My three works for SPCA ART FOR ARF 2016 Lexington, VA. Nelson Gallery. Show opens Friday.

   Masks from the web

The mask making class at The Clifton Forge school of the Arts is going well. The members are three adult women who seem to be enjoying themselves! Two are making African looking masks and one is going a more sculptural route.

For Thursday May 19 we will make paper mache clay and experiment with using it on the masks and constructions.

If you have not yet visited UltimatePapermache.com check this out:

http://www.ultimatepapermache.com/snowy-owl-adding-feathers-with-paper-mache-clay

Here is the first recipe I tried. it makes a sticky "fibery" clay with texture.
The ingredients are inexpensive, and can be found at your local grocery store and hardware store. You will need:

• Cheap toilet paper (measure the wet paper pulp, and use 1 1/4 cups – some rolls contain more paper than needed)
• 1 cup Joint compound from the hardware store (get premixed “regular,” that comes in a plastic tub, not the dry powder form.) (Not sure what Joint compound is, or what it’s called in your country? click here.)
  Note:  The DAP brand does not work. All other brands will work just fine.
  
• 3/4 cup Elmer’s Glue-all (PVA glue)
  
• 1/2 cup White Flour
• 2 tablespoons Linseed Oil or Mineral Oil (Linseed oil contains chemicals, so mineral oil is a better choice if you’re working with kids, or if you like to get your hands in the clay.

The video is here:
 
http://www.ultimatepapermache.com/paper-mache-clay 

I have also tried this recipe. It makes a silky smooth clay just like the recipe says.

First, mix together –
1/2 cup toilet paper (24 grams dry, 110 grams wet)
1/2 cup Joint Compound (200 grams)
1/2 cup Elmer’s glue (130 grams)
1/2 cup corn starch (70 grams)
3 tablespoons mineral oil (or use linseed oil or any vegetable oil)
1/2 cup all-purpose flour (70 grams) to start
Then, add up to 3/4 cup (100 grams) all-purpose flour and mix.

Jonni Good's video about making it is here:

http://www.ultimatepapermache.com/new-air-dry-clay-recipe 

For both recipes it is essential that you either use up your clay within a few days or store it in a truly airtight container in the dark. Since the flour is an organic ingredient you will get MOLD! Yuck! 

The Clifton Forge School of the Arts will offer more mask making classes in July and August. 
http://www.cfsota.org/