The children make small figures with papier mâché pulp and then use paint to turn them into delightful characters. For ages 6 to 9. Plan 2 to 3 sessions.
- Working with papier mâché pulp
- Building three-dimensional forms
- Painting on an irregular surface
three-dimensional, papier mâché pulp
YOU WILL NEED
- Papier mâché pulp—one small lemon-sized ball for each child (see recipe below)
- Newspapers for making pulp and covering work area
- Wheat paste (I use PlayBox Wheat Paste.)
- Tempera paints
- Small paint brushes
- Containers of water for rinsing brushes
- Sponges for drying brushes
- White craft glue
- Brushes for applying the glue
- Scissors
- Blender for making pulp
- Waxed paper
- Optional adornments, such as yarn for hair, ribbons, small feathers, etc.
- Water-based polyurethane
- Black permanent markers, watercolor markers, and drawing paper for optional drawings of the figures in the third session
THE PROJECT
First Session
Preparation
- Prepare papier mâché pulp and set out one lemon-sized ball for each child.
- Cover work area with newspaper.
- Write the children’s names with permanent marker on small pieces of newspaper to attach to the bottoms of the completed figures.
- Cover an area with waxed paper for drying the figures.
- Explain to the children that they will be making figures of people with papier mâché pulp, which is a combination of newspapers and paste that has been mixed in a blender. The clay-like pulp becomes very hard when it is dried. Tell the children that they will be making the figures three-dimensional or viewable from all sides.
- Demonstrate how to build with papier mâché pulp. Explain that the base of the figure needs to be sturdy for balance, so the children should plan to make long skirts or bulky pants. Additions such as arms, hats, or buttons will stick to the pulp, but they must be carefully melded onto the figure. Hair can be made with the pulp, or yarn can be glued onto the figure after is it painted.
- Props, such as a purse or a ball, can be made separately and glued to the figures after they have been dried and painted. Be sure to form the hands in a way that can hold onto the props.
- Explain that the figures must be completed in one session because they cannot be changed after they dry. Give each child a ball of pulp and have them make their figures. Attach the names to the bottoms of the wet figures.
Preparation
- Set out the dried figures.
- Set out tempera paints, containers of water, sponges, and small brushes.
- Explain to the children that, in this session, they will be painting the pulp people.
- Demonstrate how to paint the rough edges of the dried pulp by filling the brush with paint and dabbing into the cracks and crevices. Brush away any puddles of paint which will tend to chip off when dried.
- Explain to the children that they should paint the base color on the faces first and then paint the rest of their figures. This will allow time for the faces to dry before painting on the facial features. Children who are using yarn for the hair should paint the whole head with the skin color.
- As the children paint their figures, remind them to completely cover the papier mâché pulp.
Third Session
Preparation
- Set out the figures, white glue, brushes for glue, and scissors.
- Cover work area to be used for gluing with newspaper.
- Set out a variety of adornments.
- Set out black permanent markers, colored watercolor markers, and paper for optional drawings.
- Explain that, in this session, the children who have completed their figures and need no further additions will be drawing pictures of them. The children who are adding adornments will need to glue them to their figures before they begin drawing.
- Show the children how to apply a small amount of glue to add their attachments.
- As the figures are completed, have the children draw them with black markers and add color with watercolor markers, duplicating their figures as closely as possible.
- Working with papier mâché pulp takes some extra preparation, however the clay-like pulp is inexpensive and requires no kiln or special equipment.
- Newspapers tear easily when ripped vertically and ones that are printed with soy inks make more flexible pulp.
- Although more difficult to work with, thickened white liquid glue can be substituted for the wheat paste.
- This project can be completed in two sessions if all additions, including the hair, are made with the pulp.
- Pulp figures will need good ventilation to dry, preferably near a heat source such as a warm oven or a sunny window.
- If a piece of pulp falls off while drying, it can be attached with white glue.
- Don’t be discouraged by the appearance of the dried pulp figures. With a bit of paint, they become delightful characters.
- Do the figures stand freely?
- Are the figures viewable from all sides?
- Is the papier-mâché pulp covered with paint so that no newspaper shows?
- Yuk! This stuff looks gross and feels awful!
- My man keeps falling over.
- My ballerina’s arm keeps falling off.
- How can I get my baseball player to hold the bat that I made?
- All these bumps are hard to paint over.
- Papier mâché pulp is only newspaper and glue. It is fun to work with and will easily wash from your hands when the project is completed.
- When working with papier mâché pulp, you need to have a very sturdy base, so try giving your man bulky pants to help support him.
- When you make additions to your figures, it's important to smooth the edges carefully.
- Since the wet pulp is not strong enough to hold the bat, we will use glue to attach it after they are both dry. Be sure to shape the hands in a way that the bat will fit.
- Remember to fill your brush with paint and dab into the cracks and crevices, but don’t forget to smooth any puddles that may form.
