Gourmet Paper Mache Monster Making: Lesson 3 Fingers and Toes, Hands and Feet, and more.
If you have just arrived at this blog, don't start with lesson 3. Go to the bottom of the page and work up. Watch the Introduction first, and then Lessons 1 and 2. It only makes sense.
Gourmet Paper Mache Monster Making: Lesson 3
Gourmet Paper Mache: Lesson 3, Part b
Gourmet Paper Mache Monster Making: Lesson 3
Gourmet Paper Mache: Lesson 3, Part b
Posted by Dan the Monster-man at 1/2/2010 10:00 PM 
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: paper mache dragons monsters sculpture papier mache art
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: paper mache dragons monsters sculpture papier mache art
Hi there, Dan. your stuff is absolutely great!! I was having some trouble with feet lately, but now that is taken care of..thanks!!
I just finished my 3rd dragon that my brother blithely named a draguin; its a combo of a penguin and a dragon that is a little smoother than my first two, and can swim, fly and walk...it has amphibious webbing on its head and tail that looks really cool. I will send you a pic when I can of it.
One of these days mine will hopefully be just as awesome as yours...lol!
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Hi Cathy,
Nice to hear from you! You are fast. I just loaded this lesson. I have a terrible time with them. I know they are supposed to be instructional. But they just don't seem that entertaining. Oh well.
I'm very happy that you've been busy! I'd love to see a photo of your piece. It sounds great. I'd love to put the photo on my website as well (if it's all right with you).
Keep at it. You are an expert now.
Thanks for writing.
Dan
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YAY! Eddie!
Even though I have the book - seeing the process in 'real time' seems to make the lessons stick better. Can't wait for the next one.
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Hi Emily! I can't believe you've seen this already! I only posted it a few minutes ago. It's nice to hear from you. I hope all is well. And I hope you are working on some art.
Yes, I had to get Eddy in there. He was underfoot as usual.
See you.
Dan
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I have started working on art! After a rough first attempt at a greyhound, I decided that you were probably right about starting with monsters. So, I have monster pieces drying in my dining room right now.
I have also added 'paper mache-ing' to my list of activities that I have to remove my wedding jewelry for. Washing paste out of the grooves in the band was not nearly as much fun as getting paste into the grooves.
Emily
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Hi again Emily.
Yes, I really think making something like a monster is a great way to learn a new medium. Then your success will be guaranteed. No one will tell you that the horn is in the wrong place. Once you have success once, you will be able to make anything.
Yes, I used to remove my ring. But I forget. I just wait until it's really layered with glue and paste, and then clean it every so often. It will be worth it , believe me.
Keep in touch. Let me know if I can answer any questions.
Dan
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Hi Dan,
Your new videos are great! Really well done. You make it all look so easy. I love the tape trick. My tape always sticks to me, goes rolling around on the floor, picks up gobs of cat hair...I'm going to give your technique a try. I think it'll be awhile before I'm as proficient at it as you.
Thanks for all the work you put in to these videos. They are terrific.
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Hey Willow,
You are always so supportive. Thanks! I hope you have been working on your art. Or maybe a blog.
Talk to you soon.
Dan
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Hi Dan excellent work on the new video's (Hi Eddy). Having humour in video's IS fun & you DO, do a great job of it trust me. Sometimes just getting the educational side across is as important too though & you do just that. So don't beat yourself up too much my friend. These ARE excellent.
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Hey Jonty,
Happy New Year! Thanks for the encouraging words. I hope all is well with you. Let's just get through the winter, shall we?
Talk to you later.
Dan
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P.S. I Am officially back online again as of yesterday.
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INSPIRING! I have two of your books now and with the videos it makes me feel like I can really do this. You are really GREAT! VERY TALENTED.
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Hi Pattie,
Nice to hear from you. Yes you can do this! And if you need help, just send me a note. I'm happy to help out. Truly.
Thanks for the nice comment.
Keep in touch.
Dan
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Great tutorials!!! I would love to learn how to do papermache day of the dead items and just watching your tutorials has given me a lot of ideas! You mentioned regarding making the glue that flour and water is all that is needed, my question is from reading all the other website, is about mold.
What is your take on that? I think I will try a monster mexicany thing. Thanks again, can't wait to see your video where you put everything together.
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Hey again Catherine,
I've seen recipes for dealing with mold. I've never had a problem. Mold only grows on things that are wet. The trick is to make sure everything dries thoroughly. Turn the mached pieces over a few times as they are drying and expect it to take a few days. You might even get a little mold if you don't. But that just dies off as the pieces dry.
Good luck on your mexican thingys. I'm sure they will be great!
Dan
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I work primerily with PVA based white glue myself which means i can go up to 20 layers if i wanted to. Working with flour as Dan knows well is very a very different story. The best thing to do with flour based glues is to work in 'thinner' stages do 3/4 layer ONLY then let that dry fully before moving on. Thinner layer WILL dry faster too.
IF you work thicker as Dan rightly says just make sure it is fully dry all round/through then you shouldn't have any troubles with mold.
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Awesome Dan, I have been waiting for this
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Hey Tudy,
Thanks for the nice comment. I'll try to get lesson 4 done much faster than it took for lesson 3.
I hope your project is working out. Let me know if I can help.
Dan
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I just ordered your making dragons book.
The video lessons are excellent, looking forward to the next set, keep up the good work. For anyone making these, be aware, that they are really good to eat being flour and all, if you are a rodent. I stored several paper mache ghoul heads in my shed, and found they attract many many things.
Dan, Have you tried coating your final products with a sealant? I have been reading on this through other halloween related sites where your final product might get weathered on. I may try this after I make a few monsters using your techniques.
Greg
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Hey Greg,
Thanks for ordering my book. I've never stored my work outside, but I'm sure little critters would like these projects. I'd be more worried about the moisture over time. As you know, I cover my paper mache with cloth dipped in glue and then paint with latex based paints. That's a pretty good sealant. Still, rodents will certainly get into anything they decide to get into. Let me know how your experiments with different sealants goes.
Good luck.
Dan
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As Dansays any latex based paints WILL seal anything PM sufficiantly for indoor projects. To some degree they WILL even seal from mild rain at a push. There are a great number of varnish sealents out there. Yacht varnish would be your best bet for long term outdoor exposure i think.
As to rodents they CAN actually chew through 1cm of glass to get at something they want. So in the end there is no real 'human safe' treatment there i think.
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Hey Jonty,
Welcome back. Hope you're working on lots of projects.
Dan
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Coolsome
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Hi Nina,
Thanks for the note. I feel guilty for not getting to lesson 4 right now. But I teach school for a living and it gets in the way of my art. I will get to it as soon as I can. I promise. Meanwhile, feel free to ask me questions. I'm happy to help if I can.
About teeth. I make most of my teeth out of "Fimo" or similar products. You mold it and then bake it in the oven. Any hobby place (or stores with a hobby/craft section) will have it. Sometimes I use real teeth or dentures (for human projects). I get them from dentists. Sometimes I use animal teeth. Got them from skulls. I hope that helps a little.
Good luck on your project!
Dan
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Hi Dan and Happy New Year to you.Great instructional videos, I appreciate them so much. Also wanted to let you know that the wood glue is working out great. I like it much better than the school glue. Thanks so much!
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Hi again Candy,
I'm glad that is working out. I've used both kinds of glue. I guess I'm using Elmer's now only because it's cheaper. Glad to hear you are in the middle of something. Have fun.
Dan
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Hey Dan! Marvelous work! I've been using paper mache to make Halloween costumes for at least three years now (I know, not much, but then, my dad used it for a lot longer to make costumes and puppets).
My eldest daughter (who is 13) and I found your _Paper Mache Monsters_ book in the library three days ago and she loves it. Already she's cut apart a wire coat hanger and made a monstrous little hand that she's thinking of turning into a necklace! (She read the book and skipped straight to hands...quote 'I think I will start small - just a hand or a foot, Mom.')
Also, I would never thought of doing 'cloth-mache' and now I will have to try it to improve the sturdiness of my costumes. ('Here, Mom, this is what you are doing wrong with your paper mache...' LOL)
Thanks for a great book and website (which my daughter also showed me.)
Bekka
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Hi Bekka,
It's always nice to meet another paper mache artist (well, two, you and your daughter). Thank you for the kind words. I'm glad to be of service, even if just a little bit. Good luck to you and your daughter on your projects. Please let me know if I can offer any words of advice.
Take care
Dan
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thanks for making this information available. really inspiring.
bob
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Hello Bob,
Thanks for the thanks. I hope you are making something fun.
Good luck.
Dan
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Hello, Dan!
I'm new here and I have to say that for me you're so much of an inspiration and a source of knowledge and skill!
Strangely enough, I haven't been thought papiermache at school and found out about the technique a few months ago via Internet. I feel like now I'm having an opportunity to do so much more with my art than I did before!
Thank you for the precious tutorials! You're a great man for sharing your secrets with the public!
Best regards,
Mira
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Hello Mira,
It's nice to meet you. I love meeting other artists. I'm glad to be of help in some small way. Thanks for your kind words and encouragement.
Good luck on your art work. I hope you do try this medium. It is a great one to work in.
Take care.
Dan
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Hello Dan,
I was wondering, is there a way to make movable joints and such things on the monsters? My monster is supposed to "appear" in front of the audience and I think it won't look really good if it's stiff and unmovable...
Mira
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Hello Mira,
Yes there are ways to make movable joints. That's what I had to do to make my dragon marionette. I used the clothes hangers in the appendages to hook them together. Of course that leaves obvious joints. That's why I put clothes on one of my marionettes. It hides the joints. Maybe you can do the same. I'm not sure if you want to. But you can find small sets of clothes at thrift stores.
I don't know if this helps. Good luck.
Dan
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Thank you, Dan!
I'll try it out and see if it works
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hi, greetings from Belgium. great lessons. i can't wait for the next lesson.
i myself love working with papermache and learned a lot of your lessons
keep on the good work you are helping me a lot with the great videos
sabine
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Hey Sabine,
Greetings to you from Seattle. I always enjoy meeting other paper mache artists. Thank you for the kind words. I'm happy that I can offer a little assistance. I'll get to work soon on my next lesson.
Good luck with your art. I would love to see some of it.
Take care.
Dan
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Hi Dan i am 13 years old and like very much how do you make your art,i would like to know what is that white and wet paper you use to assemble parts and for covering the proyect.
i have seen all your videos and i like them.
PD:sorry for my english but i am Ecuadorian and my language is spanish
good luck
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Hello Sebastian,
Thank you for your nice comment. I'm glad you like the videos. The final "skin" I put on my projects is cloth (old bed sheets cut into pieces) dipped into white glue (hobby glue. We have a brand called "Elmer's" glue here in the States). That is the white material you are seeing.
I hope you intend to do some paper mache. It is a great art form.
Take care.
Dan
PS. Your English is better than many English speaking people who write to me.
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hi again Dan I have started making a dragon and there is a thing i would like to know where do you buy the eyes
thanks again.
when i finish i will send you a picture
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Hey again Sebastian,
A good place to get eyes is a place in the UK. The link is below. Good luck.
Dan
http://www.glasseyes.com/index.html
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Dan, Been using some of your methods but haven't been able to get the flour/water thing working for me. I have used elmer's/water and although its messy and more expensive, it seems to work great. When I use flour/water it makes the ball soggy and the paper doesn't stick and gets mushy and tears. I end up with a loose, soggy ball with floppy papers coming off. What am I doing wrong here? Thanks for your help...
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Hey Daniel.
Are you sticking to my rule about not putting the paper into the paste? That's very important. Only your hands go into the paste. If your hands are wet enough, they will soak the paper thoroughly. No blobs of paste, no air pockets. And only one piece of paper at a time. If you haven't done so, watch the second lesson (it's in two parts) on my blog (www.PaperMacheBlog.com) . You can see exactly what I do.
Now maybe you are doing these things. If so, I apologize for spouting off. I've just never had this kind of issue. But when You talk abot not sticking, and tearing, it sounds like someone trying to squeeze off excess paste from a strip of paper.
I hope this helps.
Good luck.
Dan
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Thanks for your input Dan. Funny thing is, I watched all of your videos over again to pick up anything I may have missed...I have been trying to follow your instructions to the letter this time. I definitely wasn't dipping the paper and adhered to the one sheet at a time rule,....maybe my flour/water consistency is off? not enough flour perhaps? I'll try some other consistencies...
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Hey again Daniel,
Hmm. I wish I knew what to say. I always seem to start with the paste on the thin side. But as I work it gets thicker. I usually add extra water a few times as I work. I hope it works out. Sorry you are having trouble. I'm sure it will work though. Remember, the mache balls can be imperfect, even in their strength. They need to be dry for sure. But the real strength gets added with the cloth and glue skin. It should all work out as long as the paper mache dries well.
Good luck. Let me know how it goes.
Dan
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Hey Dan,
I really am enjoying the blog lessons. Did I miss part 4 or is that not up yet? Also, I noticed some people asking about the mache mixture.....Did they get that from your book or did I miss sumthin? Anyhoo, I can't wait to see the rest of the lessons...they are VERY inspirational. Also, I luved that u shared pics of other people's work. How did Christina and Karen (I think it was?) get the surface so smooth? I also can't wait to c how u embed the eyes!!! Thank you so much!!!!
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Hey Julie,
I'm glad I can be of service with the videos. No, I haven't finished lesson 4 yet. So you haven't missed anything. I did demonstrate the paper mache mixture in lesson 2 though. It's just flower and water. I think you are referring to Christian's monkey and Karen's snake. To tell you the truth, I'm not sure how they got the texture so smooth. I think they used a paper mache mash of some sort and sanded. I've never had an interest in smooth, and I don't use the mash type mache. But you can get information about that kind of technique on the web and even in some of my links.
Thanks for your nice words. I'll get working on the next lesson soon.
Dan
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Dan,
How did I miss that!?! I think I got it now...cream soup...only my hands go in the mache NOT the paper and only 1 strip at a time! See, I can be taught!!! So when does the cloth come in or are you not using it for this project?...
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Hey Julie,
Of course you can learn. After I sculpt with the mache pieces (after I cut them up and put them together using masking tape), I then put on the cloth and glue skin.
I hope all is well.
Dan
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Cool. Thank you so much for your responses. As an artist, I totally respect that you are willing to help and interact with others. I am an art teacher and teach so much to others all the time,...but in the arts community not everyone is willing to share and teach and encourage others. So , mucho respect and props. I am currently attempting to make a version of your trophy dragon head. Had some structural integrity problems due to the weight of the paper on the 2 halves of the head/jaw, but I hung them vertically to dry and when they were dry , then reinforced them with another layer of paper mache (with thinned glue) seems like it is on the right track...just put on the nostrils...Also wondering where do I send pics of stuff to you? Would it be appropriate to put a link to my process pics on my fb page? I totally want to respect your blog/site. If it is something you would prefer not on your page, I am totally ok with you not posting this comment so it doesn't bring up that issue...of other people's links..again, much respect...
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Hey again,
Thanks for the props. I appreciate it very much. I'd love to see pics. Just send them to dan@monster-man.com. When it is finished I'd love to put a photo on my site. I think it's fine to show your progress on your facebook page. As I tell others who have reproduced something I've done on my videos or in my books, it would be nice if you mentioned that that is what you are doing on your page. Just so that others who are interested in doing the same would know to go to my site, and maybe even buy my book. I hope that doesn't sound too commercial.
Good luck on your project. I put clothes hangers on the outside of the long mache ball I used for the trophy, underneath the paper embellishments and cloth mache. They help to distribute the weight when it's hung.
Dan
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Dan,
Wow! My 3rd grader and I have to make a model of a pelican for a school project. The only thing I could think of was paper mache but, I haven't tried it since I was a kid. Your lessons have been life savers. We have 3 more wks to finish - anxiously awaiting lesson 4. Any tips on how to get the pelican to stand up w/o tipping?
Christy and Nate
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Hi Christy and Nate.
I'm glad you found the videos to be useful. I'm not quite ready to roll out lesson 4. Sorry. But I can give you some advice about the legs. I like using wire clothes hangers inside arms and legs and fingers and toes. For long, skinny legs, I would wrap paper tightly around some pieces of clothes hanger, like I did on lesson 3. But you might use more than one piece of wire in your case, just to make the legs stronger. I must warn you that getting projects to stand is not easy. Generally speaking you need three points for stability. For monsters I use a tail with the legs. That won't work with a bird. You are going to have to rely on the long, webbed toes. Make sure that the toes taped well. An advantage with clothes hangers is that you can bend them. You'll need to do that as you balance the bird. You can do it. It's just a bit tricky when you only have two legs and two feet.
Good luck. It sounds like a lot of fun.
Dan
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Dan, your videos are brilliant, I too am eagerly awaiting part 4. Another idea for Christy and Nate: I had the same problem with a seagull I made, and found a piece of driftwood that balanced well and attached the seagull to it - balance achieved, and it also adds a bit of "beachiness", as well as a bit of weight to the piece.
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Hey Karen,
I keep trying to get to lesson 4. Sorry, I've just been buried in work lately. I'll try to get back on it this week. And thanks for the suggestions balancing a two legged project. That sounds like a great idea.
Thanks for the kick in the pants (and the kind words).
Dan
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Christy, Dan Don't under estimate 'big feet'. My troll & monster screamers stand because of the feet alone. Big feet rule lol. Pelicans have fairly large webbed feet. You could also tilt the tail down so it just touches the ground to for the 3rd point of ballance.
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Hey Jonty,
Yes, that's true about the tail. Great idea. I hope all is well with you.
Dan
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Hi Dan yes, tired these days but doing well too much snow now rain around my part of the world lol. I am actually using some of the dolphins from my dolphin mernaid water feature project to make a dolphin money bank for my youngest daughters up coming 16th birthday. I will send pics for your main website soon.
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Dan-I'm going to be making several dragons for the jr/sr prom along with chinese letters. Your tutorials are invaluable, I've ordered your book and can't wait until it arrives.
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Hi Dana,
Wow, you have a big job ahead. I'm glad I could be of assistance. Let me know if I can ever answer any questions. I happy to help out.
Good luck!
Dan
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Hi Dan,
I bought a dragon book from you about a year and a half ago and drat... someone in our guest house made off with it. However, I am going to go forward based on the low and high speed video.
I was curious if you had ever illuminated any pieces from the inside?
John
Eugene, Oregon
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Hi John,
Nice to hear from you. Sorry to hear about the book robbers. I hope they are at least making a dragon somewhere. I was once told that I had the most stolen book in a state library system. Very flattering to be liked by people with no ethics.
About illumination. I really have never done that. I don't know how you would make the skin transparent enough to let the light through. I'm not saying it can't be done. I just don't know how. Sorry.
Good luck on your project.
Dan
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Tissue paper or crape paper would make a great tough skin with any PVA glue. I have a couple of ideas of my own in regards to inner lit forms. Ah but not today too much to do lol.
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We have a lantern festival here in Victoria BC called Luminara - I taught lantern-making for a couple of years for the event. We did indeed use tissue paper and PVA glue. Some of the structures were very large - I made a 16-foot long sea monster on floats for the lake, and later a mermaid that floated; also an 8-foot tall bird.
Our frameworks were made out of bamboo strips (you can use old bamboo blinds pieces for this, the ones with the flat strips, not the round toothpick-y ones, those break) or wire, depending on the structure - the bamboo strips are good for anything with a smooth, long curve, the wire is better for intricately detailed shapes. I sometimes used them in combination.
After the framework is done (don't forget to build in a rack for your chosen illumination, be it candles or electric) you can start laying tissue paper sheets on. Apply glue to the framework and lay the DRY tissue paper over the area you are working on, as smoothly as you can manage - then with a soft brush (chinese wash brushes work well) stroke the diluted glue over the tissue, being careful not to tear it. The glue should be diluted with water to the consistency of thick cream - if it pulls at the tissue when you put it on, it is too thick, if it tears it it is too diluted. The tissue will sag alarmingly when you put the glue on - don't worry, it will tighten up as it dries. If you have put the tissue on the framework smoothly to start with, it will become quite taut. The glue also makes the tissue strong and more transparent, and has the added benefit of making it fire-resistant (but not fire-proof!).
Some tissues are stronger than others - the tissue paper made for art use is of better quality for this than the gift kind. Use several layers - 3 is usually optimum for strength while allowing light through, depending on the colour. Oh, and tissue paper colours run and are not light fast - if you want good, permanent colour, stain some white tissue with watercolour or inks, let dry, then use as above. Good luck with your monster lantern!
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Hello Karen,
Thank you so much for your expertise! I really appreciate your sharing this information. The festival sounds amazing and your art must make the event magical.
Perfect response.
Dan
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Hi Karen. I use the cheapest tissue paper i can get my hands on, but i use it mainly as a skin over an exsisting full body form. I don't use wire frames etc ONLY paper, cardstock, foil & sometimes very thin wooden skewers or pencils/dowels for additional supports (legs/ankles etc) as i work as 'hollow' as possible no matter the project. You can find links to my YouTube video HOW TO's on my blog: http://darksidecreations.blogspot.com/. Of course my art & my materials are designed for artists working on a tight budget lol.
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Hi Again,
Just a note to say I bought both of the books, replacing one Dragon Guide; alas from Amazon. Looking forward to getting started. Being as I have both books, is it best to start with something in the Monster book first?
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Hi again John,
I would definitely look through the monster book only because it gives away some little secrets (efficiencies) and tips that apply no matter what you are making. Then decide what you want to make. Either book gives the basic techniques. You'll be fine no matter what you decide I think.
Again, good luck.
Dan
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Just wanted to say how great your monsters are! I had to show some pictures of them to people I work with as they didn't believe you could make more than bowls from paper mache!
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Why thank you Jo! I really appreciate the nice comment. Yes, I've been fighting the stereotype image of paper mache my entire art career. Whenever I tell someone that I make "paper mache" I see the eyes glaze over and I know what they are seeing in their mind's eye. I'm happy that you will no longer have that image.
Take care.
Dan
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Sadly i have to agree with Dan. This brilliant art form sadly HAS developed the stigmata of being a pre-school type art form good only for paper mache pigs & bowls made by 5 years olds. I work with balloons of as many sizes & kinds as i can get my hands on. Not only do i re-shape the inflated strip covered balloons but they are also 90% of the time ultimately lost in the final design so most people who see my art never even know i used them unless i tell them. The looks on their faces is priceless lol. Will this stigma pertaining to out our neloved art change is the real question at hand i fear.
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Hi Dan. First of all, Im writing from Chile, so i hope you can understand what im typing and excuse if i have any mistake. (Im working on my english!)
Few days ago my girlfriend and i decide to start on the paper mache art, so we start to look for recipes and some video-tutorials on you tube, and fortunately we get to your channel. Let me tell you made an amazing job(not only doing your great monsters) Your way to teach and explain its amazing for the people like me, who want to start on this.
I already do it, an i am working on my first proyect!! aaah, and i have to say, my girlfriend took a very different way, she its happy now doing another kind of figures!! XD.
Im looking for one of your Books on amazon right now, so i hope i can get it fast here.
Again, you made a great job.. thanks for that!! Its hard to find people who shared his knowledge this way.
SALUDOS DESDE CHILE!! and i hope we can keep in touch.
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Hey Miguel,
It is nice to meet you. Thank you for your kind words. I'm very happy to hear that you have started some projects! Good luck! You can always get me books from me if you can't get them on Amazon. I must say however that the last book I sent to Chile took four weeks to get there. I don't know why it takes so long for your country. I hope that the videos will get you through most of it. Let me know if you have questions. I'm happy to help.
Take care.
Dan
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Hi Dan! I have been wanting your books for a while now, and received BOTH, Monsters and the Dragon Maker's HB as early Valentine's day gifts from my sweet girlfriend (via Amazon.) They have come at a good time... as several weeks ago I severely herniated a disc in my neck that has left me almost incapacitated with limited motion and pain. So a easyish task such as looking at photos with smallish captions below has been helping me through this hard time. I LOVE your work and have been following your videos. I think the work you did for Todd McFarlene for the Violator is OUTSTANDING. I had no idea that paper mache could be used for such incredible art! Bravo and Hats off to you! In the books, I really enjoy the mounted dragon's head! Looks waaaay cool. Well this is all I can type now, pain sets in when I am at the computer typing. Safe passages!.... Brian in Austin
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Hi Brian,
Nice to meet you. So sorry to hear about your injury! I've been there. Nothing more miserable. But it WILL heal. I know it doesn't feel that way right now. But it will. Just hang in there. (Sorry, I know you've probably been told that a lot lately. But it's true.) I hope when you get some mobility back you'll give paper mache a shot. I think you'd really like it. Yes, it's not your third grade paper mache any more.
Thank you for your kind words. I'm glad you like the books. (Cool girlfriend!) Get well soon.
Dan
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Dan, thanks for your little note.. and your encouragement on my injury. I have made two monster arms so far. and 2 1/2 legs(thigh parts.) I can not do much in one sitting.. so I am taking my time. I have a question about the VIOLATOR. He seems so TOP HEAVY.. yet he seems supported by skinny ankles. How do you support the larger sculptures with skinny ankles? Thanks for letting me know if you can!
Brian
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Hey Brian,
I'm happy to hear that you are moving along. Yes, take your time and enjoy the process, especially while you are injured. About Violator, of course the bigger a project becomes, the more involved the armature needs to be. That was a particularly tricky project because of the shape of the Violator, long and super skinny in places. So I used quarter inch aluminum bars for the substructure (instead of clothes hangers like I usually use). Those bars are strong, bendable, but light. I got the bars at Home Depot if my memory is correct.
Good luck on the rest of your project. And get well soon.
Dan
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Hey Dan!
Congratulations on being accepted to present at the first ever Global Ignite Week in Seattle on March 4th! You've got five minutes and 20 slides to Enlighten folks about the exciting possibilities of Paper Mache. If anyone can do it, you can.
For those of you interested you can get information on Ignite Seattle here: http://www.igniteseattle.com/about/
Good Luck, Dan!
Willow
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Hey Willow,
Okay, so now I'm exposed! I guess people will find out soon anyway. Thanks Willow. I really appreciate your confidence, although I'm inclined not to count my paper mache chickens before they hatch. There are the possibilities of heart attacks, strokes, anxiety attacks, eating attacks, and just plain heading off to Mexico before March 4. If none of those things happen, I'll give it my best shot. I just want people to see that this isn't your third grade paper mache any more. Well, and I want them to buy my book.
Hope you are busy with your magnificent art. Thanks for checking in.
Dan
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Hey Dan you should have told me i would have mentiond it on my blog lol.
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hi, i want to sent you a photo of my first attempt using the techniques that you are using. i think it worked out great
i am now trying a dragon
How can i sent you the photo
sabine
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Hi Sabine,
I'd love to have the photo for my site. Send it to dan@gourmetpapermache.com. Also, let me know what caption you would like. I'll put whatever you want with the photo.
Thanks!
Dan
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Hallo Dan
Spitzen Videos und tolle Arbeiten, leider ist mein english ist sehr schlecht.Aber vielleicht ist ja jmd. hier der deutsch spricht.. ich hätte nämlich mal eine frage.. wie bekommt man diese schuppen hin, bzw. was ist das für ein material? Gipsbinde, Klamotten, papier? und die Fingernägel wie werden diese gefertigt?
liebe grüße und lass nicht solange auf lesson 4 warten
ciao
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Hallo Streuner,
Es freut mich, Sie kennen zu lernen. Die Haut meiner Projekte sind durch Eintauchen Tuch (alte Bettwäsche) in weißen Kleber Hobby gemacht. Diese Stärke und Detail hinzu. Ich mache die Fingernägel und Zähne aus einem Kunststoffmaterial, dass ich im Ofen backen. Es heißt "Fimo" hier in den USA.
Good luck with your art. Ich würde gerne Fotos von Ihrer Arbeit für meine Website haben.
Dan
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Wow, du sprichst deutsch! fantastisch!!!! was genau meinst du mit stärke und detail? tapenkleber?
fimo = modelliermasse zum backen oder aushärten, hab ich hier
sobald ich ein modell fertig habe bekommst du ein foto! aber vorbereitung ist alles..
lg
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Hallo, mal wieder. Tatsächlich, ich spreche kein Deutsch. Ich verwende Google Übersetzer. Manchmal klappt es, manchmal nicht.
Der Stoff und Leim Haut machen das Projekt sehr viel stärker als nur Pappmaché. Mit ihm kann ich machen, Schuppen und Falten um die Augen und Details wie die.
Viel Glück bei Ihrem Projekt!
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Dan,Creator and Master of Cloth Mache..just popping in to say hi..good luck with your upcoming event..love the site photos, especially that Martha's Deep Water Bob..Thanks again for your inspiration...
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Hey Kent,
Nice to hear from you. Your new projects look great (I saw them on your site). Thanks for the luck. I'm nervous about my talk. I've done presentations before of course, but never one so tightly controlled. Each slide advances automatically after 15 seconds. Scary.
But I'll get through it.
Take care
Dan
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Dan - I love these real time videos. I was looking for your Ignite Seattle talk and discovered these on your website.. may have to create a monster of my own (hmmmmmm). Your energy and talent are boundless!! IJ
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Okay Inge,
You are too funny! Yes maybe you should make a monster. I'm glad you like these videos. I would have told you about them earlier if I thought you were interested in these slow ones. Thanks.
See you very soon!
Your son in law.
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hi Dan great video. I just found your site. Your cats are great assistants! Looking to try this with 34 4th graders how many gallons do you think I will need.
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Hey Eneda,
Nice to meet you too. It's nice to meet another teacher (and artist). You are a brave soul to take on that project with your students. I've done it many times. In fact, that's how I got started in paper mache all those years ago, teaching 5th graders to make monsters. It's quite a job, but you will end up being the favorite teacher of all time when it's done.
You will need about a half gallon of glue per kid. I know that's a lot, but that's because of spillage with a bunch of kids. Loew's has Elmer's glue for $9.49 a gallon, 50% cheaper than anywhere else on the planet. Have the kids scrounge one old bedsheet, cotton if possible. The older the better. Color doesn't matter.
Good luck. I'm happy to answer questions if they come up.
Dan
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in first place sorry for my poor english cause i'm a brazilian and i just scratch the language. your work is amazing i love it you really are now as a mentor to me with all respect i hope to learn how to do this beaultyful art you made im following with your tutorial and i will keep working to learn more and more really really thanks for the inspiration that your videos had gived to me thanks man and keep your tuto when you could i will wait the next parts ansious see you in the next class master...
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Hello Jean,
Thank you for your kind words. I am glad that you like the art and the videos. You certainly can make this art yourself. You just need to start. The best way to learn is just to do it.
Good luck. Let me know if I can answer any questions.
Dan
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Dan,
I ran across your work or another monster makers work at an art gallery in Morrow Bay, CA., a year or so ago. I fell in love with the monster fish and had to have one! The price tag was a little steep for me so I left empty handed and wondering how I could recreate one. Four weeks ago I stumbled across your work on the internet and was thrilled to find out you wrote books! I immediately went to Borders, lucky for me they had one copy of Papier-Mache Monsters on the shelf - SOLD! Your work is amazing and that monster fish left quite an impression!My first monster, Karl, is almost complete and I have to say... I have fallen in love with monsters!! I do have one question regarding the glue. I have a tendency to be a perfectionist, so although Karl has his skin on I can't control the urge to continue to apply the elmers to smooth out any signs of seams. Will this affect the paint being soaked up properly? I'm hoping not... Karl is just the first of many to come! I can't wait to start my next one! Your work is turly an inspiration and theirs just not enough of that going around these days...
Sheri`
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Hi Sheri, i use a PVA glue very similar to Elmers & i have no problems with paint.
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Hi Sheri,
It's very nice to meet you. I'm happy to be of service. And I'm very happy that you are choosing to make a monster fish rather than buy one. Good for you!
About seams. I tear my bedsheets into strips. Then fold the strip several times and the cut along the folds with scissors. So one edge is frayed and one not. If it's a project that I don't want seams, I put the frayed edges over the not frayed edges. Does that make sense. But to tell you the truth, the rough edges won't matter much once the project is painted. They are all over most of my projects, but you don't notice them. They really won't catch your eye when the entire project is done. Trust me.
Good luck on your projects. Let me know if you have any more questions. I would love photos for my site when you finish (if you want to show them off). You can choose the caption.
Dan
PS. And thank you for your kind words.
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J'adore vos sculptures et encore plus votre méthode.Je ne comprends rien à ce que vous dites mais je comprends grace aux vidéos.Je fabrique des meubles en carton mais j'aime tellement le papier maché!
Je vous remercie de tous ces conseils généreux.
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Hello Marie
Merci pour votre commentaire gentil! I really appreciate it. I'm glad you enjoy the videos. J'espère que vous essayez de papier mâché.
Dan
PS. J'utilise traducteur Google. J'espère que vous pouvez comprendre cela.
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Bonjour,
Je ne peux m'empêcher de répondre à votre message. Monsieur Reeder va aussi vous répondre ça j'en suis certaine. Je tenais à vous dire que ce que raconte Dan pendant ces court vidéo est un réel plaisir pour les oreille, Il a beaucoup d'humour et une façon géniale de simplifier les choses.
Le papier mâché est un médium fantastique pour la création de sculpture de toutes sortes. Bonne continuation dans vos créations de meubles.
Lucie
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Hello Lucie!
Nice to hear from you. Thank you for answering the last question. I used google translate for your message too and I'm very flattered. You are such a kind person and a great supporter. I hope you are busy making art.
Thank you.
Dan
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Hi Dan,
I'm working on a Exhibition of my creation for October in a Bar here in Quebec city. So I work a lot on me monsters and dragons
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Hey again Lucie,
That sounds great! Good luck on the work! What fun.
Dan
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Your art is fantastic!
Thanks so much for these great instructional videos. I am just trying to learn paper mache and these are excellent. Can't wait for part 4!
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Hello Lisa,
Nice to meet you. I'm glad you found the videos to be useful. I've been having a hard time getting number 4 made. I'll see if I can carve out some time soon to get to it.
Good luck you your project. Paper mache is a great medium.
Dan
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Hello Dan, I am a fan of your artwork and use info about you and your methods as an art lesson for highschool students. I am unable to view youtube at school and am wondering if you would consider putting your info on teachertube so I can share the videos with my students. I think it is part of youtube with more attention to what might be student appropriate.
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Hello JR.
Nice to meet you. It's funny, even though I'm a teacher I have never heard of TeacherTube. I will check it out and put some of the videos on there. Thanks for the advice.
Dan
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Hey again JR,
Well, I put 4 videos on that site for you to use in your school. Thanks again for letting me know.
Dan
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J.R. Said: "I think it is part of youtube with more attention to what might be student appropriate."
I just checked it out & whilst it HAS got a lot of student related educational information in there there is sadly a lot of crudd too. Such as doing the 'robotnik'. Which is essentialy a mind mash & visual messeded up at high speed pointless imagery. Shame really nothing is ever use for only 'useful' things. still if teachers can access the good parts of this then it could be worth it Dan?
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Hi Dan,
Thanks so much for publishing your videos. My 6 years old son has a project for scholl, we are trying to make a Blue Iguana, whch only lives here in the Cayman Islands, beutiful creature....I am not sure how to link the body parts and about the glu part... But I was able to compile the body parts, my son is in love with this project. I am orderign your books on Monday... Please if possible can you tell me a bit about linking the body parts and using the PVA glue... Kind Regards from the Cayman Islands.
Tatiane
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Hello Tatiane,
I'm glad that you found the videos useful. I attach body parts with masking tape. I just cut a hole in the body and push in an arm or a let and then tape it in place. So I actually sculpt with paper mache parts. You might have to cut off any excess clothes hanger before you do this. The final "skin" is cloth (an old bed sheet torn up works great) dipped into white glue (I use Elmer's but PVA works fine too). Even though the other videos are fast I think you can see me cutting the holes and putting on the appendages. It is nothing more than that. And the "cloth mache" makes the project extremely durable.
Good luck. When you finish I'd love a photo for my site (with any caption you like).
Take care
Dan
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You're a great straight man, and that's a fascinating hands-on technique for mâché-ing. Thank you, Creature of the Deep... Or should that be Drip?
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Hi Virginia,
Thanks for the nice note. And you can call me anything you want. Creature of the semi-deep will work.
Dan
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Thank you for sharing all this, can't wait for lesson 4 (and more) good night for now, greetings Claudia from the Netherlands
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Hi Claudia from the Netherlands! Nice to meet you. Thank you for the nice comments. Yes, you should make yourself a dragon baby. They are fun to have around. Once you start, let me know if you have any questions.
Dan
PS. Tina Dico is my favorite singer/songwriter. I know, she isn't exactly from the Netherlands. But close enough.
Take care
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So many comments on this page! But I'm glad I took the time to read through them and learn lots of wonderful tips. Such as what you make the teeth from, the cloth you use to cover your monsters, and where you buy your eyes! Every question I had was answered in the comments section of this blog. Wonderful!
But, I must ask, what size eye do you usually get when you buy them off of the website? They look really expensive and I'm worried that I might buy the wrong size eye for my project. But that's just me being nervous.
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I use all different sized eyes. It depends on the piece. I'm not sure how big your dragon will be. I think you'd be safe in the 16mm-20mm range. These are diameters, so grab a ruler, look at the metric side and mark 16mm. Then make a circle out of it to see if that's about the size you want. That's what I do anyway.
Dan
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Hey Dan! I've read 'The Simple Screamer', and watched all of your videos that I can find, and I just want to ask . . . when will Lesson 4 be coming? I've been having a great time making my dragon, but all the pieces have been mached with paper (3 layers) and it's time to move on to the next step!!! The videos are so much easier to follow than just reading the book!!
I love your work!! Your Red Tree Dragon is amazing!! Is he still in his tree? My small screamers have migrated to some undisclosed location(I'm hoping they'll send postcards), and I'm hoping your dragon sticks close to his tree.
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Hi Sharon,
Thanks for the comment. It's always nice to meet another monster maker. It's great to hear that you are making a dragon. They are the most fun. Sorry about lesson 4. I just haven't gotten around to it yet. Too busy making art. But let me know if I can answer any questions. My red dragon is still in the apple tree. It's going to stay there forever, or until it falls apart, whichever comes first. It's funny that your screamers are hiding from you. They come out at night I think.
Stay in touch. If you ever want your projects displayed, I'd love photos for my site. Just send them to dan@gourmetpapermache.com.
Good luck
Dan
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Loving the new pics in your main website Dan: Bruce's Hindenbug, Stalac Tiger (reminds me of the beasts in Half Life lol). Randolph's dragons & fish. Tony's dino head & caged beast. Renee Capps students & Nancy's students work & of course Chrissy's 3 projects too ALL awesome.
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Thanks, Jonty. You're right! Take a look at Teratologic.com for the origins of these beasts. I really enjoy perusing your blog as well.
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how do you make the scales
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Hello Achile,
I just take square pieces of cloth, dip them in glue, and fold the two corners together to get a triangle shape. Nothing fancy.
Dan
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Hi Dan,
I am currently doing my final teaching practicum in an Upper Primary School class in Western Australia. I have shown your YouTube video demonstrations to my Yr6/7 class and they are extremely excited about attempting to have a go at re-creating something like the amazing papier mache work that you produce.I am writing because we will only have about ten hours (max) to try and make something like your dragons. Is this sufficient time and is it okay if we use your book "Papier-Mache Monsters' to help us along, please? My class will ideally have to use both the book and the YouTube video, in order to do all the preparation work, assembly, painting and so on. We would be glad to send you photos of our class work if you would like.
I look forward to your response. Regards Glen from Western Australia.
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Hello Glen,
I have done projects like this with groups of students, but I had some control over the time periods. There is drying time to consider between stages. The initial paper mache can take three days to dry (minimally) before trying to sculpt with them. Ten hours might work depending upon how they are structured. But this is a really, really big project with a group of students. My videos tend to make this process look easy. And it's not complicated. But it takes tenacity and patience and just hard work. And there are materials you must get. Kids can scrounge some of them. They would need an old bedsheet per kid for example and 6 wire clothes hangers. You also need about a half gallon of white glue per person and paint, etc. It's a great project to do for sure, I just want you to know what you are getting into. Also, I had my students make monsters for the first project. They are pretty much goof proof. The dragons are a bit ambitious right out of the chute. Again, that's not to say it's not possible. It's just more involved than making a more simple monster. As you probably noticed, I have a few slower, instructional videos on my blog, www.PaperMacheBlog.com. It will take you through the paper mache part of the project.
I do have a book on how to make a dragon per se. It's available on the book page of my site along with the monster book.
Good luck on the project and your teaching.
Dan
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Wow, thanks for the tips and sound warning Dan. I am just going to fly into it and see what happens. We are collecting as much resources as we can from home supplemented by the school art supplies, so we should be okay (I think). We hope to get to the stage where we are ready to paper mache next week, today. Wish us luck! Thanks again.
Glen
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Hi, well some of my kids are started. I am about to put cloth on mine - trying to keep ahead of the kids. Sheets have to be cotton don't they? Also do you think the standard school poster paint will be okay on them or do you use special paint. I've shown so many people your videos and of course it's always WOW! Thanks
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Hi Missy,
Glad to hear you are under way. I like cotton sheets. The older the better actually. They are more malleable when they are soft from wear. Poster paint might work for small projects. However it is very chalky and doesn't get absorbed as well as latex. What I use to do (although it's not cheap) is buy gallons of latex paints at the hardware store, the primary colors and black and white. Five gallons can cost a bit but will cover many projects. Also, I've had kids ask parents to donate any left over paint they didn't use on house projects. You can always get a lot of paint that way. Then augment that paint with the brighter, more primary colors.
Good luck.
Dan
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Woops forgot.. are you saying 3 or 4 layers is all you need in total. You don't go back and do that a couple of times? Thanks
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I think 3 or 4 layers applied once is great. You don't need two sessions.
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Hi, the students' really got into the start of the project! Your videos are very explanatory. We were able to get almost everyone to the completed body part stage. The bending of the clothes hangers and making of the appendages was a good challenge. Next week we will begin to put the pieces together, so thanks for the heads up about 3-4 layers. Also I was thinking of using the school's budget lumpy glue, but I might try the wood glue instead.
Thanks again.
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Hi Glen,
Glad to hear you are off to a good start. i don't know what kind of "lumpy" glue you are talking about, but Elmer's is the best. I get mine at Lowe's for $9.95 a gallon, much cheaper than anyplace else.
Good luck.
Dan
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You recommend Elmers glue for your monsters. Wondering what brand masking tape you recommend? I usually get the cheaper stuff and it seems to tear before I want it to.
I enjoy your latest dragon projects but was wondering when you will get back to finishing up the assembly for your basic monster project? I have your new book and it's great. However I find your videos more understandable than some aspects in the book. Thanks Dan. Enjoy your summer.
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Hello Don,
I'm sorry I missed this comment. For some reason my email has bee acting up putting many legitimate comments in my junk mail. I'm glad I checked that folder. I hate blue tape. Doesn't stick very well. I buy the cheapest brand I can find, usually the "contractor" packs at Home Depot. It works as well as the name brands.
I still intend to get back to the series. I just got sidetracked. I'm really sorry. Hopefully I'll get back to the series in the next month or so. Meanwhile let me know if you have questions. I'm happy to help.
Dan
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I love these dragons. Thanks so much for the tutorial videos. I am going to try to make something for a birthday present. Hopefully you will have part 4 done this week
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Hi James,
I'm sorry but I just got severely side tracked on the tutorials. I won't have part 4 done for a little while yet. But if you have questions please ask. I'm happy to help.
Dan
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Hi Dan,
Well it's been a while since the last blog and the project is 90% finished now. The students worked extremely hard to get it done! What an amazing challenge! I would like to show you some of the monsters the kids made, they were just hilarious. Your guidance, book and videos were fantastic. The kids were enthusiastic from start to finish. Once painted the monsters really came to life. We weren't able to get as much detail into them but the end result was really excellent. Thanks again.
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Hi Glen,
That's great to hear. I'm sure it was a lot of work. But worth it in the end. I'm glad to have been of some service, if only vicariously. I definitely want to see the finished products.
Hang in there. And congratulations!
Dan
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Hi, Dan!
The dragon project I'm working on with my 6th graders is going great! The kids are very enthusiastic. They are only at the ball-up-newspaper-and-tape-it stage and they are already envisioning great things. These videos are so helpful! I love the gargoyle you've got set up behind you during the intro. Could you post some pictures of it???
Thanks again!
-Livia
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Hi Livia,
Glad to hear that things are moving along. As I've said many times, you are a saint for taking on a project like this with kids. I know how much work it is. I've done it many times. That is one thing you will want to emphasize to the kids. Good art takes patience and tenacity. The true test will come when everyone is sick of sticking their hands in the glue. The process is pretty easy, but it is a lot of work. I often tell people that the only difference between me and someone else making a project is that I am willing to stick my hands in the glue one more time for that last detail. Good art takes time. The reward will be great.
I'll see if I can dig up a photo of that gargoyle. I don't have great photos of everything I have.
Good luck!
See you.
Dan
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Thank you very much for your filmed lessons.
I love your works. I live in France and actually make ceramic monsters with dog characteristics
I think making papier mache sculptures soon be trying your technique.
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Hello Nathalie,
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Hello there!
I have a little question:
Do you mache the horns and tentacles or do you just leave them like this with the tape on until you put the cloth above them?
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Hi Mira,
I don't paper mache the horns and tentacles. I just put the cloth and glue over them.
Hope you are working on something fun.
Dan
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Hi, Dan! I just discovered your work and I am blown away! I got so inspired that I've started to dabble a little on my own fish using your techniques. I've watched all of the videos (quite a few times each) and they're great! What I can't figure out is how the back part of the fins and dragon wings are done. I read somewhere on your blog that you use one cloth sheet and then flip over to cover the exposed spines. I can't see on any of your videos where you show applying cloth to the back. Can you describe that process a little more for me? I've got my fish framed-up and ready for cloth-mache!
Thanks for your inspirational work and sharing your secrets with us!
-Tim
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Hello Tim,
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Do you mix the paste with water?
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Hello Ben,
Yes, the mixture I use for the paper mache paste is just cheap, white flour and water. There are recipes for paper mache paste on the web that are very complicated, cooking the paste, and adding all kinds of exotic ingredients. It's really simple to just use flour and water for the paste. Nothing more. You add water until the consistency of soup. But it doesn't have to be precise. You'll know the right consistency when you get it.
Good luck.
Dan
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