Archive for the ‘Paper Mache Animal Sculptures’ category

« Older Entries

My Paper Mache Book Project, Suggestions Please…

November 5th, 2009

This morning I received a comment from a reader who has been searching for a pattern she could use to make a monkey or gorilla in paper mache, like the patterns I’ve been creating for the elephant, panda, and others here on this blog. Unfortunately, I haven’t made the pattern she’s looking for yet, and as far as I know, this is the only place where you can find them. I may be wrong, but I believe I invented the idea of using patterns for papier mache sculptures.

For months now I’ve been intending to write a book that includes some of the patterns I’ve already created, with updated instructions using the less-messy paper mache clay instead of laminated paper and paste. » Read more: My Paper Mache Book Project, Suggestions Please…

8 comments »

Posted in Paper Mache Animal Sculptures

Tags:

“Ghost Cat” – Snow Leopard Sculpture

November 2nd, 2009
Snow Leopard

Snow Leopard

This is one BIG cat. 28″ long, 22″ high and 16″ wide. I really enjoy making the large sculptures, especially now that I’m using the home-made paper mache clay recipe, but really – what was I thinking? The snow leopard needs to be transported to Bellingham in time for the after-Thanksgiving art show. I’d better go find myself a really big box.

If I was doing this cat over, I’d put the spots where they belong. Other than that, I think he came out rather well. I’ll title this one The Ghost Cat. Some of the people who live in the same rugged environment as the snow leopard call him that, and I think it’s wonderfully descriptive. He hunts at night, he would shine in the moonlight, and there are very few of them left. In just a few years, his ghost may be all that’s left. » Read more: “Ghost Cat” – Snow Leopard Sculpture

12 comments »

Posted in Paper Mache Animal Sculptures

Tags:

Bobcat Sculpture

October 29th, 2009
Bobcat Sculpture

Bobcat Sculpture

This sculpture is all about the spots. The bobcat is 21″ from nose to tail, 14″ high and 12″ wide. It was made with papier mache and paper clay over a wire, paper and masking tape form.

Lately I’ve been using Dan Reeder’s method of creating the inside form. Dan’s the author of Papier-Mache Monsters, which I read last month. I’ve been intending to tell you about it ever since I first read it, but all these cats have kept me too busy.

Dan’s been building with papier mache for years, and he has a number of tips and tricks that I didn’t know about. I’ve been able to translate some of his methods to realistic animal sculptures (I’m really not into monsters all that much). The one that has helped the most has been his use of wire frames, made from heavy coat hanger wire. » Read more: Bobcat Sculpture

7 comments »

Posted in Paper Mache Animal Sculptures

Tags:

Life-Sized Lion Cub Sculptures

October 27th, 2009
Two Lion Cubs Playing

Two Lion Cubs Playing

I’ve been working on a set of four large sculptures of lion cubs, and two of them are now finished. These two are playing with each other, in cat-like fashion.

These are quite large – the sitting lion cub is 15″ high, 22″  long and 12″ wide. The upside-down cub is 14″ high, 26″ long and 12″ wide.

I wanted all the lions to be close to the same size and age, so I made a face with plasticine clay and created a urethane mold. I pressed a bit of the paper clay (recipe shown on a recent post ) into the mold so I would have four lion cubs from the same litter. Then each face was slightly modified after it was attached to its body.

The form for the bodies was made from wire, crumpled paper and masking tape, and covered with paper mache strips and paper clay.

The upside-down cub was a lot of fun to make, but she really needs one of her playmates nearby in order to see why she’s upside down. Here’s two photos the cubs alone:

Upside-Down Lion Cub

Upside-Down Lion Cub

Lion Cub, Sitting

Lion Cub, Sitting

These cubs were made specifically for the Bellingham art show I’ve been telling you about lately. I’m hoping that someone will purchase two of the cubs together so my little upside-down lion will have a permanent playmate. If not, she may be coming back home – which would be OK. If that happens, I’ll just make her someone to play with in my living room.

I’m still not sure how to price these guys. I’ve searched all over the web and I can’t find anything that’s really comparable. Any suggestions would be welcome. In a few days I’ll show you the other two cubs.

15 comments »

Posted in Paper Mache Animal Sculptures

Tags:

Paper Clay Hen with Siamese “Chicks”

October 23rd, 2009
Black Hen with Siamese Chicks

Black Hen with Siamese "Chicks"

This hen and “chicks” is the first project I’ve completed using my paper clay recipe. The base is paper clay over particle board, and the hen and kittens are made from paper clay over a crumpled paper and masking tape form. The feathers are paper clay over plastic mesh drywall tape (you find it right next to the joint compound at the hardware store).

I really wanted a matte finish on the hen, and I applied an acrylic matte varnish, but you can see in the photo that it’s shiny. If you happen to know about a water-based finish that really is matte, and that brushes on (no spray cans), please let me know. It would make me very happy.

I’m building cats this month because I’m getting ready for that pop-up gallery show in Bellingham next month. The house is filling up with cats, mostly the wild kind. After working on a full-sized snow leopard for several weeks (he’s still not done), I needed some little cats to play with – hence, these newborn Siamese kitties.

Siamese Kittens (Detail)

Hen with Siamese "Chicks" (Detail)

My father has been busy this week, too. You may remember how I bragged about the custom-made concrete bench he brought me last month. I’ve never seen him actually build his benches, but now I get a chance to see exactly how it’s done because he’s taken hundreds of photos of the process. And better yet, he’s posting them on his new blog.

My dad is now officially a blogger.

He just posted photos that show him carving a dog into a concrete bench mold that he used to make a custom bench for my Uncle Jack. If you have a chance, go check out his new blog. You’ll find it at GrampaPetes.com There are a lot of photos, so the page may take a few seconds to load. Be sure to say “hi” while you’re there.

14 comments »

Posted in Paper Mache Animal Sculptures

Tags:

2 Angel Cat Sculptures

October 9th, 2009
.

Calico Angel Cat

This week I’m working on a series of four winged cats. I haven’t really decided if they’re cat angels, super-hero cats, or a half-remembered scene out of the Wizard of Oz. But I do know I’m having a lot of fun making them.

Two of my very non-angelic cats posed for me. Their modeling fees were paid with tuna fish.

Grey Striped Angel Cat

Grey Striped Angel Cat

Now I have to get back to work and finish the other two winged cats. And I have three lion cub heads in the oven (that should make sense as soon as I write my next post.)

All these cats will be transported to Bellingham for an after-Thanksgiving art show.

14 comments »

Posted in Paper Mache Animal Sculptures

Tags:

Museum-Quality Paper Mache Sculptures

September 12th, 2009

I just found this newpaper article about a Canadian sculptor in Yellowknife who creates museum-quality sculptures out of paper mache.

SOMBA K’E/YELLOWKNIFE – Sculptor Monique Robert is marshaling a myriad of monsters in midtown Yellowknife. Her work space on Forrest Park seems more like a whimsical museum than a home studio.

NNSL photo/graphic

Sculptor Monique Robert depicted this stallion leaping through a wall using papier mache. The life-sized piece will be exhibited at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre from Sept. 14 to 27 as part of the Aurora Arts Society’s sixth annual Artsweek. – photo courtesy of Monique Robert

Robert fashions realistic-looking, supernatural animals loosely based on classical Greek and medieval European myths. Her retinue includes a muskox minotaur, dragons, giraffes, zebras, gargoyles and a centaur that is half-man, half-caribou.

“You can do whatever you want with (myth) and there are no rules,” she said. “I can come up with some really twisted characters that seem to come to life.”

Even more fantastical is the fact that Robert creates her life-sized creatures using a specialized form of papier mache. The sculptures are rugged and strong, with the look of painted wood and the solid, smooth texture of finely-sanded fibreglass. She experimented with the medium until she got the recipe just right.

“There’s nothing out there I’ve seen like it,” she said.

Read the rest of the article here, then go see her online sculpture gallery at MoniqueRobertStudios.com. Since we sw a paper mache dinosaur on this site just a few days ago, be sure to click on the photo of the orange Allosaurus. (Click any of the small photos, and you’ll get a slide show of detail photos. Very classy website. I’m jealous.)

She has a book coming out soon, and you can bet I’ll be standing in line to get my copy.

5 comments »

Posted in Paper Mache Animal Sculptures

Tags: