Saturday 28 February 2009

New mould making video available


Anyone vaguely interested in mould making from plasticine, can view the latest vid on YouTube. This is how i went about making the mould for the policeman, which is a two part mould, but unlike the video for the Mr Punch model, this mould has matching halves that fit together. Although not used here, this method can be used to cast whole heads in one go, by using pulped paper mache. I may try that for another puppet!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rwLJnzwetE

Thursday 26 February 2009

Crocodiles

Coming soon are papier mache crocodiles. Images to follow!

Wednesday 25 February 2009

Tools for papier mache


As well as paper, tools have been occupying my thoughts too. I have just purchased some wonderful dentists tools from sculpture suppliers Alec Tiranti. They are the business! You can use them to:


  • model in plasticine - cut, smooth and generally prod when a finger won't do.

  • apply papier mache to burnish out the paper under the glue when applying it in a mould, smooth out fibres at edges, to mach them well into the glue, and so on

  • prise things out of moulds when set


fabulous!

Monday 16 February 2009

Types of paper for Papier Mache

Fiddling with getting a head from a hole and trying variants on papier mache has made me ponder the intriguing technicalities of it all.



So what paper is best to use? Two types I like are brown paper and tissue paper.



Brown wrapping paper is hardish to work as it tends to stay flat as a sheet, and does not take kindly to corners where it creases if the pieces are too large especially if they are square. Thi smakes it difficult when using loulds, especially when complicated or detailed. Thin long strips are the most effective, as they can be curled around anything without rucking up. Its pressed surface is not that absorbant, but it does have good fibres when torn. Its main plus is that it has grain and is strong like wood. Once laminated, it is fantastically strong for its weight like plywood, but shaped.



Brown paper sands well, although this is also depends on the type of glue used too.



Tissue paper is great for pushing into moulds when wetted with glue. It mushes up a treat. When using it, the finished papier mache is nearer pulped papier mache than brown paper, but for thin layers, it is just not as strong as brown paper and is more like fibre board.



Kitchen roll paper is good being tough but pliant. However it usually comes as two ply, which can separate later. Better is the green single ply tissue that is used as hand towels in washrooms.

Mr Punch becomes paper


Well, here is version one. weighs virtually nothing, but is remarkably tough!

Tuesday 10 February 2009

Heads come out!

I have now got papier mache parts from the mould for Mr Punch. So far the first attempt in using kitchen roll was partially successful. It pulps well into detailed areas, but it is two ply, and so needs to be separated or it doesn't bond well. The first moulding came out semi-dry and was not solid, so distorted.

I have since used brown wrapping paper for version 2, and that seems to be much more stable, and stronger

Sunday 8 February 2009

Quicky sample

Here's a quick snippet. I've only done two so far

Friday 6 February 2009

Micro Mr Punch "HOW TO" videos

I have been modelling Mr Punch, and have videoed it, so anyone who vaguely wishes to know how I make papier mache puppets can do so:

http://tinyurl.com/micromrpunch-youtube

Tuesday 3 February 2009

Modelling Mr (micro) Punch


I have been transferring said Mr Punch concept drawing into the physical world. Thank the lord for Plasticine...