Note: The video on this page is part of a long series because it took a long time to make the sculpture and turn it into a mask. If you’d like a much faster start, check out my new wolf mask pattern. You can use the techniques shown in the video series to embellish the mask and add detail, without needing to start from scratch.
And now, back to the original post:
The wolf mask is almost done. This video shows how the fast-setting paper mache is applied to the wolf’s head positive mold , and paper mache clay is added to the mask to give some nice texture to the ruff. I also show how I fixed a few boo boos. If you’d like to check out the book I mention several times in the video, click: “Make Animal Sculptures with Paper Mache Clay.”
If you’d like to watch the entire series of videos about the making of this paper mache mask, you can find them on my YouTube channel:
- How to Make a Paper Mache Wolf Mask, Part 1 – Beginning the clay sculpture
- How to Make a Paper Mache Wolf Mask, Part 2 – Sculpting the wolf’s eyes and nose
- How to Make a Paper Mache Wolf Mask, Part 3 – Refining the clay sculpture
- How to Make a Paper Mache Wolf Mask, Part 4 – Finishing the sculpture – adding the ruff
- How to Make a Paper Mache Wolf Mask, Part 6 – Painting the wolf mask
And for those of you who don’t have time to watch the whole series, I made a much shorter version showing the highlights. You can find the short version of How to Make a Paper Mache Mask here.
Jonni,
I might have missed something in the wolf-mask sequence but I’m wondering what the recipe was for the fast drying paste that you used to attached the shop towel?
I doubt it is simply glue and water; does it include plaster of paris for strength? It looks extremely strong when you cut it around the ears in the video – what proportions do you recommend in the mix?
Also would you recommend using some sort of release agent on the clay core? It looked tricky to get the clay out of the back of those ears.
I ask because I’m interested in using this process below to creating hollow puppet heads:
1. start with sculpting a clay form for the puppet head,
2. cover head all over with shop towels and fast drying paste
3. once dry cut in half around edge with Dremel and remove clay core
4. put halves back together and join seam with more towel and fast drying paste
5. cover and detail with paper clay recipe
6. paint and decorate
Regards
Rob
Hi Rob. Yes, the process you describe will work just fine – that’s exactly how I made all the masks for my book “How to Make Masks!” Except that my masks didn’t need to be cut in two to get the clay out.
The recipes for both the fast-drying paste and the gesso that I used for the book are on the second video that I made about how to make the Pantalone mask. The paste and gesso are made with Elmer’s glue and plaster.
Jonni,
I’m struggling to find Scott shop towels in Australia. I tried locally and had no luck. Also looked online but the p&h totally blitzes the towel price.
Do you know what they are made of, maybe there is an alternative product here that I could use? Any suggestions welcome.
Rob, when I contacted Kimberly-Clark to see if the towels were available in non-US countries, the only sources they sent were in the UK and Mexico. They said they don’t think anyone in New Zealand is selling the towels yet – they didn’t mention Australia, but I assume the same thing would be true there. The towels are paper, but a thick, strong absorbent paper. Some industrial-strength shop towels are too strong, and don’t stretch or bend around shapes, the way the Scott towels do. I would suggest that you try some strong towels made for the kitchen. Try to find ones that don’t have a lot of texture, if you can. They won’t be as strong as the shop towels, but when used with the fast-setting paper mache paste they should still create a strong, light shell. And if you find a towel in Australia that works really well, please let us know the brand! 😉
Thanks Jonni. Will see what I can come up with.
Well, before I get sidetracked…
I finally finished el lobo. Thank you so much Jonni for your tutorials…helps me so much.
Now off to get my tomatoes in the ground before it rains again..
[img]http://ultimatepapermache.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/headredotwo001.JPG[/img]
Wow – Sharon, your Lobo is fantastic. You do an incredible job on the eyes – they’re so realistic. And the fur in his ears, the colors – wow.
But why do you get to plant tomatoes now? That’s not fair – I have to wait until the last week of May!
Well, I’ll tell you Jonni….
I jumped the gun and started my seeds the beginning of March. Probably the 1st, actually maybe the end of February. Along with my broccoli (not really the time of year for that) but, better late than never. And, my peppers are bursting at the seams…so, rather than lose ALL of them, they’re going in the ground now (leaving their recycled toilet paper roll homes behind). I figure, if I lose some, at least I won’t lose them all.
I just came in for a drink to catch my breathe before I go back and rig up some chicken wire guards to keep my cats OUT. My grandson and I started 50 broccoli seeds and 30 tomato. We needed a project that day. So, I can afford to lose some I think.
I really love painting. Haven’t done any of that for some time, so doing these animal projects has been such a wonderful opportunity to keep that spark lit. Unfortunately, the old saying “you don’t use it you lose it” came to mind and I really struggled getting this guy done.
Time’s up, ack out to the project….