I move to my new house next Tuesday, so I’ve been boxing up my books and art supplies–again! If you’ve noticed that I’ve been a bit slow answering your comments, that’s my excuse. 
I have no new projects to report, obviously, and I’m not sure when I’ll get my next one started, but I am thinking about what I want to do next. I already have several books I want to write (my latest book, which has nothing whatsoever to do with paper mache, is done, by the way). However, I’m pretty sure I’ll have time to make some videos, too. And that’s where you come in…
I had a lot of fun with the video “class” about making a paper mache cat. I had hoped to do more of them, but then I got this crazy idea to move to South Dakota, and it’s impossible to make videos in my little rental house. (Not enough light, and the blue walls make me look green…) The house I just bought, however, has a lot of light and plenty of room to play around in, so I think it may soon be time for another how-to series.
I still have to move all my stuff, of course, and paint a few walls, and all the other things one does when one moves into a new house–so there’s plenty of time to decide what the next video series should be about. I hope you’ll post a comment here on the blog and help me decide. Should it be a really big sculpture that takes weeks, or something little and whimsical? Should it be realistic, funny, holiday-related – or what? Free-standing, wall hanging, two-legged, four-legged, six? Chime in, please.
And now, I have to go find that packing tape. I know I put it here somewhere…
[Edit, began 1/13/13] We’re getting some wonderful ideas, and I thought it might be easiest if I put them here on a list. I can’t do them all at once, obviously, but they all sound like so much fun. Feel free to “vote” on the one you want to start on first. I’ll add to the list as more ideas come in. (The ones with ** are things I’ve been thinking about making for my own house.)
- Bunny rabbit, with long ears, and perhaps wearing a tutu
- Whimsical dragon or other mythical creature, with lots of different textures
- One of the 1911 Looff horses from the Santa Cruz Boardwalk Carousel, big enough to sit on
- Easter basket that includes bunnies in the design
- Life-sized Pomeranian with a foxy cut
- **A group of faux-iron ravens
- **Frog or Toad reading a book (major copyright violation, I know, but it would be fun to give it to the local library)
- My favorite online bookstore.
{ 37 comments… read them below or add one }
I think you should do a steampunk golden retriever. I think dogs look cool in sculpture and are fun animals to use in art.
Hey i’m sorry for posting something that doesn’t really have anything to do with this post but I’m wondering if you knew any magazines/newspapers (online/hard copy) that talk about paper mache? If you do please give me the link (if online) or the title of article and date published author etc (if hard copy/printed). Any help would be much appreciated thank you!
I don’t know of any magazines, but there are a ton of articles about paper mache on this site. Is that what you’re looking for?
No, but thank you for the information though.
I have developed a fascination for ravens so am interested in that one. Faux Iron Ravens
Great – I’ll be making the ravens just as soon as my ballerina bunny is finished.
Hallo Jonni!
I will also do ravens
I love the expression on the horse. He’s an imp for sure!
Dear: Jonni
I just wanted to say thank you, for your recipes. I have always played with paper maché ( on and off) since I was a kid, you have taken me to a new level
I have tried to attach a photo of one of my works. This is a horse I have been drawing for years, now he is 3D. I hope you can see it. Once again thank you, I have enjoyed your videos and advice. I am having so much fun.
Sincerely Marilyn
Very nice! It has such a playful quality to it, while being sophisticated at the same time.
Good morning Jonni,
And I thought I had energy! You are amazing! Hope you’ve been able to get settled in. I did a lizard and will attach a photo. My delima was the long slender tail. Found some heavy duty are at the lumber yard. I’m working a 12″ sculpture my sisters’s Shih Tzu now. Trying to make toes out of tinfoil.
He’s so lifelike! I hope we get to see the Shih Tzu when it’s done.
My only suggestion is something with textures.
Jonni,
Congrats again to your house sell, move and new house +++++a new book! Whew! You are a busy lady and a talented one at that. Your posts are one of the few that I actually get excited about reading.
I vote for steampunk, whimsical. You have not done steampunk yet. Small please. I want to work with your clay in experimenting with texture. I think small, whimsical stumpunk.
OK – now I have to go look up “steampunk.” Wikipedia didn’t help much – do you have an example?
Oh, now that would be interesting! Hm! I second that!
Steampunk is a sort of fun re-interpretation of the Victorian era aesthetic for mechanical designs. In part. Google it, and look at the images for fun. Take a look at etsy for some other artisans’ flights of fancy. Or Instructables (oh, what a way to lose an afternoon!)
I’m also very impressed with your moving and writing and publishing all in such a tight window! Can’t wait to see how your new house frees up your creating energies! ;D
I would love to see a big bunny rabit you know the one with the longs ears and a kind of human body.
I really want to make one just need some fancyfull idea to get going
Maybe in a pink tutu….
PS: have fun in your new house!
That would be fun! The tutu makes me think lipstick might be appropriate, too.
Good luck with your move. Just finished a paper mache snowman. Thanks again for all your info…look forward to more projects when you are settled in your new home.
Wat a sweet little snowman!
congrats on the book. ( I own your Paper Mache Animal Sculptures and Mask books). Will be glad when you are settled, because, selfishly, I love your post. I wish you would considered making your projects into affordable cds. Alot of the artist on wet canvas do free seminars and tutorials and sell them afterwards. Just a thought. I would love any project. I love the idea of whimsical and smaller. The larger ideas might be great for summer. Something you could do on a covered backporch per say. My studio is no bigger then a closet. I often spread out to the kitchen, but dont think my husband would want a horse in the kitchen. lol, though the idea of the project sound fabulous. I am still doing mache snowman ……the last of the season…….monica
Heh – I’m going to put off making a deer or rhino, for that very reason. Small would be good. I’m going to start a list, and put it up in the actual post, so we can try to keep track of all the great ideas.
It looks like whimsical and small is most popular, so far. But we still have at least a week before I can get started. Would anyone like to share a link or two that shows me the style of “whimsy” that you like? Or just anything you like, whimsical or not?
Whimsical please. With all this cloudy, cold weather we definitely need something light, happy, and cheerful. We need more smiles!
I’d like it to be meduim size probably 4 legged but whisimcal so you can include different techniques for say texture, smoothing, scales, strength etc. Maybe a dragon or some other mythical creature like a phoenix. There’s loads of different surfaces in those two creatures.
Yes, absolutely! I think a carousel horse sturdy enough (and big enough) to sit on in the lvingroom would be great. Preferably, one of the 1911 Looff horses from the Santa Cruz Boardwalk Carousel. It’s the only one still operating on the west coast. My Dad rode on it, I rode on it, my brother rode on it. Guaranteed 100% cool and beautiful.
Ooh! This would be nice in a living room. I think I’ll put this one on the list, but maybe it won’t be the very first thing I try when I get back to work. Hmmm.
I vote for small, whimsical creatures or art dolls! Good luck with your new house!
Congratulations on your new book and new home Jonni.
I went right to Amazon and took a look at your book. Love to read it. If I was selling this home I certainly would pick it up in spite of having a daughter who is a real estate agent. Ha. I think I know how that would play out.
I really don’t have an idea for a new project. But if I did, it would lean toward the upcoming holidays….Valentine, Easter. Maybe an Easter basket with p.m. bunnies incorporated in the design. I’ve seen some over the years and they’re quite sweet.
Again, Congratulations! So nice to hear you are settling in So. Dakota and all that snow.
Hi Sharon. Yes, the book is about my old house. I wrote a really fast report while I was waiting for that sale to close, and put it out on Kindle. Then I found out that selling my house by myself was actually easier than buying a house with a real estate agent. Who knew? So I rewrote the thing entirely, and turned it into a real book.
I am enjoying the snow and the bright sunshine. I’m not so crazy about the ice we have today, though. I do hope it clears up in time for me to go to town and sign the papers on Tuesday. Wish me luck.
How about a life size dog to put on a protected porch in the summer! I would be very interested.
Uh oh – Kimberlee, you appear to be upside down, at least on my computer. Why does this happen? Or maybe you did it on purpose to grab my attention? (It worked!)
I would like to do a dog, either this time or next. Any suggestions as to breed?
Pmeranian with foxy cut! Please Please Please? (I can take pictures of mine!
)
I would like to see pictures. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Pomeranian with a foxy cut – I don’t even know what that means. It would be fun to put one out by the front door, instead of a big bulldog and great Dane.
Hi Jonni
Great to hear your news update and that you got the book written – I am assuming it was how to sell a house on Craigslist in 6 days?
I would love a lot of small projects that you can do in a weekend as I work full time and I need the creative hit each weekend. I f you could vary the projects that showcase a whole of different techniques that would be wonderful……
All the best with the move
From Kerrie
all the way from
Regional Victoria – Australia
Hey Kerrie, where in regional Vic, I am in south gippsland, would love to have someone to chat Paper Mache with
Sorry Jonnie for using your board to do this, I won’t take it personally if you don’t wish to post it,,lol
Chris
It’s OK with me – I hope you have a nice chat.