Project Difficulty Level: Intermediate
Paper Mache Orangutan Mask
Paper mache masks are a lot of fun to make. Many traditional cultures use masks as a way to bring spirits or gods to life – and kids (and fun-loving adults) use masks on Halloween. The mask I made is a wall decoration, but it could be used as a traditional mask by making eye holes to see out of.
I chose our cousin the orangutan for my mask because of her beautiful brick-red color and expressive face. If you don’t already have all the supplies on hand, the total cost of this project would be less than $20.
Paper Mache Orangutan Mask, Step 1
Step 1:
I started by cutting out a piece of scrap cardboard in the basic shape of the orang’s face. I then added crumpled pieces of newspaper with masking tape. In the photo above I have added her muzzle, cheeks and forehead.
Paper Mache Orangutan Mask, Step 2
Step 2:
I continue molding the underlying base for the paper mache mask by forming a long, thin roll of paper to shape the eye socket. I also added a small bump for her nose.
Paper Mache Mask, Step 3
Step 3:
Now you fill in above the eye socket with more paper, build up the lips with two pieces of crumpled paper, and add the eyeballs. I also filled in the cheekbones a bit, and worked all around to give her the face I wanted.
Completely cover the paper with masking tape. The paper mache won’t stick to it very well, and you’ll be able to remove the form when the “skin” is dry.
Once you have the shape you want, you start to add strips of paper and paste. Completely cover your mask with at least two layers of newsprint. You will probably need more in order to get a nice firm shell.
Mask, Step 4
Step 4
In the photo above, you can see that I added one last layer of paper, using brown paper from a light paper bag. With three layers of newsprint and one layer of brown paper, this should be enough for a mask that is displayed on a wall, like mine will be.
Paper Mache Mask, Inside Form Removed
Step 5:
Let your mask dry completely, and then turn it over. You can now carefully remove the paper form the mask was built on. If you’re lucky, you may be able to get it out in one piece and use it again for another mask.
Orangutan Nose, Painted
Step 6:
You’re now ready to finish your mask. Sand the paper mache if needed (wear a face mask) and then use gesso or white paint to give a nice bright base for your paint. I used acrylic craft paint over the gesso, but you could use oils or any other medium you enjoy. A matte acrylic varnish will protect the finish.
Adding Hair to the Paper Mache Mask
Step 7:
The only thing left to do is to add the orangutan’s wild orange hair. I used cotton yarn from a mop head and dyed it orange. During the dyeing process the yarn got a bit unruly, but I decided that the tangles fit with the subject. To attach the hair I carefully drilled holes around the top edge of the mask and inserted the hair, three or four strands at a time. The strands were held tightly together with little twist ties left over from a box of garbage bags.
Once the hair was all in place, I dropped a bit of glue on the yarn to keep them from moving.
Finished Paper Mache Orangutan Mask
And here she is, all ready to hang on the wall.
To make a mask you could actually wear, you would make the form exactly as I did here. When the paper mache layers are completely dry you would cut a hole where the eyes go. Even if you hang your mask as a wall decoration, cut-out eyes look very striking, since they add a sense of mystery to the mask. That may be why they have been used so extensively as stand-ins for the gods.
You would also need to create a way to hold the mask on your head if you want to wear it. If you have ideas for doing that, please let us know.
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{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
what i always love to do, is teach the kids, then grandkids, nieces and nephews…all how to make a mask. kids love making them. and all of these children have grown into artistic people..my family credits me because i always think of making a mask or a different Valentinesday box..
but this story made me remeber the good times with all the kids.
this mask i must say…is by no beginner…it looks real.
This mask is well done. The processes you used and a little creativity exhibit how a few low cost materials can turn newspaper into a great class project. I certainly will adopt this lesson into my class curriculum because it obviously forces the students to think outside the box and have a good plan to achieve this level of success.
Hi Robin. If you put your students’ work up on a website, we’d love to see how their masks turned out. Keep us posted.
I likey monkey! I make paper mache sculpture too. I usually finish the paper mache with gesso before I paint. Do you know of any other primers that I could finish with… preferably environmentally friendly? I tried making my own milk paint once, but the lime in that totally destroyed the piece. More Masks Please!
Christopher, I usually finish the pasting with a final layer of white xerox paper, torn into smaller pieces to wrap around better. This will give the mask a smoother look AND take care of the white primer coat!
Hope this is helpful, if late.
Jim W.
Wonderful mask, Christopher. It’s really inventive. The image was too large for it to fit into the comments, so I added a link to your post so people could see it. Thanks for sharing.
I’ve been making a glue-based gesso to finish my latest pieces. I don’t know how environmentally friendly it is, though. I’m sure the thick flour-and water paste I used for the orangutan mask is about as environmentally-friendly as you can get. And you can add color to it – but it does take three or four coats to get a good thick finish.
Let us know when you have some more masks to show us.
I think it is facinating. I would love to study with you. Your talent is unique. I am attempting to make a deer mask for a ballet and love this organic, batina that you acheived. Bravo!
Hi Nancy. We’d love to see your mask when it’s finished. It is amazing what can be created out of simple ingredients, isn’t it?
Do you ever use clay molds for your papier mache instead of building up?
Hi Nora. I do often use clay or polymer clay as a form. Especially when there are small details. The short-eared rabbit was made over a clay form. And I’m doing the details around the face and feet of my newest project, a flying pig, with Sculpy clay, which will not be removed from the finished piece. Do you have some examples you’d like to share?
Magnificent mask! Simply stunning.
Dan
I have a quick question. The shiny finish on the mask do you do that or does it turn out like that. I would like to know this because Im making a life size spartan shield and it has a shiny surface. Just wondering how to do that with paper mache
If you need a very shiny surface, you’ll need to sand the surface of your shield after all the paper mache is dry, to get it as smooth as you can. Then you can use a coat of gesso and sand that with fine sandpaper after it’s dry. (Use a mask whenever you sand, to keep the dust out of your lungs. Once it’s in there, it never comes out). Then you can color your shield and give it a finish coat using a glossy varnish or Verathane.
I hope this helps. Good luck with your project.
I’d like to make the entire body… any ideas?
Tahna
You can make an orangutan by building a form with crumpled paper and masking tape, and then covering it with paper mache.
Why did you stop at step 2? I’d love to see all the steps!
Dang- most of my post has disappeared. Thanks for letting me know, Paula. I’ll replace the lost content sometime today. The blog spirits must have stolen it….
that is awsome!!!
Could you give an approximate estimate of how long this lesson would take with 9 and 10 year olds?
Ooh – sorry, I don’t know the answer to that. This is a fairly challenging project, and the paper mache needs time to dry, so I’d give it plenty of time. But exactly how much time, I just don’t know. When you find out, please let us know.
This is amazing, I wish I could be as artistic as that. AT my school we are doing a topic called animal magic, we have to construct a face mask for a chosen animal. Any ideas?
You can make the masks the same way as the orangutan above, but make it in the form of any animal you like. You might also want to look at the African mask, because a ceremonial mask is made because it’s magic. The one I made is a spotted hyena, but you could change the form to make any other animal.
I really love your tutorials! I haven’t made paper mache since middle school, but I wanted to create a couple of animal masks for an upcoming photo project, so I browsed the internet and found this site. Just looking at the quality of your work kicked my butt into gear, and I started my Coyote mask that night (2 days ago). I’m now letting the second newsprint coat dry, and had planned on one more layer of brown paper bag, then possibly the ‘skin’ layer you mentioned. Is that enough layers for a mask that will be worn? A lot of the original cardboard in the form will have to stay there once it’s done, so that will help with the strength, but how many layers of paper would you recommend?
Hi Leonard. Three or four layers of paper mache should be plenty if there’s cardboard, too. For areas without cardboard, or where you might be attaching a string to keep the mask on, you would probably want to add more layers. I think the idea of a coyote mask is wonderful – I hope you let us see it when it’s done!
I enjoy your web site a great deal and can’r wait to try the paper clay.
In reading about the mask wall sculpture…I remember seeing foam heads that I believe were used to store wigs on. Cheap in cost, might make a full head attempt possibile. Also by cutting through the clay/foam you would end up with a 3-D mask. Possibile? Also pre-soaking the cardboard cut out and pressing it over your face somewhat, then removing it and letting it dry before building the mask would give it a rounded closer fit if you wanted to wear it. Just some thoughts.
Excellent ideas. It would definitely make it easier to get a mask that has the right shape. If you try it, please let us see how your mask turned out.
Finally got ‘Coyote’ all finished up. Thanks so much for your expertise on the craft, I had a blast making this mask and have another in the works.
To make it wearable, I made the original paper shape the same size as my head and kept checking the size to make sure it was about right. Because of the shape, I had to leave some of the tape/newspaper/cardboard base sculpture in the finished mask. I made two small holes in the sides and used fabric grommet eyelets and the cooresponding punching tool to secure them in the mask, then looped some thick elastic thru them to make a headband. Added some foam inside the face area to make it more comfortable against the skin, but it’s still pretty uncomfortable over time, and hard to see out of. But all in all, it will work great for my photo project.
Wow. He’s got real character – fantastic job!
Another pic of Coyote.
I saw this before I even found the site, I was browsing paper mache masks and POOF! I saw you “Coyote”, You’ve really inspired me to make one for myself, not neccesarily a coyote, but something canine for sure. I think you did an awesome job! Hopefully mine will come out pretty decently!
Hi Jonni
I’m a little confused. For this mask you say that the paper mache will not stick to the masking tape which is good for removing the initial form, yet you use a lot of masking tape for your other projects which don’t have a form to be removed. How come it sticks to your other armatures? Sorry, maybe a silly question, but has me puzzled.
Stay inspired!
Michelle