Paper Mache Buddha with Jo- Belly and Jaws
Yeh, yeh, it's been a while. Been working on my paper mache, and my house. (I have a really great project in the works.) So I left off with the Buddha holding the cup. I took the cup out for a while. I'm going to work on other parts and then come back. I want the cup to be closer to his face. There has to be a connection between the joyful expression on the Buddha's face and the cup of coffee. This is for a coffee shop after all.
I taped on a paper mache ball for the head. This is the approximate size. I'll make many adjustments. Speaking of adjustments, when I got the head on him, I realized that the belly was not big enough (for a proper "Laughing Buddha"). At this point I didn't have time to make another giant paper mache ball for another belly. I thought of a rather clever way to remedy this situation (if I may say so myself). First, I cut the Buddha in half just above the belly.
Then, when I set the top half of the body back on, I set it back about 6 inches. It's hard but you can see this in this photo (below, on the left). I then cut up smaller, extra, paper mache balls to create the round upper portion of the belly. I used some of the same paper mache shells to make a smooth transition from the back to the butt (yes, Buddhas have butts).
Time to make the jaws. Since this Buddha will be smiling, I wasn't sure how many teeth would be showing. So I made a proper set of teeth just in case. As usual, I cut open a smaller paper mache ball and used the half shells for the jaws. I hot glued the teeth onto the shells first. Then I wrapped the teeth with my cloth mache.
I painted the jaws a pretty pink and blackwashed them. I forgot to mention that I also made a tongue. I did this when I made the fingers and toes since a tongue is just two fingers put together with cloth over them both. I cut a hole in the head.
I pushed the jaws into the face. Note that I also added Buddha breasts (yes, Buddhas have breasts). Once again, I just cut a small paper mache ball in half and used the shells for those.
Have to stop here. Will be back soon. Thanks for stopping by.
As an aside, I wonder which is worse, the heat wave across 95% of the US, or the pouring rain in Seattle in the middle of July? Not much of a summer here.
I taped on a paper mache ball for the head. This is the approximate size. I'll make many adjustments. Speaking of adjustments, when I got the head on him, I realized that the belly was not big enough (for a proper "Laughing Buddha"). At this point I didn't have time to make another giant paper mache ball for another belly. I thought of a rather clever way to remedy this situation (if I may say so myself). First, I cut the Buddha in half just above the belly.
Then, when I set the top half of the body back on, I set it back about 6 inches. It's hard but you can see this in this photo (below, on the left). I then cut up smaller, extra, paper mache balls to create the round upper portion of the belly. I used some of the same paper mache shells to make a smooth transition from the back to the butt (yes, Buddhas have butts).
Time to make the jaws. Since this Buddha will be smiling, I wasn't sure how many teeth would be showing. So I made a proper set of teeth just in case. As usual, I cut open a smaller paper mache ball and used the half shells for the jaws. I hot glued the teeth onto the shells first. Then I wrapped the teeth with my cloth mache.
I painted the jaws a pretty pink and blackwashed them. I forgot to mention that I also made a tongue. I did this when I made the fingers and toes since a tongue is just two fingers put together with cloth over them both. I cut a hole in the head.
I pushed the jaws into the face. Note that I also added Buddha breasts (yes, Buddhas have breasts). Once again, I just cut a small paper mache ball in half and used the shells for those.
Have to stop here. Will be back soon. Thanks for stopping by.
As an aside, I wonder which is worse, the heat wave across 95% of the US, or the pouring rain in Seattle in the middle of July? Not much of a summer here.
Posted by Dan the Monster-man at 7/21/2011 12:04 PM 
Categories: Paper Mache Buddha with Jo
Tags: paper mache papier mache paper crafts paper mache instructions paper mache recipes sculpture arts and crafts coffee caffiene buddha enlightenment
Categories: Paper Mache Buddha with Jo
Tags: paper mache papier mache paper crafts paper mache instructions paper mache recipes sculpture arts and crafts coffee caffiene buddha enlightenment
I realized your pieces are hollow. I stuff my piece with small tight rolled newspapers. To give stability I fill small boots with plaster that I have added a wooden armature.. Thanks for sharing your method dee
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Hi Dee,
Thank you for sharing your methods too! I like the plaster idea with the boots. Totally makes sense. At one point I opened up the back of the Buddha and pulled out all the wads of paper. Otherwise he would have weighed as much as me.
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Love the character you put into your creations, such a great distinctive style, would like to try to develop a looser style, heck I don't even really have any kind of style, I'm all over the place! Can't wait to see the face, I know we will love it! Love how you can adapt changes too! Thanks Dan!
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Hi Suz,
All over the place is a style, a good style I think. It's called eclectic. You have a niche for sure. Thank you as always for your nice comments.
Dan
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Hi Dan,
Thanks for all the work you put in writing tutorials for newbies like me
Concerning the weather....we want sun in the Netherlands. It's so very cold here that it almost looks like autumn. We have so much rain for weeks now. Want to trade?
Thanks again and please continue writing. I love your style.
Daniëlle
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Hi Danielle,
It's raining in Seattle today. I woke up to loud claps of thunder. I'm glad you like the tutorials. I'm going to put on another post today.
And thanks for buying the book. I hope you like it.
Dan
PS. I hope you get some sun too.
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Woah! Those teeth are gruesomely realistic. You haven't been hanging around the back alley of the dentist's office have you?
Nice, nice work!
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Hi Joey,
Nice to hear from you. While I have actually used human teeth for some projects (my "Head for the Carpool" video has a guy with them....I get them from dentists), these are just Fimo. But thanks for the compliment!
Dan
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DD,
Dry Cleaners have hangers they throw away by the hundreds. Dry Cleaners still need to deliver their goods to customers on wire hangers. Wire are cheaper and easier to handle in the cleaner facility. I use to collect these and give them to my friend who does clothing alterations to recycle. Maybe you could advise your students to check their local dry cleaners for same. I stopped by on the way to my studio last week and picked up as many as I wanted, They said take 'em all! They receive them back from customers but do not necessarily want to reuse the used ones. Easier to buy and use new ones I was told by owner... Something about the way they load in bundles when they are new??? Thank you, foo man ca chooo!
CN
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Thanks Candy,
Yes, dry cleaners are a great source for wire hangers. Plus, they are relatively small gauged and so easier to bend and cut.
Dan
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Hey Dan! Long time no speak.
This is looking great! This reminds me of your donkey and elephant - he's huge! I can't wait to see it finished.
I do have a few questions though: you're paper mache recipe is just bleached flour, the really cheap stuff, and water, right? And your cloth mache is glue? Do you water it down?
I've watched the video where you explain your mache recipe, but could you repeat that here? I know you're not exact on measurements, but if you could give me a good idea I'd be really grateful!
Hope to hear from you soon,
Lindsey
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Hello Lindsey,
So nice to hear from you! It has been a while. I hope school has gone well. You can see the finished elephant and donkey on my blog. The final post is here, http://papermacheblog.com/2010/10/18/paper-mache-party-animals-finished.aspx. I think they turned out well. As usual, the photo just doesn't do the pieces justice. They look much better in person.
As far as your questions....yes, cheap, white, regular old flour and water. That's all you need. Don't get self-rising or healthy flour. I can't give you exact proportions. Just keep adding water and mix with your hands until it's like soup. You see, no matter what, as you use it, the mixture thickens up anyway. I keep some extra water on the side to add as this happens. That's why the exact ratio doesn't really matter. It changes as you work. I like Elmer's glue. But any white glue will work. I don't water it down. Just use it straight up.
Sounds like you are ready for some art. I'm glad to hear it. You are a fine artist. Let me know if you have any other questions. I'm happy to help an old friend.
Take care
Dan
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I saw the Elephant and Donkey hanging up in the coffee shop (the picture, I mean. It would be cool to see them in person, though!) This Buddah you're working on reminds me of them due to the size. I can remember you talking about the sheer size of the coffee shop pieces and how long they took you to make! Your pieces just keep getting bigger and bigger!
And yes, I am definitely ready to make some art! I was actually inspired by an episode of a show called "How It's Made" if you've ever heard of it. They were doing a segment on these high end paper mache animals made in Mexico and they showed the entire process of lining a mold with wet cardboard, the paper mache, covering it in a sealant, sanding, paint... It was so cool! I was thinking to myself: "How awesome would that be to do? But not for $5 a day." (That was harsh, sorry.)
I need to get to the art store and look for some wire. I'd really like to make an armature before I tackle anything paper mache.
Hope to hear from you soon!
Lindsey
Also, it's worth mentioning, if you google "how it's made paper mache animals" some of your work comes up on the second page of google images. You're famous!
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Hi again Lindsey,
Sorry, I understand now what you were saying. I surely wasn't intending to make my projects larger. I went through a "large" phase a number of years ago. It was fun, but the problem became storing them. They take up a lot of room. I made those commissions large because they needed to be. But I try not to make them all that big. Just no room to put them.
I'm glad to hear you are itching to do some art. I've seen that "How it's made" show. It was fun to watch. I haven't seen it for a while. It would have been nice to see that paper mache segment. They do some great paper mache in Mexico. Usually it's the true "mashed paper" paper mache. But like you, if I'm going to sell something, I'm not going to sell it for less than I put into a project. Over the years I've had people offer me $50 for a dragon and then act like I'm crazy when I refuse. It's only paper after all.
Good luck on your new project. I'm sure it will be magnificent.
Dan
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Hi Dan,
Love your work. There's such a fun and whimsical nature to it. I want to buy your books and make a piece for myself, but also to show my friend who is an art teacher what is possible out there. Thanks and I love your cats too. (Fellow cat person.) Remember there are many intelligent forms of life in the universe. . .and their all owned by cats. lol
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Hello Leslie,
Thank you so much for the very nice comment. I'm really glad you like the work. Of course I'm biased, but I think everyone should try this medium. Whether you buy my books or not, you should give it a go. It will hook you.
I'm glad you like the cats too. It helps to be a cat person to understand their role in my art. I don't know what I'd do without them.
Thanks for popping by. Stay in touch.
Dan
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