How to Make Paper Composition Figurines

Any paper products can be used in paper composition sculpting.

Paper composition recipes have had various ingredients over the years. Some recipes include flour, plaster, chalk, sand, sawdust and egg shells. Binders of wax, glue or gum arabic are also included in some methods. Dolls heads were commonly formed of paper composition in the 1800s. Small figurines can be molded with paper composition materials as with clay; larger figures would need an armature. So, mix up a batch of paper pulp and have fun forming any small figurines your imagination dictates.

Things You'll Need

• Paper
• Enameled pot, water bath type of canning pot
• Bleach
• Blender
• Colander
• Cheesecloth
• Plastic basin
• Rubber gloves
• Plaster
• White glue
• Boiled linseed oil
• Oil of Cloves

Instructions

1. Tear paper into 1/2-inch pieces. Always tear and do not cut the paper as you are returning it to its fibrous state.

2. Put paper in an enameled pot and cover with water. Do not use aluminum pots as they will corrode from the alkali in the paper.

3. Add 2 tablespoon of bleach and boil; then reduce the heat, cover and simmer for two hours.

4. Put colander in sink and strain the pulp; rinse with clear water.

5. Place a handful of pulp into the blender with enough water to cover and whip to slurry.

6. Strain again in the sink with a colander covered in cheesecloth; squeeze some water out of this material, but not all of it. You want to retain some moisture so you can transform this pulp into a clay-like consistency.

7. Remove paper globs to basin and continue until all the pulp is reduced to this state.

8. Add plaster in equal measure to paper pulp.

9. Pour into this mix, two cups of white glue, 2 tablespoons of boiled linseed oil, and a few drops of clove oil.

10. Mix with your hands until it is like clay in consistency; wear rubber gloves as the plaster creates a chemical reaction that will burn skin. Be careful not to inhale plaster particles.

11. Mold into your desired figurine shapes; continue wearing gloves to protect your hands.

Tips & Warnings

• Figurines may take a week or more to dry depending on their size and the weather.

• Mix only the amount of paper composition material you plan to use immediately.

• Caution, plaster emits a cloud of small particles when it is poured and these are hazardous to the lungs.

References

• Proptology: Papier Mache Rediscovered
• Arts J Rank: Papier mâché
• Ultimate Paper Mache: Tutorials, Ideas, Conversation....