Dionysus, with Junco and Thyrsus
A faux marble bust of the Greek God Dionysus is surrounded by a paper mache frame. The frame was designed to look like an open niche in a garden wall.
I started this wall sculpture of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine (among other things) several months ago. It sat on my shelf, almost finished, for weeks. Have you ever started a project that you just couldn’t make yourself finish? And then discovered that you couldn’t make yourself start a new project until the old one was done?
Well, yesterday I finally got to the point where I couldn’t stand to look at it any more, and I put the final touches on the sculpture. Now I can move on to something new, at last.
This paper mache wall sculpture actually started as a challenge to myself. I wanted to try to create a narrative work, using a passing moment in my life – like a snapshot – and using symbolism instead of literal images. When I conceived of the challenge I was just finishing The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan. (Yes, I know it’s a kid’s book, but why should they have all the fun?) One of the main characters in the book is Dionysus.
That same day a sharp-shinned hawk perched on my grape arbor, hoping to snag another junco from the bird feeder. Or maybe I should say he was hoping the surviving juncos would be dumb enough to forget the hawk grabbed one of them the day before.
So, the wall sculpture features Dionysus, standing in for the grape arbor. I moved the hawk into the background to keep the painting from being too uncomfortably carnivorous, and moved the junco up onto the bust of Dionysus just because I think he’s cute. The dark songbird is balanced by a miniature thyrsus.
One thing that slowed this project was my curiosity. After spending hours sculpting a bust of the god out of plasticine clay I had to learn more about him. I discovered that many women worshiped him quite passionately, but the more I learned about his character, the less I understood why. Fortunately, I did not use the artistic form that was used by his cult to call the god – a giant mask – so he shouldn’t be tempted to come visiting any time soon.
This 3D painting of Dionysus is part paper mache (the frame and the little junco sitting on the god’s shoulder), and the bust of Dionysus was cast in Duncan DC100 Doll Composition. I would have preferred using the Activa Li-Qua-Ché Pourable Papier Maché that I used for the Christmas ornaments, but I didn’t have enough left. (The Duncan product is hard and plastic-like, and isn’t much fun to paint).
The little junco was made just like the 7 hour bluebirds, (different colors, of course), and the frame was made out of cardboard shapes covered with paper mache strips and paste, like the Dogon mask. Because the frame is flat, there was a very strong tendency to warp. To counteract this tendency I dried it slowly between each coat, and put a weight on top to keep it flat.
I don’t know what my next project will be. If you have any burning questions about how to sculpt with paper mache, or if there is a specific paper mache tutorial that you would like to see, please let me know in the comments below.
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{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
And by the way…
There are four items in this sculpture that are used to define the portrait as “Dionysus.” One is the thyrsus, and another one is the full beard. Can you find the other two? If you do, let us know in the comments below.
Hi! I’m newly experimenting with paper mache, I got a sudden desire to make a paper mache moon that I can hang a light down into the inside of it, to hang beside my print of “Starry Night”.I used a blow-up beach ball (planing to cut it out after I finish) and I put a layer on using a flour/water paste and used regular paper from a sketch pad. How many layers do you think I should apply? Do you think the ball will easily withdraw from the mache? Do you think 3 or four layers will be too thick to let the light luminate through? Any suggestions would be helpful. Thank you!
Hi Valerie,
The light might not get through that many layers, especially if you’re using heavy drawing paper. Two layers might be stiff enough to hold the shape – you can find out by lifting an edge off the ball before adding another layer. If your ball is plastic or rubber it should come right out. Good luck with your project!
Hello! I mess around with paper mache occassionally. I have looked at many, many, sites that have projects and paste recipes for this craft but I have NEVER found a site as informative & interesting as yours! Makes me want to try much more than easter eggs and pinatas! Wow! Even your photography is fantastic! I have book marked your site and will be back! Thanks for sharing your talent & skills with the world!
~Kristi
MN
Gosh – thanks, Kristi. What a nice comment!
I am looking forward to trying out paper mache. I find your sculptures very beautiful. I was expecting to find lumpy childish looking crafts, what a surprise! Have you tried metallic paints/finishes to give your art a faux iron/metal look?
Hi Veronica –
No, I did use copper paint, diluted, for the dragon sculpture – but no faux iron finishes. Although, now that you mention it, something in cast iron would be an interesting challenge. Maybe I’ll try it someday.
“Have you ever started a project that you just couldn’t make yourself finish? And then discovered that you couldn’t make yourself start a new project until the old one was done?”
gawd this is so true.lol..well i tried paper mache before. the shape didn’t really work out. ur site is inspiring with beautiful crafts. will be trying again.
Hello…I’m helping my boyfriend with his club Luau party. I want to make paper mache centerpieces, with each one resembling a Board member. I’m not sure if you’ve done people before or only animals. I’m thinking the principals would be similar, right?
Since it’s an Island theme, I thought I would put them in hula skirts and coconut bra’s with a distinguishing item to set them apart (i.e., their favorite drink, hobby, etc). Maybe throw in a few palm trees, too.
I’d like each centerpiece to be between 12-18″ tall. Should I use chicken wire or would the rolled paper work? I love the use of the joint compound for the smooth finish. Some of the members have beards, so I plan to try the hair finish you used on the bunny. I want the embellishments to be of different materials, like using mop for hair, grass skirting, and silk orchids.
This is my first paper mache project as an adult. Your information has given me valuable tips to make it a success.
Thank You!!
Hi Dee. What a great project! I hope you show us how they turn out.
I recommend using the crumpled paper and masking tape for armatures, instead of chicken wire. It takes a lot of effort to get the wire in the shape you want, but shaping the paper is easy. To make sure your paper mache people will stand up, you might want to tape their feet to a cardboard base, at least until the first layer of paper mache is dry. You might also want to consider using the Super Sculpey to form the features of the face, then add a layer of paper and paste, and dry the face under a hot lamp. (Not too close – you don’t want to burn down your house!) This will cook the Sculpey so you won’t have to remove it. You would need to make the features exaggerated so the details don’t get lost when the paper is added and the paint applied.
Be sure to let us know how your project turns out!
Question – is it necessary to prime with gesso first – then paint any sculpture made with Jonni’s great recipe? I primed my first project – but I was thinking it might be nice to paint directly on the sculpture. I know it sometimes depends on what paint is used but I usually use a good acrylic.
I paint right on the clay at times. The gesso gives a nice smooth finish, but sometimes I prefer to leave it off. Experiment, and see what happens.
Impressive work of art. Who would have known that the materials for the frame is made of paper. How I wish I could do something like this.