Paper Mache as an Art Medium

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Paper Mache isn't Just for Kids

Paper Mache requires few tools, simple materials, and recycles old paper into art. Now we associate it with children's school projects but paper mache started out as and remains a medium for fine art. Read on to learn more about this great medium (and if you have kids this could be an art you can share and work on together).

What is Paper Mache? 

"Paper Mache or Papier-mâché (French for 'chewed-up paper' because of its appearance) is a construction material that consists of pieces of paper, sometimes reinforced with textiles, stuck together using a wet paste (e.g., glue, starch, or wallpaper adhesive). The crafted object becomes solid when the paste dries."

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That's the technical definition. However more of us remember paper mache from school, especially covering balloons with strips of newspaper. Well paper mache is much more than just a material for kids projects and piñatas. It has been and still is used as a material for fine art. So throw away your visions of 2nd grade and have some fun with paper mache as a grown up.

General Paper Mache Sites 

Papier Mache
PapierMache.co.uk - The ultimate papier mache resource for tutorials, articles, books, galleries PLUS discussion forums.
Papier Mache Craft
The art of paper recycling
Sutherland Studios - Papier Mâché Techniques
Learn the basic Papier Mache techniques for free from Sutherland Studios!

Paper Mache Methods 

There are two basic types of paper mache.

Strip Method
This is the kind we all remember from grade school. Building up layers of paper strips which have been dipped in glue/paste. This method works best for creating hollow forms like bowls and masks.

Torn strips of newspaper (or other scrap paper) are dipped in glue and then built up in layers over a form. Forms can be balloons, wiremesh such as chicken wire, or balled up paper. Good glues for the strip method are wheat paste, PVA (white) glue thinned with water, or wallpaper paste.

Pulp Method
Paper mache pulp is mashed up paper mixed with a binder such as white glue or wallpaper paste, it can be very fine or quite chunky and is a bit clay like in the way it is sculpted. It works best for solid figures. There are many recipes for pulp which are listed below.

Both forms can be combined in one piece. For example a face form for a mask can be built with strips and then details added with pulp.

Paper Mache Pulp Recipes 

While you can buy paper mache mixes that will save time and mess, making your own is just so much fun. Plus you can tailor it to exactly what you need.
Paper Pulp Recipe
From Enchanted Beings
PROPTOLOGY: Recipes
Ronnie Burkett's Papier Mache Recipes
Papier Mache - Tutorials - Some Advanced Papier Mache Recipes
Martin Favreau shares with us his tried and tested recipes for pulped papier mache.

Paper Mache Videos 


Gourmet Paper Mache Dragon

Runtime: 4:31
50697 views
10 Comments:


Gourmet Paper Mache Fishwichwich

Runtime: 3:28
33846 views
10 Comments:

curated content from YouTube

Paper Mache Projects 

How to make a papier mache doll
How to make a papier mache doll by tricia

Paper Mache Books 

About paper mache not made from it. Though that could be a fun project!

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Artists Using Paper Mache 

Nives Cicin-Sain News
Croatian Paper Mache Artist
Bernard Stimple-Abele
Paper Mache Artist
The Mask Art of Monica Roxburgh
Goblin Art

Paper Mache on Flickr 

weird car by w.marsh

weird car

Melon lady by Valerie Everett

Melon lady

animal masks by noii's

animal masks

La Collection de l'Art Brut: Globs by cometstarmoon

La Collection de l'A...

ArtPrize by wsilver

ArtPrize

Goodnight Sunrise, The Real You, Bidwell, Abandon Kansas, Far Less, The Welcome Home, Paper Mache by dreamsjung

Goodnight Sunrise, T...

Unicorn by Valerie Everett

Unicorn

Finishing School - Faking Franz West - LACMA - Drinking Franz West - Refreshers by Marshall Astor - Food Pornographer

Finishing School - F...

Finito by aprilskiver

Finito

Face-on by aprilskiver

Face-on

Dog and puppy windows by aprilskiver

Dog and puppy window...

Leash windows by aprilskiver

Leash windows

automatically generated by Flickr

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Leave your questions or comments.

AbbyJ wrote...

Wow, how cool is that dragon!! great lens, i really enjoyed it :)

ReplyPosted July 01, 2009

annetteghallowell wrote...

I have done paper mache with strips, but have always wanted to use the pulp. Thanks for the impetus!

ReplyPosted June 16, 2009

nightcats wrote...

Great lens. I've never worked with paper mache but I think I should rectify that soon

ReplyPosted October 29, 2008

a_willow wrote...

Hi Noadi!
Would you consider joining Reuse it all! group with your paper mache lenses? It's featuring all lenses that have something with reusing stuff people normally trash!

ReplyPosted October 11, 2008

Pastiche wrote...

I've been longing to work with paper mache - this gives me the push I needed to get going! 5*s, great lens, faved too.

ReplyPosted August 21, 2008

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