Yesterday I started to make a paper mache horse. (See the first post here). To be slightly more accurate, it will, I hope, look like an appaloosa colt when it’s finished.
Yesterday I made a full-sized sketch and cut legs from plasterboard, using the sketch as a pattern. Today I used the same pattern to cut out the torso, neck and head of the colt out of cardboard.
Torso, Neck and Head Cut From Cardboard
You can see that I began to build up the volume of the chest and abdomen areas. I then used masking tape to attach the legs that I cut out yesterday.
Legs Attached
Legs Attached, Shown from Behind
I made sure the piece would stand up on it’s own, and it feels fairly stable.
Then I began to build up the muscles of the legs, shoulders and hips using newspaper and masking tape, and put more crumpled paper on the abdomen to round it out. I have not even started thinking about the neck and head at this point, although I am starting to get a bit worried about what I’ll make the mane and tail out of. But that’s a problem for tomorrow.
Then I put one layer of paper mache on the torso area, using newspaper strips and paste made from flour and water. The modeling isn’t even close to being finished, but I put on the paper mache because it holds much more securely than the masking tape. Once the paper and paste has dried hard I won’t have to worry about the legs moving. It also covers up the sloppy masking tape, so I can more easily see the true shape of the form.
Torso with First Layer of Paper Mache
Tomorrow I’ll round off the lower part of the legs a little, and use joint compound to finish the modeling of the muscles on the legs. I’ll use the compound instead of the paper because it’s heavier, and I think it will help make the sculpture a bit more steady on its feet. I also hope to get started on the neck and head, and figure out what to do about the main and tail – any suggestions are welcome.
- My favorite online bookstore.
{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
Is there a template of the horse i can print out?
Hi Bugie. You can find a printable image of the horse template at http://ultimatepapermache.com/images/horsesketch.pdf. It’s a PDF file, so you can save it to your computer if you want to. If you make a horse, we’d all love to see it!
Thanks. I will try.
Did you ever finish the horse? If so, is it possible to show the end result and how you did it? Thanks.
Yes, indeed – the horse did get finished. You can see the paper mache horse here. To see the entire series of posts showing the progress of the horse, see the links in the sidebar.
Enjoy.
what is compound? where can i find it?
You find joint compound at the hardware store. It is used to smooth out the connection between pieces of plaster board on a new wall. It goes on like plaster, and dries hard, but it always remains water soluble so it can be smoothed with a wet sponge. When you use it with paper mache projects, it must go on over the first layer of paper mache so it has a firm foundation, and then after it is completely dry it should be covered with another layer of paper mache to protect it. A gallon container will last a very long time for your art projects, and only costs a few dollars.
oh ok thnks il try and find it here. Albeit i still one more query. You have used plaster board for the horse’s legs but over here plaster board isnt available so instead ive used foam board to cut out the legs. The foam board is approx 0.4cm thick, but ive doubled it makin it about 1cm thick, is that sufficient enough to hold the body?
Another substiute available is high density thermocol and its about 2 inch thick.
What will be the best solution?
I did use plaster board for my horse, but it turned out to be a big mistake. If I made another horse this size I’d use 1/4 inch plywood, or glue together three or four layers of corrugated cardboard. The foam board may work, too, but I haven’t tried it. The high density thermocol you mentioned might work, but I think the cardboard or plywood (or even particle board) would be better.
I have been the horse mascot for a horse rescue project. The head of the costume they bought is made of urethane foam & is very hot. I’ve modified it for better ventilation, but decided to make a papier mache’ head for my own use. Having seen your project, I know what I’m going to do for some yard sculpture.. It won’t be finished until 2010, cuz it’s in the 40s up here in Dakota Territory, but I’ll send pictures when it is. Lots of fun.
I hand drew the horse you made and came out pretty close, then I cut it out of card board and I am going to paper mâché it now.
Thanks for posting, it really helpede alot!
hi
great horse, i was just meaning to ask you a question but i dont know where so ill just ask it here, i have been redesigning my room and i would like to find a easier way so i was wondering if you could do a tutorial on how to make paper mache furniture, not like beds and stuff just simple things like…
* tables (maybe)
*vases
*photo frames
*desks
*chairs
maybe just one of them or a few i would love to hear a reply and i look forward to your many tutorials thank you
Sinceirly Caite
Hi Caite. I tend to specialize in animal sculptures. I’m sure that you could make beautiful paper mache furniture, and there are several sites that talk about it. However, it’s not something I’ve ever done. Sorry I couldn’t be much help.
Thank you for reading,
i looked on a site and found one explaining how to do this i have started making a vase (first because it looked easy lol) i will send pictures when i have completed it if you like. btw i made the horse and it looked great but then it went mouldy before i could paint it, any suggestions?
Any paper mache project needs to be dried as fast as possible to prevent mold from growing. Next time you might try adding a bit of salt or clove oil to your paste, which will slow down the mold long enough to dry the sculpture. I put my pieces in front of a fan or over a heating vent to dry them fast, and I’m now working on an idea for making a solar oven outside. But drying is definitely a big challenge.
Thank you,
i have now started making the horse but the legs will not stand is there anything
particular i should use? i have started by using plasterboard it will not stand i
am thinking of taking the legs of and using wood. Would this work? i also have a
request for an animal you could make, you see at the school i am working at we are having a pet show and tell day, and need to bring in a gold coin donation i was thinking that you could make like a large dog will a spot in the mouth with a coin hole and a box on the inside and, the box part at the back could have a flap cut out and a lock so that the staff can take the money out at the end of the day, i would love to hear a reply and will soon send the possible diagrams i have made of the dog statue if you would like to help me, and do a tutorial on it i have started with the box part but cannot figure out how to get the right shape. thank you
Sinceirly Caite.
Hi Caite. Yes, I agree that the plasterboard is not as useful as I thought it would be. I experimented with the material for this horse, but I never used it again for the reason you mention. Depending on the size of horse you’re making, you can use cardboard reinforced with wire, as I did for the horse I made for my book, or if the horse is really large you can use plywood.
The doggy coin box sounds rather complicated. The hard part for me would be attaching the hinges, but it sounds like you have that figured out already. Did you see the piggy bank post? That might give you some ideas for shaping the dog, (although the features and proportions will be different, of course).
OH WOW THANK YOU HEAPS!
i just looked at the post and now know what im going to do, im going to use a large water tank bottle for the coin holder, and make a very larg dog shape pretty much the same as the piggy bank!
Thank you heaps
P.S when we give the money in it to charity i will be sure to mention you.
Sinceirly Caite
Glad I could help. Send us a photo of your finished coin holder, if you get a chance. We’d love to see it.
of course i will send a picture, i may even put a picture of some of the kids of the staff around it im sure they’d appretiate it!
thank you for your help and i will put a picture up as soon as possible!
thankz
could you possibly make this foal like how u made the horse in the book
You certainly could. In fact, I recommend it. I spent weeks developing the easiest way to create the horse that’s shown in my paper mache clay book. The first horse I made, which is on this page, was a “warm-up” in many ways. In contrast, I built 5 different horses while developing the methods used in the book, and my experimentation “behind the scenes” allowed me to find the easiest way to do it. The new instructions, along with the new paper mache clay recipe, removes most of the frustration and gives you the best chance of success.
However, many people have also used the original ideas on this and related posts to make their own horse. If you decide to follow along with these older methods, I definitely recommend using the wire leg armatures that I show in this video instead of the plaster board that I used in my first horse, shown on this page – the plaster board was a big mistake, because it weakens when it absorbs water from the paste.