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A “Just for Fun” sculpture of a favorite character.
This ‘just for fun’ sculpture took a few hours. I think it came fairly close to the original drawing of the Mad Hatter by John Tenniel, for ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,’ by Lewis Carroll. A few more hours would have given me time to add details like wrinkles, maybe get the eyes the same size…
But I did have other things to do. ?
You can find the pattern for the face-sculpting form that I used in the video here. And I’ve also recently made a new pattern for an easier mannequin that works really well for character sculptures.
If you’re just playing around, like I was when I sculpted the Mad Hatter, you don’t really need a form. But it is a lot faster than creating an armature out of wire, in the traditional way.
I used WED clay for this sculpture. I get mine from amazon.com, but you might be able to find it at your local pottery supply store. If they don’t have it on hand, ask them to order it for you. It’s made by the Laguna Clay Company, and it’s usually less expensive if you buy it at a local store.
If you’d like to learn more about sculpting a portrait based on an outline, try to find an affordable copy of “Sculpting Made Easy” by Catherine Barjansky. I bought a used copy years ago, when it was just a few dollars. The least expensive one ($35) I could find in a fast search today was on Etsy, but you might have better luck if you do your own search. If you have any interest in sculpting portraits, I highly recommend it.
To see a current artist using this method, check out Amelia Rowcroft’s sculpture of Robin Williams. You’ll find a link to her sculpting classes below her video. If you’ve taken any of her classes, please let us know what you thought of them in the comments below.
You can find my book “Make Animal Sculpture with Paper Mache Clay” here.
And if I forgot to include a link to something I mentioned in the video, please let me know. Also, if you like videos like this and you’d like me to make more, let me know that, too. 🙂
I am a tad confused. Do you use the clay as formwork for the paper mache and then remove it? Or does it stay in situ? If there’s a video on using clay as the removable form, I would love to see it. I just can’t seem to find it and am totally *Smeg* at anything computers on account of being born prior to 1990. Love your work
Hi Liz. You can’t leave real clay or oil based clay inside a paper mache sculpture. I have a video here. If you’re making a sculpture that’s more complicated than a face mask, you’ll need to cut the dried paper mache to get it off the clay, and then put it back together with more paper strips and paste.
Thank you lovely lady
You are an amazing, talented woman!!! I love all of the projects you’ve made! I have never seen such great work! You’re not Jonni Good—You are Jonni GREAT!
Thanks, Brenda! 🙂
“I write to you from afar, from Peru. I’m absolutely fascinated by your art and your passion for what you do. It’s wonderful. I’d like to know if it’s necessary to seal paper mache. Yesterday, I made the original paper mache recipe, and I want to use it for making a doll. Is there a risk of it rotting, or should I seal it with a product before painting?
Thank you so much!
Maria
Hi Maria. I always seal my paper mache with an acrylic varnish, to keep it from absorbing moisture from the air. I hope you’ll show us your doll when it’s finished! 🙂
You might like a book called ‘Dolls and how to make them’ I have my mothers copy from the 60s. There’s a fabulous clown that’s been formed from canvas, sawdust and varnish. The book has all the patterns at the back. The basic head pattern might be applicable to paper. The book is still around.
That sounds like a great book – but when I searched on amazon, this is the only one that showed up, and it’s for rag dolls. Is that the one you meant?
Unfortunately not.Mine’s by Margaret Hutchings, 1967 ( 4th Ed). Mills & Boon, London. I’d love to post photos but it’s a bit off subject. Especially detailed shoe patterns and hair styles.
Amazon have copy’s for $650-$250 ( insane). However I just grabbed a spare for $28 AU. I know you’re in America but cheap ones are around and it’s the most charming book. Full of patterns and ideas. My mother sold some dolls to Hamleys in the 70’s.
This looks like a 5th edition
Dolls And How to Make Them By Margaret Hutchings | Used Book | 1642144612MHP | Old & Rare at Wob
https://www.wob.com/en-au/books/margaret-hutchings/dolls-and-how-to-make-them/9780263699838
I’m amazed at your work. How do you dry pottery clay. I’ve wanted since you started and I wish I could do it.
Thanks for sharing your art
Hi Claudia. I’m not sure what you mean. I only use wet clay for modeling – to keep the sculpture, you would need to make a mold and cast it, or cover it with paper mache and then remove the clay when the paper mache is dry. The only way to keep a wet clay sculpture permanently, as far as I know, is to fire it. I don’t own a kiln, and the type of clay I use can’t be fired, anyway. The best place to learn how to use wet clay for sculptures is at a community art center that has classes in pottery. They usually have kilns that the students can use, too.