[Edit: the lessons have begun! You can find lesson #1, How to Make a Paper Mache Cat, here.]
I’m not procrastinating, honest. I really did start my figure sculpture. In fact, I’m now on the third one, because there’ s a bit of a learning curve going on. In fact, right now my latest attempt is sitting in front of the fan, drying. Which brings me to the reason for this post:
I need a fun and engaging project that wouldn’t take a great deal of time, to give me something constructive to do while my paper mache is drying. Then maybe I wouldn’t find myself wasting so much time watching uninspiring Netflix movies…
So, I’m thinking, maybe we could have a “class,” right here on this blog.
Here’s what made me start thinking about having a “class,” of sorts. A few weeks ago I was approached by a start-up company that’s putting together an online art school. They wanted to know if I’d like to be one of their teachers. It sounded like a lot of fun, but there was a downside. Only 20 people could take the class at any one time, and the students would have to pay for the lessons. As you probably guessed, most of my video tutorials are also low-key home-made commercials for my books, (see how I casually slipped that in?) so limiting the viewers to only 20 would be kind of self-defeating.
Still, a class would be fun, especially if there was a lot of feedback from readers. I’d know ahead of time that people were interested, instead of me just coming up with an idea for a tutorial all by myself. So here’s what I thought we might do:
If anyone is at all interested, we could start a list of things that people would like to make with paper mache. I’m hoping these would be things that I might actually be able to create some lessons for. Obviously, if it’s animal-oriented, that would help. (I don’t make paper mache bowls, so that wouldn’t be a good lesson choice until we could find someone else willing to give lessons in bowls. And I’m not so good with balloons. I gladly admit to my limitations.)
Then we could do the lessons much like the Pantalone Mask videos, with the steps broken down into fairly small peices so those of us with time constraints could follow along. Your part, if you chose to join in, would be to follow the steps, upload images of your work if possible, and then we all get to comment, suggest, and enjoy each other’s efforts. Then I put up another post for the next step until the whole thing’s done. Many people would find the posts on the blog next year, of course, but they could still get the full benefit of the lessons.
It doesn’t sound much different from my usual tutorial posts, except that I’m hoping it would be much more interactive. If anyone had problems with a particular step and found a better way to do it, we could all learn from that. And I’d get to actually see if my instructions “work” (I know you’re all too polite to mention it when I say things that don’t really make any sense…)
Does this sound like fun? If you were to “sign up” for a free online in-depth paper mache sculpture course, what specific thing would you want to make? Do you think there could be one particular sculpture that enough people would want to do? (I have received a lot of requests for cats, and there aren’t any cat tutorials on this site yet. Anyone interested in cats?)
- My favorite online bookstore.
{ 91 comments… read them below or add one }
I would love to take this class online. I am planning to make some circus high wire flyers and will display on some vertical poles in our 27′ high ceiling; we live in a former kitchen …
Hi Janice. All the lessons for the paper mache cat are now online. You can find the first one here.
The circus-themed sculptures sound wonderful. I hope you’ll show them to us when they’re done.
Me encanta tu idea de dar clases en linea. Felicitaciones por tu iniciativa!!!
Mònica
YES, yes, yes to copyrethe on-line class. I have not yet done paper mache, but have been reading it for about 8 months. Have given your web adde and book titles to friends. You’re great. and yes to cats!
Great – the class has started, and you can start your cat at any time. The first video can be found here.
Hi I would like to try a video class, I’ve bought the flour and toilet paper, but I haven’t started trying it yet. aybeI need some live encourgement. I want to make a cat.
The best encouragement you can get, as an artist, will come from you. If you want to make a cat, go for it. Lesson #2 will be posted in a few minutes. You can find lesson #1 here.
I have toyed a little with paper-mache in making molds for garden projects that later are used for concrete and lite material called papercrete. I would love to delve more into this! Count me in also. Will also post this on my facebook page.
I would love to hear more about your papercrete and concrete lite experiments. Would you have any interest in doing guest post for us someday, with photos of the process? So many of us would love to take our sculptures outside. (Me, too – I’m running out of room in my house).
Hey Jonni,
Hope you don’t mind, but I posted a note on my blog about your online class encouraging my followers to come here and take your course. I’m excited about starting the project and am scouring images looking for a good “Halloween” cat to use as my inspiration. :p
http://devilseve.blogspot.com/2012/02/paper-mache-class.html
Rich
Rich, I never turn down a link!
I just now posted the very first lesson.
Hi Jonni,
I think the idea of an online class is brilliant! I wanted to do paper mache for quite some time but really didn’t know where to begin…..until…..I found your website last August and ordered your book. So far, I have completed two projects and have three others in various stages. I would enjoy doing both domestic and wild animals, small or big. Your Jonniclay is really fun to work with. Looking forward to your classes!! Thank you for sharing your talent!!
Count me in. I always want to learn more but, because of my situation I can’t make anything right now. So frustrating!
Not to worry, Teresa. The videos and lessons will stay on the blog so you can make your cat any time. There’s no need to show up to class on time. No tardy slips, no trip to the principal’s office.
Sounds like fun. Love cats.
I’d love to try my hand at a mask! The cat sounds perfect for me, but any animal would be lovely. Count me in, please!
Hi Ann. I think the cat will be the four-legged type, at least this time. But I hope you join us, anyway. Are you still at art school?
Hi Jonni, what a great idea, and for free too, you are such a kind, generous person. Yes I would like to be in as well, but I never seem to finish anything and as I live in a caravan, small is the go with me. A cat would be fine, but I am into birds, not your every day garden variety (which I love), but ones like wrens, herons, jabarus brolgas etc. The latter two birds are both sorts of cranes I think. But anyway working along doing a cat would hopefully help me to finish something. Thanks again Jonni, great idea, and it looks like you have no end of followers in this project.
Class sounds good to me. I love Paper mache and do quite a bit of it however I’m still not sure if I’m doing it the “correct” way. Cats would be fun. I am really interested in the human figure on a whimsical side.
I am new to this site. Can you tell me what jonniclay is/
That’s what some of my readers started calling the paper mache clay recipe that I came up with a while back. You can find the recipe here.
I’d love to do a cat but I’ll do whatever you decide on. This last tutorial on the wolf was great!
Here are two that might help. I’m pasting 1/4 sheet of newspaper in this photo. For the wings I pasted 1/2 sheets, and did probably 6 or 7 layers. As you know, if you want it stiffer with fewer layers, you can add some plaster to the glue.
I then laid it out on a flat board — pretty sure I used pink foam insulation board as the pasted paper will stay flat-ish on the board, but not bond to it. Then cut out my wing shape and add a paper roll, and string for wing bones. The string I hot glue to the black lines.
Then cover with another, more wrinkly layer of strip mache, for a wrinkled leathery wing look. And paint, of course.
I basically followed Stolloween’s tutorial, but tweaked a little, of course. : )
http://www.stolloween.com/?page_id=3722
Thanks!
bmaskmaker,
Stolloween is awesome! Your dragon looks terrific. I tried my hand at a Stolloween dragon when I first started using paper clay and it didn’t come out nearly as good as yours.
On a side note, I saw up close the prize he made for the winner of the $20 prop challenge on Hauntforum (a big demon skull — http://www.flickr.com/photos/16879455@N04/5205040602/) and his work is even more amazing in person than online.
Again, I love your dragon!
Rich
Hi Jonni,
I was going to post some photos of my kitties as I have a lot of side photos of my cat Casey and my late Kitty Whitey. If you go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/kitkaphotogirl
and go to my sets: Casey, and Whitey you can see a lot of cat photos. I have taken millions of photos of my two cats and now that Whitey is gone, Casey is now my first lady. All my photos in my flickr account are in the creative commons license and are downloadable.
I love the idea of a class in paper mache. The one thing that I was experimenting with as when the funds are low, I have to be creative and mix a lot of my own colors by experimenting with the primary colors. Although that is not actual paper mache, it does make painting your projects a whole lot more interesting. I have a few tips on that subject, if anyone is interested.
Thank you, Christine. It’s really generous of you to let people use your cat photos. And welcome to the class!
I love the whole idea. I would not care what we make. I would just love to have someone who can give ideas about to to detail the paper mache that I make Just tell me where to sign up.
Hi Dodie. I’d love to have you in the class. You don’t have to sign up – just follow along with the posts as they go up. I’m working on the first one right now. You already know a lot of the stuff that’s in the first lesson, but you would be able to offer so much help to other classmates that I hope you’ll come anyway. If you’re subscribed to my newsletter, you’ll get a notice when the first lesson goes online.
How about a tree for hanging masks? I know it’s a bit weird but I seriously need to learn how to make trees “of a large size” for theater. Maybe even a Disneyland inspired tree if you ever seen “the tree of life” with all of the animals carved in it.
Actually, a lot of people have expressed interest in making paper mache trees. I worry that I might not be the right person for the engineering part of it, especially if it’s something that could cause injury if it falls down. If you have any ideas about making the ‘innards” so they’re safe, I could offer suggestions about making the bark and limbs.
Your best bet in making trees is making a strong armature out of wood and chicken wire. The wood base and or rebar armature should be well tied or nailed but it will be strong. Put the tree on a wide mdf board for stability. When you put the chicken wire over the wood or rebar use the chicken wire to shape the tree. The board could be covered in paper mache pulp or covered with sand or grass whatever the scene calls for.
Benjamin,
Dave Lowe is an artist who works on the sets of Nickolodeon. He recently wrote a five-part series of blog posts on building a tree just like what you’re talking about. Here’s the first one:
http://davelowe.blogspot.com/2012/02/making-tree-prop-part-one.html
Dave’s a really cool guy who’s also pretty responsive to questions if you have them, though the posts themselves give you a pretty clear idea of what to do.
Rich
Thanks, Rich.
An on-line class would be awesome!. I am a newbie to paper mache and learn better by watching a method once before I venture out on my own.
Jonniclay!
Count me in Jonnie. Am in the process of putting together 2 3ft Angels for church. Will upload pics soon. I think I bit off too much and jumped in way too fast!!!!! But………
JustJan.
I hope you’ll show us your angels when they’re done. I’d love to see them.
I’m in! Cats are great, dogs too. Focus on paws and ears are wonderful. I’d also like to focus on texture and painting. I’m ok at it, but you are great at it. You’ve also had a couple of requests lately for an eye painting tutorial, so maybe that can get wrapped into this too. : )
Like Patti, I’ve chosen to make more cartoon / monster-based sculpture because I don’t need to be as exact with it. It helps me get a feel for proportion without needing to scrap a piece if it’s slightly off.
I’d love to have a go at something realistic tho. My biggest challenge with it has always been getting stuck — knowing something’s off, but not being able to identify what needs to be fixed. And not having anyone/anywhere to get feedback to help unstick me. I’d been thinking about asking if you wanted to create a masterclass where people could ask questions and give each other feedback about their own work … but this sounds like a better place to start. Maybe a masterclass will happen in the future.
So the first assignment is get a side view pic of the cat?
Yes – I’ll put up a video this afternoon explaining what kind of photo or sketch we need, and what to do with it after we get it. I made my cat model for me, so I’ve got a head start. You can all use my photo if you want to – I’ll post it with the lesson.
You can see Jan’s glass at: http://www.jankransberger.com and she’s in five galleries. You might look at one of those galleries, http://bluespiral1.com. Thanks for asking.
Jim
Thank you everyone, for showing so much enthusiasm for this idea. I think this is going to be really fun. I’ll make a domestic cat for the class, since I just happen to have one hanging around the house that I can use for a model. I’ll also try to add enough suggestions so you can scale your cat up and make a bigger one, like the cougar two folks want to make, and the bobcat. I like the idea of doing animal parts, like paws and ears – we’ll keep that in mind for later. And the suggestion to do something for Easter was great, too – but I’m not sure we’ll have time. I’ll definitely keep it in mind, though, as we see how this progresses.
Again, don’t worry about “showing up on time.” This will all be done in videos and blog posts, so you can start and finish at any time.
OK, I’m off to make my first video. I’ll see you all soon!
OK, one more thing. I’ll also try to include techniques for both paper strips and the jonniclay. We have an international audience, and I know that the ingredients for the clay are hard to find in some places, so we’ll try to do both. And I’ve also ordered some cement stuff that might work if we use it instead of jonniclay for the last layer, so the sculptures could go outside. I think that means I need to make three cats. I guess I’d better go get started…
Cement stuff for outside use sounds very interesting! I’m a Minnesota Master Gardener and one of my key roles has been to come up with yearly garden art ideas for our county teaching garden. The Teaching Garden was established to provide small theme gardens (23 in all – some are only containers) that interested citizens can adapt to their own backyard. Each year we select a new overall educational theme and try to incorporate it into the gardens through the use of plant selection in the annual beds, signage, and miscellaneous garden art. Last year’s theme was “Music in the Gardens” and was quite fun. This year it is “Minnesota Moments” and we hope to capture and highlight many of our state’s wonderful resources and activities. For our urban garden, I’m currently working on creating a miniature version of our famous Minneapolis Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture, absent the water feature. I’m half way completed but have wished many times that I could have made the sculpture out of paper mache. I think it would look much nicer and I could get more of the finish I’d hoped for. Alas, since this must sit outside in the gardens throughout the summer, I feared it would turn to mush from the wind, rains, and sprinkler system.
However, an outdoor cat really intrigues me, not only for my own gardens but also because…
At last fall’s garden planning meeting, since we all love holidays we decided to designate one of the annual gardens to becoming a revolving holiday themed garden. We appropriately chose Halloween for this year to coincide with our “Minnesota Moments”, as Anoka, MN is known as the self-proclaimed Halloween Capital of the World. It will be filled with orange and dark purple-black plants and of course a pumpkin or two. Since we don’t want it to be to ostentatious for the summer season, we thought a black cat and a broom would make for subtle garden art. I’m going to make this my first paper mache project! I have a resin cat statue for backup should a paper mache not make it to the end of summer. Of course I could always make multiple paper mache cats for backup as well.
So long story short, the timing for this project is a dream come true for me! Thank you so much for choosing to do this!
Wow – LOVE IT – this sounds like so much fun. Before I even got to the end of your post, CATS was my first thought! I have your books, but have not yet begun my first project – I am the biggest procrastinator of all time. I think this online class is exactly what I need to get my “hands wet” and I’m always looking for cat statues for my gardens.
Procrastination is a universal disease, Mandy. I live in Australia and I suffer from it myself BIG TIME. It can be really frustrating and debilitating and I get so angry with myself at times. However, I somehow think we will ALL benefit from Jonni’s on line classes. I am really looking forward to this and future projects. Good luck with it.
Yes! Cats! Thank you and count me in please. =^..^=
What a great idea! I haven’t the free time right now to participate, can I audit the class?
I’ve a list of show promises that I must fulfill and I just agreed to take a class in another media. One more commitment would drown me. Help I’ve fallen and I can’t get up . . . at the moment.
Jonni, my wife just finished reading Susanna Oroyan’s “Designing the Doll” book. I have been after her to read it for a few months, Janis in her eighth year of making kiln cast glass. She handed the book back late last night with the comment that the most important concept she took away is to be a success maker of anything you have to know where you want to go with what you are making. Don’t wander, have destination. Have a goal.
Jonni, like you, I am a reader and will buy book after book to learn what I’m after. Yesterday afternoon I started making a new clay model (substrate) of the body of a figure I’ve been working on. The first body is of paper maché and too bulky, lacking fineness in detail. The problem arises from my inability to do really fine edges. (It is said: Art is in the Edges.) So I began again, with some of Jan’s clay. Looks to be a good under body or substrate.
Whatever, I’ve pulled down two books from the shelf: “Plaster Studio” by Stephanie Lee and Judy Wise, and “The Prop Builder’s Molding & Casting Handbook” by Thurston James. I’ve skimmer them and never really read them. Today, with my “How to convert my clay substructure into a plug for a paper maché substructure” I am back to the books. My guess is that I’ll be using the “plastic wrap” method suggested in a third book: “How to Make MASKS!” by you. Thanks for the tip!
Don’t know about other people, but at my age (retired), I doubt there is sufficient time in front of me to not seek help from all available sources. Books, classes and asking my peers. No one should ever, not ask a question . . . if one require answers. Remarkably, everyone shares.
Now . . . can I audit your class?
Jim
Yes, Jim – you can participate at any time you like. The classes will all be here on the blog, so if you want to do your cat next year, you are more than welcome to do so.
I’m working on a clay temporary shape for a paper mache sculpture, too. For some reason it didn’t occur to me that I could isolate the water in the clay (so the paper mache could get dry) by covering it with plastic wrap. Good idea. I like working with wet clay so much, because it’s so much faster than modeling clay. And I just read the Plaster Studio myself. Great ideas about using paint and textures that should work really well with paper mache. My other birthday book this year was the Surface Treatment Workshop, which is also really good. Tons of ideas in it that I want to try. I don’t have the Prop Builder’s book yet, though. I think I’ve already spent my book budget for the year, and the year has only just started!
Is there a website where we can see your wife’s glass work?
I’m in.! I need to get back to doing some sculpting and would love to follow along with a lesson. Cats are fine… I’ll make mine and donate it to the local animal shelter as an auction item… they’ll love it.! looking forward to the posts!
Hi Jonni – greetings from Gold Coast, Australia. You can count me in for the on line classes – I love your posts and look forward to each and every one so to be part of an on-line class with you and other like minded people would be great fun. I would be honoured to be one of your e-pupils. I am a 100% cat lover so making a cat sounds good to me. I have a beautiful white (totally deaf) cat called ‘Millie’ who is a real character – she understands everything I ‘say’ to her in sign language – very smart! You also have my vote for the Jonniclay, as opposed to paper strips and paste – I am looking forward to learning how to make and use that. I have been so inspired by your work, I am currently transforming a bedroom into an art studio for myself. I recently attended a fabric sculpture workshop and I loved it so I want to do more of that as well. I am hoping to incorporate the two. Thank you for the opportunity to be part of your e-class – it will be interesting to see what everybody comes up with. Regards and good luck to all.
I would be up for online class! I’m not picky of the subject that is chosen, but more of the hands on. I have all types of animals so…press on.
Jonni,
I am indeed interesting, as I have had good intentions to get back into Paper Mache when I subscribed to your blog. I have more craft skills than art abilities. My claim to Paper Mache fame was a project in 1976 where I made 2 life size pumpkins for my children to use on Halloween. Up to that point I only had experience with small projects with my special needs classroom. So, I build the pumpkins up, I kept adding layer and layer and layer of paper… The result was two pumpkins that took forever to dry and weight a ton. Oh, and they were impossible to get into a car except sideways…. It was hysterical and we have had fun with the memories all these years. I know I have a picture in storage and as soon as I find it, I will scan and upload.
I am in for whatever and ready to go… I think this may be what I need to get going.
Thank you for your blog. You are truly talented.
Blessings,
Joan
Yes I would love to join. Like Chris said, the time zones are so different. I’m in the US. Love all animals.
I think a class with you would be awesome! I am partial to pigs, but whatever animal you decide to do would be fun. Seeing the process rather than reading how to do it would be very inspiring. Can’t wait to see what you pick for a subject.
I will probably not have time to actively participate in a class as I am not finding time for paper mache’ lately but I will follow and store ideas for later. I think it is a good idea. I love Robert’s idea for a body parts class. People could try different kinds of feet say, choose their favorites and build from there…or make different parts of all kinds and then combine them “randomly” and finish with combination animals. My animals are almost always fantasiy animals or stylized…probably because I don’t have the patience to try for reality. Maybe I will try to take part and learn how to make a cat that looks like a real cat.
Matthew, for a banner, I would probably start with a wire structure for each side of the ribbon…kind of like the wide wired ribbons you find on gift baskets and floral bouquets. You could use thin strips of wood or skewers glued to the back of the first layers to give vertical support and hold the wires apart until the paper itself is stiff enough to hold itself up.
Thanks for the suggestion…I was thinking about how I would use wire to support the project. I wonder if chicken wire would work. It can be shaped easily into anything. Dowel rods might also work to support parts of the banner that would bow out.
Oh Jonni – but I’m so excited about this I keep thinking of things – could we do the cat in profile but as a bas relief? Now that would be new and different for everybody. And afterwards we could all do a mother mold for it and reproduce it for sale or gifts. Just a thought.
If we definitely cats – yeah but I must do mine. And in Jonniclay of course.
Oh yesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!
I want to do your Bobcat sculpture, please.
I am up for anything that is decided what about something spring like a rabbit or Easter egg or a little chick??? I am excited. My kids will also try what ever you do!
I would like to suggest a slightly different approach to classes. Rather than a class on a specific animal; a series of simple lessons on segments of animal parts. For example paws, wolf paws are different from bear paws and cat paws although the basics of the legs are similar. The shape of the head is different but all have eyes, a nose and a mouth. Tails are often different enough that an animal can often be identified from the tail alone. Ears are as different as the animal itself. What about wings? Wings of dragons, wings of gargoyles, Pegasus wings, even folded wings. Maybe this idea is just to elementary. But if I can help or participate I would be grateful.
Robert
Interesting idea! Something like that would actually help me focus on all those details, too. We’ll definitely put this on the list. Maybe we can pay special attention to our cat’s paws, ears, etc., in this first lesson, and then as we all add our feedback we’ll know what sections to work on next.
I think it`s a great idea! I´m new to this,so I would prefer paperstrips,and I have had cats all my life (62 years ),so cat is fine with me.
Per
Well, I don’t know if anyone else would be interested in this or not, but I would be interested in learning how to create and more specifically how to support a thin sculpture, like a banner that would hang on the wall. The illusion would be to make it look thiner than it really is and still have enough strength to support itself.
Wow – I’m not sure I know how to do that. I think you might be the one to teach that class when you figure it out. The thinnest things I’ve ever made are the butterfly wings, but they were quite small. Someone from a natural history museum wrote to me and said she was making some giant butterflies, but she didn’t send me photos of them when they were finished so I don’t know how they turned out. What do you want to use this banner for when it’s done?
Hmmmm. That’s an interesting design concept. I wonder if starting with wired ribbon as the form — you’d be able to curve it into the design/shape you wanted to begin — and using “Jonniclay” (I like it!) to mold it might not give you the desired result: a paper mache ribbon that was also very thin.
Rich
You can use aluminum grid as a substrate for the paper mache clay, which I use for my ears. It doesn’t end up paper thin, of course, but it’s only a teensy bit thicker than the grid. It ends up incredibly strong. Would that be thin enough for a banner?
Actually creating something thin and strong wouldn’t be the problem … You could do that pretty easily with large sheet strip mache. The big trick would be preventing warping, or more accurately making the warping work for you. I do this when I make the large wings for my gargoyles.
Also, for support — you could embed a hanger, while creating it, or just epoxy a picture hanger on the back. Either should work, especially if your piece is fairly light.
I don’t suppose you have any photos of the wings in process? Have you already shown us that process, and I just forgot?
I tried to reply here … but did it wrong … so the pics and info are further down.
Wow!…lots of comments and good ideas. Here is a photo that is more of what I am thinking of. I have worked with low-relief sculpting and mold making and incorporated a banner in one of my sculptures. I also had something large in mind. Like, say 3-4 feet long and 1 foot high or larger. Lets say I wanted to recreate my Ebenezer sculpture in paper meche and make it 4 feet in diameter (the one in the photo is almost 14 inches). Keep in mind it needs to only be a few inches thick and as light weight as possible.
That’s really nice. What was this original sculpture made out of? Have you ever done any large pieces using foam?
I start with an armature made of foam core board and mat board, then I add an oil based clay that does not harden. I use just enough clay to cover the armature and to allow me to achieve the desired depth. Once the sculpture is finished, I make a rubber mold of it. Then I make a casting from the mold. The original is lost in the de-molding process because is remans soft. I just role it all up and put it in a plastic container to reuse for another sculpture. I use an industrial grad, fiberglass re-inforced plaster, but there are lots of different casting materials available. This piece is not finished yet. I still need to paint it. I painted it once and didn’t like the result, so I removed most of the paint and plant to repaint it. I was thinking of giving it a faux copper patina, but since the subject is a rock, I think a stone look would be moor fitting.
This is a biblical piece, here is the passage that it illustrates:
I Samuel 7:10-13
10And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel.
11And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar.
12Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.
13So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
This phrase can also be found in the first line of the second verse of the old hymn, “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”:
Here I raise mine Ebenezer;
hither by thy help I’m come;
and I hope, by thy good pleasure,
safely to arrive at home….
I have not used foam before. I considered using foam to make some capitals for a set of columns we use in our school plays, but never got around to it.
I would love to do a cat! I have a 19 year old long haired cat who I would like to “immortalize”.
Wow – responses are coming in so fast I’m having a hard time keeping up!
Barbara, do you have some good photos of your cat that were taken from the side? I’ll put up a video in the next day or two explaining how to turn a photo into a good pattern, so get out your camera if you don’t have one yet.
One more question, folks. Do you prefer to make your cat with traditional paper strips and paste, or with the paper mache clay? I vote for the “Jonniclay,” as Steve Sack calls it, but either one will work.
JONNICLAY…….JONNICLAY
The clay is great for me. : )
Wow – I guess I hit a chord, here. I don’t think I’ve ever received so many responses to a post so quickly.
Debbie, I definitely want to see that bear when it’s done. And I’ve seen that lady’s deer heads. They’re pretty impressive. Will you post a photo of yours when it’s finished?
Heyentah, the hands for rings sounds like a good idea (and no, not creepy at all), but hands may be one of the most difficult things to sculpt, and I’m not sure I’m qualified to teach people how to do it. Maybe we should start out with something a little easier than that and work up to it. However, if we get a lot of votes for it, I’m game to try it at some point. A challenge is good for us, don’t you think? I don’t know anything about chess, but doing a whole set of miniature paper mache sculptures would be kind of fun, too. I’ll keep both ideas on the list.
Sharon, when I mentioned in the mask book that it isn’t a good idea to put a plastic mask form in the oven, guess how I found that out? They do get kind of wrinkled up and crooked, don’t they?
I have to learn over again, with almost every sculpture, that it will turn out better if I start with the bones. Maybe I should tattoo it on the back of my hand. The wolf I let you see was wolf #2 – the first one didn’t work at all.
Clara, I can’t wait to see your chicken. I hope you’ll post a photo when it’s done.
Rich, I just checked, and there are a lot of lion gargoyles. Is that close enough?
Chris, I think a dog is a great idea, too. Maybe we could do that next? I know you’re not the only one who would be interested. But, of course, we’d all have to figure out what breed to work on first. And no, you won’t have to show up on time, since I don’t even know how to put on a webinar. I just know how to do blog posts. But if we all interact in the comment section, it can still feel like a class, I think. If anyone knows of a technology that would work better, and that I could figure out, feel free to suggest it for next time.
And Deb and Carol, it looks like we have enough interest in doing a cat, if we include the two votes for a mountain lion (and if Rich makes a lion or cat-like gargoyle).
So – that didn’t take long. It looks like our little class will come get started soon. I’ll work on the first lesson, and I hope to have something we can all start working on in a day or two. In the meantime, here’s your first assignment – try to find a photo of your favorite cat, domestic or wild, that gives a good side view. You’ll need other reference photos for details later, but to begin with we need to see the cat from the side, in the position you want your finished sculpture. Sitting, standing, stalking – whatever. As long as it’s from the side.
See you in a day or two – this is going to be fun!
YES! Oh yes!! Pick Me Pick Me!!! Would SO be interested in Cats ! So many fun interpretations for feline furries!! Excited about ANY of your tutorials or workshops! Just ordered your new book and looking forward to getting distracted from my beadwork /polymer clay/copper wire jewelry !!! Oh! and did I mention I AM EXCITED you have thought of this???
I will happily make a cat for my sister. I’ve never tried sculpting and am a bit intimidated by your awesome work but, oh! I want to try! I’d also like to make a chess pieces. LOL, I don’t play, but am enamored of beautiful and unusual chess pieces. How about hands? Hands to hold rings or jewelry or to mount on a wall as a hook? Inappropriate or unappealing? I am just excited about the possibilities!!
Yes I would very much be interested in an on line class. I am also interested in making cats. I’m not talking kitty cats. I am talking a mountain lion. Full size. I would love to do this. I bought your book . I had already been inspired to make a deer trophy head. It was made different than how you explain. It turned out great. I don’t remember the ladies name that makes these, but she puts wall paper on them? She molds from a resin deer head, but I made mine from scratch. I am applying the wall paper now. I am having so much fun! I think I have found my favorite craft. After I bought your book. I started a full size bear cub. Doing it the way you are teaching in the book. I went by a picture. I am at the taping it up with masking tape, stage. I think it is turning out pretty good. I will send pics later. Thanks for all your teaching. I live in the mountains where everyone hunts and uses taxidermy. Its kinda fun to go “green” with life size paper mache animals. Thats why I would love to tackle a mountain lion. Dumb me. I never start out small. lol.
This sounds interesting. Cats. My preference would be a cougar. Not just a mask but the whole cat.
I’m working on my wolf mask from your tutorial. Couldn’t figure out why my guy’s eyes looked so deformed. Looking again at your tutorial I noticed you didn’t create his eyes until you had his cheek bones formed. That little trick seems to help with the placement of his eyes.
Oh, the base I’m using is an old styrofoam wig head. The same one I used on my Chimera. Which now has melty parts because I put it with the Bear mask too close to my little portable fire blaster heater… to speed things up. Impatient, Me???
Maybe I ought to get an anatomy book and start doing skeletons.
When I’m done, if my Lobo has any resemblance to a wolf, I want to make him with his entire magnificent body. Always jump in with four left feet. As I write this, a big voice in my head is saying…” JUST DO THE WOLF HEAD FIRST, then think about attempting a complete sculpture…LATER”.
So anyway Jonni, I’m in with your idea here.
Bawhahaha…..Sharon, sounds so much like myself!! Good luck with the woof !
Cats would be so much fun! But anything you suggest would be fine too. I have both your books now and tonight I am working on my first chicken! I would Love to show you the end project.
Well, you can count me in! It sounds like it would be a lot of fun. I’m not much of a cat person (sorry!) but sometimes tackling a project like that can actually have you learn a lot more. Since I wouldn’t normally try my hand at that, it would give me skills I wouldn’t normally avail myself of.
Now being a Halloween fan, making a gargoyle would be interesting to me.
But I’m up for whatever the class or teacher come up with.
Rich
Aw c’mon Rich! Halloween, cats….certainly you can make that work! Cat gargoyles anyone? Or is it gargoyle cats?
I’m up for cats! Sounds like fun.
I for one would be interested, as long as its not a live type thing, (time zones in different countries taken into account). Any type of animal would get the go ahead from me, personally I would prefer a dog to a cat, but it would all be a learning experience.
Chris