Paper Mache Clay Masks for Theater Production

Today’s guest post is by Richard Curtis, who sent in some fabulous photos of masks and props he made for a recent theater production.

I’ll let Richard take it from here:

I have enclosed a few of the shots from our production of Oedipus Rex. All the masks and props were created using the paper mache clay recipe.  Thank you.

I designed and created the masks, along with being the set designer and scenic artist. The play was Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, after years of the community college being ridiculed for it’s performances and lack of tech, we took it to a whole new level with this show. The masks alone set NESCC on a whole new level in this area and make people take notice, they even put NESCC into the Kennedy Center Festival for the 1st time.

We decided to show the world that Greek theatre can be cool and fun; steering away from the mundayne traditional style and immersing the audience into the horrid world of the play itself. Without your recipe, I never would have been able to accomplish this and I thank you immensely. You have my full permission to use the photos in any way you see fit. Once again, Thank You!

All I can say is Wow! Thanks, Richard, for sharing these with us. Be sure to click on these smaller images to see the full-sized photos (This is the first time I’ve tried to make a gallery for photos – please let me know if it doesn’t work):

Today’s guest post is by Joanne Gennarella, who shows us a self-portrait she made with Celluclay.

Self-Portrait with Celluclay

Joanne sent these comments with her photos:

Joanne Gennarella

This is Joanne. You can see that she did a fantastic job on her portrait -

And below, you can see a close-up of the self-portrait , plus several masks that Joanne also made using Celluclay. And don’t miss the snow leopard down below that she made using Monique Robert’s instructions:

Self-Portrait Close-Up

Mask Made With Celluclay

Mask Made With Celluclay

Mask Made With Celluclay

Jester Mask Made With Celluclay

Paper Mache Snow Leopard

I find that a good armature for my projects is commercially available wire mesh – the kind that comes in rolls. Once the form is molded with the wire and taped into position, I stuff it with newspaper. Final step in my process is pasting one layer of plaster impregnated gauze over it for strength and rigidity. When you are positive this layer is dry you can brush/glue over with water/Weldbond mixture (TO HELP PREVENT THE MOLD AND MILDEW, although I sometimes skip this step), and when this is dry you use your clay or strips of choice. Hope this helps someone. Yours, Joanne.

The way I make my masks is to form them over a face form made from my own face – plaster strips applied to my face, omitting my eyes, over lots of vaseline. Once this sets take it off your face. It’s a little risky but some of me goes into every one of my masks this way! When this is dry you close the eye holes and build it up with lots more plaster strips for rigidity, paint it with acrylic of your choice to waterproof, then secure it to a painted board with some plastalina clay. Can’t say this is my secret I learned it from master maskermaker – Jackie Miller from her video. Works for me.

Black-Footed Ferret

I’ve been working like crazy all week, but I don’t have much progress to show for it. I’m still trying to find a formula for the paper mache clay that will work well in a rubber mold. So far I’ve completed one black-footed ferret, with a plaque based on an ancient petroglyph at Wyoming’s historic Legend Rock. (Thanks to everyone who offered suggestions about the plaque at the end of the post about making the rubber mold. I didn’t follow your ideas exactly, but the feedback helped point me in the right direction.)

I chose the carving from that location because the last wild population of black-footed ferrets in the US was found in that state. I’m hoping that the rough “rock” behind the ferret will somewhat mitigate the critter’s excessive cuteness. He looks so innocent, doesn’t he? (False advertising for a highly effective carnivore, but we do seem to be genetically drawn to that high forehead, big button eyes. We can’t help it.)

The walrus is almost done, but I haven’t finished sculpting his background rock.  I did find ancient petroglyphs from Siberia near the habitat of the walrus, though, and I’ll be finishing the mold for the plaque today. And I found an Arabian oryx that was carved on a rock wall in Saudi Arabia, so the other two critters should be done soon. I really thought I’d be whipping out these portraits quickly – at least one a day – but all the experimentation (and messing around in general) has really slowed me down. I want to do a timber wolf and a big-horned sheep next. One thing I’ve discovered is that I really enjoy doing the head sculptures more than I enjoy making the full critter, complete with legs and tail, etc. Since I’m having fun with it, that’s probably what I’ll be doing for a while.

Tell me what you think of the “rock” background. Does it work?

OK, back to the experiments. I will figure out how to make the paper mache clay work in a mold the same way every time – but I’m not there yet. Back to the drawing board.

As you may know, since last November I’ve been working very hard to create my new book, Make Animal Sculptures With Paper Mache Clay. Now, (finally!) it’s finished and it’s available on Amazon.com. You can see the cover image on the right, in the sidebar. The table of contents is below:

Table of Contents, New Book about Paper Mache Clay

You can search inside the book on Amazon.com and see many more pages. The book should be available on Amazon.co.uk by the end of this month, and we should see Amazon.com start to discount the book in the next few weeks. Be sure to bookmark it, or put it in your Wish List.

I can’t tell you how excited I was when I received the proof copy from the printers a few weeks ago – what a joy to hold the real, physical book in my hands after seeing it only as a collection of photos and text in a computer file.

Here’s how the book is described on the back cover:

If you’ve always wanted to create life-like animal sculptures, but you thought it would be “too hard” or “too expensive,” you’re in for a very pleasant surprise. This book contains step-by-step instructions and over 250 photos to guide you through the enjoyable process of making realistic animal sculptures in a whole new way.

Jonni Good’s easy techniques help you create stunning wildlife art without the mess usually associated with papier mache — and the patterns included in each chapter guarantee that your sculptures will be perfectly shaped and proportioned from the very start.

Paper mache clay takes about 5 minutes to make, using inexpensive ingredients. Applying it to your form is as easy as frosting a cake. It goes on smooth and dries hard and strong. It’s easy to form life-like details like eyes and noses, fur and scales. Then finish your sculptures with acrylic paints to bring them to life. Jonni even shows you how to create your own patterns from original drawings or photos, so you can use her techniques to sculpt any animal you like.

Creating life-like animal sculptures has never been so easy, or so much fun!

New Book Page

I recently created a special page for the book where I will be answering any questions readers might have about the techniques shown in the book.You can see the tab at the top of the blog.

The book page also seemed like a good place to compile a FAQ list for the paper mache clay recipe. We’ve received many questions and suggestions over the last few months, and they’re scattered all over the blog. To make it easier for everyone who has questions about this new make-it-yourself sculptural material, I’ve gathered the questions and answers on the book page. If you have questions about the paper mache clay recipe, check the book page first – someone else may have asked already, and you can get your answer fast. If you don’t see the answer, please ask.

You may have seen the videos I created recently, showing you the projects in the book. I made the videos to explain why I chose these particular animals for my projects, and what special skills you’ll learn when you build each critter. In case you missed the videos, you can click on the images below:

Project #1: Vintage Chicken	Project #2: Clown Fish	Project #3: Emperor Penguin Family
Project #4: Spotted Piglet	Project #5: Begging Dachshund	Project #6: African Elephant

Project #7: Horse

I do hope you’ll continue to share photos of your paper mache clay projects with us – I love seeing them, and I know they are a great inspiration for other readers. The book page would now be a perfect spot for that. I hope the new Book page will become an important resource for all of us, as we all contribute our ideas, questions and supportive advice.

And now – I’ve got some celebrating to do! (I already have ideas for my next book – a coloring book with portraits of endangered animals – but I haven’t started it yet. I’ll keep you posted.)

I seem to be in the mood for experiments this month. Most of my experiments have been out in the garden (no results to report yet), but yesterday it was cold and wet, so I decided to stay inside and do an experiment with paper mache clay. This experiment actually started a few weeks ago when I posted an article suggesting that very small children would have more fun with real clay (with paper mixed in) than with paper mache, simply because working with pottery-type clay is more intuitive. I pinched together a silly imitation toddler’s bear with some clay I had on hand, just to have a photo for the post.

That made me wonder if I could use paper mache clay over a pottery clay armature that could be made easier, faster, and more intuitively than the crumpled paper and masking tape forms we normally use. After all, why should little kids have all the fun? That pottery clay was sitting there, whispering “play with me, play with me…” How could I refuse?

So here’s what I did yesterday, with the help of some ordinary pottery clay and a helpful chimp. It’s an experiment, not a tutorial, but I’m sure you’ll immediately think of ways that you could use the same techniques in projects of your own. I was so happy with the results that I’ve already started a “real” sculpture, since the “experimental” sculpture worked so well from a technical standpoint.

Chimp Bust – the Experiment:

Chimpanzee Bust, Step 1 (photo ©istockphoto.com/GlobalP)

For the first step I used pottery clay to form an armature for my chimp. I wasn’t paying much attention to proportions or anatomy at this point, because I just wanted to know if the process would work. Like any armature, it needed to be made slightly smaller than the finished work because the paper mache clay would be applied over it.

Paper Mache Clay Chimp Bust, Step 2

Next, I put a very thin plastic bag over the wet clay. I used the kind of bag you get in the grocery store’s produce department. The plastic stuck to the damp clay, so no tape or other fasteners were needed. I used the plastic so the clay would stay clean and I could use it for another project.I completely surrounded the clay, including the bottom, to keep it from drying out.

Paper Mache Clay Chimp, Step 3

I applied the paper mache clay directly over the plastic. Since I knew I’d be removing the supporting armature, I applied the clay more thickly than usual – about 1/4 inch.

Paper Mache Clay Chimp, Step 4

I used expanded aluminum gutter screening for the ears, and continued to build up the details with the paper mache clay.

Paper Mache Clay Chimp, Step 5

I cheated a bit and dried the chimp in the oven, at 200 F. It has been cold and damp in my part of the country, and it would take ages for the thick paper mache clay to dry on it’s own. I do not advise drying the clay any hotter than that, because it will make your house smell like hot plastic.

When the paper mache clay was dry, I turned the piece over and removed the damp pottery clay and the plastic bag. If the clay on the inside dried out, it would be almost impossible to remove. You can see in the photo below that the walls of the bust are fairly thin, but it was quite strong. I continued to build up the paper mache clay over the first layer, to add details like eyes and lips.

Paper Mache Clay Chimp - Inside View, with Dog

Once the second layer, with the details, was dry, I could see the potential of this technique (see photo below). Of course, the experimental bust was never intended to be finished, but I have already started a new one, which you can see in the background. This time I’ll paying attention to things like anatomy, proportions and design. He should be dry and painted in a few days. I’ll show you how it turns out.

Paper Mache Clay Experiment - Chimp Bust

I think this method would also work with traditional paper strips and paste, although I’m too lazy to try it. If you do, or if you’re experimenting with any paper mache project this week, be sure to let us know.

We’ve been receiving some very interesting comments lately, complete with photos of new artwork made with paper mache clay. I’m going to showcase a few of them here, just in case you don’t have time to read through every single page on this site every single day (whew – that would take some serious time!).

You might recognize this first reader – it’s my dad. I bragged about the concrete garden bench he made for me a few months ago, and now here he is again with a brand-new chicken, made with paper mache clay. He volunteered to be my “technical editor,” and followed the instructions for the first project in my upcoming book (yes, it really is coming soon – I know I keep saying that, but now it’s really true…).

Pete's Paper Mache Clay Chicken

Handsome devil, isn’t he? And a nice chicken, too. Well done, Pete.

The photos below are smaller, but if you click on the person’s name you can go directly to their comment to read their description of they made the sculptures, and then click on the photo in their comments to see a larger version.

Terra Mar's Paper Mache Clay Frog

Terra Mar not only made a very nice frog – she also took photos of the process all along the way. You can find all the photos out on her Picasa album page. She followed the paper mache clay frog tutorial that I posted several months ago.

"Lean on Me" Sculpture by Eunice Kahlke

Eunice Kahlke shared this photo of her abstract sculpture, which she titled “Lean on Me.” She explains how she got that beautiful finish in her comment. I always love seeing people using the recipe in a totally new way.

Roxanne didn’t post a photo in her comment, but she gave us a link to her blog, where she shows off her human heart sculpture, made with paper mache clay. On that blog post she shows us the completed heart, plus the references she used to get it anatomically correct, and photos of the heart while she was working on it.

Harry Marsh's Dragon

Harry Marsh sent in two photos of a wonderful dragon trophy and a fly (or is it a wasp?). He used traditional paper and paste for the sculptures, but he added some inventive twists that he discussed in his comment.

Thanks to Pete, Terra Mar, Eunice, Harry and Roxanne for sharing your projects with us. Very inspiring.

Joanne Gennarella, a reader who often shares her comments on this site, sent in a photo of a life-sized bust that she recently completed. I know there are a lot of folks who have been wondering if you can use paper mache clay for human figures and portraits, so you’ll enjoy seeing what Joanne did with this new material:

Life Sized Bust Made with Paper Mache Clay

I asked Joanne to tell us a bit about her project. Here’s what she had to say:

I used a wire mesh and newspaper and tape armature to hold it up.  Then I reinforced the whole thing with a thin layer or skin of plaster strips.  When I was sure it ws dry I used your clay over it to model.  The only thing I would do different the next time is to try and make the sculpture lighter and to waterproof it first by varnishing before modeling.  I am not sure about the weight of the sculpture becoming less – if this can be done – since it is lifesize.  I am currently working on a young girl - sort of in the process of taking a walk, to her upper torso while she is holding a bouquet of flowers.  Any pointers on how to do long hair that is casually curly on this girl using the clay?

Hmm – good question about the hair. Any ideas, anyone?

Reader Sara Carlson finished this bunny just in time for Easter, using our new paper mache clay recipe. You can see more about how he was made (and see the bunny before he was painted, on her blog, or see him and other work she’s done recently on her etsy shop.

Sara softened the bunny by adding a needle-felted tail, and he’s standing on a bed of reindeer moss.

‘Nuff said. Here’s the Easter bunny, made with paper mache clay.

Easter Bunny, Made with Paper Mache Clay

Paper Mache Clay Bunny Detail

This horse sculpture is the last project in my new book Make Animal Sculptures With Paper Mache Clay. (The video was made before the book came out – it is now available on Amazon.com)

In the video you can see how I reinforced the legs so the armature is strong enough. A larger horse would need heavier wire, of course.

Now that this series is done, I get to play a little. Since my very first blog post, way back in November of 2008 was a paper mache dragon, I think it would be fun to make another one, using the techniques I’ve learned in the last 14 months. And maybe I’ll try a bit of whimsy, while I’m at it. I’ll take some photos to document the new dragon, and I’ll let you see him just as soon as it’s done.

I’m always a little surprised when I look at my stats, because that first dragon post is still one of the most popular paper mache tutorials on this site. It was made using the same materials and techniques that I taught myself to use about 50 years ago (yes, it’s been that long). Although it will be a lot easier to make my new one with an inside pattern and paper mache clay, (like I made the horse sculpture in today’s video), instead of paper strips and paste, the old methods definitely work.

‘Till then, enjoy.

This video is part of a series showing the projects in my new book Make Animal Sculptures With Paper Mache Clay. (The video was made before the book came out – it is now available on Amazon.com)

This video is a bit longer than normal, because I wanted to show you how the paper mache clay is added to the armature of the elephant sculpture, and how you can add textures to the clay.

Only one more video in this series, and I should have it finished tomorrow. I decided to make the horse the last project in the book, because so many people seem to be intimidated by them

The elephant sculpture in this episode is obviously a lot smaller than the baby Asian elephant I made a few months ago. He was also a lot easier to make. The size isn’t really an issue, since larger sculptures simply take more time to do – they aren’t necessarily harder to make. The big improvement was the paper mache clay.

The bigger sculpture was covered in many layers of traditional paper mache strips and paste, and each one needed to dry. Then I had to form the features, and cover them with another layer of paper. And lastly, the wrinkles had to be added with one last layer of paper strips and paste (because it isn’t an elephant without wrinkles!).

The small elephant was made with only two layers of clay, as you see in the video, so many of the steps were eliminated. And the clay itself covers any irregularities in the underlying armature. Way easier. And more fun.

On a slightly unrelated note, I found out yesterday that my paper mache clay butterfly tutorial is being put to good use. Models are being made to show the life cycle of butterflies, and the finished models will be on display at the State Arboretum in Virginia. I’ll post a link so you can see photos that show how they turned out as soon as I hear back from them.

I’m also starting a list of links over in the right-hand column that point to artists who are starting to use my paper mache clay recipe in their work. If that includes you, or someone you know, please let me know so I can add a link to my blogroll. (Hey – why pass up a free link!)