Taking my Paper Mache to Texas- part 2
Sorry I've been gone so long. As I mentioned, I was a keynote speaker at the Texas Art Education Association Convention in Galveston, Texas. It went very well. I had a very enthusiastic, happy, fun crowd to work with. Just great people. They laughed at all of my juvenile humor. As soon as they laughed at the paper mache piggie sniffing the paper mache birdie's butt, I knew I was in the right place. And the workshop went well despite some mix up regarding supplies. I just want to thank publicly the president of the TAEA, Cheryl Evans, and the president elect, Linda Fleetwood for inviting me, and Joey Doyle, and Drew and Mike, and Gary for all their help. There were others too, so many I can't name them all. It was a grand event. It was taped, and I've been told that the hour long speech will eventually end up on the association's website. I'll let you know if that happens.
I just hope that many of these art teachers will go back to their schools and do paper mache with their students. The kids need it. I see a paper mache resurgence.
But now I'm just itching to get back to work! I have my paper mache Dark Butterfly piece waiting for me. She's been patient, but every day that goes without working on her, the more I risk her wrath. I promise to post updates as soon as I get home.
I just hope that many of these art teachers will go back to their schools and do paper mache with their students. The kids need it. I see a paper mache resurgence.
But now I'm just itching to get back to work! I have my paper mache Dark Butterfly piece waiting for me. She's been patient, but every day that goes without working on her, the more I risk her wrath. I promise to post updates as soon as I get home.
Posted by Dan the Monster-man at 11/12/2011 5:31 PM 
Categories: Texas Art Education Conference
Tags: paper mache papier mache sculpture texas TAEA Screamers monsters
Categories: Texas Art Education Conference
Tags: paper mache papier mache sculpture texas TAEA Screamers monsters
Hey Dan, Glad your back safe and it was a fun convention, can't wait to see the video! Boy I am sure ready for more of your creations, dying to see how the butterfly ends up! I'll be watching for it! Welcome back!
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Hi Suz,
We were asked to participate in a shoe exercise. I altered the front of an old pair of tennis shoes. You would have been proud. But they weren't at all like yours. You are the master with that.
Talk to you later.
Dan
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Wow, what a trip! Soooo, are there pictures of any of the shoes?? Would love to see them! Gosh thanks King...
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Hi Suz,
I can't remember if I took photos. I heard about the project a week before I left so had little time. But I haven't plugged my camera in yet to check the photos I took. They were very different than what you do. I altered only the front, by the toes. I added faces. And I painted them so that they looked like just part of the shoe. The TAEA takes artist's shoes around to classrooms to use as a lead-in to discussion of the artist's work. It's called the "Shoe Project". I'm sure there is something online about it. I'm gonna check my photos.
See you.
Dan
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Good on you for promoting papier mache. It is such an under-rated art! There is so much that can be done with it. Some dabble, but not many push it's boundaries like you do! keep it up! cheers
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Thank you Cherry! I totally agree with you! You should have written my speech!
Take care
Dan
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I was one of the teachers in the workshop audience. Thanks so much! I'm at heart a clay artist but don't have a kiln and have been trying to find a replacement sculptural medium. I've tried paper mache in the past but the squegee the paper method. Your demo was fantastic! Not only do I think your technique is doable for what I want to build but I can also see doing it with my kids. I tried air dry clay a few weeks ago with them and ended up with lots of broken hearts as their pieces crumbled. Never again. We will be doing paper mache in the spring when we do sculpture. Thanks for presenting at our conference.
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Hi Wendy,
Thank you for the nice compliment. I'm glad you liked the speech. It was a great crowd. And yes, definitely switch over to this technique. Much more friendly for use with kids.
Let me know how things go. Good luck!
Dan
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I was in the TAEA audience - and LOVED your presentation! I will teach paper mache to my students now, and I will for SURE be creating at least one of my own! I've been planning on crating a series of sculptures for a while now, but haven't found the right medium. I think I've found it now!!
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Thank you for your very nice comments Christy. I'm really flattered that you enjoyed the speech. I enjoyed myself thoroughly. I felt like I was around people who think like me. And you are my hero for doing this with kids. It is a lot of work. But it will be worth it. Let me know if you ever have any questions.
Take care and good luck.
Dan
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Mr. Reeder,
Good to see you are still producing your amazing creations!
I was a math student of yours at Sammamish High back in '83. I just retired from the military and am now going into Art Education as a profession. I am actually doing a report on you as part of the endorsement/certification process and was wondering if you wouldn't mind me asking a few questions about your life and how you happened into your genre and method?
Respectfully,
Roland Amendola
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Hello Roland! It is so nice to hear from you! It has been a while. And yes, I do remember you. Retired...geez, that's a word I never expected to hear from a former student before I get there. Actually, I did retire from Bellevue after 30 years. But I still teach. I have a post-retirement gig at Lakeside School teaching math.
Are those the only questions? Or are there more? Certainly I'm happy to help. That will take a little more time than I have this moment. Let me get back to you in the next day or so. Hope that's all right.
Art teachers are very important. I actually just did a speech to the Texas Art Education Association convention a couple months ago. I gave their keynote address. What a great bunch.
Let me get back to you.
Dan
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Dan, you've sucked me in. I went looking for dragon options for our senior banquet in our youth group. Since I began the search for ideas, I found myself totally ducked in very nicely, I might add.
I now find my self in the midst of creating my frist peronality and am loving it. I have some cercerns and am praying that you might, in the goodness or your heart, find a few sare minutes to dive me some quidelines and tips to help me be successfull.
I'm putting Ferdinand together and he is a bit of a tempermental sort. At times his imagination bombards him with wild and exciting ideas that would make much better use of his time. Aww well and good on paper, but not so much when there is reality involved.
Assumming Ferdinand is relatively compliant and I'm able to pull him together in a week, what horrific number am I selling myself that Max or Maxina will take me do to given a size of perhaps 10 feet in height? Can I assume that I will still retain a brain the size of, oh say, a dime?
I am very impressed that you are so gifted and that you very generosly share your knowledge with us neophites.
I have a million other questions, yet the state of my brain at the moment requires the universal traverse of information to and from the wavelengths. Tonight that will not be on the engenda, Perhaps with a good cup of coffee and amazing chocolate........
Again, thank you for all you might be able to offer in the vase amount of wisdom that I know reigns supreme in your brain. Ask Eddie, perhaps he has some ideas,
Thank you so very much for your kindness and the beautiful work you share so that the rest of us can obtain by living vicariously through you!
Seriously, we have 8 children whom we hometeachand told a banquet each year for them. I so want to pull off this dragon above the moat and a larger one by a waterfall we have in our "Oasis" area at church.
Thank you so much for listening and hopefully sharing some wonderful eyes to help us along.
Blessings to you!
Ruthie Gould
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Hello Ruthie,
Thank you for your nice comment. It sounds like you are having a good time. And it sounds like you have bitten off a big project. One dragon will be quite a task, two would be extremely labor intensive. And ten feet tall is very ambitious indeed. I'm not totally sure what questions you are posing. Perhaps you would just like encouragement. It's nice to hear that you are interested in making this kind of art. I suggest you consider a bit smaller project though, especially if this is your first paper mache project.
Sounds like you have a very nice tradition with your kids. Best of luck to you!
Dan
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Hi Dan! I am more than thrilled with your projects and I'm thinking about making my first Dragon, how do you make paper mache? What is the yellow you see in your videos? sorry for my English, I know it is very defective. Anyway, thank you very much!
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Hello May.
Nice to meet you. I'm happy to hear that you will be doing some paper mache. I don't think I can tell you everything in this one response. But if you look at my instructional videos on my site, www.GourmetPaperMache.com and then look through my blog posts you should have a good idea about what to do. Good luck!
Dan
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I loved your keynote speech and workshop at TAEA. It was the best workshop ever!(usually I'm not the type that benefit(or pay attention) from conferences) I still regret not getting your autograph on your book.
My 6th graders started on their "Surreal creatures"(monsters, really) this week and they are really excited. I was just digging up your website looking for better ways to teach.
I might send pictures if they turn out to be successful! Thanks and good luck!
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Hello Jay,
I'm very happy you liked my speech. I'm elated that you thought the workshop was good since all I could do was talk. They forgot to bring bowls for mixing the paste and ran out of newspaper. I've felt bad ever since about the participants not being able to actually paper mache. So your comment means a lot to me. Thank you.
I made many a monster with sixth graders (I love teaching sixth grade, that's what I'm doing now (except that it's math)). You are a saint for taking on such an ambitious project. Your kids are very lucky! I'd love to see photos when you are done! Send them to dan@gourmetpapermache.com.
Good luck on the rest of your venture! Thanks for writing.
Dan
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hola soy de León Guanajuato México, me gusta mucho tu técnica, actualmente estudio en la casa de la cultura, arte en cartoneria me gustaría saber que tipo de tela usas para hacer la piel de tus esculturas
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Hola Janet. Es un placer conocerte. Estoy usando viejas, generalmente de algodón, ropa de cama cortada en tiras para mis proyectos. Nada del otro mundo.
Buena suerte a usted.
Dan
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hola Dan, gracias por contestar mi pregunta seguimos en contacto
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Can I use paper mache to build a large, full-size dragon for our upcoming play "Sleeping Beauty"? Or maybe just the head?
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Hello Dave,
I think paper mache is perfect for making dragons. I have made many over the years. As you might guess, the larger the project, the more time and effort it will take. When making a very large dragon, it's best to make it in parts. Make quiet a few very large paper mache shapes that you can cut up to use for sculpting (with masking tape). I use cloth (old bed sheets) dipped in glue for the final "skin". It's great for details and adds a lot of strength.
Good luck!
Dan
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