a fan or outside in the sun. Mold can’t grow if there’s no moisture. Once it’s dry and well sealed, I don’t think there should be problem – but if anyone knows differently, please let us know.
Thanks so much for your quick response, Jonni. After reading through other blog responses emphasizing the importance of drying the form from the inside-out, I decided to remove her from the support and started pulling the inner paper out. Doing this, I discovered how much moist clay was still inside, so I think removing the innards will definitely help her dry out faster. I didn’t have any bleach at home, so I left her out in the sun while I biked to a local store to buy some. I’ve sprayed her with bleach inside and out to prevent any further mold forming, and now have a very HOT bulb facing towards her center. This also helped me discover where her walls need to be thicker, so I’ll add to those places after I’ve made a new batch of clay. [img]http://ultimatepapermache.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/hollow-heated.jpg[/img]
My remaining question is whether I should melt out the styrofoam head, especially since that’s where the most significant mold seems to be forming. I bought some nail polish remover (primary ingredient is acetone). If I pour this inside to melt out the styrofoam, how do I properly dispose of it? Do I just throw it in the garbage, or will I need to bring it to someplace where they properly dispose of such products? Once the styrofoam has been removed, it would be possible to put her in our oven, I think.
Your questions about acetone and foam will need to be answered by someone with a better understanding of chemistry than me. Nail polish remover scares me while it’s still in the bottle. If the clay is hard enough to hold it’s shape, you might be able to cut the head in half (with the seam in a place that will be easy to repair) and remove the foam. Then you can stick it back together to keep it from warping. That might be easier than melting the foam and filling your house or studio with toxic fumes.
Just thought I would post a few photos of my newest mask in process… I am calling it “Neon Funny Face” it’s going to be a part of my collection of street performance masks.
The funny faces will be brightly coloured with neon black like sensitive paint, inspired the bright colours of Bollywood movies and have hints of Hindu inspired characters… the goal is to create a cast of masks that will make people laugh and hopefully interact with them, when there out about the town.
Hi – You could try making a type of harness to fit on your shoulders, this would be made from wire and wrapped in cloth which would then be attached to the head. Bend wire to fit over one shoulder, across back, over second shoulder and across front – join. Cover wire and use stick on velcro to attach to head – I think this should work as long as the head is not to heavy! Dawn
Sorry about the late response… can you post some pics of your mask ofit and the inside so I can see what you have to work with… or if you don’t want to post it here you can all ways email me the pics at douglaswitt@hotmail.ca
I would love you help you any way possible, I also think thought it would be something that everyone here would like to see.
Cheers Duglas
PS Dawn you have some good suggestions there… thx for commenting… 🙂
I am presently undertaking the creation of a paper mache person. The completed figure will be standing with a height of slightly less than three feet. Do you have any suggestions as to how I might successfully make a structure that allows the person to stand without toppling over?
Evelyn, I think the best way to do it is to weight the feet and a few inches of the lower legs. You could use rocks, plaster, or anything that will be heavier than the sculpture above. I sometimes use a glue gun to stick a rock or two onto the armature before covering it with paper mache. I think I got the idea from Monique Robert. It works.
I tend to use a cardboard pattern inside, with crumpled paper and masking tape over it. The wire works well, but I have a hard time seeing the form when using chicken wire. And Dan Reeder’s armatures would be perfect for figure sculpture.
For making armatures, is there anything household I could use? I’m without a car and only really have access to what’s already here. I have pretty much all the usual kitchen stuff, and some clay.
As with everything I try learning to do, I jump in without testing the waters. I came across this wonderful site while searching for sculpting clay is friendly to those prone to ruining finished areas while working on another area. I watched many of Jonni’s videos jumped right in! I began with a pattern for a carousel horse I drew. Well, he’s neat. But a lot bulkier than intended. Went overboard with the crumpled paper. Now he’s talking and I am going to listen…. so far, he’s wanting to become a Gypsy Vanner, black and white tobiano with lots and lots of hair…. here is a pic of where we are now. I do a little bit on him everyday. [img]http://ultimatepapermache.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/pm-horse-b1.JPG[/img]
Thank you, Jonni! Initially, I was planning on painting a dowel rod and base gold for a carousel horse, but he’s much too bulky for that, so I am thinking about creating a base of “grass”. Something with some weight to it, like polymer clay then covered with the paper mache clay. Purchased the “Make Animal Sculptures” book finally and should begin at the beginning. And continue on with the horse as well.
So one of the things that I’ve been doing since I last posted is making Kazoobas for the Kazooba Band contingent in the 4th of July parade this year. Kazoobas are kazoo-based paper mache instruments that I make (and I’ll have tutorials on the website soon so folks can make their own.) And after several years of talking and wishing, it looks like we’re actually going to have a marching contingent this year! I don’t know if we’ll have 5 people or 25 … but I should have enough Kazoobas for all.
The conversation about pricing has been especially relevant for me … as one of the questions I get asked most often is ‘how much?’ and can I get you to make one for me? I’ve side-stepped by saying I can teach you to make one … but my plan is to sell them after the parade if people want them. Band members will get first dibs, and a little bit of a discount, then regular folks.
The issue for me is that they look like (and sound like) toys … which calls up a whole different pricing scheme. Anyway … I’ve been being a bit coy about this, and it’s definitely time to let the genie out. If you’re near Takoma Park, MD and want to join the Band for the parade, let me know. More are welcome. : )
Thanks! I hope I get a bunch of marchers too. And it’s a different sort of business venture for me. I’m not really looking to go into Kazooba production … tho it’s fun, and gives me lots of ideas for new instruments and decoration. Mostly I’ve decided to sell them because people keep asking, and I’ve worked a little too hard on them to feel good about just giving them away.
If my dreams and druthers count, I’d like it to turn into a workshop / key note speaking/performance kind of thing.
Kazoobas seem silly and fun, so in my experience, people who are reluctant to sing in a group, are often willing to play a Kazooba. And that willingness can translate into all kinds of community building, co-creation experiences: building rhythms together, building simple harmonies, and more.
There’s a dance company here that does something similar to this with dance. That’s the model I’m trying to emulate … tho I didn’t expect originally to be doing it with Kazoobas. That seems a natural path now.
All this to say … I’ll be delighted if some sell. And I’ll also be delighted if this creates more interest in Kazoobas and what a Kazooba Band can do. 🙂
I love these! I’m working on some large sculptures which are more fine arts and hard to simply ‘present’ out of context; without the work of my collaborators. When I have it all together, I’ll post something. In the meantime, I just love seeing and reading what everyone is doing.
PS I’m from Silver Spring, but now live in Los Angeles so I know Tacoma Park well. Enjoy.
Heh! I was reading this reply in my email so I couldn’t see the pictures and didn’t know what Kazoobas were . Oh, I an idea formed in my head, but it definitely wasn’t a musical instrument! :p
Oh please I really want to see how you make them. When will the tutorials be up and where.? I went to your website http://kazoobaband.com/ but only found the title page, no other information.
I will be glad to put a link on my website kazoologist.org
Boy, I sure haven’t been keeping up with the “daily” part of this post, have I? I have been so busy painting my house and finishing up little projects that I started years ago, so I haven’t had time to sculpt. I’m trying to get the place ready to sell – I’m ready for a new adventure, although I still haven’t decided where I’ll go if the house sells. (Someplace with a dedicated sculpting room, though, for sure!)
Just to prove that I’ve been busy (honest!) here’s my newly painted kitchen (and if you happen to know anyone who’s looking for a house in Oregon, I threw together a website – LaGrandeHouse.com). [img]http://ultimatepapermache.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/001.JPG[/img]
Jonni, You have a lovely home and gardens. I don’t know how you have time to do all the things you do! I think I’m just lazy! 🙂 Good luck with the sale, and I hope wherever you go you keep your blog going. Sincerely, Terry
Love the color of the paint job on the kitchen. The website looks great. Crossing my fingers it’ll sell for you. Any ideas where you’d like to go? Staying on the west coast? Giving any more thought to buying an RV park and converting it to an artist’s enclave?
I’d love to buy an RV park, but my funds are very limited. I tend to buy books and art supplies instead of putting money in the bank for later use. I have been looking at real estate in SW Minnesota, near where my daughter moved. At those prices, and with the size of the houses, it would be possible to have boarders or a group home. But then one has to live with people, when one tends to be a hermit by nature… 😉
Did you notice I had website problems today? Too much load on the server. I think Hostgator got it fixed – they’re good people. It made me think of your site. Find a solution for it yet?
I’m also doing repairs and renovations. Painting my room almost killed me when it came to the closet. I’m allergic to the smell of lyme, and the closet is full of it. I was driven out of my room for several days. My parents were successfully practicing procrastinators. I’m 37 years old, living in a house with peeling tile, rotted out cabinets, and a leak. There is a hole in the ceiling of one bedroom, which came from an old roof leak that had been caused by Hurricane Andrew. I realized I had better start fixing up the house, or it may not be fit to live in when I get old.
I want to build my own furniture because store furniture doesn’t quite suit my needs. I’m reading books on carpentry. We’ll see how that goes. However, my next project is to fix the rust holes in my mom’s car.
Good luck with all the repairs. I tend to leave things until it’s time to sell a house. That isn’t very reasonable, is it?
I recently found a book that shows how to build furniture with a system that reminds me of a child’s toy – the old fashioned kind, where the kid actually gets to build his own creation, instead of fiddling with pieces of plastic. The projects aren’t very sophisticated, but they look like a lot of fun. I put it on my wish list. (Your furniture will end up being much nicer, I’m sure – but carpentry is something I’ve never been able to master). 😉
[img]http://ultimatepapermache.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/1344817787110.jpg[/img]
Newest projects 🙂
aww 🙁 Having issue with posting pics…sorry guys..will try again
Love your sculptures…can’t wait to see them finished.
Hi Jonni, The talc has worked ! the finished clay is a lot easier to work with needle files for cleaning up around the hooves and putting in small details, it sands a lot easier. I should have wrote down what I actually used in the mixture but I think it was 1 part glue, 1 part water, a large tea spoon of wallpaper paste powder, and 2 parts talcum powder I then added pulped paper until the mix was workable to my liking. The Gemsbok is only my 4th piece (I have done a butterfly fish but have not finshed it yet) but the Gemsbok is coming along nicely-I must admit I do like the rough feel of paper mache and the finish it produces when finished with a faux bronze effect so I will have to make sure that I dont get carried away with sanding! I am still experimenting with the various mixes but its great fun trying stuff out!
This sounds like a great recipe. Just as soon as I get a chance I’m going to try it out. Do you know if it’s strong as the “jonni clay” recipe?
Hi Jonni, I think its is as strong-it feels pretty tough to me! in fact I am surprised how much abuse it can take as this piece(the Gemsbok) fell off the table twice whilst I was working on it and remained intact! The piece is now almost finished apart from a base-I also need to put my Bull Elephant on base to finish it. I can’t decide if I should leave it natural colours or just paint over it and do a faux bronze or copper finish….I will have to sleep on it! Anyway I must sleep now zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz I think I might be addicted!
He’s beautiful! How big is it?
Hi Everyone ,
thanks so much for the kind comments it is really encouraging.
The Gemsbok is about 15″ long (35cm) and about 7″ (17.5cm) at the point of the shoulder. I am quite pleased with him but he has got two legs slightly fatter than the others but I am telling people that he has an infection where a chasing Lion scratched him on both legs! I’m a bit disappointed with the horns-I think maybe I need to highlight them with a drybrush to show areas of wear and tear. I am now trying to decide which animal to do next maybe a Warthog or a beautiful male Kudu with those lovely twisting horns.
Hi, I just posted a two minute video of the Gemsbok in progress on You tube for anyone who’s interested at
http://youtu.be/QPjxieJHDWI
Enjoy!
Wonderful. Thank you!
Hi Guys, My latest offering a Butterfly Fish mad from a pitza tray!
Video view at http://youtu.be/VYXX-uBT_Qs
Enjoy and thanks for all the great comments!
Thanks, Bwana!
He’s beautiful just as he is! He looks so natural! Very nice work!
Lovely!
WOOW! Great!
[img]http://ultimatepapermache.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/BF1-1.jpg[/img]
Hi everyone,
I’m volunteering for a community theatre in Naugatuck, CT. We are putting on a comedy called, “Murdered to Death”. We are looking for an elephant (trunk raised) that can be thrown into a “fireplace”. It is supposed to be made of wood, but my thought was to make one out of paper mache and faux finish it to look like wood.
Is there anyone out there willing to take on the challenge? And, since we don’t have many funds as a non-profit, this would be either a donation or minimal charge. The elephant would need to be about 18′ high and proportional and it would be needed by the end of August. Email me if you are able to help us.
Thank you!
This sounds like a fun project. If anyone wants to take it on, contact me and I’d be happy to forward your email to Claudia.
My Gemsbok taking shape.
[img]http://ultimatepapermache.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/BwanaFosterGemsbok1-2.jpg[/img]
It’s really looking great already. Nice action in the stance, beautiful horns. I can’t wait to see how it looks when it’s done.
Hi Jessica-thanks for your comments-it wasnt fibre glass strands or matting I was going to add to the paper mache clay-I dont think that would work-or maybe the stranded fibreglass would give added strength.? Anyway it was talcumum powder that I was adding -when used with polyester resin it gives a softer easier to work finish for filing sawing and drilling etc. I thought I would add some to the PM clay mix and see if it does the same- I now have a rough layer on the Gemsbok and I’m waiting for it to dry but I want to work on the nose and nouth with a file and clean up the legs a bit and round the hooves so I will post the results here in a couple of days.
Hi, Firstly thanks to Jonni for a great site!
I thought I would upload a work in progress photo of my third paper mache sculpture a Gemsbok (pronounced “hemsbok”) I have done about 4 hours on this sculpture over the last couple of nights-its very addictive working with this medium and a great way to relax! I will be having a go at making a some paper mache clay including talc which should make the finished hardened clay easier to sand and work-I used to add it to fibreglass resin as a filler and the more you add the easier it is to work so I will give it a go and let everybody know how it mixes with the paper mache. I would love to hear any comments good or bad!
[img]http://ultimatepapermache.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/BwanaFosterGemsbok.jpg[/img]
Please do! I was thinking of mixing the paper mache clay with fibreglass myself. Looks good!
How did the talc work with the clay? Having a surface that is easier to sand would be great. (I love the Gemsbok – it’s fun seeing him as he progresses.)
Hi –
I wanted to share a couple pictures of a brown bear my daughter and I made this past school year. Her class was doing a project on National Parks and each child had to pick an animal to make a sculpture of and she picked a brown bear. This was my first attempt at paper mache but I think he turned out pretty good. I made the form out of chicken wire first, then covered him with foil…then the paper mache. His head was molded from newspapers inside a plastic bag, then adding cardboard ears and a plastic cup nose, then taping it all together in the shape of a bear head. After I painted him, I didn’t care for how shiny he was, but it was too late. Unfortunately, the bear is no more. I put him in the garage because of his size, and some critter got to him one night and chewed up his legs. He was fun to make so I might try my hand at something else…perhaps something a bit smaller. 🙂
Enjoy and Thanks!
Mary
[img]http://ultimatepapermache.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/brownbear.jpg[/img]
Sorry…forgot to attach the before picture.
[img]http://ultimatepapermache.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/makingofbear.jpg[/img]
Great bear, Mary. Thanks for showing him to us.
It looks good! I’ve not had much luck with aluminum foil when it comes to paper mache. I don’t find it adheres. I’ve also not had much luck with masking tape. I’m not sure, though, if it isn’t because of Florida’s humidity.
Hi Jonni , thanks for your comments on my Rhino sculpture-after visiting your site I am now hooked on paper mache! I am rapidly becoming a hoarder of paper and cardboard and I think it might be getting out of hand already…..! anyway I have just finished my second paper mache sculpture of a Bull African Elephant. I finished him in black with bronze highlights but I am toying with the idea of putting some green patina on him-(although I think I might have over done it on the White(or should I say green?) rhino! Anyway I am getting hooked-I have just started on a butterfly fish using a foam pitza tray as a basis and have managed to get the first layer on-I will post some pics as soon as I get it finshed! Thanks again for a great site!
Bwana Foster.
You can see the making of bull Elephant on you tube by pasting the link below into your browser.
http://youtu.be/igW1b3IdfRM
Thanks for the suggestion! I’ll take a look at it.
My stepfather wanted to build his own furniture too. He thought he needed thousands of dollars worth of equipment to do it. I understand now why he thought so. These beginning carpentry books often promote all these tools. I’m certain they are useful–but when you are a beginner, it is unlikely you have them…and you probably want to make sure you have talent before spending all that money! I recently put up a mailbox, and the how-to video I watched did the same thing. I did just fine with a shovel and a Phillips head screwdriver.
Just wanted to say that I’ve been enjoying reading these posts. I know I haven’t contributed much. I spend so much time on the internet with my jobs, I tend to limit it elsewhere.
And Jonni–thanks for this paper mache clay recipe! It’s awesome!
You’re welcome! I’m glad so many people are doing such wonderful things with it.
estou encantada com tudo e todos; assim que terminar o festival de inverno vou começar a trabalhar em alguma coisa e enviar fotos quero fazer uma marionete de papel marche mas estou com uma duvida; se eu usar papel marche com gesso poderei ter um material resistente para não quebrar? fiz com gesso mas ficou frágil e as crianças terminarão por estragalos com abraços e carinhos apertados terei que corta boca e olhos mais uma duvida, por que e para que serve o óleo de linhaça?
HI Iracilda Macedo Bezerra
Espero que eu não me importo aproximadamente traduzido sua mensagem espero im direito de Português para Inglês.
“HI Iracilda Macedo Bezerra
I hope you dont mind I roughly translated your message from I hope im right from Portuguese to English.”
iracilda macedo bezerra,
estou encantada com tudo e todos; assim que terminar o festival de inverno vou começar a trabalhar em alguma coisa e enviar fotos quero fazer uma marionete de papel marche mas estou com uma duvida; se eu usar papel marche com gesso poderei ter um material resistente para não quebrar? fiz com gesso mas ficou frágil e as crianças terminarão por estragalos com abraços e carinhos apertados terei que corta boca e olhos mais uma duvida, por que e para que serve o óleo de linhaça?
“I am delighted with everything and everyone, so take off the winter festival will start working on something and want to send pictures to make a paper puppet march but I have a doubt if I use paper marche with plaster can I have a resilient material to not break? made with plaster but was fragile and will eventually estragalos children with hugs and affection I have to cut tight mouth and eyes one more doubt, why and how is flaxseed oil?”
Hi Iracilda (and thanks, Douglas).
Paper mache is not indestructible, but it won’t break the way plaster does. It does flex a little, but you can break it if you really try. I’m not quite sure what you’re asking about flaxseed oil, but if you want to know if you must include it in the paper mache clay recipe, the answer is no. The recipe will still work without it.
This is my first time posting, and first of all, I’d like to say “THANK YOU SO MUCH” to Jonni for providing such a valuable resource to those of us who have just discovered Paper Mache Clay… for the recipes and for this resource to share our experiments and seek advice from other sculptors. Oddly enough, I don’t consider myself a sculptor at all. I’m a PAINTER who also creates jewelry (from the images in my paintings). I recently had an idea that I wanted to create a mannequin bust to display my jewelry, mostly for shooting photos for my website so that people could view what the jewelry looks like on a model (without having to hire someone every time I need to take photos). I decided to try paper mache, and was so glad I discovered Jonni’s site because I discovered I can have more sculptural results with the paper clay.. and don’t have to spend a fortune on buying the commercial “paperclay” for something this size! I started with a styrofoam head, then added an armature made out of paper and tinfoil for her bust. I’m including process photos so you can see how I went about this. I’ve been working on her for about a week, and I think I made a mistake in not making sure she was drying fast enough (I covered her head with a bag for overnight to make it easier to model details the following day). I believe she is developing a little bit of mold in the jaw area (and maybe a little in the chest). So my question is if it is possible to get rid of mold after it has already started to develop??? For instance, can I inject some bleach with a needle to stop the mold? Or should I be removing the inner paper structure by now, so that it will be easier for her to dry from the inside? If I do this, should I pour acetone to remove the styrofoam too? There are areas where the clay is actually quite thin, so I’m not sure she’d have enough support if entirely hollow. I hope someone can help so that I don’t have to throw away this form which I’ve devoted quite a lot of energy to. This is my first sculpture of this size, and I’m growing quite fond of her. 😉
[img]http://ultimatepapermache.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/9stepsProgress.jpg[/img]
She looks very nice, Robin. I can see why you would enjoy her company. For the mold, I would just spray a bit of bleach on the affected area and then dry the paper mache as fast as possible. I know it won’t fit into an oven, but maybe you could put her in front of a fan or outside in the sun. Mold can’t grow if there’s no moisture. Once it’s dry and well sealed, I don’t think there should be problem – but if anyone knows differently, please let us know.
Thanks so much for your quick response, Jonni.
After reading through other blog responses emphasizing the importance of drying the form from the inside-out, I decided to remove her from the support and started pulling the inner paper out. Doing this, I discovered how much moist clay was still inside, so I think removing the innards will definitely help her dry out faster. I didn’t have any bleach at home, so I left her out in the sun while I biked to a local store to buy some. I’ve sprayed her with bleach inside and out to prevent any further mold forming, and now have a very HOT bulb facing towards her center. This also helped me discover where her walls need to be thicker, so I’ll add to those places after I’ve made a new batch of clay.
[img]http://ultimatepapermache.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/hollow-heated.jpg[/img]
My remaining question is whether I should melt out the styrofoam head, especially since that’s where the most significant mold seems to be forming. I bought some nail polish remover (primary ingredient is acetone). If I pour this inside to melt out the styrofoam, how do I properly dispose of it? Do I just throw it in the garbage, or will I need to bring it to someplace where they properly dispose of such products? Once the styrofoam has been removed, it would be possible to put her in our oven, I think.
Your questions about acetone and foam will need to be answered by someone with a better understanding of chemistry than me. Nail polish remover scares me while it’s still in the bottle. If the clay is hard enough to hold it’s shape, you might be able to cut the head in half (with the seam in a place that will be easy to repair) and remove the foam. Then you can stick it back together to keep it from warping. That might be easier than melting the foam and filling your house or studio with toxic fumes.
Also, be very sure to pull the lamp away from the sculpture if you will be leaving it unattended. I haven’t tested the clay to see if it’s fire proof.
Hi Everyone 🙂
Just thought I would post a few photos of my newest mask in process… I am calling it “Neon Funny Face” it’s going to be a part of my collection of street performance masks.
The funny faces will be brightly coloured with neon black like sensitive paint, inspired the bright colours of Bollywood movies and have hints of Hindu inspired characters… the goal is to create a cast of masks that will make people laugh and hopefully interact with them, when there out about the town.
Wonderful, Douglas. As always. I love the joyful expression.
Hi Douglas
Can you please help me, I’m trying to make a a giant head to wear- I covered a 62cm gym ball with papier mâché & then decorated the face..however, when I put it on it alls forwards or backwards & I don’t know how to make it sit/balance so I can wear it- can you advise please
Thank you
Maggie
Hi – You could try making a type of harness to fit on your shoulders, this would be made from wire and wrapped in cloth which would then be attached to the head.
Bend wire to fit over one shoulder, across back, over second shoulder and across front – join. Cover wire and use stick on velcro to attach to head – I think this should work as long as the head is not to heavy!
Dawn
Hi Maggie…
Sorry about the late response… can you post some pics of your mask ofit and the inside so I can see what you have to work with… or if you don’t want to post it here you can all ways email me the pics at douglaswitt@hotmail.ca
I would love you help you any way possible, I also think thought it would be something that everyone here would like to see.
Cheers
Duglas
PS
Dawn you have some good suggestions there… thx for commenting… 🙂
Douglas,
Love the Whimsy that your masks have! Love this ones grin & crooked teeth!
Cheerio!
I am presently undertaking the creation of a paper mache person. The completed figure will be standing with a height of slightly less than three feet. Do you have any suggestions as to how I might successfully make a structure that allows the person to stand without toppling over?
Thank you. I love your many creations!
Evelyn, I think the best way to do it is to weight the feet and a few inches of the lower legs. You could use rocks, plaster, or anything that will be heavier than the sculpture above. I sometimes use a glue gun to stick a rock or two onto the armature before covering it with paper mache. I think I got the idea from Monique Robert. It works.
Thank you so much!
One more question: what would make the best armature for a person? I was thinking wire, but do you have a better material for an armature?
I tend to use a cardboard pattern inside, with crumpled paper and masking tape over it. The wire works well, but I have a hard time seeing the form when using chicken wire. And Dan Reeder’s armatures would be perfect for figure sculpture.
For making armatures, is there anything household I could use?
I’m without a car and only really have access to what’s already here. I have pretty much all the usual kitchen stuff, and some clay.
What kind of sculpture are you making? I almost always use crumpled paper, with a cardboard pattern inside.
What about if I were to redo the face part of my mask?
As with everything I try learning to do, I jump in without testing the waters. I came across this wonderful site while searching for sculpting clay is friendly to those prone to ruining finished areas while working on another area.
I watched many of Jonni’s videos jumped right in! I began with a pattern for a carousel horse I drew. Well, he’s neat. But a lot bulkier than intended. Went overboard with the crumpled paper. Now he’s talking and I am going to listen…. so far, he’s wanting to become a Gypsy Vanner, black and white tobiano with lots and lots of hair…. here is a pic of where we are now. I do a little bit on him everyday.
[img]http://ultimatepapermache.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/pm-horse-b1.JPG[/img]
He’s lovely! Will you be mounting him on a stand of some kind?
Thank you, Jonni!
Initially, I was planning on painting a dowel rod and base gold for a carousel horse, but he’s much too bulky for that, so I am thinking about creating a base of “grass”. Something with some weight to it, like polymer clay then covered with the paper mache clay.
Purchased the “Make Animal Sculptures” book finally and should begin at the beginning. And continue on with the horse as well.
REALLY nice horse, Holly! Very good for just jumping in! Keep up the great work!
[img]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-rb3QfpsMqWs/T-fMpT95eJI/AAAAAAAAB7k/7XrFh7UcAxc/s144/mache%2520302.jpg[/img]
So one of the things that I’ve been doing since I last posted is making Kazoobas for the Kazooba Band contingent in the 4th of July parade this year. Kazoobas are kazoo-based paper mache instruments that I make (and I’ll have tutorials on the website soon so folks can make their own.) And after several years of talking and wishing, it looks like we’re actually going to have a marching contingent this year! I don’t know if we’ll have 5 people or 25 … but I should have enough Kazoobas for all.
The conversation about pricing has been especially relevant for me … as one of the questions I get asked most often is ‘how much?’ and can I get you to make one for me? I’ve side-stepped by saying I can teach you to make one … but my plan is to sell them after the parade if people want them. Band members will get first dibs, and a little bit of a discount, then regular folks.
[img]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-dwqxTv73yvQ/T-tt5W6vO4I/AAAAAAAAB80/yfa9t2smoqg/s800/I%2527m%2520a%2520Yankee%2520Doodle%2520Dandy_0001.jpg[/img]
The issue for me is that they look like (and sound like) toys … which calls up a whole different pricing scheme. Anyway … I’ve been being a bit coy about this, and it’s definitely time to let the genie out. If you’re near Takoma Park, MD and want to join the Band for the parade, let me know. More are welcome. : )
[img]http://ultimatepapermache.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/JohnJacobJingleHeimerSchmidt_0001.jpg[/img]
The facebook fan page has videos if you want to hear what they (and I) sound like too.
http://www.facebook.com/KazoobaBand
Wonderful! I think I might even be able to make music on one of those. When will you let us know how much you’re selling them for?
What fun! If I was anywhere close by, I’d definitely join up. I hope you get a lot of marchers, and that your new business venture does well.
Thanks! I hope I get a bunch of marchers too. And it’s a different sort of business venture for me. I’m not really looking to go into Kazooba production … tho it’s fun, and gives me lots of ideas for new instruments and decoration. Mostly I’ve decided to sell them because people keep asking, and I’ve worked a little too hard on them to feel good about just giving them away.
If my dreams and druthers count, I’d like it to turn into a workshop / key note speaking/performance kind of thing.
Kazoobas seem silly and fun, so in my experience, people who are reluctant to sing in a group, are often willing to play a Kazooba. And that willingness can translate into all kinds of community building, co-creation experiences: building rhythms together, building simple harmonies, and more.
There’s a dance company here that does something similar to this with dance. That’s the model I’m trying to emulate … tho I didn’t expect originally to be doing it with Kazoobas. That seems a natural path now.
All this to say … I’ll be delighted if some sell. And I’ll also be delighted if this creates more interest in Kazoobas and what a Kazooba Band can do. 🙂
I love these! I’m working on some large sculptures which are more fine arts and hard to simply ‘present’ out of context; without the work of my collaborators. When I have it all together, I’ll post something. In the meantime, I just love seeing and reading what everyone is doing.
PS I’m from Silver Spring, but now live in Los Angeles so I know Tacoma Park well. Enjoy.
Takoma! I guess I’m full West Coastified.
Heh! I was reading this reply in my email so I couldn’t see the pictures and didn’t know what Kazoobas were . Oh, I an idea formed in my head, but it definitely wasn’t a musical instrument! :p
Rich
Oh please I really want to see how you make them.
When will the tutorials be up and where.?
I went to your website http://kazoobaband.com/
but only found the title page, no other information.
I will be glad to put a link on my website
kazoologist.org
Boy, I sure haven’t been keeping up with the “daily” part of this post, have I? I have been so busy painting my house and finishing up little projects that I started years ago, so I haven’t had time to sculpt. I’m trying to get the place ready to sell – I’m ready for a new adventure, although I still haven’t decided where I’ll go if the house sells. (Someplace with a dedicated sculpting room, though, for sure!)
Just to prove that I’ve been busy (honest!) here’s my newly painted kitchen (and if you happen to know anyone who’s looking for a house in Oregon, I threw together a website – LaGrandeHouse.com).
[img]http://ultimatepapermache.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/001.JPG[/img]
Jonni, You have a lovely home and gardens. I don’t know how you have time to do all the things you do! I think I’m just lazy! 🙂
Good luck with the sale, and I hope wherever you go you keep your blog going.
Sincerely,
Terry
Thanks, Terry. I will definitely keep on blogging. This is way too much fun to give up!
Love the color of the paint job on the kitchen. The website looks great. Crossing my fingers it’ll sell for you. Any ideas where you’d like to go? Staying on the west coast? Giving any more thought to buying an RV park and converting it to an artist’s enclave?
I’d love to buy an RV park, but my funds are very limited. I tend to buy books and art supplies instead of putting money in the bank for later use. I have been looking at real estate in SW Minnesota, near where my daughter moved. At those prices, and with the size of the houses, it would be possible to have boarders or a group home. But then one has to live with people, when one tends to be a hermit by nature… 😉
Did you notice I had website problems today? Too much load on the server. I think Hostgator got it fixed – they’re good people. It made me think of your site. Find a solution for it yet?
I’m also doing repairs and renovations. Painting my room almost killed me when it came to the closet. I’m allergic to the smell of lyme, and the closet is full of it. I was driven out of my room for several days. My parents were successfully practicing procrastinators. I’m 37 years old, living in a house with peeling tile, rotted out cabinets, and a leak. There is a hole in the ceiling of one bedroom, which came from an old roof leak that had been caused by Hurricane Andrew. I realized I had better start fixing up the house, or it may not be fit to live in when I get old.
I want to build my own furniture because store furniture doesn’t quite suit my needs. I’m reading books on carpentry. We’ll see how that goes. However, my next project is to fix the rust holes in my mom’s car.
Good luck with all the repairs. I tend to leave things until it’s time to sell a house. That isn’t very reasonable, is it?
I recently found a book that shows how to build furniture with a system that reminds me of a child’s toy – the old fashioned kind, where the kid actually gets to build his own creation, instead of fiddling with pieces of plastic. The projects aren’t very sophisticated, but they look like a lot of fun. I put it on my wish list. (Your furniture will end up being much nicer, I’m sure – but carpentry is something I’ve never been able to master). 😉
Thank you! I just started on the face bit, ill definitely put up some more pics tomorrow