Papie-mache - what is it? Technique of papier-mache

In Russian from the French came the interesting word "papier-mache". What it is? In translation, it means "gum paper". In fact, this is a material created on the basis of paper or paperboard with gluing masses. Often, the very thing is called papier-mache. Photos of wonderful things made in this technique, delight many admirers of needlework.

Types of papier-mache

There are several versions of this material, depending on the technology by which it is made.

1. The layered pasting of paper pieces on a template is called papier-mache. What is it, know almost everything, because acquaintance with this technique is included in the school curriculum manual.

2. A viscous dough-like mass made on the basis of paper, chalk and glue, from which various things are made by molding or molded casting, is also called papier-mache. What is this, know is not very many, as this technology is more difficult to perform and is designed for a long time of manufacturing the mass itself.

3. Objects of geometric form are made of several layers of cardboard, which is glued together layer by layer and dried under a press - also papier-mache.

What is this - layered gluing?

It's such a way that you can make a very simple original little thing fast enough. In order to make hand-made articles from papier-mâché with your own hands, the master will need: a model-template for pasting, directly the glue and pieces of paper.

To the model remained unmarked, the first layer of paper is damped with plain water and applied by two layers on the surface of the template. Then the next layers are pasted with the help of fastening compounds. For this purpose, you can use any clerical glue, but for the sake of economy it is necessary to weld a paste from starch or ordinary flour.

Usually it is required to apply up to 100 layers so that the papier-mache crafts made with their own hands were strong enough. Often, to increase the strength of the gap between the layers of paper lay fabric, that is, reinforce the product. But if we are talking about papier-mache for beginners, reinforcement will be superfluous.

How to cook a paste

In addition to the usual shop glue, masters for saving often use self-made fastening substance, making papier-mache. The instructions for preparing a paste - composition based on flour or starch - is quite simple. In short, this is the principle of cooking jelly.

1. Pour water (2 liters) into the pan and put it to boil.

2. At this time in a small container, for example in a glass, stir in 100 grams of cold water 3 tablespoons of starch or ordinary flour (flour with additives, such as pancake or pancake) is not suitable.

3. In a boiling water a thin trickle pour out with active stirring a suspension of flour with water and bring to a boil. Usually, after this moment, the paste gets a matte white color with some transparency.

4. Clister must be cooled, and you can start making papier-mache from newspapers.

How to prepare a template

You can use ready-made toys, masks, caskets for crafts. After pasting them with paper, usually the workpiece is cut with a sharp knife or sawed with a saw in half, opens the halves and pulls out the template toy. Then halves must be glued together on the seam.

But sometimes there is not a suitable template for papier-mache crafts at hand. The instruction for manufacturing the object, which the master will use for pasting, is also not very difficult. Most often it is constructed from improvised materials, fastening together cardboard centers-cylinders from rolls of toilet paper or paper towels, empty matchboxes or cardboard bags from juices and milk.

There is another option for preparing a template, like molding it out of plasticine, clay and even using air balls.

Molding products from pulp

If you want to make dolls from papier-mache, then you can turn to the first and second option. Both methods require a template. If there is not one, then you need to do it yourself, as it was said above.

There is such an option, when papier-mache dolls are made by using a paper weight-based template. After drying, it is also recommended to cut the top layer, without touching the template, to separate the halves from each other, to take out the layout. Then the papier-mache halves are folded and glued together.

You can sculpt a sculpture from the paper mass from scratch, drawing only on a sketch, photograph or picture. However, this method is only for those people who have a certain talent.

Many things from papier-mache in a short time - it's possible!

Technique papier-mache, consisting of molding cast paper-glue mass, is more suitable for manufacturing a batch of identical items. Therefore, for the form, use a silicone sealant. You can also make it from gypsum. In both cases, the form should consist of two halves.

The sealant is applied to a greased pattern, if possible evenly. Plasticine mock-up can not be covered with oil. Then the billet should dry thoroughly. After removing the mold from the layout, it must be fixed in a box with salt or sand upward with the inside. Then in the voids, put a dense layer, without air layers, the mass and again leave to dry.

After extraction of semi-molds, they are glued together, primed and painted. In the end, it is recommended to apply a coat of varnish.

Gypsum half-molds are made in a box, where a plaster of sufficiently thick consistency is pre-laid in advance. The template is also lubricated with fat or glycerin and is half immersed in the substance. After the first mold has dried, the mock-up is removed. The algorithm for creating the half-shape is repeated, but the second half of the template is dipped into the plaster.

Manufacture of pulp for crafts and sculptures

If the technician chooses the papier-mache technique based on softened paper, dry additives and glue, he needs to know how to make a mass for sculpting or casting figurines.

There are several recipes for such a mass.

1. Toilet paper is torn and soaked in hot water for a day.
2. Then it is necessary to stretch and roll the mass well. Experts advise doing this with a drill with nozzles from a coffee grinder.
3. Adding dry gypsum, the master then removes excess liquid and achieves the density of the mass. You can fill the flour in a paper slurry, but then there is a possibility that the unused substance can deteriorate in time. Many add chalk flour, but then the product is more fragile than it does with plaster papier-mâché.
4. Again, the well-mixed mass is diluted with carbide glue, prepared according to the recipe for its manufacture. You can use other adhesives. However, carpentry will not allow quick grasp of gypsum, which is important. The mass at the output should resemble a low-fat plasticine, it is good to keep the shape, but do not stick to your hands.
5. The mixture obtained is not used immediately, but is allowed to lie in the refrigerator for 24 hours. To do this, the mass is divided into parts by kilogram (a maximum of one and a half kilograms) and packed in plastic bags.

Some masters suggest adding a few spoons of vegetable oil to the mass.

The second method differs from the first in that it does not add a dry component (flour, chalk or gypsum). But after the soaking paper squeezed through the gauze, removing excess fluid, but not achieving its full dryness.

The preparatory stage of the creation of the sculptural masterpiece

Of course, everything begins with the idea of the author. When the artist makes a sketch of the future papier-mache craft by his own hands, his imagination already acquires real contours. Some, however, take as a basis already ready-made drawings or photographs, on which they begin to work.

Next, the master of wire and improvised means makes a skeleton of sculpture. After all these preparatory operations, the master proceeds to the very process of modeling. And after a while a real work of art appears on the place of a clumsy skeleton.

Sculptures from pulp

Not every person can imagine imagination what true artists know how to create from papier-mâché. Photos of the most real masterpieces of sculptural art fascinate and make you admire the skills of the masters of this case.

After the product has been molded and dried, the second most important stage of the work is coming. Now the master aligns the surface of the sculpture, applying one more thin layer of papier-mache. Typically, the composition for modeling papier-mache crafts own liquid (water and glue) with their hands so that the paper mass becomes more tender so that you can perform a fairly fine job.

After another drying, the master takes a sharp knife in his hand and gently cuts off all unnecessary. Then, with the help of fine sandpaper, all irregularities are cleaned.

Priming and painting the product is the last, final stage of the work. You can cover the finished product with varnish.

Painting of papier-mache products

Even the simplest product, such as a casket or a wall plate, decorative utensils and trays, a real artist can turn into a beautiful creation. Turning to the classics, the masters create magnificent works. Palekh, Khokhloma and Gzhel, Fedoskino and Oriental miniatures - all these areas are reflected today in papier-mache products.

Briefly about the main thing ...

Whatever technique of making papier-mache products the master chooses, whatever his creative idea, it is important that the artist through his work realizes its potential, expresses himself, trying to convey to the people around what excites him. That's why, probably, after watching photos with masterpieces of real masters, it becomes light and joyful. Create and create, create, and let the world triumph in beauty!