Friday 1 July 2016

Papier Mache Heads Up


     Welcome to this months project for Altered Eclectics. This one took a couple of months to make, it's an idea that's been buzzing around in my head ever since I saw a polystyrene head in the charity shop.
      I decided that I might want to make another bust sometime, so I covered the head with cling film before starting to cover with papier mache.
     I used approximately 250ml of an inexpensive children's PVA glue and a complete copy of my local weekly newspaper.
   

     The paper cast is about seven layers thick, nice and firm. I tore my paper into pieces, this seems to make the finished cast a little smoother.
     I had to cut from top to bottom to remove the polystyrene form. While the head was undergoing surgery I glued some stones inside to weight the bottom, this will stop it falling over when the headphones are on it.


     Once 'stoned' it was another operation to heal the cut, a little masking tape to hold it shut followed by two layers of papier mache.
     When completely dry it was painted with white gesso. Then came the fun part, adding all the cut outs.
     The left side is covered with cogs, numbers and letters and the right is covered with flowers, music and patterns.
     After the gesso I painted with a mix of Distress paints in Evergreen Bough, Peeled paint, Salty Ocean and Broken China.

      After all the paint had dried, which seemed likes ages, I could begin to 'grunge' it.
     I have used Cosmic Shimmer gilding wax Autumn Bronze to make the head look like an old bronze bust.

     As the wax doesn't completely cover the paint it looks aged and with a good polish with an old duster it shines beautifully.    
     Some finishing touches were some tiny gems on the flowers and along the paisley shapes. The left eye is a glass dome stuck over a desert island photograph and stuck on with silicone glue.
     It has been given the teenage boy seal of approval so now sits on the window sill sporting a pair of headphones, it was intended to stop them being left on the sofa and sat on, so a creative and useful result.
     Please pop over to Altered Eclectics to see what the DT have come up with, we would love it if you came and joined us with your creations, anything mixed media but no cards or ATC's.


I would like to enter my creation in the following challenges:
SanDee and Amelie's Steampunk  - Anything Steampunk
We Love To Create - Anything Mixed Media
Classic DT Challenge - Anything DT
More Mixed Media - Anything Goes (optional Purple)
That's Crafty - Masculine
Country View - Circles 

13 comments:

  1. I am blown away by this..it is awesome..the work and techniques,I love it...x

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow! An Incredible piece of masterful crafting! So inspiring .TFS x

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow, your papier mache head is absolutely impressive! It really looks like a metal sculpture! I love how you decorated the surface! Congratulations and thank you for sharing this amazing piece on the July Challenge of the Country View Challenges!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks for joining our challenge with your fabulous project… enjoyed reading your tutorial. Good luck in the draw and hope you will join us for our next challenge…
    [Diane-Louise DT for Classic Design Team Challenge]

    ReplyDelete
  5. That's such a great idea... as a useful object and artistically! Thank you so much for showing us at Country View Challenges for our Circle theme.

    ReplyDelete
  6. WOW WOW WOW - this is stunning and so unique sweetie love it so much clever girlie xx

    ReplyDelete
  7. Amazing creation !!!! a beautiful piece of art ! thank you for your participation at Sandee & Amelie steampunk challenges.

    ReplyDelete
  8. This is soooo freakin' cool! Wowzers! A brilliant idea and brilliantly executed! Thanks for playing along with us at SanDee&amelie's Steampunk Challenges!

    Claudia x

    ReplyDelete
  9. This is so clever and it looks amazing when complete! Jane :) X

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh my goodness, this is just amazing work.

    Thank you for sharing with us over here at Classic Design Team Open Challenge and best of luck with your entry.
    [Annette Registered Owner/Admin for Classic Design Team Challenge]

    ReplyDelete
  11. Rocky - beautiful Project. Judy

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wowzers! What a cool steampunk head! I can see it's great for headphones!! Glad you joined our summer challenge at SASPC! hugs, Maura

    ReplyDelete

This blog does not allow anonymous comments.