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This is an easy way to make paper mache smooth, and it works with any brand of joint compound.
I used paper strips and paste for the mask in this demonstration, but you can use drywall joint compound with paper maché clay, too. You can even use it with the silky smooth air dry clay if it doesn’t come out quite as smooth as you want to.
You can use any brand of drywall joint compound, but apply it in a very thin layer. In the video you can see that I got a little sloppy and used too much in a few places. It doesn’t really hurt anything, but it takes longer to make it smooth.
This works on paper maché sculptures of any kind, whether you make them from scratch or make them from a pattern, and you can use it on both sculptures and masks.
Spreading the joint compound over the paper mache:
I spread the joint compound with a flexible silicone spatula.
I use a silicone tool with the point on it to take the joint compound out of important details that I don’t want to get lost under the joint compound, but a Q-Tip would work, too.
Smoothing the joint compound:
Let your sculpture or mask dry completely before going back over it with a damp sponge or cloth. With almost any brand of joint compound, it will be a lighter color when it’s completely dry.
Get your rag or sponge lightly damp. You don’t want to use too much water and don’t push down too much, or you’ll wash off all the joint compound .
Just softly rub the cloth over the drywall joint compound. You just want to t leave the drywall joint compound in the dips.
You don’t have to do any sanding, but you can if you really want to. If you used more drywall joint compound than you should have, it will take longer to remove it down to the right level with your damp rag or sponge. In that case you might want to grab some some 150 grit sandpaper. If you do that, take it outside so you don’t end up with that fine dust all over the house, and wear a mask to keep the fine dust out of your lungs.
When the joint compound is nice and smooth, set it aside to dry again. It will dry faster if you put it in front of a fan. Don’t paint it until it has turned almost white color.
Painting your paper mache mask or sculpture:
When the joint compound is completely dry , I recommend using a first coat of acrylic gesso or latex primer before painting to make it nice and white. When that’s dry you can finish painting your mask or sculpture.
Hi Jonni, the paper mache queeen! ?
thank you for all the helpful info! I use your paper mache clay recipe on top of strip layer for my sculptures and love it. Great for filling in areas and adding details!
I use the joint compound in the clay recipe, but should I be using the joint compound alone for a final, top layer above that? For optimal smoothing? Or is it more case by case? (Sorry if I missed this part somewhere!!)
Thank you again! 🙂
Hi Christine. You can use the joint compound in a paper-thin layer to make your final sculpture smoother, if you want to. If you prefer some texture in the final surface, you don’t have to use the joint compound – it’s totally up to you. 🙂
Hi Jonni! Thank you for your reply!!
I had today off so I played around with one of my nearly completed sculptures and the joint compound in a thin layer on top gave me exactly the type of finish I’ve been trying to achieve! Letting it dry now. So excited! And thank you so much!!!! Your website and YouTube has been so helpful for me with my paper mache adventures. 🙂
Great work, as always. I use paint brushes to apply at least three coats of joint compound to all my sculptures–in fact i refer to my sculptures as paper and mud sculptures. One tip is to add a small amount of water to the drywall mud and mix it with a power wisk, making it really light and creamy, then applied with a camel hair (ultra soft) brush for a really smooth final coat(s). One caveat: The underlying paper mache sculpture must be quite rigid, if there is any flexing the dried mud will crack.
Jonni, the Wikipedia of paper mache, nicely done.
Great tip, Gordon. Thanks! 🙂
I appreciate the homemade glue that you can use with any of the joint compounds. However, I think there’s a typo. The original glue recipe makes one and a half cups, but the subsequent recipe for the papier-mâché asks for 1/2 cup. I made it with a half cup the first time and it was very very hard. Today I made it with the one and 1/2 cups and it was just a delight to work with, very soft. If this is a mistake, maybe you could get your Web person to fix it. Again, thank you for the delightful instruction.
Thanks, Cathy. I’ll be making a batch of the home-made glue tomorrow, and I’ll make changes to the recipe if I need to. Thanks for pointing that out. 🙂
Such helpful information, friendly and accessible, great art-making. Thank you.
You teach this so well, thank you very much
You’re welcome. Have fun! 🙂
Great video. Do you have a pattern for hands?
I don’t have a pattern, but I did make a post about making an armature for chimp hands. They’re not quite the same as ours, but the same technique would work for people hands, too.