Papier Mache Skull with a Surprise Natural Rust Effect

Since getting this book I have had my love of Papier Mache rekindled.

Contemporary Papier Mache
Colorful Sculpture, Jewelry, and Home Accessories

Contemporary Papier Mâché is a colorful collection of papier mâché projects by artist and teacher Gilat Nadivi. With an emphasis on recycling everyday items to create one-of-a-kind masterpieces, Nadivi instructs readers on how simple materials, basic techniques, and a healthy measure of imagination can be combined to make a range of distinctive creations. Projects described in the book are diverse; they include human figures engaged in everyday activities, animals that are tall, small and in between, home accessories such as picture frames, bowls and magnets, and more.

Recycling is an inherent component of almost all papier mâché, and Contemporary Papier Mâché really takes this principle to heart. Old wires and hangers act as bases for human figures, empty rolls of tape become fashionable bangles, discarded water bottles are transformed into women's figures. After trying out a few projects in the book, readers will find their eyes open to the artistic potential waiting to be discovered in basements, garages, and recycling boxes.

Tools for these projects are minimal, and supplies are easy to find. As for guidance and inspiration, readers will find plenty of both within the pages of Contemporary Papier Mâché. The book begins with a chapter on materials that describes the supplies readers will need for the projects. This includes basic materials such as papers, glues, work surfaces and paints, as well as fabrics and other decorative enhancements. It also includes suggestions about items that can be reused (and revived!) through papier mâché. The techniques chapter describes various papier mâché methods as well as painting and lacquer application.

Gilat Nadivi (Tel Aviv, Israel) has been working with papier mâché for more than fifteen years. After studying at the Beit Berel College of Fine Arts, she embarked on her career as an artist, beginning in mosaic and moving on to papier mâché. In addition to running her own studio, Gilat instructs students of all ages in papier mâché, an art she describes as therapeutic, relaxing, and enormously rewarding. Nadivi has participated in several exhibitions and workshops.

One of the projects in Contemporary Papier Mâché is a bowl made by casting the outside of a bowl (second picture down on the left of the cover). This got me thinking, thinking about all my fun cake molds and this is what I came up with:

Let me tell you a bit about it.

First I debated putting a release in the mold before putting in the papier mache, I decided not too. So it was a bit of a challenge getting it out about 2 weeks after I put it in. It took about that long to dry. But check out the amazing effect caused by the moisture being directly on the metal-rust!

It was completely unexpected, unplanned and a total surprise, but how cool is that?

If you are into papier mache click on Papier Mache below or on the right to see more papier mache projects!

I haven't figured out if it needs any further embellishment/surround/hanging accoutrement??

Any suggestions are welcome!

And as I was adjusting the photo for this here blog posting I played around with the brightness/contrast features and color adjustments in Photoshop like in this posting - The Complete Guide to Altered Imagery and I'm not kidding!. Here are a bunch of the adjusted photos for you to enjoy/download and play with too!

Comments

[Heating and Air Augusta]

Cool stuff.. Love it. :)

[AC installation largo]

The boy and girl sculpt is great work, color is good... nice combination, just one thing, it will be a better look if they could change the hat of the boy...

[zma]

it ca be a part of a collection..