Phase 3 of 4

Paper

Work in progress — this page is still under development. Petroleum jelly, a glue mix, and seven mosaic layers of paper turn the clay form into something you can actually wear.

Materials & Tools

Material	Quantity	Notes
Petroleum jelly	A thin layer	Release agent over the whole clay form and a few centimeters down the board
Water	2 parts (for glue mix)
PVA glue	1 part (for glue mix), plus extra	A final pure coat goes on after the third layer
Stucco or wood filler	A bit	Stiffens the glue mix so it won't deform in heat
Paper, torn into small pieces	Enough for 7 layers	Postage-stamp sized — not big sheets

Petroleum Jelly

1 Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly over the surface of the mask, in small dabs.

2 Smooth it out with your finger so there's an even layer in every nook and cranny.

3 Extend the layer down along the board a few centimeters.

The Glue Mix

Not rocket science — eyeball the proportions. PVA glue is essentially plastic and binds the paper to itself, but it's flexible on its own; a bit of stucco or wood filler stiffens the mix so the mask won't deform in the heat and sweat of the stage.

1 Mix 2 parts water, 1 part PVA glue, and a bit of stucco or wood filler.

2 Aim for the consistency of whole milk or cream.

3 Mix a big batch in a one-liter bottle by shaking it, then pour into a shallow dish as you need it.

Seven Paper Layers

Seven layers is stable but not too thick — just about perfect.

1 Apply the first layer dipped in water only, no glue mix — this acts as a mold release.

2 Cover the whole form in a mosaic of postage-stamp sized pieces, without overlapping too much or leaving gaps.

3 Work carefully so there are no bubbles between the form and the paper layer.

4 Apply the remaining layers dipped in glue mix, overlapping about a centimeter.

5 After three regular layers, paint the entire surface with a layer of pure PVA glue.

Don't Leave It Too Long Overnight air exposure between layers is fine. Leave the mold too long, though, and the clay will shrink and deform the paper mache surface.

Water Layer
Regular Layer
Regular Layer
Regular Layer
Glue Only
Regular Layer
Regular Layer
Regular Layer

What Layer Am I On?

There are a few ways to count layers. The best way is to stay consistent and pay attention to what area you've already covered. But that's not always easy to do.

A clever method that takes a little prep is to use black matte spray paint on a few of the sheets of paper. Alternate black and brown paper to keep track of the layers. Color the paper in any way you want. Another method is to let the paper mache dry each layer and to draw lines all over it.

Whatever method I use, I like to make a little tally on the board to let me know exactly what layer I'm on:

___
|||
~~~
|||

1 Let it dry for a full two days.

2 Test for readiness — it's ready to pull off the mold when it makes a hollow sound when tapped.

3 Cut it off the board and carefully remove it from the clay form. Let it dry a bit more before trimming the edge.

From here, head over to Finish for trimming and paint.

Continue to Finish →