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."
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
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
- 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.
Premade Paper Mache
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!
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byArtists 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
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Melon lady
animal masks
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Leave your questions or comments.
AbbyJ wrote...
Wow, how cool is that dragon!! great lens, i really enjoyed it :)
Posted July 01, 2009
annetteghallowell wrote...
I have done paper mache with strips, but have always wanted to use the pulp. Thanks for the impetus!
Posted June 16, 2009
nightcats wrote...
Great lens. I've never worked with paper mache but I think I should rectify that soon
Posted 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!
Posted 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.
Posted August 21, 2008
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Paper Mache as an Art Medium
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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 (an...
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